A BRIEF AND FAMILIAR EPISTLE SHOWING HIS majesties MOST LAWFUL, HONOURABLE AND JUST TITLE TO ALL HIS KINGDOMS. With an Epitaph or brief lamentation for the late Majesty Royal of most famous, godly, and honourable memory: With a rejoicing after sorrow for the same. And lastly a prayer for his majesties most happy succession, and for the Queen and their children.  
By Robert Fletcher.  
Imprinted at London for john Harrison, dwelling in Paternoster row, at the sign of the Anchor. 1603.   

TO THE RIGHT WORSHIPFUL HIS EVER good friend Marmaduke Darell Esquire, Clerk Comptrouler of the late Queens majesties household, and victuler of her Navy Royal, etc. Robert Fletcher, Yeoman Purveyor of Carriages for removes of our said late Sovereign Lady the Queen, wisheth a long life with continuance of those virtues which God hath endued him with.  
SIR although my senses were soaked and over drowned with sorrow, for the death of our late dread Sovereign, under whose Table I have had( for the most part) my nourishment almost forty years of my life past: and in my travels, hearing some to dispute of his majesties just and most lawful Title: others to mourn with me, others to rejoice with Songs, Ballads, etc. And lastly, a Soldiers wish, Entitled to his Majesty, and patronized by all the Lords, etc. I could not choose but imitate, and therefore have written a brief Epistle to the vulgar, touching his majesties Title. Secondly a mean Epitaph for her late Majesty. Thirdly a few verses of rejoicing after sorrow: And lastly, a prayer for the King, the Queen, and their children: With a thanksgiving to God for sending their Majesties to us, with such hope of happy succession: all which I beseech you to patronize, with myself also, as your place and occasion may afford, and as justice and equity according to your wisdom shall direct you. At my lodging near Charing Cross, the xxiii. of April. 1603.  
Your worships to be commanded as abovesaid ever, Robert Fletcher.   

A brief and familiar Epistle showing his majesties most Lawful, Honourable, and just Title to all his Kingdoms, etc.  
IF any will be so desperate impudent, to affirm that our Sacred and most excellent Sovereign now deceased, was not to be naturally sorrowed for. I am persuaded that every good Christian will condemn that person: even so every one that now after our mourning and bootless sorrow, will not confess, that our most excellent Sovereign Lord and King, is not the true lineal, most honourable heir and lawful successor, he hath not read any of our own histories or Chronicles: nor doth he understand aught, but may be reckoned among the vulgar to be void of common sense, for as the first proclamation was excellently penned touching his majesties most lawful right and lineal succession, so it is not yet much above fifty years since a conjunct union was sought to have knit both the Realms of England and Scotland together. Not withstanding the near proximity of blood between the two young Princes of England, Edward; of Scotland, Mary; King Henry the eight and our last of that name, sought it first by all good and honourable means after his decease. The like course was holden, as who will read the Epistle exertatory written by the Duke of Somerset & the whole Counsel of England, unto the nobles & commons then of Scotland, may perceive, and conceive what blessed happiness, and happy blessedness was therein promised to both the nations: but it may serve, and that to all men of any reasonable foreseeing capacity, that the all-seeing spirit of the eternal Majesty, did see what then was most meetest to confirm his glory and our comforts: for look into the propagation of the Gospel of peace, & you shall perceive, that the almighty had his ocult judgement in the several reigns of King Henry's children, viz. King Edward to begin to build the Temple of the Lord, so much as six years & odd months could give him leave, amongst many rebellions and perturbations, moved by his people both abroad in the Realm, and among his very domesticals at home; Queen Mary to pull all down again and to plant Popery, having to aid her therein, the help of Spain, etc. this was no doubt for the trial of God's children in England, and confirmation of the faithful, v. years, odd months was her Reign, little to her own comfort, and less to her subjects.  
Then came the mirror of the world, our late dread sovereign Elizabeth, the pattern and patronisse of many, yea almost of all the religious & godly Princes of Christendom; and she planted religion, suppressed, though not clean supplanted superstition and idolatry, & reigned full xliiii. years odd months: and howsoever her Majesty might seem to conceal from us her heir apparent, by her grave, wise, & honourable foreseeing Counsel, yet you may see that her most prudent Counsel surviving her most gracious Majesty did presently proclaim this royal Gentleman to be our King and blessed substitute sent of God.  
Who being the grand son of the eldest daughters son of King Henry the seven. and Queen Elizabeth his wife, as then the very heir to the imperial Crown of this land, he is also the entire and most dear son of the same eldest sisters daughter's son, a most Godly, goodly, and noble young gentleman, borne hear in England amongst us, whose very princely presence, myself have seen and spoken with, at Saint james house near Charing Cross: so that he is our lawful, and true undoubted King of Scotland by mother and father: of England by father and mother: of whose Majesty, Magnanimity, Princely power, most excellent government we are assured, by a book written by himself to the Prince his son and heir apparent: & according to the Counsel contained in the said book, & directed to the most mighty and excellent young Prince now in Europe living, both for parents and for patrimony. I do most humbly beseech almighty God, that all the subjects in these his majesties dominions may mediate, imitate, and teach it to posterity.  
For thereby such government must needs ensue, both generally abroad in the common wealth, & domestical at home in every man's particular, that virtue will be advanced, vice utterly suppressed, the almighty served, our Kingobeied, the honourable honoured, the Clergy reverenced, the poor relieved, and every degree so settled: the King rejoicing in his subjects, the subjects glorying in their King, which the King of eternal glory grant us all to be partakers of.  
AMEN.   

An Epitaph or brief Lamentation for the late Majesty Royal of most famous, godly, and honourable memory, our gracious Queen Elizabeth.  

Bewail our greatest and most grievous loss,  
all mortal wights that on the earth do tread:  
Your honour, glory, beauty, turned to dross,  
your wealth, your peace, your plenty, leapt in Lead.  
Lieth mortified, and in her Palace placed,  
Whom erst, late erst, all earthly Princes graced,   

Gone is she now, that was a Flower in youth,  
a juno, Pallas, Venus, in her age:  
A future hope, for to maintain the truth,  
oh want of breath hath turned her from the Stage  
And Kingly throne, wherein on earth was placed,  
Her Majesty, whom all the world late graced.   

Bewail her death ye Muses, and all men,  
Apollo weep, Minerva likewise mourn,  
All Poets now, bring each a golden Pen,  
and beautify her hearse, each in his turn.  
Let it be known t'all Princes farthest placed,  
That our Eliza was before them graced.   

And I poor soul, that mourn with all my heart,  
For my good Queen, and Sovereign mistress dear:  
Will set my Pen and study now apart,  
it to the world for ever shall appear.  
That while the Lord on earth doth let me live,  
I for the dead no line or word will give.   

But this last service to my peerless Prince:  
ah wretch, and is it even the last indeed:  
It is the last,( and doth my Muse convince)  
so hath our God, and Nature both decreed.  
That this should be the last year of her life:  
Doubtful( to some) to have begun our strife.   

Yet see, the Lord did harbour in her breast,  
which she kept secret more than forty year:  
Who should succeed her, and continue rest,  
amongst her subjects whom she held most dear.  
A King by birth, and nearest to her blood:  
( Ordained of God) England's aye lasting good.   

O mirror then of Majesty and power,  
of wisdom and of womanhood the best:  
That could conceal until her latest hour,  
that we in her succession should be blest.  
O jewel rare, O gem of greatest price,  
Thy soul( with God) possesseth Paradise.   
FINIS.   

Our late sorrow, and our present joy.  

Such mirth from moan, such joy from care,  
in Britain soil was never seen:  
True English hearts did all prepare,  
to mourn the loss of their good Queen.  
But now rejoice with heart's content,  
For this good King which God hath sent.  
Our earthly Paragon hath past:  
her glorious days, and happy reign:  
No state or sex can longer last,  
than power divine did preordain.  
The Sun by course, doth set at night,  
And in the morning rise more bright.  
Our Cynthia in the evening set, 
The Queen.   
or after midnight took her rest:  
Dan Phoebus strait did not forget, 
The King.   
to think his mansion must be blest.  
With glorious beams sent from above,  
Descending down with ardent love.  
View then the works of power divine,  
whose hests are just, and never fail:  
Maintaining true descent and line,  
which none can cross or countervail,  
Then sing, lament, rejoice, complain,  
First England's loss, next England's gain.  
First England hath a Lady lost,  
a mirror to the worlds of men:  
Now found a King, and with no cost,  
Just cause therefore to joy again.  
Now King, and Queen, with daughter, son:  
Have England's joy, and reign begun,  
You trembling hearts that quakte for fear;  
with watch and ward to doubt the worst,  
Now here proclaimed every where:  
the joyful news of james the first,  
Undoubted King, by just descent,  
whose right no title can prevent.  
Most worthy Prince in Europe bred,  
is now our sovereign Lord and King:  
Who by God's wisdom will be led,  
to work our weal in every thing.  
Religious, wise, of valiant mind,  
Who to such subjects will be kind.  
Of Britain I'll in brief to speak,  
that now one Monarch must maintain:  
Conjoining hearts must malice break,  
be reconciled and friends again.  
Let every former fought field,  
Like sons unto their fathers yield.  
Like Lancaster and York in love, 
●enry ●arle of richmond, ●nd Eliza●●th the ●aughter 〈◊〉 Edward the forth.   
must England now and Scotland join:  
Such unity God grant may prove,  
no foreign power dare then purloin  
One foot of ground from Britain's peace,  
But Britain's may their ground increase,  
For this good King then let us pray,  
that Nestor's years 'mongst us he reign,  
His Queen and Princes, also they,  
in like felicity maintain,  
O gracious God, defend from those,  
All foreign and domestic foes.   
FINIS.   

A Prayer for the King, the Queen, and their Children, with a thanksgiving to God, for sending to us their Majesties, with such hope of happy succession.  
O Eternal God most holy and blessed father in jesus Christ, which hast created all things, who wilt also be the judge of all men, we thy most and unworthy creatures( in the due regard of our sins) do most humbly beseech thee to be merciful unto our most dread Sovereign Lord james the first: Thy most honourable servant our King and governor, that as thou didst first in great mercy send unto this realm a Deborah to defend us from Sissera: a most blessed woman to redeem us from Room and Romish religion, and the tyranny thereof formerly inflicted upon this Church of England, and the true professors of thy most glorious Gospel: and more, having Sanctified her soul, and made it meet for thy most glorious and blessed presence, we do laud and magnify thy holy name therefore, humbly beseeching the same, to inspire the heart of our King to look into the ruins of the Church and commonweal of England, that as her late Majesty like David had conceived to build the Temple, etc. So his Majesty like Solomon, may fully finish and effect the same, that the Queen may be like Bersheba to give counsel, like Hester to preserve, like judeth to confound Holophernus, etc. And that their seed and prosperity may be as josiah, Hezechia, and all other good and Godly Kings in the Israel of God.  
And hereto O Lord we do give thy divine Majesty most humble and hearty thanks, in that it hath pleased thee to send us a Prince of our English Tribe extracted from the loins of our most famous Kings and Queens, not divided from us by seas, not alienated from us by nature, nor much by the very Elimologi of our vulgar speech, but principally and before all things, O gracious God: not differing from us in religion and the truth of thy blessed word, unless it be in greater measure of zeal, to his much greater glory and our just condemnation: these great mercies O Lord, we do confess to have received of thy mercy, grace, compassion, love, and providence: without any merits, or desert of ours. Nay we do much rather O Lord confess to thy farther glory & to our own shame: that in regard of our wilfulness in sinning against thee after xliiii. years taught in thee and in the School of thy divine will and commandments, for our wants in well doing: repentance, contrision, confession, and a general reformation of ourselves, to have been given over of thee and exposed to all the dangers and miseries of this mortal life: which having prevented O Lord, we do further praise thee, & pray thee, in the name and mediation of our Lord and Saviour jesus Christ, as he in mercy hath taught us saying: Our father, etc.  
FINIS.