Gesta Grayorum OR THE HISTORY Of the High and mighty PRINCE HENRY Prince of Purpoole Arch-Duke of 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 Duke of 〈◊〉 and 〈…〉 Marquis of St. 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 Count Palatine of 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 Great Lord of the Cantons of 〈…〉 and 〈…〉 Knight of the most Heroical Order of the Helmeâ—â— and Sovereign of the 〈◊〉 Who Reigned and Died A.D. 1594. TOGETHER WITH A Masque as it was presented by 〈…〉 Command for the Entertainment of 〈…〉 who with the 〈◊〉 of both 〈◊〉 was present thereat LONDON Printed for 〈…〉 at this Shop in the 〈…〉 MDCLXXXVIII Price one Shilling To the Most Honourable MATTHEW SMYTH Esq COMPTROLLER OF THE Honourable Society OF THE INNER-TEMPLE SIR THE State of Purpoole so long obscur'd in it self could no otherwise express its Grandeur but by shewing to Posterity what it was This moved those ingenious Gentlemen to leave to succeeding Times the Memory of those Actions which they themselves had done not for the vain Air of Popularity but generously to give an Example which others might desire to follow Accordingly they have by this History set forth their Actions which seem to be writ with the same Gallantry of Spirit as they were done The Language it self is all that Age could afford which allowing something for the Modern Dress and Words in Fashion is not beneath any we have now It was for that Reason thought necessary not to clip any thing which though it may seem odd yet naturally begets a Veneration upon Account of its Antiquity What more could they have wished than to have found a Patron worthy the protecting the Memory of such a Prince And what more can they require than the Safety of your Patronage It was Fortune undoubtedly that reserved it for this happy Opportunity of coming forth under your Protection That strict Alliance which ever was betwixt your States seems to ask it of you as the only Person in whom are revived the ancient Honours of both Houses It was certainly a publick Sense of the same personal Abilities which made that Prince so conspicuous that gives us all a publick View of those Vertues so much admired in private Sir 'T is for these Reasons humbly offerred to you presuming upon a favourable Acceptance of that which naturally falls under your Care. May Time perfect the Character already so well begun that Posterity may hear you equal if not greater than the Prince of Purpoole I am SIR Your HONOUR' 's Most Obedient Servant W. C. Gesta Grayorum OR THE HISTORY OF THE PRINCE OF PURPOOLE Anno Domini 1594. THE great number of gallant Gentlemen that Grays-Inn afforded at ordinary Revels betwixt All-hollontide and Christmas exceeding therein the rest of the Houses of Court gave occasion to some Well-willers of our Sports and Favourers of our Credit to wish an Head answerable to so noble a Body and a Leader to so gallant a Company Which Motion was more willingly hearkened unto in regard that such Pass-times had been intermitted by the space of three or four Years by reason of Sickness and Discontinuances After many Consultations had hereupon by the Youths and others that were most forward herein at length about the 12 th of December with the Consent and Assistance of the Readers and Ancients it was determined that there should be elected a Prince of Purpoole to govern our State for the time which was intended to be for the Credit of Grays Inn and rather to be performed by witty Inventions than chargeable Expences Whereupon presently they made choice of one Mr. Henry Hâ—lmes a Norfolk-Gentleman who was thought to be accomplished with all good Parts fit for so great a Dignity and was also a very proper Man of Personage and very active in Dancing and Revelling Then was his Privy Council assigned him to advise of State-Matters and the Government of his Dominions His Lodging also was provided according to State as the Presence-chamber and the Council-chamber Also all Officers of State of the Law and of the House-hold There were also appointed Gentlemen-Pensioners to attend on his Person and a Guard with their Captain for his Defence The next thing thought upon as most necessary was Provision of Treasure for the Support of his State and Dignity To this purpose there was granted a Benevolence by those that were then in his Court abiding and for those that were not in the House there were Letters directed to them in nature of Privy Seals to injoin them not only to be present and give their Attendance at his Court but also that they should contribute to the defraying of so great a Charge as was guessed to be requisite for the performance of so great Intendments The Form of the Privy Seals directed to the Foreigners upon occasion as is aforesaid YOur Friends of the Society of Grays-Inn now residing there have thought good to elect a Prince to govern the State of the Signiory now by Dis-continuance much impaired in the ancient Honour wherein heretofore it hath excelled all other of like Dignity These are therefore in the Name of the said Prince to require you forthwith to resort to the Court there holden to assist the Proceedings with your Person and withal upon the Receipt hereof to make Contribution of such Benevolence as may express your good Affection to the State and be answerable to your Quality We have appointed our wellâ— beloved Edward Jones our Foreign Collector who shall attend you by himself or by his Deputy Your Loving Friend Grays-Inn Dated at our Court of Graya the 13 th of December 1594. If upon the Receipt of these Letters they returned Answer again that they would be present in Person at our Sports as divers did not taking notice of the further meaning therein expressed they were served with an Alias as followeth To our Trusty and Well Beloved W. B. at L. give These WHereas upon our former Letters to you which required your Personal Appearance and Contribution you have returned us Answer that you will be present without satisfying the residue of the Contents for the Benevolence These are therefore to will and require you forthwith upon the Receipt hereof to send for your part such Supply by this Bearer as to you for the defraying so great a Charge shall seem convenient And herein you shall perform a Duty to the House and avoid that ill Opinion which some Vngentlemanly Spirits have purchased by their uncivil Answers to our Letters directed to them whose Demeanour shall be laid to their Câ—arge when Time serveth and in the mean time Order shall be taken that their Names and Defaults shall be proclaimed in our publick Assemblies to their great Dis-credit c. Your Loving Friend Grays-Inn By this means the Prince's Treasure was well increased as also by the great Bounty of divers honourable Favourers of our State that imparted their Liberality to the setting forward of our intended Pass-times Amongst the rest the Right Honourable Sir William Cecill Kt. Lord Treasurer of
England being of our Society deserved honouraâ—le Remembrance for his liberal and noble Mindfulness of us and our State who undesired sent to the Prince as a Token of his Lordship's Favour 10 l. and a Purse of â—ine rich Needle-work When all these things sorted so well to our Desires and that there was good hope of â—ffecting that that was taken in hand there was dispatched from our State a Messenger to our ancient allied Friend the Inner Temple that they might be acquainted with our Proceedings and also to be invited to participate of our Honour which to them was most acceptable as by the Process of their Letters and ours mutually sent may appear The Copies of the Letters that passed betwixt the two most flourishing Estates of the Grayans and Templarians To the most Honourable and Prudent the Governors Assistants and Society of the Inner Temple Most Grave and Noble WE have upon good Consideration made choice of a Prince to be predominant in our State of Purpoole for some important Causes that require an Head or Leader And as we have ever had great Cause by the Warrant of Experience to assure our selves of your unfeigned Love and Amity so we are upon this Occasion and in the Name of our Prince Elect to pray you that it may be continued and in Demonstration thereof that you will be pleased to assist us with your Counsel in the Person of an Ambassador that may be Resident here amongst us and be a Minister of Correspondence between us and to advise of such Affairs as the Effects whereof we hope shall sort to the Benefit of both our Estates And so being ready to requite you with all good Offices we leave you to the Protection of the Almighty Your most Loving Friend and Ally Grays-Inn Dated at our Court of Graya this 14 th of December 1594. To the most honourable State of the Grayans Right Honourable and most firmly United IF our Deserts were any way answerable to the great Expectation of your good Proceedings we might with more Boldness accomplish the Request of your kind Letters whereby it pleaseth you to interest us in the Honour of your Actions which we cannot but acknowledge for a great Courtesie and Kindness a thing proper to you in all your Courses and Endeavours and repute it a great Honour intended towards our selves In respect whereof we yield with all Good Will to that which your honourable Letters import as your Kindness and the Bond of our ancient Amity and League requireth and deserveth Your assured Friend The State of Templaria From Templaria the 18 th of December 1594. The Order of the Prince of Purpoole's Proceedings with his Officers and Attendants at his honourable Inthronization which was likewise obsâ—rved in all his solemn Marches on grand Days and like Occasions which Place every Officer did duly attend during the Reign of His Highness's Government A Marshal A Marshal Trumpets Trumpets Pursuevant at Arms Lanye Towns-men in the Prince's Livery with Halberts Yeomen of the Guaâ—d three Couples Captain of the Guard Grimes Baron of the Grand Port Dudley Baron of the Base Port Grante Gentlemen for Entertainment three Couples Binge c. Baron of the Petty Port Williams Baron of the New Port Lovel Gentlemen for Entertainment three Couples Wentworth Zukenden Forrest Lieutenant of the Pensioners Tonstal Gentlemen-Pensioners twelve Couples viz. Lawson Devereux Stapleton Daniel Rotts Anderson Glascott Elken Davison cum reliquis Chief Ranger and Master of the Game Forrest Master of the Revels Lambert Master of the Revellers Tevery Captain of the Pensioners Cooke Sewer Archer Carver Moseley Another Sewer Drewry Cup-bearer Painter Groom-porter Bennet Sheriff Leach Clerk of the Council Iones Clerk of the Parliament Clerk of the Crown Downes Orator Heke Recorder Starkey Sollicitor Dunne Serjeant Goldsmith Speaker of the Parliament Bâ—llen Commissary Greenwood Attorney Holt. Serjeant Hitchcombe Master of the Requests Faldo Chancellor of the Exchequer Kitts Master of the Wards and Idiots Ellis Reader Cobb Lord Chief Baron of the Exchequer Briggs Master of the Rolls Hetlen Lord Chief Baron of the Common Pleas Damporte Lord Chief Justice of the Prince's Bench Crew Master of the Ordnance Fitz-Williams Lieutenant of the Tower Lloyd Master of the Jewel-house Darlen Treasurer of the House-hold Smith Knight-Marshal Bell. Master of the Ward-robe Conney Comptroller of the House-hold Bouthe Bishod of St. Giles's in the Fields Dandye Steward of the House-hold Smith Lord Warden of the four Ports Damporte Secretary of State Iones Lord Admiral Cecill Richard. Lord Treasurer Morrey Lord Great Chamberlain Southworth Lord High Constable Lord Marshal Knaplock Lord Privy Seal Lamphew Lord Chamberlain of the House-hold Markham Lord High Steward Kempe Lord Chancellor Iohnson Archbishop of St. Andrews in Holborn Bush. Serjeant at Arms with the Mace Flemming Gentleman-Usher Chevett The Shield of Pegasus for the Inner-Temple Scevington Serjeant at Arms with the Sword Glascott Gentleman-Usher Paylor The Shield of the Griffin for Grays-Inn Wickliffe The King at Arms Perkinson The great Shield of the Prince's Arms Cobley The Prince of Purpoole Helmes A Page of Honour Wandforde Gentlemen of the Privy Chamber six Couples A Page of Honour Butler Roger. Vice-Chamberlain Butler Thomas Master of the Horse Fitz-Hugh Yeomen of the Guard three Couples Towns-men in Liveries The Family and Followers Upon the 20 th Day of December being St. Thomas's Eve the Prince with all his Train in Order as above set down marched from his Lodging to the great Hall and there took his place in his Throne under a rich Cloth of State His Counsellors and great Lords were placed about him and before him below the Half-pace at a Table sate his learned Council and Lawyers the rest of the Officers and Attendants took their proper Places as belonged to their Condition Then the Trumpets were commanded to sound thrice which being done the King at Arms in his rich Surcoat of Arms stood forth before the Prince and proclaimed his Style as followeth By the sacred Laws of Arms and authorized Ceremonies of the same maugre the Conceit of any Malecontent I do pronounce my Sovereign Liege Lord Sir Henry rightfully to be the high and mighty Prince of Purpoole Arch-Duke of Stapulia and Bernardia Duke of the High and Nether Holborn Marquis of St. Giles's and Tottenham Count Palatine of Bloomsbury and Clerkenwell Great Lord of the Cantons of Islington c. Knight of the most honourable Order of the Helmet and Sovereign of the same After that the King at Arms had thus proclaimed his Style the Trumpets sounded again and then entred the Prince's Champion all in compleat Armour on Horse-back and so came riding round about the Fire and in the midst of the Hall stayed and made his Challenge in these Words following If there be any Man of high Degree or low that will say that my Sovereign is not rightly Prince of Purpoole as by his King at Arms right-now hath been proclaimed I am ready here to maintain
but in a sort discontended and displeased After their Departure the Throngs and Tumults did somewhat cease although so much of them continued as was able to disorder and confound any good Inventions whatsoever In regard whereof as also for that the Sports intended were especially for the gracing of the Templarians it was thought good not to offer any thing of Account saving Dancing and Revelling with Gentlewomen and after such Sports a Comedy of Errors like to Plautus his Menechmus was played by the Players So that Night was begun and continued to the end in nothing but Confusion and Errors whereupon it was ever afterwards called The Night of Errors This mischanceful Accident sorting so ill to the great prejudice of the rest of our Proceedings was a great Discouragement and Disparagement to our whole State yet it gave occasion to the Lawyers of the Prince's Council the next Night after Revels to read a Commission of Oyer and Terminer directed to certain Noble-men and Lords of His Highness's Council and others that they should enquire or cause Enquiry to be made of some great Disorders and Abuses lately done and committed within His Highness's Dominions of Purpoole especially by Sorceries and Inchantments and namely of a great Witchcraft used the Night before whereby there were great Disorders and Misdemeanours by Hurly-burlies Crowds Errors Confusions vain Representations and Shews to the utter Discredâ—t of our State and Policy The next Night upon this Occasion we preferred Judgments thick and threefold which were read publickly by the Clerk of the Crown being all against a Sorcerer or Conjurer that was supposed to be the Cause of that confused Inconvenience Therein was contained How he had caused the Stage to be built and Scaffolds to be reared to the top of the House to increase Expectation Also how he had caused divers Ladies and Gentlewomen and others of good Condition to be invited to our Sports also our dearest Friend the State of Templaria to be disgraced and disappointed of their kind Entertainment deserved and intended Also that he caused Throngs and Tumults Crowds and Outrages to disturb our whole Proceedings And Lastly that he had â—oisted a Company of base and common Fellows to make up our Disorders with a Play of Errors and Confusions and that that Night had gained to us Discredit and it self a Nick-name of Errors All which were against the Crown and Dignity of our Sovereign Lord the Prince of Purpoole Under Colour of these Proceedings were laid open to the View all the Causes of note that were committed by our chiefest States-men in the Government of our Principality and every Officer in any great Place that had not performed his Duty in that Service was taxed hereby from the highest to the lowest not sparing the Guard and Porters that suffered so many disordered Persons to enter in aâ— the Court-Gates Upon whose aforesaid Indictments the Prisoner was arraâ—gned at the Bar being brought thither by the Lieutenant of the Tower for at that time the Stocks were graced with that Name and the Sheriff impannelled a Jury of Twenty four Gentlemen that were to give their Verdict upon the Evidence given The Prisoner appealed to the Prince his Excellency for Justice and humbly desired that it would please His Highness to understand the Truth of the Matter by his Supplication which he had ready to be offered to the Master of the Requests The Prince gave leave to the Master of the Requests that he should read the Petition wherein was a Disclosure of all the Knavery and Juggling of the Attorney and Sollicitor which had brought all this Law-stuff on purpose to blind the Eyes of his Excellency and all the honourable Court there going about to make them think that those things which they all saw and preceived sensibly to be in very deed done and actually performed were nothing else but vain Illusions Fancies Dreams and Enchantments and to be wrought and compassâ—d by the Means of a poor harmless Wretch that never had heard of such great Matters in all his Life Whereas the very Fault was in the Negligence of the Prince's Council Lords and Officers of his State that had the Rule of the Roast and by whose Advice the Commonwealth was so soundly mis-governed To prove these things to be true he â—rought divers Instances of great Absurdities committed by the greatest and made such Allegations as could not be denied These were done by some that were touched by the Attornâ—y and Sollicitor in their former Proceedings and they used the Prisoners Names for means of Quittance with them in that behalf But the Prince and States-men being pinched on both sides by both the Parties were not a little offended at the great Liberty that they had taken in censuring so far of His Highness's Government and thereupon the Prisoner was freed and pardoned the Attorney Sollicitor Master of the Requests and those that were aâ—quainted with the Draught of the Petition were all of them commanded to the Tower so the Lieutenant took charge of them And this was the End of our Law-sports concerning the Night of Errors When we were wearied with mocking thus at our own Follies at length there was a great Consultation had for the Recovery of our lost Honour It was then concluded that first the Prince's Council should be reformed and some graver Conceipts should have their places to advise upon those things that were propounded to be done afterward Therefore upon better Consideration there were divers Plots and Devices intended against the Friday after New-years-day being the 3 d. of Ianuary And to prevent all unruly Tumults and former Inconveniences there was provided a Watch of Armed Men to ward at the four Ports and Whifflers to make good Order under the four Barons and the Lord Warden to over-see them all that none but those that were of good Condition might be suffered to be let into the Court And the like Officers were every where appointed On the 3 d. of Ianuary at Night there was a most honourable Presence of Great and Noble Personages that came as invited to our Prince as namely the Right Honourable the Lord Keeper the Earls of Shrewsbury Cumberland Northumberland Southampton and Essex the Lords Buckhurst Windsor Mountjoy Sheffield Compton Rich Burleygh Mounteagle and the Lord Thomas Howard Sir Thomas Henneage Sir Robert Cecill with a great number of Knights Ladies and very worshipful Personages All which had convenient Places and very good Entertainment to their good Liking and Contentment When they were all thus placed and setled in very good Order the Prince came into the Hall with his wonted State and ascended his Throne at the high End of the Hall under His Highness's Arms and after him came the Ambassador of Templaria with his Train likewise and was placed by the Prince as he was before his Train also had Places reserved for them and were provided for them particularly Then after variety of Musick they were presented with this Device At
at all His Excellency's most glorious Triumphs Lastly All the Knights of this honourable Order and the renowned Sovereign of the same shall yield all Homage Loyalty unaffected Admiration and all humble Service of what Name or Condition soever to the incomparable Empress of the Fortunate Island When the King at Arms had read all these Articles of the Order of the Knighthood and finished the Ceremonies belonging to the same and that every one had taken their Places as before there was variety of Consort-Musick and in the mean while the Knights of the Order which were not Strangers brought into the Hall a Running Banquet in very good order and gave it to the Prince and Lords and other Strangers in imitation of the Feast that belongeth to all such honourable Institutions This being done there was a Table set in the midst of the Stage before the Prince's Seat and there sate six of the Lords of his Privy Council which at that time were appointed to attend in Council the Prince's Leisure Then the Prince spake to them in this manner My Lords WE have made choice of you as Our most faithful and favoured Counsellors to advise with you not any particular Action of Our State but in general of the Scope and End whereunto you think it most for our Honour and the Hapâ—iness of Our State that Our Government be rightly bent and directed For We mean not to do as many Princes use which conclude of their Ends out of their own Honours and take Counsel only of the Means abusing for the most part the Wisdom of their Counsellors set them the right way to the wrong place But We desirous to leave as little to Chance or Humour as may be do now give you liberty and warrant to set before Vs to what Port as it were the Ship of Our Government should be bounden And thiâ— We require you to do without either Respect to Our Affections or your own neither gâ—essing what is most agreeable with Our Disposition wherein We may easily deceive you for Princes Hearts are inscrutable Nor on the other side putting the Case by your selves as if you would present Vs with a Robe whereof Measure were taken by your selves Thus you perceive Our Mind and We expect your Answer The First Counsellor advising the Exercise of War. Most Excellent Prince EXcept there be such amongst us as I am fully perswaded there is none that regardeth more his own Greatness under you than your Greatness over others I think there will be little difference in the chusing for you a Goal worthy your Vertue and Power For he that shall set before him your Magnanimity and Valour supported by the Youth and Disposition of your Body your â—lourishing Court like the Horse of Troy full of brave Commanders and Leaders your populous and Man-rife Provinces overâ—lowing with Warlike People your Coâ—fers like the Indian Mines when that they are first opened your Store-houses are as Sea-walls like to Vulcan's Cave your Navy like to an huge floating City the Devotion of your Subjects to your Crown and Person their good Agreement amongst themselves their Wealth and Provision and then your Strength and unrevocable Confederation with the noble and honourable Personages and the Fame and Reputation without of so rare a Concurrence whereof all the former Regards do grow How can he think any Exercise worthy of your Means but that of Conquest For in few Words What is your Strength if you find it not Your Fortune if you try it not Your Vertuâ— if you shew it not Think Excellent Prince what Sense of Content you found in your self when you were first invested in our State For though I know Your Excellency is far from Vanity and Lightness yet it is the nature of all things to find Rest when they come to due and proper places But be assured of this that this Delight will languish and vanish for Power will quench Appetite and Satiety will endure Tediousness But if you embrace the Wars your Trophies and Triumphs will be as continual Coronations that will not suffer your Glory and Contentment to fade and wither Then when you have enlarged your Territories ennobled your Country distributed Fortunes good or bad at your pleasure not only to Particulars but to Cities and Nations marked the Computations of Times with your Expeditions and Voyages and the Memory of Places by your Exploits and Victories in your later Years you shall find a sweet Respect into the Adventures of your Youth you shall enjoy your Reputation you shall record your Travels and after your own time you shall eternize your Name and leave deep Foot-steps of your Power in the World. To conclude Excelâ—ent Prince and most worthy to have the Titles of Victories added to other your high and deserved Titles Remember the Dâ—vines find nothing more glorious to resemble our State unto than a Warfare All things in earnest and jest do affect a kind of Victory and all other Victories are but Shadows to the Victories of the Wars Therefore embrace the Wars for they disparage you not and believe that if any Prince do otherwise it is either in the Weakness of his Mind or Means The Second Councellor advising the Study of Philosophy IT may seem Most Excellent Prince that my Lord which now hath spoken did never read the just Censures of the wisest Men who compared great Conquerors to great Rovers and Witches whâ—se Power is in Destruction and not in Preservation else would he never have advised your Excellency to become as some Comet or Blazing Star which should threaten and pretend nothing but Death and Dearth Combustions and Troubles of the World. And whereas the governing Faculties of Men are two Force and Reâ—son whereof the one is Bruit and the other Divine he wisheth you for your principal Ornament and Regality the Talons of the Eagle to catch the Prey and not the piercing Sight which seeth into the bottom of the Sea But I contrary-wise will wish unto your Highness the Exercise of the best and purest part of the Mind and the most innocent and meriting Request being the Conquest of the Works of Nature making his Proportion that you bend the Excellency of your Spirits to the searching out inventing and discovering of all whatsoever is hid in secret in the World that your Excellency be not as a Lamp that shineth to others and yet sâ—eth not it self but as the Eye of the World that both carrieth and useth Light. Antiquity that presenteth unto us in dark Visions the Wisdom of former Times inforâ—eth us that the Kingdoms have always had an Affinity with the Secrets and Mysteries of Learning Amongst the Persians the Kings were attended on by the Magi the Gymnasophists had all the Government under the Princes of Asia and generally those Kingdoms were accounted most happy that had Rulers most addicted to Philosophy The Ptolemies in Egypt may be for instance and Solyman was a Man so seen in the Vniversality of Nature
other Point of exercising in every part of your State something new derived from your self it will acquaint your Excellency with an humor of Innovation and Alteration which will make your Reign very turbulent and unsetled and many times your Change will be for worse as in the Example last touched of Constantine who by his new Translation of his Estate ruinated the Roman Empire As for Profit there appeareth a direct contrariety betwixt that and all the three Courses for nothing causeth such dissipation of Treasure as Wars Curiosities and Buildings and for all this to be recompensed in a supposed Honour a Matter apt to be much extolled in Words but not greatly to be praised in Conceit I do think it a Losers Bargain Besides that many politick Princes have received as much Commendation for their wise and well ordered Government as others have done for their Conquests and glorious Affections And more worthy because the Praise of Wisdom and Iudgment is less communicated with Fortune Therefore Excellent Prince be not transported with Shews follow the Order of Nature first to make the most of that yâ—u possess before you seek to purchase more To put the Case by a private Man for I cannot speak high if a man were born to an hundred Pounds by the Year and one shew him how with Charge to purchase an hundred Pounds more and another should shew him how without Charge to raise that hundred Pounds unto five hundred Pounds I should think the latter Advice should be followed The Proverb is a Countrey-Proverb but significative Milk the Cow that standeth still why follow you her that flieth away Do not think Excellent Prince that all the Conquests you are to make be foreign you are to conquer here at home the overgrowing of your Grandees in Factions and too great Liberties of your People the great Reverence and Formalities given to your Laws and Customs in derogation of your absolute Prerogatives these and such like be Conquests of State though not of War. You want a Joseph that should by Advice make you the only Proprietor of all the Lands and Wealth of your Subjects The Means how to strain up your Sovereignty and how to accumulate Treasure and Revenue they are the Secrets of your State I will not enter into them at this place I wish your Excellency as ready to them as I know the means ready to perform them The Fifth Councellor advising him Vertue and a Gracious Government Most Excellent Prince I Have heard sundry Plats and Propositions offered unto you severally One to make you a great Prince another to make you a strong Prince and another to make you a memorable Prince and a fourth to make you an absolute Prince but I hear of no mention to make you a good and a vertuous Prince which surely my Lords have leâ—t out in discretion as to arise oâ— your own motion and choice and so I should have thought had they not handled their own Propositions so artificially and perswadingly as doth assure me their Speech was not formal But most Worthy Prince Fame is too light and Proâ—it and Surety are too low and Power is either such as you have or ought not so to seek to have it is the meriting of your Subjects the making of Golden Times the becoming of a Natural Parent to your State These are the only and worthy Ends of your Grace's vertuous Reign My Lords have taught you to refer all things to your self your Greatness Memory and Advantage but whereunto shall your self be referred If you will be heavenly you must have Influence will you be as a standing Pool that spendeth and choaketh his Spring within its self and hath no Streams nor Current to bless and make fruitful whole Tracts of Countreys wherâ—â—y it reneweth Wherefore first of all mâ—st Verâ—uous Prince assure your sâ—lf of an inward Peace that the Storms without do not dâ—â—turb any of your Repairâ—rs of State within therein use and praâ—tise all honourable Diversâ—ons that done visit all the parts of your Sâ—ate and let the Balm dâ—stâ—l every where from your Sovereign Hands to the medicining of any part that complaineth beginning with your Seat of State take order that the Fault of your Greatneâ—s do not rebâ—und upon your sâ—lf have care that your Intelligence which is the Light of your State do not go out or burn dim or obscuâ—e advanâ—e Men of Vertue and not of Mercenary Minds repress all Factioâ— be it either malign or violent Then look into the State of your Laws and Justice of your Land purge out multiplicity of Laws clear the incertainty of them repeal those that are snaring and prize the execution of those that are wholesom and necessary define the Jurisdiction of your Courts reprize all Suits and Vexations all causless Delays and fraudulent Shifts and Devices and reform all such Abuses of Right and Justice assist the Ministers thereof punish severely all Extortions and Exactions of Officers all Corruptions in Trials and Sentences of Judgment Yet when you have done all this think not that the Bridle and Spur will make the Horse to go alone without Time and Custom Trust not to your Laws for correcting the Times but give all strength to good Education see to the Government of your Universities and all Seminaries of Youth and of the private Order of Families maintaining due Obedience of Children towards their Parents and Reverence of the younger sort towards the ancient Then when you have confirmed the Noble and Vital Parts of your Realm of State proceed to take care of the Blood and Flesh and good Habit of the Body Remedy all decays of Population make provision for the Poor remove all stops in Traffick and all Cancers and Causes of Consumption in Trades and Mysteries redress all But whither do I run exceeding the Bounds of that perhaps I am now demanded But pardon me most Excellent Prince for as if I should commend unto your Excellency the Beauty of some excellâ—nt Lady I could not so well express it with Relation as if I shewed you her Picture so I esteem the best way to commend a vertuous Government to describe and make appear what it is but my Pencil perhaps disgracâ—th it Therefore I leavâ— it to your Excellency to take the Picture out of your wise Observation and then to double it and express it in your Government The Sixth Councellor perswading Pass-times and Sports WHen I heard Most Excellent Prince the three first of my Lords so careful to continue your Fame and Memory methought it was as if a Man should come to some young Prince as your self is and immediately after his Coronation be in hand with him to make himself a sumptuous and stately Tomb. And to speak out of my Soul I muse how any of your Servants can once endure to think of you as of a Prince past And for my other Lords who would engage you so deeply in Matters of State the one perswading you to a
more aâ—solute the other to a more gracious Government I assure your Excellency their Lessons were so cumbersome as if they would make you a King in a Play who when one would think he standeth in great Majesty and Felicity he is troubled to say his part What! Nothing but Tasks nothing but Working-days No Feasting no Musick no Dancing no Triumphs no Comedies no Love no Ladies Let other Men's Lives be as Pilgrimages because they are tied to divers Necessities and Duties but Princes Lives are as Progresses dedicated only to Variety and Solace And if your Excellency should take your Barge in a Summer-Evening or your Hâ—â—se or Chariot to take the Air and if you should do any the honour to visit hiâ— yâ—t your Pleasure is the principal and that is but as it falleth out Sâ— if any of these Matters which have been spoken of fall out in the wâ—y 〈◊〉 your Plâ—asure it may be taken but no otherwise And therefore leave your Wars to your Lieutenants and your Works and Buildings to your Surveyors and your Books to your Vniversities and your State-matters to your Councellors and attend you that in Person which you cannot execute by Deputy Vse the Advantage of your Youth be not sullen to your Fortune make your Pleasure the Distinction of your Honours the Studies of your Favourites the Talk of your People and the Allurement of all Foreign Gallants to your Court. And in a word Sweet Sovereign dismiss your five Councellors and only take Councel of your five Senses BUt if a Man should follow your five Senses said the Prince I perceive he might â—ollow your Lordship now and then into an Inconvenience Your Lordship is a Man of a very lively and pleasant Advice which though one should not be forward to follow yet it fitteth the time and what Our own Humour inclined oâ—tentimes to Delight and Merriment For a Prince should be of a chearful and pleasant Spirit not austere hard-â—ronted and stoâ—cal but after serious Affairs admitting Recreation and using Pleasures as Sauces for Meats of better Nourishment The Prince's Answer and Conclusion to the Speeches of the Councellors My Lords WE thank you for your good Opinions which have been so well set forth as We should think Our Selves not capable of good Counsel if in so great variety of perswading Reasons we should suddainly resolve Mean while it shall not be amiss to make choice of the last and upon more Deliberation to determine of the rest and what Time we spend in long Consulting in the end we will gain by prompt and speedy Executing The Prince having ended his Speech arose from his Seat and took that Occasion of Revelling So he made choice of a Lady to dance withal so likewise did the Lord Ambassador the Pensioners and Courtiers attending the Prince The rest of that Night was passed in those Pass-times The Performance of which Nights work being very carefully and orderly handled did so delight and please the Nobles and the other Auditory that thereby Grays-Inn did not only recover their lost Credit and quite take away all the Disgrace that the former Night of Errors had incurred but got instead thereof so great Honour and Applause as either the good Reports of our honourable Friends that were present could yield or we our selves desire The next Day the Prince accompanied with the Ambassador of Templaria and attended by both Trains took his Progress from his Court of Graya to the Lord Mayor's House called Cosby's Place in Bishop's-gate-street as being before that time invited to dine with him This Shew was very stately and orderly performed the Prince being mounted upon a rich Foot-cloth the Ambassador likewise riding near him the Gentlemen attending with the Prince's Officers and the Ambassador's Favourites before and the other coming behind the Prince as he set it down in the general Marshalling in the beginning Every one had his Feather in his Cap to distinguish of whether State he was the Grayans using a white and the Templarians using Ash-colour'd Feathers to the number of fourscore in all very well appointed and provided of great Horses and Foot-cloths according to their Places Thus they rode very gallantly from Grays-Inn through Chancery-lane Fleet-street so through Cheap-side Corn-hill and to Cosby's Place in Bishop's-gate-street where was a very sumptuous and costly Dinner for the Prince and all his Attendants with variety of Musick and all good Entertainment Dinner being ended the Prince and his Company having revelled a while returned again the same Way and in the same Order as he went thither the Streets being thronged and filled with People to see the Gentlemen as they passed by who thought there had been some great Prince in very deed passing through the City So this popular Shew through the Streets pleased the Lord Mayor and his Commonalty so well as the great Lords and others of good Condition and Civility were contented with our former Proceedings Shortly after this Shew there came Letters to our State from Frederick Templarius wherein he desired that his Ambassador might be dispatched with Answer to those Things which he came to treat of So he was very honourably dismissed and accompanied homeward with the Nobles of Purpoole Which Departure was before the next grand Day The next grand Night was upon Twelfth-day at Night at which time the wonted honourable and worshipful Company of Lords Ladies and Knights were as at other times assembled and every one of them placed conveniently according to their Condition And when the Prince was ascended his Chair of State and the Trumpets sounded there was presently a Shew which concerned His Highness's State and Government The Invention was taken out of the Prince's Arms as they are blazon'd in the beginning of his Reign by the King at Arms. First There came six Knights of the Helmet with three that they led as Prisoners and were attired like Monsters and Miscreants The Knights gave the Prince to understand that as they were returning from their Adventures out of Russia wherein they aided the Emperor of Râ—ssia against the Tartars they surprized these three Persons which were conspâ—â—â—â—g against His Highness and Dignity and that being apprehended â—y them they could not urge them to disclose what they were By wâ—â—ch they resâ—ing very doubtful there entred in the two Goddesses â—â—â—eâ—y and Amity and they said that they would disclose to the Prâ—â—â—â— who these suspected Persons were and thereupon shewed that they were Envy Male-content and Folly Which three had much mis-liked His Highness's Proceedings and had attempted many things against his State and but for them two Vertue and Vnited Friendship all their Inventions had been disappointed Then willed they the Knights to depart and to carry away the Offenders and that they themselves should come in more pleasing sort and better befitting the present So the Knights departed and Vertue and Amity promised that they two would support His Excellency against all his Foes whatsoever and then departed with
most pleasant Musick After their Departure entred the six Knights in a very stately Mask and danced a new devised Measure and after that they took to them Ladies and Gentlewomen and danced with them their Galliards and so departed with Musick Which being doneâ— the Trumpets were commanded to sound and then the King at Arms came in before the Prince and told His Honour that there was arrived an Ambassador from the mighty Emperor of Russia and Moscovy that had some Matters of Weight to make known to His Highness So the Prince willed that he should be admitted into his Presence who came in Attire of Russia accompanied with two of his own Country in like Habit When they were come in presence of the Prince the Ambassador made his Obeysance and took out Letters of Credence and humbly delivered them to the Prince who gave them to the King at Arms to be read publickly as followeth To the most High and Mighty Henry Prince of Purpoole THeodore Evanwhich the great and mighty Emperor of all Russia Valderomia Muscovia and Nevogordia King of Rasan and of Astrakan Lord of Plescoe and Sinelescoe Prince of Tnaria Sâ—goria Perma Vachekey and Bolgaria Lord and great Duke of Valhadha Norgordia in the Country of Cherenega and also of Rescod Polotzkoe Ogdor and Belesor sole Prince of Lothekey Rostow Geroslave the white Lake Liselrund Owdoria Condencia and Fludoria great Ruler and Commander of Siberia and of all the North-side and Lord Governor of many other Countries and Provinces To the most mighty and glorious renowned Henry Prince of Purpoole Arch-Duke of Stapulia and Bernardia Duke of High and Nether Holborn Marquis of St. Giles's and Tottenham Count Palatine of Bloomsbury and Clerkenwell great Lord of the Cantons of Islington Kentish-Town Paddington and Knights-Bridge Knight of the most Heroical Order of the Helmet and Sovereign of the same All Health and glorious Renown We have thought good Most Invincible Prince upon some Accidents of Importance happened to our State wherein the Worthiness of some of your Subjects remaining here have increased your Fame to dispatch to your Highness Our most faithful Councellor Faman Bega to intreat with you in Our Name of certain important Affairs Which though We must confess do concern Vs in Policy to have an effectual Regard unto yet withal they are such as may minister Occasion to your Highness to add Beams of Honour to your Praise and Glory which hath already in a manner equalled the Light of Heaven in Brightness which is seen throughout the whole World. We refer you herein for the Particulars to such Instructions as We have under Our own Hand delivered to this our present Ambassador Wherein as also in any other Points whereof he shall treat with your Highness in Our Name and Affairs We pray your Sacred Majesty to give Credit to him as if Our self were present and treated with you in Persâ—n And so We wish to your Excellency all Happiness answerable to your Peerless Vertue Dated at Our Imperial City of Mosco When the King at Arms had read this Letter the Ambassador made this Speech to the Prince Most Excellâ—nt Prince FAme seemed to the Emperor my Sovereign to do your Highness Right by filling the World with the Renown of your Princely Vertues and Valour of your brave Court till of late the gallant Behaviour and heroical Prowess of divers your Knights of the Helmet whom the good Fortune of Russia addressed to your cold Climate discovered that Famâ— to be either envious in suppressing a great part of your Valour or unable to set forth so admirable Vertues to their full Merits For by these five Knights whose greatest Vaunts were that they were your Excellency's Servants an exceeding number of Bigarian Tartars whose vagabond In-roads and inhumane Fierceness insested his Borders captivated his People burnt his Cities and spoiled whole Provinces was by a most wonderful Victory repulsed and beaten back And withal by their brave Conduct they surâ—â—â—zed another Army of Ne-gro-Tartars whose wretched Devices ceased not to work the Confusion and Combustion of our whole Country and diverted their barbarous Cruelty where it might do us most damage These same worthy Knights before they could receive that Honour wherewith my Soveraign intended to adorn their Vertues did withdraw themselves and are retired as His Majesty is informed to your Court. Whereupon he sent me partly to congratulate your Happiness who deserve to command over such a number of gallant Gentlemen but especially to conjure your Excellency according to the ancient League and Amity continued betwixt you that you would send him these six Knights accompanied with an hundred other of the same Order for he doubteth not but by their Vertues accompanied and attended with his own Forces who are in largeness of Dominion and number of People and all other Warlike Furniture and Provision inferiour to no Earthly Potentate that these Runagate Tartars shall be again confined to their Deserts with their memorable Slaughter and your common Glory and Profit Common indeed both to your Highness and him inasmuch as His Imperial Majesty contented only with Security and Assurance of his People and Borders will permit all those large Territories and battable Grounds which now serve those Vermine for Pasturage be sorted into several Governments and strengthned with Forts and Castles by your Direction to be holden of your Excellency as Commendations by the Knights of special Vertue and Merit of your Order So shall you with honourable Commodity have a perpetual Exercise of your Vertues become a Bulwark of Christendom and by raising continual Trophies of strengthned Tartars keep the Glory of your Vertue in everlasting Flourish My Sovereign not doubting but that your Resolution will be conformable to your magnanimous Vertue and his honourable Demand charged me only to sollicite Expedition such as the Necessity of his People and Country doth require In the mean time he hath sent your Excâ—llency for a Present a Ship laden with divers of the best and fairest Fruits and other richest Commodities of our Country Not so much by Gifts to draw on your speedy Help to which he knoweth the Truth and Justice of the Case will be a Spur sufficient or for Complement of an ordinary and seldom omitted Companion of great Embassies but rather for a Seal and Testimony of the exceeding Honour that he beareth to your matchless Vertue and the great Love he beareth to your incomparable Person The Present is at your next Haven ready to be offerâ—d to your Sacred Hands at your convenient leisure together with some small Gifts sent to those valiant Knights whose highly deserving Vertues my Sovereign meaneth at their long expected Return to his Court to crown with a Garland more worthy his Greatness and their Merits The Answer of the Prince to the former Speech Russia Lord THe Emperor your Master is happy in having so honourable a Gentleman as your self to do him Service He shall well perceive that there is