Epithalamium Gallo-Britannicum OR GREAT-BRITAINES FRANCES AND THE most parts of Europes vnspeakable Ioy for the most happy Vnion and blessed Contract of the High and Mighty Prince CHARLES Prince of Wales And the LADY HENRETTE MARIA Daughter to Henry the fourth sirnamed the Great late King of the French and Nauarre and Sister to LEVVIS the thirteenth Now King of the said DOMINIONS Manifesting the royall Ancestors and famous Progenitors of the Mighty Prince CHARLES and the most Illustrious Princesse the Lady HENRETTE Explaining the sweete interchanges of Mariages as haue beene betweene France and Great BRITAINE Presaging the destruction and ruine of Antichrist the establishment of the true Faith the propagation of the Gospell the restitution of the Palatinate the ouerthrowing of the Enemies designes the erection of Peace the increase of Plentie and the generall well-fare of all Christendome LONDON Printed for Thomas Archer and are to be sold in Popes Head-Alley ouer against the signe of the Horse-shooe 1625 TO THE HOPE OF HIS COVNTRIE THE COMFORT OF HIS FATHER THE IOY OF HIS FRIENDS the terrour of his Enemies the most wise valiant and vertuous Prince THE MOST HIGH AND Mighty Charles Prince of Wales the sole Sonne and chiefe solace of the most Potent Prudent Pious Learned Peaceable Warlick King IAMES King of Great Brittaine France and Ireland c. MOst Mighty Prince I doubt not but the world may deeme me ouer-audacious and you this worke tedious and troublesome the former that I should presume to dedicate such an indigested immature Embrio to your Hignesse the latter in regard you Highnesses eyes haue diuersity and multitudes of more worthy obiects To the first J answer that by how much the worke is more meane by so much it hath more need of a mighty Protector and therefore though they may deeme me impudent yet it is not a thing imprudent but important that it should seeke to shelter it selfe vnder the patronage of your Highnesse To the next J beseech your Highnesse nam nil nisi vota supersunt not so much to respect the weakenesse of the worke as the willingnesse of the Author to performe duty vnto your mighty Personage who though hee cannot goe for ability yet he creepeth to offer this Sacrifice vnto you and is emboldned through the abundance of obedient loue to cast this mite into the treasurie of your Highnesse Farre be it from me with the Ape in the Fable who brought her young ones to the Lion as the most amorous and beautifull to present this issue of my braines and off-spring of my labours as worthy of the view of your Highnesse Oh no I am no waies guiltie of such a Philautie but in regard your royall selfe is the Subiect of which it treateth shewing the happinesse which is deriued by the most fortunate contract betweene your Highnesse and that most incomparable Lady and pure Virgin of France in which though with a weake vnable pensile J haue drawne forth and portraied the diuine parts of your princely Personages of the which though all knew some yet some knew not all which J haue related in the which description and map of your perfections if I haue failed as J cannot hope to the contrary I humbly craue pardon and prostrate my selfe at the feet of your mercifull censure beseeching you that the true affection of the Author may couer the imperfection of the worke The reasons which moued me to this boldnesse to craue your Highnesse his Patronage were these First in respect you are the chiefe Subiect of this Marriage Song the which Subiect though it be impossible for mee to honour by my worke yet it is most certaine my worke is honoured by it Secondly in regard as you for all vertues are the adamant of admiration from all men so most especially for your resplendent vertue of humility who though you be high in Maiesty yet you are low in minde and despise not but incourage men though weake impotent in any good enterprises and vertuous endeuours that so being nourished by your fauour cōforted with your countenance they might increase and grow in goodnesse and in fine attaine to the summe of all perfections Moreouer J know that I doe not onely owe my labours and all that J haue to your Highnesse who are the Conduit by which God conueys felicity not only to me but Millions of people the which constrained mee in gratitude to consecrate this worke vnto you Reiect not therefore these fruits of my Industry which were inuented presented out of meere respect to your Highnesse and the ioy conceiued for the late contract with France and as you are the patterne of all vertues so vouchsafe to bee the Patron of this booke which is but an abridgement the compendium of them an expression of the happinesse which is likely to be an attendant and follower of this your intended and promised mariage with the Lady Henrette Maria Daughter to Henry the Fourth King of the French Nauarre Sister to Lewis the Thirteenth now French King the which grieuing to see that none more able than my selfe would vndertake J though with weakenesse haue performed Let therefore this booke which was written onely for your Highnesse is Dedicated to your Highnesse be accepted of your Highnesse of the which not despairing J wish vnto your Highnesse a higher than the highest Happinesse that you may haue a long and fortunate life remaine the comforter of your friends the Conquerer of your enemies and be the Father of many happy Children Your Highnesse most obseruant George Marcelline TO THE MOST ILLVSTRIOVS AND euery waies accomplisht Prince George Duke of Buckingham Viscount Villers Baron of Whaddon Lord High Admirall of England Iustice in Eyre of all his Maiesties Forrests Parkes and Chases beyond Trent Master of the Horse to his Maiestie and one of the Gentlemen of his Maiesties Bed-Chamber Knight of the most noble order of the Garter and one of his Maiesties most honourable Priuie Counsell of England and Scotland MOst honoured Prince let it be no wonder vnto your Grace why I doe implore your Ioynt Patronage with your Prince of these my Labours sith you are his Ionathan and haue beene a companion and faithfull friend vnto him in all his Trauells manifesting your selfe to bee as faithfull to that Sonne as you were fauoured of the Father As therefore you were his Associate in his Peregrination so ioyne with him in the Patronizing of this worke Moreouer as you were a chiefe instrument of hindring the mariage with Spaine and furthering this with France by which meanes you brought happinesse vnto this Iland for the which it yeeldeth vnto your Grace so also you are mentioned in this worke and a ioynt Subiect of it vouchsafe therefore to be a ioynt Patron of it A fourth Motiue which encourageth me in this request is that as you are the chiefe Fauourite of our King on earth and of God the King of Kings so you are aprincipall
fauourer of all good and worthy proceedings by which your name is embalmed with fame and your memory will bee immortall Not doubting therefore but you will grace this worke with milde acceptance though not for the manner of writing yet the matter written of in it I cease to trouble you but alwaies rest an humble suiter to your grace for acceptance and to God for the continuance of your happinesse in the present and your increase of it in the future that you may bee blessed internally externally and eternally and that the highest would multiplie all temporall and spirituall graces vpon your Grace Your humbly deuoted George Marceline To the Reader GEntle Reader I hope I shall not miscall thee the ioy conceiued by mee for this contract the loue to my Country the zealous affection I beare to the vertues of our hopefull Prince and his happy Princesse haue ioyntly enforced mee to vndertake this Enterprize in the which though many calumniating censures may blame my Pen yet they must honour the Persons handled in it in the blazing of whose perfections if they tax me with flattery they brand themselues with follie and an ill affection to their King Prince and Countrey and manifest themselues either to haue their eares stopt and their eyes blinded or their Iudgements defectiue for they ought to account it their chiefest honour to honour if it bee possible to adde honour to their names whose vertues honour themselues more than lieth in the power of any Pen to honour them their soueraigne and his onely Sonne and our onely hope But sure I am that multitudes will loue and honour this worke if it be onely for the Subiects handled in it the loue of whose worth may claime an obseruant looke on these my labours in which are shewed the fortunate consequences likely to ensue vpon this contract which are the destruction of the Foes of Christ and the Enemies of Christians the tranquillity of the Truth the Peace of the Church the prosperity of all people which sheweth though in an Epitome the vertues of thy King the Happinesse of the Father in the enioying of such a ioyous Sonne as the mighty Prince Charles whose names offer not so much as to reade without a true loue ioynd with a trembling feare for it is they by whose meanes thou dost enioy thy meanes vpon whose life dependeth thy welfare rather therefore shew thy wisedome in silence for if thou termest me a Parasite thou prouest thy selfe a Parrat which speakest Epithalamium Gallo-Britannicum OR GREAT BRITTAINES And FRANCES Joy THE Felicitie of a Kingdome is placed in the Prosperitie of the Prince and the welfare of a Prince either made or mangled in his Matching But neuer was Kingdome more happie in a Prince neuer Prince more fortunate in his Choyce than the Treasure and Store-house of our hopes the Summe and Substance of our future blisse the high and mightie Prince Charles in obtaining this Princesse who vnparalell'd for perfections both externall of her bodie and internall of her minde stands as a matchlesse Mirrour to all her Sex if not to be adored yet at the least admired hath made a Contract between three Kingdomes and happinesse which were a long time diuorced from it being like the house of Abraham troubled vntill their Isaak had found out a Rebecca Oh Peerelesse Prince fortunate beyond the imagination of mans minde then surely more transcending the limits of my pens relation could you but pry into the hearts of millions of people you should see all the veines streets of those Metropolitan Cities of those little worlds swell'd and full with ioy who formerly found no tranquillitie of minde though in the peace of the State because your Royall Selfe had not found out a Second Selfe whereby their posteritie might shroud and refresh themselues hereafter vnder the shadow of your Branches and that from your Issue fountaines of fortunate ioy might flow to succeeding ages How many Kingdomes doe bathe themselues in the sunne-shine of solace and finde more than earthly happinesse in those resplendent beames which shine from this blessed Contract conceiuing no leffe ioy in your relinquishing of the Ladie Maria of Spaine and matching and vniting your Soule which is the Court of the Highest and King of Kings the Temple of the Holy Ghost vnto the heart of that vnparalell'd Princesse the Ladie Henrette Maria of France which is a rich Cabinet fill'd with the Gemms and vnualuable Iewels of morall vertues and diuine graces If it please your hopefull Highnesse to retire a little from home and to cast an eye of consideration vpon France there may be seene such an infinite ineffable measure of mirth and an incomparable treasure of true ioy found by them in this Coniunction and from the highest to the lowest from the Peere to the poore nothing but applause and triumph For can they chuse but reioyce to see that Vertues Paramour and Darling of Venus whose vertue ennobleth her birth whose birth doth make her vertues eminent whose countenance and whose conditions doe mutually grace and adome each other so worthily bestowed and their perfectly accomplisht Princesse vnited to so glorious so gracious a Head as who is the Ioy of his Friends the Terrour of his Enemies the Comfort and Hope of his Country the Patterne of Princes the Admiration of the world the mightie Prince Charles For what Countrey could haue beene the Emissarie of such a Prince or what Prince the Possessour of such a Countrey as Great Brittaine of Charles or Charles of Great Brittaine the which as Hee is blest with all graces so it aboundeth with all blessings that He might be happie in it and it fortunate in Him that as He blesseth that with peace so it might satisfie Him with plenty Had she forsaken a fat fruitfull soile to come into a barren Countrey it might somewhat haue impaired her happinesse and beene a wound to her welfare but this is a Paradise of pleasure a Land like Canaan flowing with milke and honie Had she found such a fertile Kingdome destitute of so royall a Prince shee could not haue had so much ioy in the one without enioying the other if the ring be void of a precious stone it is not so much esteemed neither hath a Diamond set in lead such store of luster But our Prince seated and planted in such a pleasant place is like a Diamond set in Gold the one of which makes the other of more estimation Oh fortunate France if thou doest not vndervalue thy happinesse that art linked in the bond of amitie with faire Albion whose climate is temperate whose aire serene and cleare here is not heat so excessiuely parching in Summer but that any constitution may endure it nor the cold so piercing in Winter but that the most tender may withstand it How many Crystall fountaines and running streames bee there like so many veines in this bodie of our Kingdome and to the intent that none of the elements might be defectiue
life in his doctrine and doctrine in his life for He appeares to his Subiects vertuous as He would haue them be and labours to be such as He appeareth that as his Lawes giue life vnto his people so he giueth life to his Lawes for they be but as Maximes deriued collected out of his life for it is as a great Volume in which they may reade whole Lectures of wholesome Precepts Neither doth He driue his Subiects on the path of Vertue so much with the Rod of Law as He doth draw them with the Adamant of Loue for can they chuse but dearely and nearely affect Him who as Hee is aboue them in place so Hee exceeds them in loue who being the Head cannot see one of the members hurt but Hee doth sympathize in sorrow with it not placing his gaines in their paines or esteeming Himselfe most a King when they are most basely subiected Neither is his Estate with the peoples welfare as it were in an vniust ballance so that his goes highest when theirs goes lowest but the seat of all his happinesse is situated in their good fortunes Neither doth Hee rule them with a Rod of Iron but a Scepter of Gold neuer restraining their libertie vnlesse it tended to licenciousnesse nor pulling goods from any particular vnlesse it were for a generall good In fine Hee hath brought all his Subiects to such a passe that though He takes nothing by force yet He hath all by loue for who would not venture either his purse or his person to performe his pleasure which of his Subiects would not entertaine his death with sweet embracement so that his Princes or Soueraignes Successours and Posterities welfare might haue birth from his death and spring out of his ashes Certes there is none but would willingly shake hands with life libertie or estate in a gratefull requitall of those blessings we here enioy by the meanes of his Maiesties most gracious gouernment Indeed they are so vnited vnto him by the inviolable bonds of feare and loue that all his Subiects as his Pulses doe beat according to the motion of his heart For ought not they willingly to performe his will who denieth to grant none of their wishes for hath his Kingdomes desired peace how long haue they possest it yea in such a turbulent time when almost all Europe hath had warre in her owne bowels But doe our people thirst for reuenge vpon those which haue iniured their Soueraignes Issue and wronged the Princely Branches sprung from their Royall Stocke for feare they should not be deliuered of that which they trauell of but lose their longing Hee assumeth Armes for the restauration of his Sonne to doe that by force which Hee could not purchase by fauour And sithence He findeth his Enemies not to be like Flints which may be broken vpon the feather-bed of perswasions but as Nettles the which by how much more they are easily handled by so much the more violently they sting He resolues to handle them more roughly lest they as much hurt him as they iniured his Neighbours Then surely what vnspeakable ioy ought this to be to that matchlesse Princesse of France and all her Nation She not more reioycing that Shee hath found such a royall wise and euerie way accomplisht Father than they that they haue found such a noble worthie Friend She may exult that She is ingrafted into such a Stocke they of such Alliance for He is not onely potent in men but powerfull in money and munition that as his money wants not men so his men want not money Howsoeuer indeed some may suggest and obiect that his bountie hath almost exhaust his Treasurie Yet as the candle though it giues another light yet it selfe is not darkened So though our Soueraigne hath enricht many of his Subiects yet Hee hath not impouerisht Himselfe for Hee hath so bestowed it vpon such persons as were not so willing to receiue it but they will be as well content to surrender it vp into his hands againe if either their Kings pleasure or their Countries profit giue them summons to make such a redeliuerie Then surely not onely the Throne but the Footstoole not onely the French Prince but the People may swimme I had almost said surfet with delight in this Blessed Vnion for what hindrance is there whereby that most Christian King Lewis the thirteenth may expect but that as our Princes Highnesse ioynes hands with his Sister so our Kings Maiestie will ioyne Armes with him for the regaining of those Kingdomes which vniustly an vsurping hand detaineth from him for Vis vnitafortior and that I may vse our Prouerbe Many hands make light worke Diuerse threds twisted together as they doe more strongly binde so they are not so easily broken of an enemie It was King Richards comparison A bundle of arrowes bound together could not be broken but disseuered with much facilitie they may be cracked and I may make application to these Kingdomes as Hee did to that his Kingly Issue It is not to bee doubted but that since Iames and Lewis two Kings so valiant Great Brittaine and France two Kingdomes so potent are vnited and ioyned in this bond as well of affection as affinitie their enemies shall not bee of power to preiudice them nor of strength to withstand them And howsoeuer the whole world is an eie-witnesse of the beautie and bountie of both their mindes which is so great that each of them doe esteeme it a greater honour to giue a Kingdome than to get it yet where there is wrong offered them and their Allies all the might of their foes shall be as a stone dasht against steele which shall rebound in their owne faces to their owne disgrace and ruine Neither let their enemies thinke but that howsoeuer they doe not loue to seeke others Dominions yet they will not lose their owne without stirring For will our dread Soueraigne when both amitie and equitie religion and affection doe giue him loud summons to restore his children to their inheritance detaine his helping hand from his hopefull issue Will He or can He see without sorrow and by consequence labour to redresse it that his posterities Countrey which formerly was the garden of the world vnpeopled ruinated and made a desolate Desart his Issue to be exiled from their inheritance and hope banished from them his childrens children forced to flie before they were taught to goe Can he I say see this and not sorrow at it Can he sorrow at it and yet suffer it Can he haue power and yet want will to reuenge it Oh no his hand is full of vigour and hee is fraught with valour his subiects soules doe thirst for reuenge and all his foes shall haue wofull experience that he is as valiant to maintaine a warre as wise to entertaine a peace and he can as well sacrifice at the altars of Mars as Ceres and is as well Achilles for his courage as Vlysses for his counsell Then who
but He hath taken your Princesse by the hand not onely to leade Her to all happinesse on earth but to bring Her felicitie For what aduise can She who is so well vnderstanding the dutie of a royall louing Spouse refuse which distilleth like Nectar from his lips Or what counsell shall proceed from Him but that which tendeth to the welfare of her bodie the sauing of her soule body hereafter Oh no neuer was Princesse blest with a more holy happie heauenly Head than She in being vnited to his Highnesse who as Hee hath knowledge so He hath loue to direct Her to an happie end Had his heart beene the harbourer of loue onely without knowledge it had beene but as a blinde Guide and knowledge without loue to put it in practife had been but as a fruitlesse plant or power without a will but our mighty Prince as He hath no small measure of wisdome so He hath an infinite abundance of affection affection so great as indeed Hee is nothing but loue loue to his God loue to his Princesse loue to his people all of which are in Him so exceeding that none of any of those three particulars can be in any one person more eminent than they bee ioyntly found in Him For He loueth God aboue Himselfe Hee loueth Her as Himselfe because She is halfe Himselfe and He loueth his People almost as Hee loueth Her He loueth God because Hee is maried to Him mystically He loueth Her as being knit vnto Him in mariage really Hee loueth his People as being wedded vnto them representatiuely indeed He is so much loue as none that liues but loues Him The Lord of Heauen hath manifested his loue to Him in his mercie for when Hee vndertooke that dangerous voyage out of his Countrey Great Brittaine into Spaine dangerous in the iourney dangerous in the end of it indeed nothing but danger both for his passage thither his arriuall there his departure from thence being full of feare and composed of nothing but danger for the waues being proud of such a Burthen did swell with ambition and the surges soared aboue the ship as if the sea had longed to haue her wombe the Tombe of such a Worthie and had intended to haue erected her honour vpon his ruine But God to whom the windes and the seas obey did still the rage of Neptune and closed vp the mouth of Aeolus in so much as his people were all made fortunate in his happie returne reioycing that they had Him any waies but more ioyous that they had Him single but now most exulting that He is vnited by the sacred bond of wedlocke to your Princesse of France and wee by that meanes conioyned to you Thus hath the Lord to the comfort of all well-disposed people deliuered our best affected Prince and in bringing Him from Spaine hath brought Him to France that howsoeuer his loue began in the other yet it might end in this in which Hee hath giuen most infinite content vnto his Kingdomes who distasted the likelyhood of the former as much as they applaud the certaintie of this new Contract Surely God hath manifested his infinite loue and respect to our noble Prince in so infinitely blessing his proper Selfe in Himselfe and his people in Him in respect of his deliuerance Yea God and man your Highnesse and all the world may see the happinesse we conceiue of this Mariage and hope for from this Contract And what was the efficient cause of this but the loue of God to his Highnesse thus worthily disposed to the content and happinesse of his people Here was the loue of God manifestly and miraculously exprest to Him and all this Nation in this one particular but if I should proceed to make a whole discourse of Gods mercies as well towards his Bodie as his Soule my taske would be as infinite as his blessings But to leaue our mightie Prince whose actions doe more commend Himselfe let France but as nobly conceiue of our Nobles as they deserue and they shall finde a most ineffable cause of most vnspeakable Ioy in this Confederation for their brests are the lodges of loyaltie For indeed howsoeuer some of our naturall Country men haue lifted vp vnnaturally their hands against their Leige Soueraigne neuerthelesse it was their religion not their disposition which moued them to it And how long time hath our King rested free from danger begot and nurst vp by his Nobles No such I dare say is or at least ought to bee their loue to their gracious King that they deeme it more libertie to be his Seruant than anies Soueraigne For whereas generally great Kings weare Crownes like our Sauiours made of thornes composed of cares which makes their eyes as Sentinels to watch continually lest treason should surprize and ouerthrow and feares enioyne the minde to keepe diligent watch lest treason should euert both Person and people their pettie Crownes are crowned with contentment they are not affrighted with danger neither doth feare make their night of rest a day of trauell vnto them and all by their meanes who like a stately Cedar to the adioyning trees shelters them from tempests and drops downe the honie of peace vpon them This labour on his part begets the childe of loue in them and they deeme no iniurie so great nor apprehend any wrong so grieuous as that which is done to their Prince neither doe they coniecture any greater indignitie can bee done to them than when He is not dignified they count that glorie lest which doth not redound to Him and that honour to be as nothing with which He is not graced and therefore like so many pillars they doe support Him vpon the shoulders of their obedience who is their Roofe their Couer Protector To the grauer sort of the which Nobilitie our King stands as a Patterne for them to imitate in soundnesse of iudgement depth of learning and other vertues and to the younger our Prince serues as a Tutor to teach them and instruct them what way leadeth to the perfection of honour and true glorie and indeed none can bee more willing to set them an example than He and none more desirous to follow such a Leader than they they being proud in such a Patterne and Hee ioyfull in them Oh who can measure the happinesse of that Kingdome where the Prince is so accomplisht in the parts of his bodie and endowments of minde in whose actions all his followers may reade whole Lectures of Ethicks and Moralitie And thrice fortunate is that Prince all whose Nobles striue to be his pictures and euerie one desireth and striueth to haue neerest resemblance and to be drawne to the life according to his pourtraicture each of them reioyceth to be the shadow of such a substance and to bee like the creature which is is so like the Creator Here is no treason plotted no insurrections made by them but all those which doe truely feare loue God doe truly feare
loue their Soueraigne Haply indeed afore they were acquainted with his vertues and the light of his royall worth shined amongst them they might attempt some thing vnworthie of themselues nay base in the highest degree as to be the death of Him which gaue life to so many and with the pulling downe of the Primus Motor ruine all the inferiour orbes of our Kingdome but when they saw that his vertues made God his Friend it was in vaine for them to bee his enemies for all their treacherous attempts were but as sowing the shoare or washing a Blackmoore labour in vaine It is folly for Balaam to curse Israel when God blesseth him and for them to ruine when God preserueth in so much as now his gouernment pleaseth the Romish Catholiques whom formerly their palates distasted and all our Nobles if their bad consciences doe not infringe that title doe honour Him and beare a most affectionate respect to all his Posteritie especially our royall Prince whom all our Nobles labour in all their actions to please and imitate Oh blessed Kingdome where the Nobilitie doth so affect the Prince and the Prince doth so much respect the Nobilite and both of them are in loue with vertue where the Peeres are so peerelesse in their courtesie loue to their Kingdome and loyaltie to their King who are neuer more happie than when they vndertake some enterprise for the happinesse of both who are not seruants to seruile feare but Master-peeces of valour so that they are as much feared abroad as fauoured and honoured at home and how can they want honour so long as our King and Prince to whom true honour is due honour them Or haply if they should as they neuer doe neglect to respect them yet then owne vertues would in silence speake them worthie who are so wisely valiant that they will not refuse to hazard their liues for the safetie of their Countrey their estate for the preseruation of a limbe nor the cutting off of a limbe for the welfare of the whole bodie who though they can actiuely suffer prines to preuent other dangers which would passiuely fall vpon them yet they will not submit themselues to any base kinde of miserie No surely they know valour is vertue and vertue hath euer more her limits and therefore as the Eagle preyeth not vpon flies so they which are nobly bred and haue their great birth seconded with good education scorne to aime at atchieuements of small import but shoot at high marks of great consequence Some of them valiantly defend the walls as I may so terme them of their Countrey lest their enemies too neere approach might make their Countrey too neere a ruine Others like Hercules doe not sticke to forsake their natiue soile their wiues their children their lands and their possessions to seeke for honour in a foraigne Countrey and restore the wronged to their right to reuenge a Prince great in his vertues though meane in his fortunes his fortunes not so meane by birth but by oppression oppression of a Tyrant vsurping his Dominions Dominions the which I cannot name nay not so much as thinke on but it forceth brinish teares forced and banisht from a grieued heart to see Religion so defaced a Countrey so dispeopled the people so massacred and murdred Then on braue Brittaines Heroes runne in your intended course and being prickt on with valour continue vntill you come to your iournies end that so future ages may erect Trophees to the eternall memories of your famous names that children yet vnborne may say These were the Worthies by whose meanes a desolate Countrey was repeopled a wronged Prince releeued an oppressing Tyrant discomfited Consider oh yee truly ennobled the cause of the war the iustnesse of the cause the vertue of the Prince the rare perfections of his Spouse the hopefulnesse of their Issue the neere affinitie they haue with your Soueraigne being deriued and propagated from his loines the consanguinitie with your Prince and surely these motiues cannot chuse but inflame you with courage and accend your furie to make you fight valiantly and conquer victoriously the enemies of him who is a fauourer and follower of your true religion a Sonne to your Soueraigne a Brother to your Prince a friend to you all But alasse what a needlesse thing it is to cast a drop into the Ocean or to adde a sparke to the fierie region My words are but as wind to blow the fire which is sufficiently kindled for I and all this Realme and Dominion with me are verily and really perswaded that your valour is at so high a pitch it cannot bee raised higher such be our Nobles and therefore fit obiects for such a Princesse who thogh her sex will not permit her to be an actor yet her noble minde doth incite her and no doubt shee cannot chuse but delight to see her Court composed of nothing but such vndaunted and couragious Captaines who though they bee most affable courteous in Court yet they are most terrible couragious in combat I doubt not but it is a delectable spectacle to see your braue Martiallists as Caesar Pompey Alexander and such like though painted that not vnto the life for time hath wasted and worne out the true pictures of them But in these your Nobles most illustrious Princesse you may see them all liuing for if vertue can make one like there is none suruiuing hath a neerer resemblance to them than your noble Seruants and obseruant Nobles haue of them Is it the care of their Countrey which wee should make the subiect of our comparison the Publique good hath beene respected of them more than their priuate commoditie They know they are not borne to themselues onely but to the benefit of the place in which they haue had birth and being This is their resolution in generall but giue me leaue As the whole Kingdom is bound by dutie and gratitude to nominate some particulars as he who is the Fauourite of God his King Prince and Countrey the Duke of Buckingham who is not so stiled vnworthily for hee doth truely deserue it Hath he not beene loyall to our Soueraigne And wheras other subiects which haue beene though neuer thus aduanced haue sought to flie too high vpon the waxen wings of ambition higher than either modestie or his Maiestie permitted hee neuer rose higher than it pleased the King to lift him so that he hath gained more honour by his honestie and vertue than the King could giue him by his meanes for goods may bee giuen by an earthly Soueraigne but grace is an effect of a higher power comming immediately from God the King might preferre him but it was God onely could make him humble in his performances the which hee hath alwaies beene shewing no lesse loyall affection to the King than louing affection to his kinred But looke into his loue which hee beareth to our Prince and you shall finde him to be as a faithfull Ionathan vnto our
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
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
the vndefiled Temple of Diana whose harmelesse heart hath euermore walked cloathed in a white spotlesse robe of matchlesse innocence and hath beene hurtfull to none except it hath beene in being too mercifull and if She hath done any iniurie it hath beene in doing good to those which neuer deserued it Shee is free from the oppression of the fatherlesse or wronging the widow free from the effusion and pouring out of innocent bloud her hands were neuer imbrued in the purple die of infants gore And thus being guarded with the armour of proofe of innocence She walkes secure dreadlesse of danger for neither doe needlesse feares in the time of her watching surprize Her nor horrid dreames of danger in her sleepe affright Her for her innocence doth euermore secure Her Neither may her patience bee passed ouer in silence who heiring her Father in his spirit as if Hee had left Her his good Genius as part of her Dowrie is resolute beyond her sex in bearing aduersities and all afflictions which time in the whole course of her life hath inflicted vpon Her haue beene entertained like snow vpon the ground without any noyse or murmuring Religion and Discretion did informe Her that the more patiently She tooke her punishment of her Heauenly Father the more gently He would correct Her and She deemes it meere madnesse with the fish to leape out of the pan of miserie into the fire of impatience or to seeke to withstand that which She could not auoid therefore in all those sicknesses and afflictions which God either for triall or otherwise hath inflicted vpon Her Shee hath behaued Herselfe with such meeknesse such mildnesse and yet such courage of Spirit as we may truely say Shee hath beene Gods Patient in all her miseries if She were sicke in the highest degree yet her comfort was Shee could not bee sicker and thus though potions could not helpe her bodie yet patience did cure her soule and like a rare extraordinarie Bird She sung in a stormie tempest being not onely thankfull and praising God for his blessings on the right hand but her afflictions on the left and welcomming all her crosses with such sweet embracements as they had not the heart to stay long with such a friend that gaue them such kinde entertainment and good welcome Neither may her humilitie be forgotten who makes it Gentleman-Vsher for her Honour esteeming that honour cannot follow except humilitie goes afore She knowes it is the Basis vpon which all other vertues are erected and that pride is a great disgrace euen in the greatest Potentates To see a poore deiected miserable man which is low and cast downe in estate low in minde it is no wonder but to see one high in honours and preferment humble in spirit it is a strange raritie And it is most true that as there is nothing more odious in the sight of God than a poore man proud so there is no sight more acceptable to his All-seeing Eye than to see one which is mightie meane in his owne opinion But such is this honoured yet humble Ladie who though She be laden with honours riches and vertues yet like a fertile Plant by how much more it is inriched with fruit by so much neerer it bowes to the ground So this Illustrious Princesse by how much more God hath aduanced Her to dignities by so much more Shee doth honour Him by humilitie And to the end that Shee might walke safely betweene two extremes and absolutely attaine to the golden meane as Shee is not prone to pride so She is void of basenesse She doth not altogether forget the greatnesse of her birth but through the remembrance of it is incited to goodnesse of life Shee holds it the highest indignitie and the greatest vnworthinesse that may be to be superiour to any in birth or place and to be inferiour to them in grace and vertue And thus striuing to exceed Shee is beyond compare and good in the superlatiue the which howsoeuer Herselfe doth more looke on the defects in her labouring to mend them than those perfections which cannot bee bettered whiles her diuine soule is shadowed with this veile of mortalitie and depriued of the freedome in this prison of flesh yet Shee would haue others see her vertues not in a foolish vaine-glorie but a religious pietie that others by her good example might bee the more stirred to the practise of vertuous actions and that men seeing her good works might glorifie her Father which is in Heauen and as She doth holily desire that they might see her vertuous disposition and pious qualities so Shee doth wisely labour to couer her infirmities and to burie in obliuion her if there bee any in Her imperfections She considers Shee is set vpon a hill and hath many eyes vpon Her and that which is but a moat in anothers eye is a beame in hers that infirmitie which is but a scratch to anothers credit is a wound to her reputation She obserues also that as her weaknesses are eminent so they are dangerous For if the King holds his necke awry all the Subiects will imitate Him if the Tutour stammers the Scholler will scarce speake plaine and vulgar people thinke it their greatest perfection to imitate their Prince although it be in their imperfections Shee therefore to preuent that which might bee anywayes preiudiciall to her vnderlings endeuours to be as perfect as may bee and to hide that in which Shee is imperfect But that I may be constant in her praises let me likewise commend her constancie for whereas other women are like the Moone euer changing and in one instant loathing that which they loued hauing the eyes of their affection not fixed vpon one certaine obiect but hauing their mindes drunke with the varietie of affections they reele here and there and their heads being sicke of the staggers of inconstancie they are indeterminate in all their proceedings Shee on the contrarie being sober and stayd in her fancie loueth onely One and will neuer leaue to loue Him Light substances as feathers shittle-cocks and such like are moued with euerie puffe or the least blast of winde but creatures more ponderous and precious as your Diamond Rubie Carbuncle and Saphyr are not remoued out of the place where they rest but by violence and howsoeuer they bee harder to find yet it is not so easie to lose them Some women doe loue ad libitum and can finde no center of their desires but like your straw are so accendible as the least puffe will set their affections on flaming and kindle their desires but alas as they are soone in so they are soone out It is an easie matter in euerie place to meet with such light stuffe but it is difficult to finde Diamonds whose affections are well balanced and whose fancies are of long continuance But such is this Princesse so stayd so sober so constant so Penelope-like whom many may wooe but none can winne from Vlysses who though She may
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
obserue She incited them to goodnesse hauing a diligent care that good education might water those good seeds of vertue and blest endowments which Nature had planted in them For howsoeuer the Root from whence this royall Stem sprang and the Father of this Princesse had verie short continuance in the wearisome pilgrimage of this world as who should say the Heauens saw it not conuenient that he should any longer liue when another came to be an Inheritrix of his vertues and Possessour of his perfections whereby Shoe might seeme to haue some want of her Progenitours care to see Her brought vp in all vertuous lore necessarie or requisite for the accomplishment of so great a Princesse yet her mother and not onely her mother but her mothers care still suruiuing and outliuing her father hath so educated and nourished vp this Princely Sprig although indeed of Herselfe Shee was declining from all euill and enclining to all goodnesse that She wanted nothing to make Her most excellent in all rare vertues and qualities for her religion hauing a principall care as She supposed that Shee should bee instructed in the truth and Christian faith the which this mightie Queene professed as Catholique and vniuersall in the which howsoeuer there bee some positions like the Coloquintida in the Iewes pot which spoileth all the pottage as Iustification by merits Adoration of Images which cannot heare vs Prayer to Saints which cannot helpe vs for the dead which cannot be helped Purgatorie Masse Absolution of sinnes to any though impenitent yet notwithstanding there be many practises allowable as holy pious actions in which She was taught to be abounding as satisfaction if it may be for offences committed against our brethren as frequent and feruent prayer to God to beautifie our soules religious fasting to mortifie our bodies as continencie which many of the Romish Religion professe but few of their Friers Monks Nuns or Iesuites practise And truely She hath beene wise hearted and chosen the better part for although by her mothers supposed good though truely misconceiued opinion She hath beene brought vp in the Romish Religion yet like the industrious Bee And howsoeuer Shee might erre in some things for want of true iudgement which cannot be expected in such tender yeeres especially the semall sex who are most readie to be seduced and to walke as their leaders guide them being most credulous and the weaker vessells yet reason and charitie may depose that a Princesse of such ripenesse of wit and incomparable vnderstanding may easily be brought from giuing any internall worship with her heart though She may externall with her bodie to anie Image Oh no Shee scornes to worship a thing more base than any of her basest seruants nay of a lower condition than any of the meanest liuing creatures for the trees grow and are clad in varietie of garments hauing their summer and their winter suit putting on in the Spring a vesture of greene and in Autumne their gray cloathing Morcouer the flowers of the field are the work manship of God and therefore certes more excellent than the childe of mans industrie and inuention but an Image hath not power to cloath in selfe as the plants and flowers but is the effect of mans labour and is onely clad in that array the which the Painter hath giuen it the trees encrease and bring forth fruit for our sustenance but an Image hath onely the figure according to which the Caruer cut it neither yeeldeth it any profit but dishonour to God and destruction to them that honour it And if it bee thus much lesse then a vegetatiue by how much lesse to bee esteemed than a sensitiue creature for they moue see heare taste smell and feele but an Image is voyd of motion and without the helpe of others confined to the same mansion-place blinde and like Iacob cannot see when Ioseph doth him reuerence deafe cannot heare what thou speakest and in euerie respect senslesse But how much inferiour is it to man yea euen to the poorest miserable mortall for looke vpon his soule it the Image of God his Maker looke vpon his bodie and euerie organ performes its office the eye sees the eare heares the palat tafteth the palme toucheth the nose senteth the foot walketh the hand worketh and that which is more the heart vnderstandeth And surely if any thing but God were to be worshipped it were this little world and yet great world of wonders this master-peece of Gods workmanship called Man And surely I deeme it a lesse errour with the ignorant Indians to worship the Sun and the Moone for they are heauenly creatures a smaller fault in the Aegyptians to adore an onion for that was their chiefest sustenance in the people of Israel for he was a King nay a God on earth for so God stiles Princes than to prostrate and cast downe ones selfe to an Image Farre bee it therefore to commit such sacriledge to her sanctitie or that our imaginations should rob Her of so much sense and sauing knowledge to suppose that Shee will not bee brought from the adoration of Images if now Shee doth or euer will adore a senslesse blocke a stocke or it may be indeed She may doe it some outward reuerence as one may doe to a picture in the remembrance of his friend or in the respect they beare to him whom it represents Neither is it possible but She will be instructed that whosoeuer doth trust to his owne merits doth relye vpon a broken reed and buildeth the houle of his saluation vpon the sands of his own works which is readie each moment to bee ruined with euerie stormie tempest of the Deuils temptations but hee that doth build vpon the Corner-stone and Rocke Christ Iesus his foundation being fast and firme his building is perpetuall and euerlasting Shee without doubt will consider that the best of our deeds is sin and the best of our deserts damnation that all our works are but as a menstruous cloth stained with impuritie that when wee haue done all wee can wee are but vnprofitable seruants and that although good works iustifie the faith yet faith iustifies the man that though works proue faith to bee liuing in the man yet faith proueth the man to be liuing in Christ that as faith without works is like the barren fig tree or like the wombes oi Sarah and Elizabeth fruitlesse so works without faith are of no consequence Moreouer it is not to bee beleeued but that She will be brought to beleeue that prayers to Saints cannot ought auaile Her that whe She prayes vnto them they haue no eares to heare Her or if they haue eares to heare Her yet it may be they want hearts to pitie Her or if they haue hearts to pitie Her yet they want hands to helpe Her Shee will easily therefore vnderstand that her prayers ought to bee directed to the Fountaine of all goodnesse the Giuer of all good gifts that as He is her Lord for power so
soueraigntie whose cheekes are like gardens of Roses and Lillies and Alablaster besprinckled with Vermilion both of which are the ineffable ornaments of Nature Alas what should I say more of the rare composure of her Angell-like celestiall countenance in the framing of which Nature hath shewed herselfe no step-mother but hath manifested the perfection of her affection vnto that sex in Her whose praises since I cannot vtter in speeches let it be sufficient to admire in silence Not to omit the proportion of her bodie in the discourse of which the most eloquent Oratour might finde a most spacious field to walke in the which is like her minde neither too loftie nor too excessiue low but her stature is indifferent and in the meane as if Nature in framing of Her had beene the Ape of Vertue and intended to dwell in the meane and shame both extremes each ligament and lineament of her bodie is so strongly and yet so sweetly framed as indeed they claime the admiration of all and the affections of the most Peerelesse Prince in the world As for the portion which indeed is in the last and least place to be respected what Princesse can equall Her For what greater portion than happinesse and what greater happinesse than that which Shee will bring tome Kingdome into which She shall match and in the which She shall be resident whose Allies shall bee as strong Bulwarks to the place to whose Prince She shall be conioyned in wedlocke in the time of warre and in the time of peace the meanes of the transporting of all necessarie and requisite benefits to that Kingdome Thus her vertue her parentage her education proportion and portion proue Her worthie to be linked with the Worthiest in mariage these make Her fit to bee a Wife but the intire affection which Shee beareth to our Prince proue Her worthie to bee his Wife and no doubt but as there is the highest degree of loue betwixt Them so no doubt they shall haue the pledges of true loue and shall liue and giue life to this Kingdome hereafter by their posteritie Thus it appeareth that as now She is euerie wayes a most excellent Virgin so if vertue education parentage portion proportion loue all these or any of these may make a happie Spouse She is likely to make a most blessed Yoake-fellow these make Her fit to be a Wise but her loue to Prince Charles his Wife her vertues ioy the world in generall but her loue to Him doth solace Him in particular and who is able to describe her loue not man for they are not so violent in their passions not women for few or none of them are so vertuous to loue so chastely affectionate no surely neither man nor woman can relate it to the measure althogh they may vtter some part of the manner of it for her loue is euen like her vertues infinite Oh the incomprehensible wisdome of the Deitie which euen afore our birth doth not onely foreknow but doth also predetermine all the actions and affections or vs mortals effecting things and that for our welfare euen by almost seeming impossible meanes beyond our hope or imagination Who would haue thought that Saul should haue found a Kingdome when he went to looke his fathers Asses Or Dauid a Crowne when hee went to carie releefe to his brethren God oftentimes shewes vs our home in the midst of our iourney for so did Hee deale with our mightie Prince who manifesting a high degree of wisdome in looking afore He leapt and shewed no lesse religion than discretion in vndertaking though a tedious iourney to view the Cabinet into which Hee was to put his Soule and to place his perpetuall welfare before He trusted it with the custodie of it most fortunately met with the Center of his affections euen in the mid way Hee aimed but God directed the arrow of his loue at a more happie marke more happie and lesse dangerous for Himselfe more happie more prosperous for his Countries In so much me thinkes that so soone as the louely pourtraicture of this Peerelesse Prince though by his picture should bee conucyed thorow those Crystall Casements of her affections into the closet of her secrecies it should cause her intellectuall facultie thus to rationate with it selfe in silence Whither wanderest thou sweet Prince so far from thy home Thou art lodged in my heart Oh let it be thy perpetuall habitation Why doest thou carrie my heart so far from my bodie It is thou which doest now possesse it for I am no more Mistresse of that which was mine owne Why shouldest thou seeke far for that which isneerer home Expose not thy selfe to the dangers troubles of trauel saile not into an Ocean of sorrowes when thou mayst lie at roade in a more quiet Harbour Oh let my loue be the load-stone of thy person the Remora of thy affections But if thou wilt needs trauell into the Westerne parts and make a night of sorrow in our Hemisphere yet returne turne to vs againe and let the brightnesse of thy beames expell the darknesse of our dolour No doubt but our Prince was inflamed before He saw the smoake of her desire her lookes were the messengers of loue and his heart was open to entertaine the embassage They were the darts of Cupid and his heart was ioyous in being wounded with such weapons Thus did they meet in their affections and the Almightie seeing if mortals can merit any thing that The deserued what They desired will ioyne their hands as well as their harts make Them one really as they are mentally Happie there fore oh royall King which shall liue to see your childrens children flourishing in your Palaces these Kingdoms eternally conferred confirmed vpon your posteritie Happie ô Prince who shall be linked to one which is the Golden Chaine of Vertue this Diamond of the world whom Nature hath so preciously set in the eyes of men to bee the chiefe worke of her workmanship and the Ornament of the world Oh happie Princesse so happie in finding such a Head whose welfare shall be guarded by such a Prince that you shall seeme like sweet Rose-water kept in a crystall glasse Who when you reioyce shall see your ioy shine in an other and when you grieue shall see the face of your sorrow in anothers melting liquid heart Oh happie both of you when like two heauenly Strings conioyned together you shall make a sweeter harmonie Oh how delightfull will the name of Parents bee vnto you when they shall see your Children flourish in whom they are Oh what an ineffable blisse it will bee when they shall see their children with awfull loue runne about them and like little modells of themselues carrie themselues about them Oh happie pie England which art like neuer to bee like a flocke of sheepe without a Shepherd or an armie discomfited without a Leader but hast more than hopes neuer to want one of thy blessed Kings Race to
sit vpon thy Throne so long as the Sunne and Moone endureth which hast likewise the number of thy friends increased more than the multitudes of thine enemies is augmented Oh happie France who gauest birth to a Princesse which giueth life to thee promiseth safetie to thy Confines which is the Ornament of thee as thou art the Ornament of the world which mayst ioy in each benefit thou affoordest yet in nothing more than Her Happie in this Contract is Christendome for although now it may for a time endure the corrosiue of war yet it shall be healed with the plaster of peace and a wrangling mother shall beget a quiet daughter and the purifying of the aire shall bee the issue of storme and lightning Happie in this Contract are Christians for they see the bow of the wicked broken and the horne of the righteous exalted the woman in trauaile shall forsake the desert the Church shall put off her mourning weeds and put on the robes of comfort the name of Christ and the Gospell shall bee exalted and the man of sinne and perdition cast into euerlasting destruction But still me thinks there be some sicke queasie stomackt people who distaste all sweet delicates and onely delight in sowre and vnsauory sallets who haue such timorous tender consciences as they feare where there is no danger making that which otherwayes well applied should be the cause of their rest the mother of disquiet fearing lest this Contract should bring an innouation of religion For say they was not I pray you Salomon seduced and brought to idolatrie by marying Did not Abraham forbid Eleazar his seruant nay bound him by an oath not to take his sonne a wise amongst the Canaanites but his owne kinred and were not the Iewes forbidden to match with the Heathen T is true but it is a question whether this was any otherwayes ceremonially enioyned to the Iewes and not necessarily imposed vpon the Gentiles Moreouer if the seruant of Abraham could not haue found a woman for Isaak that would haue come with him hee had beene discharged of his oath Likewise Prince also are publique persons and ought to be Supporters of the publique welfare and therefore that mariage may be lawfull for Him which seemeth inconuenient for a priuate man in regard that Hee is not so much to respect that which may bee for his owne but his peoples welfare No doubt could Ioseph haue well forsake Aegypt without the preiudice of the Country inferring a generall discommoditie he would haue disposed himselfe it may be with more ioy and contentment but God had allotted that by his meanes Aegypt should be preserued nay and I may well say not so much Aegypt as Israel might haue safetie therefore Ioseph must bee brought into Aegypt by a strange meanes matched with a strange women and what was all this to intimate but that Ioseph was sold to Aegypt that Israel might be preserued frō famine and no doubt Gods wisedome doth oftentimes see beyond the reach of mans apprehension and may match a diuersity of Religion to make an vniformity of faith to the end that there may bee one Shepherd one sheepefold one Christ one Christian faith For is not in her brest the whole globe of this worlds worth contained is not her bosome a stately Theater in which each seuerall vertue acteth a liuely part is not the Iuory compared to her whitenes and Aurora pale being ioyned to her blushes her blushes the which modesty doth alwayes dye which notwithstanding doth alwayes liue in her countenance whose matchlesse vertue is not like a Pearle found in a dunghill but dwelling in so faire a lodging It is she only whose beautiful form is such rare physicke as it is able to make an old Prince young and to make a young Prince liue till he be aged True but it is an ancient position that stately buildings must haue great meanes to maintaine them and such rare beauties rich reuenues to vphold their luster for the whitest cloth doth soonest take soyle the richest vesture soonest spoyled if not well looked to and the fairest creature most subiect to be deformed and wrinckled with want pouerty and afflictions It is requisite therefore that your most curious workemanships should be most curiously kept that pictures excellently drawne should be excellently preserued God therefore with whom all things past and to come are present foreseeing the excellency of this modell of true perfections gaue her beautie to her vertues and meanes to her beauty for what Princesse in Europe shall haue a richer dowry The treasure which followes her as a seruant whithersoeuer shee goeth is in finite and as shee wanteth no wealth her selfe so that Kingdome shall want no riches which doth enioy her for what greater riches than happinesse and what greater happinesse than that which she bringeth to the place shee shall inhabit Is it worth or same which they thirst after what greater fame than her beauty and yet her beauty lesse than her least vertue Surely that Kingdome shall need no sunne in which her vertue shineth that Hemisphere no light in which such a light is resplendent no riches in which is such a Iewel Neither is she meanely powerfull in her mighty Allies for as she is neere to all men in affection for what heart can hate so harmlesse a creature so she is deare to many Princes by affinity as to her brother in vertues as well as by birth Lewis the 13 King of the French and Nauarre a Prince so vertuous so valiant that the one might make him prosperous in peace the other triumphant in victories for hee is not onely his Fathers heire in his Kingdome but is like to be his successour in his conquests for though his face as yet doth scarce shew his sex yet his fortitude prooues him a man a man of such inuict courage and incredible force that few can equall none exceed him for though time as yet hath not much outstript him in regard of his tender yeares yet hee hath outstript time who indeed so farre goes beyond all his time and yeares that whereas others seeme to watch and catch time which alwaies stealeth away with a gliding slie pace yet hee seemeth to flie from time time to run after to catch him in so much as when following times shall reade the storie or rather the beginning of his life they shall admire to see one so young in yeares and courage so old in wisdome and experience and shall thinke by his president that discretion hath shaked hands with the gray head hoarie haires as an house ouerweake and vnworthy of such an inhabitant and taken the Castle to defend her selfe against her enemies intemperance and vnchastitie rage fury and diuers other such like troopes of aduerse enemies and enuious aduersaries for though intemperance and vnchastitie are vsuall I had almost said for so they are accounted veniall sinnes yet He is a rider and ruler of his affections reyneth in
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
before the Conquest there was a mutual exchange of these contracts betweene the ancient famous Saxons and our pious Kings Princes ancestors haue bin famous matches for the good benefit of both Kingdomes for both the Lines of Egbert the Saxon K. of England Alphin K. of Scotland met in the mariage of Malchol the 3 and Margaret sister of Edgar Ehelin right heire to the Crowne of England who died an 1093. Which Malchol was the son of Duncan who vanquisht Mackboth in fight yet afterwards himselfe was slaine in anno 1092 whose Father Dunken the 1. king of Scotland heire of Beatrix who succeeded Malchol was slaine by Makbeth in anno 1046. Beatrix eldest daughter and co-heire of king Malchol the 2 was maried to Abineth Crinathany of the West Ilands of Scotland Malchol the second king of Scotland sonne of Kenneth the 3 subdued king Trim was slaine in anno 1034. Kenneth the third king of Scotland succeeded king Culen became a tyrant and was murthered 994. Malchol the first sonne of king Donald was the successour of Constantine the 3 and was murthered in the yeare 958. Donald the sixt king of Scotland next after king Gregory was his predecessour who died anno 904. Constantine the second king of Scotland after the death of Donald his Vnckle was slaine in anno 874. Keneth the second king of Scotland called the great succeeded his Father king Alphen and died in anno 894. Alphin sonne of K. Achai who made the first league w th France after the death of king Dongallies hee likewise recouered the kingdome of Scotland anno 830 and was afterwards slaine in anno 834. This is the royall descent of our renowned Prince by the Fathers side being sprung by the Fathers and Grandfathers side from so many glorious stemmes of the kings of Scotland By the Grandmother from the renowned race of the Kings of England to whom Scotland hath beene often lincked by the performance of Hymens rites and the celebration of happie nuptials but now it hath found by the meanes of our gracious Soueraigne a more blessed and assured vnion Whose ancestours the true obiects of admiration haue euer beene famous for vertuous actions for what haue they beene defectiue in which sauoured of perfection what worth haue they wanted that might make them esteemed to bee the most noble worthies that euer liued For he hath beeneallyed to so many mighty Kings of England and Scotland and in fine doth heire rightfully the vertues and renownes of both Kings and kingdomes for who can be silent but dumbe men in his praises or can any be tongue-tide whose heart is lincked to him by the bond of obedience and can any one which is a true subiect but make such a Soueraigne the subiect of his praises and obiect of his duty But to the intent that all may know the highnesse of this Princes birth as well as the goodnesse of his minde examine but the greatnesse of his ancestours and allyes of the mothers side whose remembrance to vs is like Myrrhe vnto the body which it embalmeth incorruptible but wonderous bitter for how can it bee better then bitter vnto vs seeing it reduceth into our reminiscence her Name which was so delightfull seeing that putting vs in minde of her perfections the which making vs see how necessary she was for vs manifests vnto vs how miserable we are for her Oh no it is impossible for vs to remember her and to forget her vertues or to retaine the losse of them in our minds and to forget sorrow but to haue weeping eies and bleeding hearts considering that the perpetual welfare of England required that she had bin immortall frō whose death our griefe hath birth and from whose tombe floweth our sorrow But why should I thus produce this mournful dish at this mariage feast vnlesse it should be like sowre sawces tobeget vs better stomackes to our sweeter dainties and to make the beautie of our solace more amorous and excellent by the proposing of the palenesse of our sorrow So doth a faire stately Steede seeme most to bee esteemed being amongst a number of ill-fauoured Iades So doth it serue as well as a painting for a faire Lady to haue a foule Chamber-maid so doth a passionate speech delight in a pleasant Comedie and a sorrowfull passage thrust in amongst a company of merrie scenes And no doubt this serues like the face of a blacke-Moore to his teeth makes them seeme more white and comely This sorrow for the losse of our Queene Anne makes our ioy for the enioying of this Princesse the greater who is like her for perfections as She seemeth most fortunate in being the wife of such a Prince descended from such a mother who although dead yet liue in Her as being the true Mirrour of her most gracious qualities He also most happie in Her in finding a kinde of a mother in a wife so like Her who may serue Him for his mothers picture all times to looke on with a respectiue louing ioyfull remembrance to see his mother liuing in Her For surely her beautie and vertue cannot die so long as this famous Princesse shall liue And thus like Isaak with Rebecca Hee shall bee comforted after the death of his mother who for the goodnesse and the greatnesse of her bloud was almost vnparalleld For how many royall Kings which weilded their regall Scepters with policie power and pietie is Shee descended from How neerely allied was She to multitudes of potent Princes in so much as walls of friendship were erected by her meanes round about these Kingdomes as the King of Denmarke who for his place and person is both wealthie and worthie and able both for men and money to raise a friend or ruine an enemie but howsoeuer to defend an Allie who was the naturall and most affectionate brother of our most royall Queene who by this most happie Contract is vnited to France as we to Him who will be alwayes in readinesse to doe any office of friendship and fraternitie vnto it What should I speake of the Ancestors of our Queene as Fredericke the second King of Denmarke Norway Goths and Vandalls sonne to Christian the third who died in that menacing memorable yeere 1588. and the 32. of the reigne of Queene Elizabeth of neuer-dying fame and memorie who maried Sophia not vnworthily so called in respect her disposition did answer her denomination for indeed Shee was all wisdome as her name importeth Queene of Denmarke sole heire to Vlrick Duke of Meckleburg in anno 1572. from whose blessed loynes and fruitfull as from a fertile Soyle hath flowed such a noble Progenie as seemed to promise to people the world with Princes as that Princely royall religious pious prudent Queen Anne the mostrespected chaste meeke mercifull Maiestique Wife of the Sacred Maiestie of our most mightie Monarch Iames the first and the most happie Mother of our most promising Prince Charles the Felicitie of his Father and the Pledge of our
succeeding Peace the Propagation of Religion also the fortunate Mother of many hopefull Children the most Gracious Queene Elizabeth hath borne vnto Frederick King of Bohemia Also the aforenamed Christian the fourth the now King of Denmarke who maried Anne Catherine Queene of Denmarke daughter to Ioachim Frederick Marquisse of Brandenburg borne in anno 1575. who hath now reaped the fruits and pledges of his mariage-bed the most warlike and worthie Prince Frederick Christian Heire of Norway Duke of Holst and Sleswick and is still suruiuing a most prosperous hopefull and honourable Prince As also Vlrick Heire of Norway Duke of Holst Knight of the noble order Brother to Queene Anne and Vnckle to Prince Charles second sonne of King Frederick the second And in like manner Iohn Duke of Holst and Sleswick Brother to Queene Anne and Vnckle to Prince Charles who was borne 1583. and died vnmaried in Muscouia Also Elizabeth eldest Daughter of King Frederick the second Sister to Queene Anne and Aunt to Prince Charles who was espoused to Henrie Iulio Duke of Brunswicke and Luneburg father of two brothers the elder Duke of Brunswicke and Luneburg and Christian Duke of Brunswicke and Bishop of Halberstadt who hath manifested his infinite loue and courage for the defense of the true religion and his Allies exposing his brest to open dangers and infinite perils hazarding his substance and himselfe beyond ordinarie valour or vertue for the restoring of his so much beloued and so much worthie to bee beloued kinswoman Q. Elizabeth O worthie Prince neuer enough to be commended by the weaknesse of a humane pen for I thinke no Tullian no surely nor Tertullian eloquence could sufficiently compile thy commendations and I doubt not but thy vertues haue engrauen more noble thoughts on Thee in the hearts of all than can be expressed by the hands of any But to returne to the famous Off-spring of this happie King Frederick the second and not to forget Augusta third daughter to King Frederick the second and Sister to Queene Anne and Aunt to our worthie Prince Charles borne in the yeere of Christ 1580. Hedwige fourth and youngest daughter to King Frederick the second Sister to Queen Anne and Aunt to Prince Charles maried to Christian Duke Elector of Saxonie Marquisse of Mismia all which Princes issued from the loynes and are the posteritie of the famous King Frederick the second and Sophia his chaste Spouse and worthie Wife Christian the third King of Denmarke c. sonne to Frederick the first King of Denmarke who maried Dorothie Queene of Denmarke daughter to Magnes the second Duke of Saxonie Angry and Westphaly Frederick the first King of Denmarke maried Sophia of Pomerland Queene of Denmarke his second wife daughter to Bugslane the tenth by Anne of Poland Christian the first King of Denmarke c. maried Dorothie Queene of Denmarke daughter to Iohn Marquisse of Brandenburg widow of Christopher Palatine of Rhine Theodore the fortunate Earle of Holdenburg maried Hedwige his second wife daughter of Gerard Duke of Sleswicke Henrie the elder Duke of Brunswicke and Lunenburg was maried to Catherine of Pomerland Dutchesse of Brunswick Albert sirnamed the Achilles of Germanie Marquisse of Brandenburg maried Margaret Marchionesse of Brandenburg youngest daughter of Iames Marquisse of Baden Fredericke Earle of Zolern Burgraue of Norrenburg maried Elizabeth of Bauaria daughter of the Duke of Bauaria who died in the yeere 1457. Fredericke the Hardie Landtgraue of Thurin maried the daughter of Henrie Earle of Henneburg Iames Marquisse of Baden Earle of Spanheim maried Catherine the daughter of Charles Duke of Loraine Henrie the first Earle of Holst and Scaumburg maried Agnes daughter of Florence Earle of Bronchersteine Albert of Habsburg Arch-Duke of Austria and Emperour maried Elizabeth of Carinthia who was murthered 1308. Otho the first Palatine Elector of Rhine Duke of Bauaria maried Agnes daughter of Henrie sonne of Henrie Leo. Lewis Duke of Bauaria maried Lowisa daughter of Primislay King of Bohemia widdow of Albert Boggai and died in 1231. Henrie Bureuen Prince of the Obotrites Meckel maried Maud daughter of Henrie Leo Elector of Saxonie Otho the Rich Earle of Ascanie Marquisse of Salisquetie maried Helica daughter of Beling the Great Elector of Saxonie So likewise Squantiber the first Prince of Vandalls Sclauonie Duke of Pomerand and Stetin one of the prime Progenitors and Roots of these royall Branches died in the yeere of Christ 1107. being the first yeere of the reigne of Henrie the first of England Here then the blindest man may see the famous Genealogie of our mightie Prince the which I haue related in a compendious manner fearing to be tedious or troublesome yet not so briefly but it is void of obscuritie so that the most ignorant may conceiue the most illustrious mariages betweene the Ancestors of this Royall Prince and all parts of Christendome For the Progenitors of his deere Father and our dread Soueraigne haue matched into the most famous Families of the house of Burbon French King and of Nauarre Arragon Castile Loraine and Hapsburg now called Austria of the Emperour and King of Spaine Also by the way the houses of Luxenburgh Gelders and Dowglasse all the which manifest vnto thee how often they haue beene graced with the participation and ioyning in the Imperiall stemme of his sacred Maiesty the King of Great-Britaine Also the noble Line out of which sprung the Kings of Denmarke as Saxonie Pommerland Brunswicke Plantagenet Oldenburg Shamburg Holst and Sleswicke Zelerne and being descended from the Electors of Brandenburg Bauare and Mackleburg in former times the Kings of the Orbotrites Also you may see Austria Baden Oldenburg Thurin Bohemia Also the house of Austria springeth forth from Poland that her branch might be inoculated into Pomerland and so be grafted into Denmarkes stocke This is the neuer-enough to be illustrated descent of our most royall Prince whose famous Predecessours and Allies doe like so many burning Lamps shine to keepe his vertues from obscurity but that being so high of birth all men might looke vpon and loue his worthy disposition and pious inclination the which if I should offer to produce vpon the Theater Stage of these my labours it would be too little to be contained in it and I could not tell where to make a Prologue or an Epilogue to my storie Oh no let such ambition be as remote once to thinke or vndertake to penne his praises to the full which desires no praise but deserues all Let it only be my comfort that I haue payd some duty to him vnto whose perfections my affections are deuoted and whose I am Millions of times more then my owne of whose worth I am an admirer vnto whose Highnesse it is my onely desire to expresse my seruice and manifest my duty and likewise to that high borne Royall Princesse his intended and contracted Spouse whose Royall Person includes all high beatitudes for her birth is most excellent and yet her fortune exceeds her birth and also her vertues her fortunes whose beauty darkens the beames of mundane luster draweth all humane lights to it to behold it with admiration Alas what shall I say If I should vndertake such an endlesse enterprise as to expresse her vertues to the full which are aboue measure except I should take in hand a taske infinit for her praises must bee infinite because her worth is such and sure I am my worke is infinite in nothing but weaknesse let me therfore haue leaue to make that the Omega which was the Alpha of my worke and end with that with the which I did begin humbly besseeching the Giuer of all good gifts and Father of lights in whom is no variablenes or shadow of turning to blesse this Vnion with a happy processe which he hath happily begunne to make their vertues permanent which now are peerelesse and howsoeuer man can scarcely conceiue how they should be more vertuous yet that they may still increase and grow in goodnesse in which there is euermore a plus vltra Long may they liue and loue together and bring forth such golden Apples of Posterity and haue such a happy off-spring that they may be iustly ioyous and all the world fortunate in it that they may haue length and prosperity of dayes here Peace at the time of their passage out of this world and a happy resurrection to eternall life the which that it may be let all good Subiects say as I pray Amen FINIS