Epithalamium Gallo-Britannicum: OR, GREAT-BRITAINES, FRANCES, AND THE most parts of Europe's unspeakable joy, for the most happy Union, and blessed Contract of the High and Mighty Prince CHARLES, Prince of Wales, And the LADY HENRETTE MARIA, Daughter to Henry the fourth, surnamed the Great, late King of the French and Navarre, and Sister to LEWIS the thirteenth: Now King of the said DOMINIONS.  
Manifesting the royal Ancestors and famous Progenitors of the Mighty Prince CHARLES, and the most Illustrious Princess, the Lady HENRETTE, Explaining the sweet interchanges of Marriages, as have been between France and Great BRITAIN.  
Presaging the destruction and ruin of Antichrist, the establishment of the true Faith, the propagation of the Gospel, the restitution of the Palatinate, the overthrowing of the Enemy's designs, the erection of Peace, the increase of Plenty, and the general welfare of all Christendom.  
LONDON, Printed for Thomas Archer, and are to be sold in Pope's Head-Alley, over against the sign of the Horse-shoe. 1625   

TO THE HOPE OF HIS COUNTRY, THE COMFORT OF HIS FATHER, THE JOY OF HIS FRIENDS, the terror of his Enemies, the most wise, valiant, and virtuous Prince;  
THE MOST HIGH AND Mighty Charles, Prince of Wales, the sole Son, and chief solace of the most Potent, Prudent, Pious, Learned, Peaceable, Warlike King JAMES, King of Great Britain, France, and Ireland, etc.  
MOst Mighty Prince; I doubt not but the world may deem me over-audacious, and you this work tedious and troublesome; the former, that I should presume to dedicate such an indigested, immature Embryo to your Highness; the latter, in regard you Highnesses eyes have diversity and multitudes of more worthy objects. To the first, I answer; that by how much the work is more mean, by so much it hath more need of a mighty Protector, and therefore, though they may deem me impudent, yet it is not a thing imprudent, but important, that it should seek to shelter itself under the patronage of your Highness. To the next, I beseech your Highness, (nam nil nisi vota supersunt) not so much to respect the weakness of the work, as the willingness of the Author, to perform duty unto your mighty Personage, who though he cannot go for ability, yet he creepeth to offer this Sacrifice unto you, and is emboldened through the abundance of obedient love, to cast this mite into the treasury of your Highness.  
Fare be it from me, with the Ape in the Fable, (who brought her young ones to the Lion, as the most amorous and beautiful) to present this issue of my brains, and offspring of my labours, as worthy of the view of your Highness: Oh no, I am no ways guilty of such a Philautie, but in regard your royal self is the Subject of which it treateth, showing the happiness which is derived by the most fortunate contract between your Highness and that most incomparable Lady and pure Virgin of France; in which though with a weak unable pensile, I have drawn forth and portrayed the divine parts of your princely Personages; of the which, though all knew some, yet some knew not all which I have related: in the which description and map of your perfections if I have failed, (as I cannot hope to the contrary) I humbly crave pardon, and prostrate myself at the feet of your merciful censure; beseeching you that the true affection of the Author may cover the imperfection of the work.  
The reasons which moved me to this boldness to crave your Highness his Patronage, were these:  
First, in respect you are the chief Subject of this Marriage Song, the which Subject though it be impossible for me to honour by my work, yet it is most certain, my work is honoured by it.  
Secondly, in regard as you, for all virtues are the adamant of admiration from all men, so most especially for your resplendent virtue of humility, who though you be high in Majesty, yet you are low in mind, and despise not, but encourage men, though weak & impotent, in any good enterprises and virtuous endeavours, that so being nourished by your favour, & comforted with your countenance, they might increase and grow in goodness, and in fine attain to the sum of all perfections.  
Moreover, I know that I do not only owe my labours and all that I have to your Highness who are the Conduit, by which God conueys felicity not only to me, but Millions of people; the which constrained me in gratitude to consecrate this work unto you.  
Reject not therefore these fruits of my Industry, which were invented & presented out of mere respect to your Highness, and the joy conceived for the late contract with France; and as you are the pattern of all virtues, so vouchsafe to be the Patron of this book, which is but an abridgement & the compendium of them, & an expression of the happiness, which is likely to be an attendant and follower of this your intended and promised marriage with the Lady Henrette Maria, Daughter to Henry the Fourth, King of the French & Navarre, & Sister to Lewis the Thirteenth, now French King; the which grieving to see, that none more able than myself would undertake, I (though with weakness) have performed.  
Let therefore this book which was written only for your Highness, is Dedicated to your Highness, be accepted of your Highness; of the which, not despairing, I wish unto your Highness a higher than the highest Happiness, that you may have a long and fortunate life, remain the comforter of your friends, the Conqueror of your enemies, and be the Father of many happy Children.  
Your Highness' most observant, George Marcelline.   

TO THE MOST ILLUSTRIOUS AND every ways accomplished Prince, George, Duke of Buckingham, Viscount Villers, Baron of Whaddon, Lord High Admiral of England, justice in Eyre of all his Majesty's Forests, Parks, and Chases beyond Trent, Master of the Horse to his Majesty, and one of the Gentlemen of his Majesty's Bedchamber, Knight of the most noble order of the Garter, and one of his Majesty's most honourable Privy Counsel of England and Scotland.  
MOst honoured Prince; let it be no wonder unto your Grace, why I do implore your joint Patronage with your Prince, of these my Labours, sith you are his jonathan, and have been a companion and faithful friend unto him in all his Travels; manifesting yourself to be as faithful to that Son, as you were favoured of the Father. As therefore you were his Associate in his Peregrination, so join with him in the Patronising of this work: Moreover, as you were a chief instrument of hindering the marriage with Spain, and furthering this with France, by which means, you brought happiness unto this Island, for the which, it yields unto your Grace; so also you are mentioned in this work, and a joint Subject of it; vouchsafe therefore to be a joint Patron of it.  
A fourth Motive which encourageth me in this request, is, that as you are the chief Favourite of our King on earth, and of God the King of Kings, so you are aprincipall favourer of all good and worthy proceed, by which your name is embalmed with fame, and your memory will be immortal. Not doubting therefore but you will grace this work with mild acceptance, though not for the manner of writing, yet the matter written of in it, I cease to trouble you, but always rest an humble suitor to your grace for acceptance, and to God, for the continuance of your happiness in the present, and your increase of it in the future, that you may be blessed internally, externally, and eternally, and that the highest would multiply all temporal and spiritual graces upon your Grace.  
Your humbly devoted, George Marceline.   

To the Reader.  
GEntle Reader, (I hope I shall not miscall thee) the joy conceived by me for this contract, the love to my Country, the zealous affection I bear to the virtues of our hopeful Prince, and his happy Princess, have jointly enforced me to undertake this Enterprise; 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 themselves with folly, and an ill affection to their King, Prince, and Country, and manifest themselves either to have their ears stopped, and their eyes blinded, or their judgements defective; for they ought to account it their chiefest honour, to honour (if it be possible to add honour to their names, whose virtues honour themselves, more than lieth in the power of any Pen to honour them) their sovereign, and his only Son, and our only hope; But sure I am, that multitudes will love and honour this work, if it be only for the Subjects handled in it, the love of whose worth may claim an observant look on these my labours; in which are showed the fortunate consequences likely to ensue upon 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 showeth, though in an Epitome, the virtues of thy King, the Happiness of the Father, in the enjoying of such a joyous Son, as the mighty Prince Charles, whose names offer not so much as to read without a true love joined with a trembling fear, for it is they, by whose means thou dost enjoy thy means, upon whose life dependeth thy welfare: rather therefore show thy wisdom in silence, for if thou termest me a Parasite, thou provest thyself a Parrot which speakest.   

Epithalamium Gallo-Britannicum, OR GREAT BRITONS And FRANCES Joy.  
THE Felicity of a Kingdom is placed in the Prosperity of the Prince; and the welfare of a Prince, either made or mangled in his Matching: But never was Kingdom more happy in a Prince, never Prince more fortunate in his Choice, than the Treasure and Storehouse of our hopes, the Sum and Substance of our future bliss, the high and mighty Prince Charles, in obtaining this Princess, who unparallelled for perfections, both external of her body, and internal of her mind, stands as a matchless Mirror to all her Sex, if not to be adored, yet at the least admired, hath made a Contract between three Kingdoms and happiness, which were a long time divorced from it; being like the house of Abraham, troubled until their Isaak had found out a Rebecca.  
Oh Peerless Prince! fortunate beyond the imagination of man's mind, 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 veins & streets of those Metropolitan Cities of those little worlds, swelled and full with joy, who formerly found no tranquillity of mind, though in the peace of the State; because your Royal Self had not found out a Second Self, whereby their posterity might shroud and refresh themselves hereafter, under the shadow of your Branches, and that from your Issue, fountains of fortunate joy might flow to succeeding ages. How many Kingdoms do bathe themselves in the sunshine of solace, and find more than earthly happiness, in those resplendent beams, which shine from this blessed Contract: conceiving no leffe joy in your relinquishing of the Lady Maria of Spain, and matching and uniting your Soul (which is the Court of the Highest, and King of Kings, the Temple of the Holy Ghost) unto the heart of that unparallelled Princess, the Lady Henrette Maria of France, which is a rich Cabinet, filled with the Gems and unualuable jewels, of moral virtues and divine graces.  
If it please your hopeful Highness to retire a little from home, and to cast an eye of consideration upon France, there may be seen such an infinite ineffable measure of mirth, and an incomparable treasure of true joy, found by them in this Conjunction, and from the highest to the lowest, from the Peer to the poor, nothing but applause and triumph. For can they choose but rejoice, to see that Virtue's Paramour and Darling of Venus, whose virtue ennobleth her birth, whose birth doth make her virtues eminent, whose countenance and whose conditions do mutually grace and adome each other, so worthily bestowed; and their perfectly accomplished Princess, united to so glorious, so gracious a Head, as who is the joy of his Friends, the Terror of his Enemies, the Comfort and Hope of his Country, the Pattern of Princes, the Admiration of the world, the mighty Prince Charles? For what Country could have been the Emissary of such a Prince; or what Prince the Possessor of such a Country, as Great Britain of Charles, or Charles of Great Britain? the which, as He is blest with all graces, so it aboundeth with all blessings, that He might be happy in it, and it fortunate in Him; that as He blesseth that with peace, so it might satisfy Him with plenty. Had she forsaken a fat fruitful soil to come into a barren Country, it might somewhat have impaired her happiness, and been a wound to her welfare; but this is a Paradise of pleasure, a Land like Canaan, flowing with milk and honey. Had she found such a fertile Kingdom destitute of so royal a Prince, she could not have had so much joy in the one, without enjoying 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 lustre: 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 dost not undervalue thy happiness, that art linked in the bond of amity with fair Albion, whose climate is temperate, whose air serene and clear; here is not heat so excessively 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 Crystal fountains and running streams be there, like so many veins in this body of our Kingdom? and to the intent that none of the elements might be defective, but that all might concur to make us happy, we are sufficiently stored with all kind of fuel and firing; neither is the womb of our earth barren, but most fit for conception, multiplies the seed committed to it, so that our fields do laugh with store of grain, and Autumn crams our barns with full increase; so that our Countrey-mans life is crowned with contentment. And whereas in other Nations they have no want, here they have no fear of want; for what commodity have we not, either to comfort ourselves, or help our neighbours? What blessings do we not enjoy, either necessary to our subsistence, or requisite to our well-being? no surely, and I may well say, The Lord hath not dealt so with any Nation; for how do we abound with store of corn and cattle, and all other commodities? or if we should want any thing for festivity (although we have all indeed for necessity) yet how fitly is it seated for all kind of traffic, and as (who should say) it were the only Darling of the Sea, it is lullabide in the lap of Thetis, and hugged in with the Ocean, who doth so enwrap her in her arms, as she doth not only permit her trading and commerce with all people, but doth promise to save and secure her from her enemies. Them who can prescribe bounds unto the joy of the French Nation, who see their Princess, the Glory of her Sex, so well and worthily matched, that it is to be expected from her womb shall issue mighty Monarches, who shall be the most happy Princes in the world in their inheritance; whose lot is like to fall in so fair a Land, the which is a Treasury and Storehouse fraught with all blessings, which denies no kind of sustenance to her inhabitants.  
But if you leave the City, and examine but the Citizens, forsake the survey of the Continent, and look upon the Contents; and you shall have joyful experience, that the place is not so pleasant, but the people as pleasing; and from him that is seated in the royal throne of dignity, to him that lieth grovelling in the deep abyss of misery, all full of affability and courtesy. If you inquire into the dispostion of the sacred Majesty of our most mighty and invict Monarch, under the wings of whose wisdom we his subjects take most quiet repose and rest; you shall find him to be  with all graces requisite for so great, so gracious a Sovereign: within whose countenance like two heavenly lamps shine both Majesty and Mercy, that the one might win from his subjects a reverend fear, the other obtain a religious love; whose mind is fraught with humane knowledge, and furnished with divine, in such a measure and manner, as he may not be more truly styled The King of Great Britain, than The Solomon of Kings: whose passions are subject to reason, whose reasons Pilot is Religion; who will not injure himself by suffering excess, nor offend any in offering the least wrong unto them; who though he truly deserves the style of a Peacemaker, yet he doth not respect peace so much as to neglect a just occasion of war; who as he is not like a raw wound, too sensible or apprehensive of injuries, so he is not like dead flesh, void of all feeling; who as he is so conscionable not to tyrannize, so he is so courageous not to permit a Tyrant to usurp his own or his friends dominions: for though his anger did a long time sleep, yet being awaked out of slumber, He will not easily be stilled. The running rough streams which be soon disturbed, are most shallow; but the deep places which are not so speedily moved, are more profound. The shrubs, brush and stubble, though they be kindled in an instant, yet they are extinct in a moment; when heart of Oak and stout Timber, though it be not so soon accended, yet as it is more solid, so it is of longer continuance. To be soon inflamed, is a sign of Rashness; but always to bear injuries, is want of Valour: Therefore this our royal religious King, to the end that he might be as well void of temereity as timidity, of folly as of fear, will not be stirred but upon just occasion, nor stilled without due recompense.  
Suppose that Wisdom for a long time kept his sword in his sheath, yet justice hath now drawn it: He knows that Rashness is the abortive fruit of Passion, and the blood of his subjects precious; therefore He poiseth all his projects in the balance of discretion, He weigheth all his injuries with his revenge; and to show the ripeness of his judgement, he will not suffer his hand to be the author of any raw action, which is not thoroughly digested with due premeditation; whom though none can conquer in love, yet he doth love in wisdom; who though he did seem a while to wink at his children's misfortunes, yet Lion-like he did obdormire apertis oculis, and saw the injury done by others, and the misery endured by them; of the which since peace cannot be the Physician to prevent a just war, he will make an experiment if a war can beget a just peace; who hath showed more magnanimity in dangerless despising, than many in dangerous affecting others kingdoms, being very loath to hazard the loss of guiltless souls, or to build upon his neighbour's ruins, but like a wise Pilot to govern the ship well in which God had placed him, and not to seek to be a head to another's body. Neither was this for the defect of any fortitude; oh no, there are like to be enough bleeding witnesses of his kingly courage, and he is most wise to see what is best, and most just to perform what he sees. Indeed our potent King doth measure his greatness by his goodness, and only affecteth greatness that he may have means to exercise his goodness; the gravity of whose head is adorned with the grace of his heart, for he hath not only the name, but the nature of a King, and useth not his Kingdom as Tenants at will do their houses, who care not how they be ruinated, because each day they expect a departure out of them; but as if he had an eternal lease, he seeketh the perpetual welfare of it; for his sword is at enmity with those which are foes to virtue, and his purse at peace with them which are enemies to vice. His Subjects taste not the bitter fruits of grievous taxation; neither are Laws with us so much made to find faults, as to prevent and punish them: Our Court is not a privileged place of unlawful actions and licentiousness, but is the resident and abiding place of Him, which as He is the Father of his Country, so He giveth it good example: and who is most bountiful in rewarding the well-deserving, and in requiting courtesies; for He knows sufficiently, that to be indebted, is to be an inferior: and hath a most diligent care, and careful diligence, in his words and his works, to instruct his people, having life in his doctrine, and doctrine in his life; for He appears to his Subjects virtuous, as He would have them be, and labours to be such as He appeareth, that as his Laws give life unto his people, so he giveth life to his Laws; for they be but as Maxims, derived & collected out of his life; for it is as a great Volume, in which they may read whole Lectures of wholesome Precepts. Neither doth He drive his Subjects on the path of Virtue, so much with the Rod of Law, as He doth draw them with the Adamant of Love; for, can they choose, but dear and nearly affect Him, who, as He is above them in place, so He exceeds them in love? who, being the Head, cannot see one of the members hurt, but He doth sympathise in sorrow with it, not placing his gains in their pains, or esteeming Himself most a King, when they are most basely subjected.  
Neither is his Estate with the people's welfare, as it were in an unjust balance, so that his goes highest, when theirs goes lowest; but the seat of all his happiness is situated in their good fortunes. Neither doth He rule them with a Rod of Iron, but a Sceptre of Gold, never restraining their liberty, unless it tended to licentiousness; nor pulling goods from any particular, unless it were for a general good. In fine, He hath brought all his Subjects to such a pass, that though He takes nothing by force, yet He hath all by love; for who would not venture, either his purse or his person, to perform his pleasure? which of his Subjects would not entertain his death with sweet embracement, so that his Princes, or Sovereign's Successors and Posterities welfare, might have birth from his death, and spring out of his ashes? Certes, there is none but would willingly shake hands with life, liberty, or estate, in a grateful requital of those blessings we here enjoy, by the means of his Majesty's most gracious government. Indeed they are so united unto him, by the inviolable bonds of fear and love, that all his Subjects, as his Pulses, do beat according to the motion of his heart: For ought not they willingly to perform his will, who denieth to grant none of their wishes; for hath his Kingdom's desired peace? how long have they possessed it? yea, in such a turbulent time, when almost all Europe hath had war in her own bowels. But do our people thirst for revenge upon those which have injured their Sovereign's Issue, and wronged the Princely Branches sprung from their Royal Stock, for fear they should not be delivered of that which they travel of, but lose their longing? He assumeth Arms for the restauration of his Son, to do that by force, which He could not purchase by favour.  
And sithence He findeth his Enemies not to be like Flints, which may be broken upon the featherbed of persuasions; but as Nettles, the which, by how much more they are easily handled, by so much the more violently they sting; He resolves to handle them more roughly, lest they as much hurt him, as they injured his Neighbours. Then surely, what unspeakable joy ought this to be, to that matchless Princess of France and all her Nation, She not more rejoicing, that She hath found such a royal, wise, and every way accomplished Father, than they, that they have found such a noble worthy Friend? She may exult that She is engrafted into such a Stock, they of such Alliance; for He is not only potent in men, but powerful in money and munition, that as his money wants not men, so his men want not money. Howsoever, indeed, some may suggest and object, that his bounty hath almost exhaust his Treasury: Yet, as the candle, though it gives another light, yet itself is not darkened: So, though our Sovereign hath enriched many of his Subjects, yet He hath not impoverished Himself; for He hath so bestowed it upon such persons, as were not so willing to receive it, but they will be as well content to surrender it up into his hands again, if either their King's pleasure, or their Country's profit, give them summons to make such a redelivery. Then surely, not only the Throne, but the Footstool, not only the French Prince, but the People may swim (I had almost said) surfeit with delight in this Blessed Union; for what hindrance is there, whereby that most Christian King, Lewis the thirteenth, may expect, but that as our Prince's Highness joins hands with his Sister, so our King's Majesty will join Arms with him, for the regaining of those Kingdoms, which unjustly an usurping hand detaineth from him? for, Vis unitafortior, and (that I may use our Proverb) Many hands make light work; Divers threads twisted together, as they do more strongly bind, so they are not so easily broken of an enemy. It was King Richard's comparison, A bundle of arrows bound together could not be broken; but dissevered, with much facility they may be cracked: and I may make application to these Kingdoms, as He did to that his Kingly Issue. It is not to be doubted, but that since james and Lewis, two Kings so valiant; Great Britain and France, two Kingdoms so potent; are united and joined in this bond, as well of affection as affinity; their enemies shall not be of power to prejudice them, nor of strength to withstand them. And howsoever the whole world is an eyewitness of the beauty and bounty of both their minds, which is so great, that each of them do esteem it a greater honour, to give a Kingdom, 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 dashed against steel, which shall rebound in their own faces, to their own disgrace and ruin.  
Neither let their enemies think, but that howsoever they do not love to seek others Dominions, yet they will not lose their own without stirring: For will our dread Sovereign, when both amity and equity, religion and affection do give him loud summons to restore his children to their inheritance, detain his helping hand from his hopeful issue? Will He or can He see without sorrow (and by consequence, labour to redress it) that his posterities Country, which formerly was the garden of the world, unpeopled, ruinated, and made a desolate Desert; his Issue to be exiled from their inheritance, and hope banished from them; his children's children forced to fly before they were taught to go; Can he, I say, see this, and not sorrow at it? Can he sorrow at it, and yet suffer it? Can he have power, and yet want will to revenge it? Oh no, his hand is full of vigour, and he is fraught with valour; his subjects souls do thirst for revenge, and all his foes shall have woeful experience, that he is as valiant to maintain a war, as wise to entertain a peace, and he can as well sacrifice at the altars of Mars as Ceres, and is as well Achilles for his courage, as Ulysses for his counsel. Then who can impose a period to the endless joy of the French Nation, who have found a way to join themselves with such a powerful Prince, who doth not only make them happy in his alliance, but is likely to make them also fortunate in conquests and victories, when these two mighty Monarches shall mutually aid each other to right themselves, their wronged neighbours, and affinity? Thus fare have I proceeded in the narration of the never sufficiently extolled perfections of our mighty Monarch, in so much as my pen is persuaded she hath wronged them in the relation, and made but an imperfect draught of them, being unable to limb them to the life. From whence France may understand, that her happiness is higher ascended, in regard their Princess is joined in wedlock with one which is so worthily descended from one who is the most potent, most prudent, most wise, most valiant, most magnanimous, magnificent Monarch that ever blessed the air with a breath, or these kingdoms with a peaceable, yet prosperous government, as if he had been only sent from Heaven to increase God's worship and this Kingdom's welfare.  
But as if God had not only intended to bless that illustrious Princess with such a royal Father who doth grace the fruit which is borne of him, he hath also provided a Prince to be her husband, which doth adorn the stock he comes of, who heirs his Father not only in his royal rich powerful kingdoms, but in his rare perfect accomplished qualities; at whose birth the Senate-house of the Planets did jointly consent and determine to confer both upon his body and mind all the perfections that can accompany a corporal essence, or inhabit in a mortal mansion place; at whose Birthday Dame Nature brought her richest ornaments to deck him withal, and all the Grace took possession of him for their habitation: and to the intent good education might nourish and cherish those seeds so sown, he was not nuzzled and nursed in the night of ignorance, nor weaned oversoone from the paps of knowledge: But the good instructions of faithful Tutors, the godly example of our religious King, did continually so blow the sparks, of virtue that Dame Nature had kindled in him, as in small time they gave forth their utmost heat, setting on fire, and inflaming the affections of all that knew him: Whose body, as it was composed of the purest mould that lodged in the bosom of Nature, so it was built up in the stateliest frame and fashion that can be imagined, wanting nothing that the Heavenly Influences could infuse into it; so that indeed he seemeth the Masterpiece of Nature, as if she had aimed at a reach above herself, and when she produced him, intended to frame and compose an Angel.  
Moreover, seeing it is not fitting, that a poor man of mean estate should inhabit the Court of a King; for so the rooms might be ruined for want of employment, and it would seem like a painted Sepulchre, God put in an Inhabitant, answerable to that stateliness of the building, and rareness of the edifice; and lest it might seem to be nothing but walls without furniture, God put such a soul into it, so adorned and beautified with all perfect graces, and gracious perfections, that the one might be correspondent to the other, in eminency and dignity, whose mind is of sufficient power to inform each part and organ of his body; so his body is able to perform whatsoever noble action his mind shall incite and move him to it, being both of ability and agility, to put in execution the Souls directions. He which hath a weak body and strong mind, which pricks him forward to valiant actions, is like a woman, which hath not strength to be delivered of that which she hath conceived: But on the contrary, corporal strength without mental courage, is as a servant which wants a master to set him on work: But our noble Prince hath both stoutness of stomach and strength of body to put in execution every valiant enterprise his mind pricks him forward to, so that no man which sucketh in this vital air, is able to perform any warlike action, either on horse or on foot more strongly, or deliver that strength more nimbly, or become that delivery more gracefully, than our hopeful valiant Prince. His stature of body is neither a Giant or a Pigmy, but placed in the golden in cane, to each eyes censure He seemeth an object of pleasure. In a word, each particle of every part of his body, is so void of deformity, and so full of the best workmanship of Nature, that He may seem a Prince of all, as well for his beauty as his birth: And had he nothing but a body, it were sufficient to command the best man's approbation and affection; for his countenance is an Epitome of Ethics, in which Modesty and Majesty do fight for superiority, and Mars and Venus to be in contention for the higher places, yet striving in such fashion, as neither of them, or their Dominions, are diminished, but enlarged by these their wars: But if you make a further search, &c leaving his countenance, look into his 〈…〉, you shall find the former, compared to this, to be but as an Index of a great Volome of Virtue, in the which Centre they all rest in their highest perfection: and howsoever in most men humility doth sildo me accompany honour, and lowliness of mind highness of estate; 〈◊〉 in Him it is fare other way to: for though He be advanced to the highest pitch of honour, yet He scorneth to scorn any thing but 〈◊〉, or to disdain aught but baseness▪  
Moreover, it is alwayed his 〈◊〉, rather to comfort than to contemn the poor; and as He is full of humility, for He is void of pride, aspiring to nothing but goodness: and lest that He, being a Prince to so many, should be a slave to Himself, He continually subdues his passions, and gets the conquest of them, He knows that anger is a short madness, & madness a long anger; and therefore He resolves to lodge no fury in his bosom, and is never sick of this frenzy, only indeed He may be sometimes transported with a god by zeal, whin either He seem his Country injured, or his God dishonoured▪ for He accounted 〈◊〉 his chief 〈◊〉 and reverence the other. It is a rare thing to see a Prince that hath all store of delicates (for we are ready to rot ourselves with riot, being put into a delightsome great pasture of plenty) not subject to surfeits: but He doth never drink, but to allay the heat and thirst of Nature; nor eat, but to satisfy and mortify hunger; from which temperancy of diet, his matchless spotless chastity hath birth: For, whereas that man which is superfluous in his diet, is lascivious in his thought, because Uncleanness is always the child of Riot; He therefore, that He might not be stained with the one, abstains from the other, to the end that his Heart (which is God's Temple) might not be made a Den of thiefs; for when the Body fasteth the Soul feasteth, and the earthly members being mortified, the faculties of the Soul do grow more lively and powerful.  
Thus being Master of his own lusts, He scorns to be a servant to his substance; but at his pleasure can part from it, and turn it out of his service, yet never but upon a just occasion; for that were to have too little and light respect of his servant, being a mere prodigality; but when He seethe it requisite, for the reward of Virtue, or the maintenance of Honour, to part from it, the Sun is not more liberal of his light at high noonday, than He of his means: for He love's not money like your covetous man (whose eyes are out, and he can never see when he hath sufficient, who like a Danaïdum dolium is never filled or satisfied,) but only for necessity, like a wife Mariner providing in a calm against the coming of a storm, and in the sunshine of peace, preparing to welcome the turbulent tempestuous time of war. And for his wisdom (as who should say, it were likely He should be in nothing unlike to his father) He outrunneth his age, and leaveth all those of his years behind Him in knowledge; for He sitteth in counsel like a sage Senator, and a Lawmaking Lycurgus, that it seemeth a wonder (but wonders are no wonders in a wondrous subject) how in the blossom of his years He should have such ripeness and maturity of judgement, and in his green youth be such a grave Counsellor: For did not his Gracious Highness, in the last Parliament, not only in appearance, but in truth, so well provide for the safety and security, both of his Friends and Country, that He was generally applauded both of Counselors and Commons, as being the most wise and watchful Prince, for the welfare of his people: First, showing his ardent zeal to God's Glory and Religion, to make wholesome salutiferous Laws, for the suppressing of the Sowers of Sedition, and the Interminglers of the tares of their own inventions, amongst the pure grain of God's Word. And thus having expressed his love to God (above all under God) He provides for his People's prosperity, enacts Laws, as Antidotes against former exactions, so customarily and unconscionably practised in this our Commonwealth; as if He were solely and wholly happy in making his people fortunate, and in easing them of the heavy burdens of oppression imposed upon them, bound upon their backs, and laid upon their shoulders. And indeed there never was Prince in Christendom, more commended by mortal men in speeches, or commended to the immortal God in prayers, than is our mighty invict Prince; whose worth is such, that if I should live to the age of Nestor, and in the whole course of my life do nought but praise Him; praise Him in nothing but that which He is worthy of: utter his worth compendiously, yet my pen would still be a debtor to his deserts; for He is not like the vulgar sort (as the vulgar Proverb tells us) Constant in nothing but inconstancy; but his mind once fixed on a worthy object, is like a Star which moveth not out of her orb; but is ever the same in her motion. The little shrubs are shaken with everic little puff of wind, but the stately Cedar, which is firmly rooted and fastened in the ground, as it is more noble, so it is more stable. Many Feathers and Weathercocks in our days, who are not resolute in any determinations, or determinate in any resolution, do in an instant loathe that which they have loved: but our Prince, as He doth not lightly settle affection, so He will not easily remove it; for He deems the one a defect of wisdom, the other an excess of wavering, and an ouer-plus of inconstancy.  
Therefore, He being always balanced and counterpoised with due premeditation in affecting, cannot be induced in an instant to relinquish and distaste that which He affecteth. Then hath not France great reason and cause of joy and exultation, who hath found out such a Mate for their incomparable Princess? who is one which hath stoutness and courage of mind, joined to the strength of his body, wisdom accompanying his valour, virtue his soul; who is a Prince as well in worth as birth, excelling in bounty and beauty, and in all his actions observing the golden means; who is constant in his love, firm in his resolutions, whose worth few can conceive, no man utter, all men may admire; the descent of whose blood doth ennoble his birth, the excellency of whose birth doth enthronize and dignify his virtues; whose virtues (as I may so say) do almost Deify his Soul; the inestimable price of whose Soul doth adorn his body, by inhabiting in it; the rare temper of whose body doth bless his soul, by being the Mansion-place of it. And thus He which hath all virtues, is to be all Hers, and that Princess to be blest with the admirable constitution of his body, and the incomparable condition of his mind. Had his body been of unequal unproportionable mixture by the elements, the soul might have loathed such a muddy building, & would soon have forsaken her habitation; or hath the mind been corrupt and filthy, it would soon have ruinated the rare body, in regard it would have employed it to such riotous ruinous courses, as it would soon have produced her overthrow, and demolished this mortal Edifice of Nature; by which means and likelihood, the shortness of the Prince's life, might have made an abridgement of her happiness, and have cut short the continuance of her joys; but Nature hath so tempered and framed Him, of such an equal proportion of heat and moisture, that the excessive heat of the one doth not threaten a Combustion, nor the abundance of the other a Deluge: but for his complexion He may be another Methuselah, and She most superlative of her Sex in all felicity, in the possession of so loving a Husband, so long a time, as He is like to enjoy this vital transitory uncertain breath. Had He been like a Rose, or a Flower De-luce, which though they be fair things, yet they are of short continuance: (for the one is no sooner blown, but it sheddeth; & the other fadeth in the bud) her joy might have found sorrow in the fear of the loss of her joy; but He already is grown to ripeness, and we hope (as may be conjectured, both by the temper of his body, & temperance of his mind) is not only pleasing to the eye, but is also likely to be a lasting fruit. It is the office of an husband to live with his wife as a man of knowledge, and what Prince wiser than his Highness, who squares out all his actions according to the Rule of God's Word? who is so versed in each verse of Scripture, so well read in Divinity, as He is not only a Prince to command, but (for his learning) might be a Priest to enstruct his people. Fear not then (oh renowned France) but He hath taken your Princess by the hand, not only to lead Her to all happiness on earth, but to bring Her felicity; For what advice can She (who is so well understanding the duty of a royal loving Spouse) refuse, which distilleth like Nectar from his lips? Or what counsel shall proceed from Him, but that which tendeth to the welfare of her body, & the saving of her soul & body hereafter? Oh no, never was Princess blest with a more holy, happy, heavenly Head, than She, in being united to his Highness; who, as He hath knowledge, so He hath love to direct Her to an happy end. Had his heart been the harbourer of love only without knowledge, it had been but as a blind Guide; and knowledge, without love to put it in practife, had been but as a fruitless plant, or power without a will; but our mighty Prince, as He hath no small measure of wisdom, so He hath an infinite abundance of affection, affection so great, as indeed He is nothing but love, love to his God, love to his Princess, love 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 be jointly found in Him: For He loveth God above Himself, He loveth Her as Himself, because She is half Himself, and He loveth his People almost as He loveth Her. He loveth God, because He is married to Him mystically; He loveth Her, as being knit unto Him in marriage really; He loveth his People, as being wedded unto them representatively indeed; He is so much love, as none that life's but loves Him.  
The Lord of Heaven hath manifested his love to Him in his mercy; for when He undertook that dangerous voyage out of his Country, Great Britain, into Spain, dangerous in the journey, dangerous in the end of it indeed, nothing but danger, both for his passage thither, his arrival there, his departure from thence, being full of fear, and composed of nothing but danger; for the waves, being proud of such a Burden, did swell with ambition, and the surges soared above the ship, as if the sea had longed to have her womb the Tomb of such a Worthy, and had intended to have erected her honour upon his ruin.  
But God, to whom the winds and the seas obey, did still the rage of Neptune, and closed up the mouth of Aeolus, in so much, as his people were all made fortunate in his happy return, rejoicing that they had Him any ways, but more joyous that they had Him single; but now most exulting that He is united, by the sacred bond of wedlock, to your Princess of France, and we by that means conjoined to you. Thus hath the Lord, to the comfort of all well-disposed people, delivered our best affected Prince, and in bringing Him from Spain, hath brought Him to France, that howsoever his love began in the other, yet it might end in this; in which He hath given most infinite content unto his Kingdoms, who distasted the likelihood of the former, as much as they applaud the certainty of this new Contract.  
Surely, God hath manifested his infinite love and respect to our noble Prince, in so infinitely blessing his proper Self in Himself, and his people in Him, in respect of his deliverance. Yea, God and man, your Highness and all the world, may see the happiness we conceive of this Marriage, and hope for from this Contract: And what was the efficient cause of this? but the love of God to his Highness, thus worthily disposed to the content and happiness of his people.  
Here was the love of God manifestly and miraculously expressed to Him and all this Nation, in this one particular: but if I should proceed to make a whole discourse of God's mercies as well towards his Body as his Soul, my task would be as infinite as his blessings. But to leave our mighty Prince, whose actions do more commend Himself, let France but as nobly conceive of our Nobles as they deserve, and they shall find a most ineffable cause of most unspeakable joy in this Confederation; for their breasts are the lodges of loyalty. For indeed, howsoever some of our natural Country men have lifted up unnaturally their hands against their Liege & Sovereign, nevertheless it was their religion, not their disposition, which moved them to it. And how long time, hath our King rested free from danger, begot and nursed up by his Nobles? No, such, I dare say, is (or at least ought to be) their love to their gracious King, that they deem it more liberty to be his Servant, than any's Sovereign. For whereas generally great Kings wear Crowns like our Saviour's, made of thorns, composed of cares, which makes their eyes as Sentinels, to watch continually, lest treason should surprise and overthrew; and fears enjoin the mind to keep diligent watch, lest treason should evert both Person and people: their petty Crowns are crowned with contentment, they are not affrighted with danger, neither doth fear make their night of rest, a day of travel unto them; and all by their means, who like a stately Cedar to the adjoining trees, shelters them from tempests, and drops down the honey of peace upon them. This labour on his part begets the child of love in them, and they deem no injury so great, nor apprehend any wrong so grievous, as that which is done to their Prince: neither do they conjecture any greater indignity can be done to them, than when He is not dignified; they count that glory 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 do support Him upon the shoulders of their obedience, who is their Roof, their Cover & Protector. To the graver sort of the which Nobility, our King stands as a Pattern for them to imitate, in soundness of judgement, depth of learning, and other virtues: and to the younger, our Prince serves as a Tutor, to teach them, and instruct them what way leadeth to the perfection of honour and true glory; and indeed none can be 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 Pattern, and He joyful in them.  
Oh who can measure the happiness of that Kingdom, where the Prince is so accomplished in the parts of his body and endowments of mind? in whose actions all his followers may read whole Lectures of Ethics and Morality; And thrice fortunate is that Prince, all whose Nobles strive to be his pictures, and every one desireth and striveth to have nearest resemblance, and to be drawn to the life, according to his pourtraicture: each of them rejoiceth to be the shadow of such a substance, and to be like the creature which is is so like the Creator.  
Here is no treason plotted, no insurrections made by them, but all those which do truly fear & love God, do truly fear & love their Sovereign. Haply indeed, afore they were acquainted with his virtues, and the light of his royal worth shined amongst them, they might attempt some thing unworthy of themselves, nay base in the highest degree, as to be the death of Him which gave life to so many, and with the pulling down of the Primus Motor, ruin all the inferior orbs of our Kingdom; but when they saw that his virtues made God his Friend, it was in vain for them to be his enemies; for all their treacherous attempts were but as sowing the shore, or washing a Blackmoore, labour in vain.  
It is folly for Balaam to curse Israel, when God blesseth him; and for them to ruin, when God preserveth; in so much, as now his government pleaseth the Romish Catholics, whom formerly their palates distasted; and all our Nobles (if their bad consciences do not infringe that title) do honour Him, and bear a most affectionate respect to all his Posterity, especially our royal Prince, whom all our Nobles labour in all their actions to please and imitate.  
Oh blessed Kingdom, where the Nobility doth so affect the Prince, and the Prince doth so much respect the nobility, and both of them are in love with virtue; where the Peers are so peerless in their courtesy, love to their Kingdom, and loyalty to their King; who are never more happy, than when they undertake some enterprise for the happiness of both; who are not servants to servile fear, but Masterpieces of valour; so that they are as much feared abroad, as favoured 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 never do) neglect to respect them, yet then own virtues would, in silence, speak them worthy; who are so wisely valiant, that they will not refuse to hazard their lives, for the safety of their Country; their estate, for the preservation of a limb; nor the cutting off of a limb, for the welfare of the whole body, who, though they can actively suffer prines, to prevent other dangers which would passively fall upon them, yet they will not submit themselves to any base kind of misery. No surely, they know valour is virtue, and virtue hath ever more her limits: and therefore, as the Eagle preyeth not upon flies, so they which are nobly bred, and have their great birth seconded with good education, scorn to aim at achievements of small import; but shoot at high marks of great consequence. Some of them valiantly defend the walls (as I may so term them) of their Country, lest their enemies too near approach, might make their Country too near a ruin. Others, like Hercules, do not stick to forsake their native soil; their wives, their children, their lands and their possessions, to seek for honour in a foreign Country, and restore the wronged to their right; to revenge a Prince, great in his virtues, though mean in his fortunes, his fortunes not so mean by birth, but by oppression; oppression of a Tyrant usurping his Dominions; Dominions, the which I cannot name, nay not so much as think on, but it forceth brinish tears, forced and banished from a grieved heart, to see Religion so defaced, a Country so dispeopled, the people so massacred and murdered. Then on, brave Britain's Heroes, run in your intended course, and being pricked on with valour, continue until you come to your journey's end; that so future ages may erect Trophies to the eternal memories of your famous names, that children yet unborn may say; These were the Worthies, by whose means a desolate Country was repeopled, a wronged Prince relieved, an oppressing Tyrant discomfited. Consider, oh ye truly ennobled, the cause of the war, the justness of the cause, the virtue of the Prince, the rare perfections of his Spouse, the hopefulness of their Issue, the near affinity they have with your Sovereign, being derived and propagated from his loins; the consanguinity with your Prince: and surely, these motives cannot choose but inflame you with courage, and accend your fury to make you fight valiantly, and conquer victoriously, the enemies of him, who is a favourer and follower of your true religion, a Son to your Sovereign, a Brother to your Prince, a friend to you all.  
But alas, what a needless thing it is to cast a drop into the Ocean? or to add a spark to the fiery region? My words are but as wind, to blow the fire which is sufficiently kindled; for I, and all this Realm and Dominion with me, are verily and really persuaded, that your valour is at so high a pitch, it cannot be raised higher; such be our Nobles, and therefore fit objects for such a Princess, who though her sex will not permit her to be an actor, yet her noble mind doth incite her: and no doubt she cannot choose but delight to see her Court composed of nothing but such undaunted and courageous Captains, who though they be most affable & courteous in Court, yet they are most terrible & courageous in combat. I doubt not, but it is a delectable spectacle to see your brave martialists, as Caesar, Pompey, Alexander, and such like, though painted, & that not unto the life; for time hath wasted and worn out the true pictures of them. But in these your Nobles, most illustrious Princess, you may see them all living: for if virtue can make one like, there is none surviving hath a nearer resemblance to them, than your noble Servants, and observant Nobles have of them. Is it the care of their Country, which we should make the subject of our comparison? the Public good hath been respected of them, more than their private commodity; They know they are not borne to themselves only, but to the benefit of the place in which they have had birth and being. This is their resolution in general, but give me leave: As the whole Kingdom is bound by duty and gratitude, to nominate some particulars, as he, who is the Favourite of God, his King, Prince, and Country, the Duke of Buckingham, who is not so styled unworthily, for he doth truly deserve it: Hath he not been loyal to our Sovereign? And whereas other subjects, which have been (though never thus) advanced, have sought to fly too high upon the waxed wings of ambition, higher than either modesty or his Majesty permitted; he never rose higher than it pleased the King to lift him: so that he hath gained more honour by his honesty and virtue, than the King could give him by his means; for goods may be given by an earthly Sovereign, but grace is an effect of a higher power, coming immediately from God; the King might prefer him, but it was God only could make him humble in his performances, the which he hath always been, showing no less loyal affection to the King, than loving affection to his kindred. But look into his love which he beareth to our Prince, and you shall find him to be as a faithful jonathan unto our righteous David; in all his travel and troubles, how constantly did he attend on Him, being almost as inseparable an Adjunct to his Highness, as heat to the fire, or light to the Sun? being as Ruth to Nahomi, ready to go whither soever He went. Neither did his person only, but his care accompany Him, watching continually lest any treason might be plotted against Him, lest any trap might be laid to ensnare Him, lest any subtle Serpents (as those hot Countries are full of them) might sting Him. It was he that took the least disgrace done unto the Prince, more heavily and heinously, than the greatest indignity could be offered unto himself. It was he which discerned all the politic proceed of Spain; and it is he (under God) to whom we own eternal gratitude, for the welfare of this our Kingdom, and the people are perpetually bound for this their prosperity: and I doubt not, but those, who are not like Swine, (which eat the acorns under the tree, but never look up to the tree from whence they fall) do most worthily acknowledge, and hearty affect that most Illustrious Duke, for his tender and zealous love, both of his Prince's safety, and Countries good.  
Truth itself speaketh it, and therefore who but the enemies of Truth can oppose it? that promotion neither cometh from the East, nor the West, but only from the Lord. Moreover, the hearts of Kings are in the hands of God, to turn them at his pleasure: and it is as fare from doubt, as Heaven from Hell, that indeed our King hath honoured you, but it was by God's appointment; He hath preferred you, but it was by God's directions, and God directed Him to advance you, that you might benefit this Country, in being an Instrument, to find out the intendments of Spain, as also to further this blessed Contract with France; and I dare say, or (if my word may not be taken) I can produce millions of witnesses, to testify and depose, that the gaping earth, after a long parching drought, did never more acceptably entertain a lively shower, than the British Nation this Union. Neither was ever the dew of Hermon, distilling upon the Hill of Zion, more welcome to it, than this happy and hopeful Conjunction to us. Neither let me omit to render, in the behalf of our Countrymen, all possible thanks to my Noble Lord of Doncaster, who hath so well and worthily behaved, and carried himself, in the effecting of this blessed Confederation, as in making this Match, and effecting this Contract, he hath rob multitudes of their souls, and won the hearts of all the people; for should he live never so long, and all his life time study, and ever study effectually, and all his studies should be wholly to benefit his Country, he could never have excogitated a means more likely, to bring whole showers of all kind of Blessings upon these Kingdoms, than this, whereby England is joined to France, and France to England; the most fertile Countries of the world are joined together, with the kisses of peace and amity. To you therefore, most Noble Lord, as the Conduit by which means God hath conveyed this happiness, we present our well wishes. For who is it, but you, most Honoured Lord, to whom we are more indebted, than to your care, for the finishing of this Union? It was the eyes of your Judgement, which foresaw what prosperity it would bring to the Prince, and what happiness it would bring to England, to have (her Lions adorned with Frances Lilies, and the Flower-Deluce and the Rose bound up, and conjoined. What bed so sweet, as that which is composed of Lilies and Roses? What kisses more delightful, than when they are linked together? And what Contract could have been more consolatory, than this of France and England? To you therefore, Great Britain sendeth the best of her wishes, to attend you, and most powerful prayers to guard you, and preserve you from all perils, that you may live to do God glory, and your Country good, in performing many profitable offices unto it.  
Here then, if it please France and this most Royal Lady, to take but a survey of the incomparable excellency of the Peers and Nobles, by whom She shall be attended in Great Btittaine, She shall happily, and to her great comfort and content, understand, that She shall shine like Phoebe in this our Orb, environed round about with these glorious stars and resplendent lights, the Nobles of our Kingdom.  
But to the end they may conceive and consider of their happiness, Capape (as I may so say) and weigh but the worth of our Commons and vulgar sort of people, in this our Island, it will soon, appear, that even in the lowest sort of people, they shall find highest degrees of happiness: First, in regard of the mutual affection which is likely to be between Her and our Nation, whether it be for ne●●●nesse of blood, or aequiparancie of conditions.  
Moses, when he saw the two jews at dissension one with another, he could excogitate no means more forcible to move them to reconcilement, than reducing their affinity to their remembrance, telling them they were brethrens: then surely, ought there not to be great affection between the two famous Nations of the British and the French, since there is so much affinity? Yes surely; and to the end that there may be (as there ought to be) eternal concord, let us remember we are brethren, and of the same blood.  
For there be very few in England, who either directly from their Fathers and progenitors, or indirectly by some contract, have not some of the French blood lodged in their bosoms. And if we examine the dispositions of either Nation, we shall find them not like jacob and Esau, or Cain and Abel, of opposite qualities; but we shall see an absolute agreement between them, in their virtuous inclination and conditions.  
Do we seek for valour? who of more perfect prowess, than the French and the English? Who have been so often Combatants and Conquerors, both for their Country and conscience, as France and England?  
The French are truehearted, never carrying two faces under one hood; but deeming it rather cowardice, than true valour, to overcome by deceit and policy, for the most part carrying their hearts at their tongues-end; and though they speak not every thing which they know, yet they speak nothing with their tongues, but that which they think in their hearts.  
Our English are not deceitful and hypocritical, cooling their pottage and warming their hands with the same breath; but their speeches are the mirrors of their minds, in which you may see their intentions, and by their words you may attain to the science of their conscience.  
The French are upright and just, deeming it the loss of their worth not to keep their word, and the most base servility not to be their words Masters, scorning fraud and truce-breaking, not seeking to rush upon another man's possessions, or to encroach upon others Dominions.  
The English are performers of that which they promise, proving the truth of their words by the trial of their deeds, accounting it a deep wound to their reputation, not to perform their promises; and that the lie deserves (more than is in the Proverb) not only a stab, but damnation; they are content with that which the Lord hath allotted to them, and do not so much seek to offend their neighbours, as to defend themselves.  
In a word: Are the French affable, sober, wise, modest, temperate, pious, prudent, courageous, constant, magnanimous, merciful, just? The English do answer them in all these worthy qualities, and are full of courtesy in their carriage, of sobriety in their countenances, of modesty in their behaviours, of temperance in their diets, of piety in their religion, of prudence in their practices, of courage in their combats and controversies, of constancy and staidness in their affections, of magnanimity in their enterprises, of mercy in pardoning those offences which may possibly be forgiven, and of justice in punishing those offences, which may not be permitted.  
Therefore of a certainty, no earthly blessing is able to countervail your happiness, whose Princess is combined and conjoined with our Prince; whose people is so worthy, that He doth not seem like a Royal Golden Pillar built upon a Base of Lead, but a worthy Prince set over a worthy people. Happy therefore is France in her company, happy the Princess in her command: They extraordinarily fortunate, that they shall have commerce with a Nation, who will not be to them as a strange people, of a differing disposition; but will be of a correspondency of condition with them: and happy She, that shall have such subjects, so wise, so worthy, so just, so honest, that She may well think this her Kingdom, to be a little Heaven, in which She sits as Queen, and her Subjects as so many Saints.  
Neither do the sweet-pleasing streams of joy and solace, flow only to France from this fountain; but as the stomach, though it be the proper resident place and receptacle of the meat, yet doth not only feed and satisfy itself; but likewise doth nourish and content all the parts about it; so this blessed Union, and sweet Conjunction, doth not only benefit the particular Countries, between whom it is made; but doth likewise rejoice the neighbouring Nations, and the rest of the League & Confederacy. Cast but an eye upon Venice, and there, even of one half blind, may be discerned, how all in general applaud and laud it, infinitely rejoicing, that their Friends and Confederates should be so fortunate; that England and France should be so joined together, in the knot of true love and amity. From this Contractariseth a hope of the vanquishing of their foes, and that by this means a happy success shall accompany all their just enterprises against their enemies: also, being mounted upon the wings of glory, they shall be seated upon the necks of their subdued adversaries; and that such conquests shall follow this Contract, and such victories these Nuptials, and the posterities of men now living, and succeeding ages, shall see and say, It was the marriage of the mighty Prince Charles, and the Lady Henrette Maria, which were the Parents and Producers of Religion's comfort, of the restoring of the wronged to their right; for God, or the very day, in which Hymen's Rites were solemnised between Them, did matchall good people to happiness, crowned Them with victory, to the consolation of all true Christian Princes, friends to equity, enemies of ambition, favourers and followers of virtue.  
But if our intelligence travel a little lower, and you make recourse into the Low-Countries, no tongue is able to utter what they conceive, nor any pen almost to write the joyous speeches they utter, for the confirmation of this Contract, than which nothing could have been more desired, no news better accepted: And whereas the speeches of the former Match did seem unto them as hideous as Hell, and as terrible as Thunder, this is a lightning unto their hearts; for now in stead of fears, they have friends on all sides, Allies and Confederates, which are of will and power to assist them, and to make resistance against their enemies. The former Match did seem unto them as a storm of war, threatening to demolish the Architect of their welfare; this, as a Calm of peace, promising security to their prosperity. Oh happy Britain! in such a blessed Prince, who is by so much more fortunate, by how much more He is a means to make others happy; and from whom can more happiness be derived, than from our Prince? who  so many Kingdoms at his Marriage-day, in robes of comfort, and gives to so many Commonwealths such great favours, as never did any Potentate in former, nor is likely to do in following time: who hath lifted out of the mire of misery, so many drooping hearts and discontented souls. Indeed, never was Marriage more hopeful than this of these two most hopeful Princes, by the conjunction of which two propitious Planets, in this our firmament of Christendom, it presageth the sweet distillation of the drops of happiness, upon so many, especially the Low-Countries, whose Inhabitants are filled with heaped measure of mirth, for this consolatory, most joyful, and happy Conjunction. The famous Prince of Orange, Grave as well naturally as nominally, as well really as titularly, who is not only grave and to be honoured for his years, but grave and to be imitated for his virtues, being not only adorned with the gravity of his head, but with the grace of his heart, doth hearty praise the God of Heaven, by whom all marriages, especially of Princes, be made, for constituting and appointing this Contract, and crossing that which was pretended with Spain; For that had laid his breast open to his enemies, it had been a way which had led to the wasting of his Country; had it proceeded, he might have saluted it, and said, as Ahab spoke to Eliah, Hast thou found me, ob mine enemy? But he may welcome this with the speech of David to Ahiah, He is a good man, and bringeth glad tidings. Neither can it minister any small joy to the most illustrious, Son of our most gracious Sovereign, the King of Bohemia, who hath along time been racked upon the rack of hard misfortunes, and endured the grim looks of adversity; but now he hopes safely to sail in the Ocean of pleasure, and to see the smiling countenance of joy and Solace. He doubteth not, but now his noble affectionate Father, is not only powerful in his own proper forces, but strong in Alliance, with that mighty potent French King, who both of them being so puissant in means, men, money, and munition, so sufficiently stored with wise grave Counselors to advice, with young able men to act, and put their counsel in execution; They will join forces to rejoin his detained Diadem to his head, and to restore Him to his Country and Dignity.  
This was the day likewise, which the only Sister of our prosperous mighty Prince, and Daughter of the Imperial Majesty of our mighty Sovereign, so long looked for, and so much longed for, in which She might have a Sister by marriage, though not by birth, with whom She might make a mutual exchange of entire affection, that She might find one true friend, that might be her Sister, both in deed and virtue; that having found one so near Herself, so like Herself, her joy might even almost exceed Herself; and who more fit to be Sisters, than those who are so concording in virtuous conditions; the least of whose rare exquisite perfections cannot be imitated by any, but by one another; for who so modest, so bountiful, so beautiful, so chaste, so constant, so wise, and every ways so worthy, as Elizabeth, but Henrette Maria? all that they differ is in that which notwithstanding in either of Them is a virtue; 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 only of virtuous actions. The Almighty of his mercy grant, that as She is her perfect Pattern in the one, so She may truly resemble Her, that so She may be the happy Mother of many children, and He the fortunate Father and Progenitor of many Princes, that She being like a fruitful Vine upon the wall-side, his children may be like Olive Branches round about his table; and that in his Posterity, not only his Highness, but all the world may be happy; so also the Pfaltz-graves Princely Babes and hopeful Issue rejoice, in regard all their Friends are not likely to decease with their Parents, but that from their mighty Uncle Prince Charles his loins, shall spring such Princely Sprigs, who will take their parts against all those, which with an envious eye and a malicious mind behold their persons. For ever therefore let this Contract be chronicled in the Register of Fame, which hath thus imposed an Epilogue to the doleful Tragedy, so passionately acted in the bosoms of the Royll King and Queen of Bohemia, and hath begun a Prologue to a joyful Comedy, the beginning of which shall be war and bloody dissension, but the last act containeth the peace of the Church, the relief of the oppressed, the ruin of Antichrist, and the advancement of Christian Religion.  
Thus from these two most excellent Princes, spring tides of happiness, overflowing many Countries; and good fortune, of which they are the Authors, crowns many foreign Nations, but most especially this our Island, and all his Majesties of Great Britain's Dominions.  
For if we shall but behold France with the eye of mature judgement, we shall find it stored with all kind of commodities fit for commerce and traffic, being (as it were) God's garden, in which He had planted all his blessings and benefits; for what rare blessing is it not richly furnished with? as corn, cattles, fish, fowl, and all manner of fruit, either pleasing to the eye, or delightful to the taste? whose soil is clothed in a green mantle, decked and adorned with all kind of various, delectable, sense-delighting, odoriferous flowers. Indeed no Kingdom's soil hath more beauty and bounty than France, no Country better situated, more abounding with excellent wits, both in the time of war and peace, than France: there is no Kingdom established with godlier Laws, no Monarchy more mighty, of authority more absolute Sovereign, being a Kingdom so well fortified with power, and so well qualified with piety: Indeed, never was the foundation of any Empire laid with more wisdom; and being built, upheld, and the ruins repaired with more discretion than France. Do you inquire after the greatness of her Provinces? They are like so many Kingdoms, yet all united in one Never were there any Sovereigns of any Kingdoms, which have more constantly laboured for the propagation of the Gospel, and the planting of Religion, than the French Kings, who have made clean the floor of Christian doom, swept away so much filthiness, and diverted that great Deluge of Infidels, which threatened shipwreck to the French Nation; from whence they have their deserved titles of most Christian Kings. What worthy men, yea and most excellent Kings, hath France produced? of whom we may truly report, that they were most valiant in war, most wise in counsel, carrying themselves not insultingly in their prosperity, nor yet dejectedly in their adversity; but being almost conquered in show, they became Conquerors in effect; and when they were most in despair, yet never despaired of the Commonweal; who, as they manifested great love to their subjects, so their subjects expressed great love and affection to them.  
Do you search who were the Ancestors of the French, and inquire after the original of that Nation, you shall find them neither in the ruins 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 themselves, and succouring others, came to be a people powerful in Arms, who still maintained their liberty with their sword, from whence they were called by the other Germans France, which signifies free, or rejecting servitude and bondage.  
And it may be spoken truly and without flattery, that never Kingdom might better boast of so many worthy Princes as this may; As Pharamont, the first Layer of the Foundation of this Monarchy; Clodion his Successor in this building; Meroved the Continuer, and Augmenter of the Edifice; Clovis, whose memory is to be reverenced of all posterity, and whose worthy deeds are to be had in an everlasting 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 Principality, by which means the hearts of the Gauls (who for the most part embraced the Gospel) were as much united to him by favour, as his was to God by faith; who by this means obtained from them voluntary obedience, and was made assured possessor of the others victories, who likewise received the name of his new Dominions, and were called by the name of France.  
To omit that renowned Prince, Charlemaigne who being enriched with singular gifts, both of body and mind, repaired the ruin of the Empire, & was confirmed King of France, and Emperor of Rome, to the great advancement of Religion, and comfort of the Commonwealth; whose issue, although it did not always inherit, either their Father's valour or his honour; yet God, who though He may alter the persons, yet still guardeth and guideth the state of Monarchies, did raise up a worthy Successor of that Race, to wit, Hugh Capet, a Prince adorned both with wisdom and modesty, joining wholesome Laws to his force of arms, and well-governed equity to his authority, did so overcast this erected Kingdom with such, both godly and goodly Ordinances, as it withstood the storms of many miserable ages.  
And of late years, Henry the fourth, the prime Prince of the blood, and first King of the Royal Race of Bourbon, a Prince endowed with all gifts and rare qualities, requisite for the restoring of a Kingdoms sick and languishing estate, to the former health and happiness: who succeeding Henry the third, the last of the Royal Race of Valois, who was slain by a jacobine, in the Crown and Dignity of a King, found the Kingdom pestered with so many pestilent evils, which was like a body surfeited and weakened with all kind of diversity of diseases, surcharged with melancholy, and diverse other bad humours, which did so contend for predominancy, as it was full of intestine broils and civil dissensions, the which being fed with choler of the people, did daily threaten the overthrow and destruction of the whole Continent, if God had not in time sent that good Physician, Henry the fourth, whose might and mildness composed such wholesome medicines and rare remedies, for the recovery of his Kingdom's welfare, that by his valour he encountered his enemies, and reduced his distracted and almost destroyed subjects, to their dutiful obedience; in so much; as his most gracious government was likely to have brought that Kingdom to a most peaceable and prosperous estate, if a cursed cruel murderer had not imposed an untimely end by an unfortunate stab to his life, and by consequence to his government, with whose life the present prosperity of the Kingdom was ended, in regard He left none to wield his Sceptre, but his Son, than Dauphin, now King, Lewis, whose tender years, though they promised much, yet they could perform very little in the ruling of such a mighty Nation: But God, who is evermore a Father of the fatherless, and a Husband to the Widow, became a mighty Protector of this fatherless Country, still preserving it from all perils, guarding the Dauphin from all dangers, till at length, He attaining to the ripeness of years and virtues, was fit to be the Governor of such a Kingdom; in so much, as now it may be truly styled, The most flourishing and fortunate Commonwealth in Christendom: Then what better or fit amity, than between Nations and People so faithful, and two Countries so fruitful, as France and Britain? What greater likelihood can there be of love, 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 approved Maxim in Philosophy. Simile simili gaudet, The like rejoiceth in the like; and it is as received an axiom in Morality, Amicitia debet esse inter aequales: For if a rich man be in the bond of friendship with a poor man, their love is not likely to be of any long continuance; for the want of the one will weary the good will of the other, and like Pharaohs kine, the lean ones will eat up the fat.  
But when two fertile Kingdom, which are the Palaces of Ceres, and Temples of Bacchus, shall join together, it is not only likely to be great for the quantity, but durable for the time, when as they shall not only have the interchanges of peace, but also of plenty, when as neither of them shall impoverish, but both of them jointly enrich each other.  
This is the joy of our most mighty, wise, invict Monarch, King james, who is as well the father of his Country England, as of his Son Prince Charles, who cannot choose but rejoice to see his Country so well matched to a Kingdom so commodious and profitable. There is no father but desireth and joyeth to see his daughter wealthily bestowed upon one of equal worth and means; then well may his Royal Person rejoice at this Marriage of his Kingdom, which hath found a Mate so powerful, so plentiful, 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 war? what is wanting there to maintain it? It is populous for men, powerful for money, plentiful for provision; there are men to be procured for money, money for men, & sustenance to be had for money, that nothing might be wanting, requisite for the upholding, for the beginning or continuance of a just war: Then how is England for ever obliged to the Almighty, who hath thus directed our King, thus affected our Prince to choose and select so blessed a Princess, in so happy a Country, which is the fertile Mother of such excellent wits, which is the Continent of such affable, debonair, and courteous people, a rich Fountain From whence all necessary benefits flow to neighbouring Nations, which wanteth neither a fat fruitful soil to yield increase, nor laborious, painful, industrious men to till it, which hath been the seat of so many mighty, wise, valiant, unconquered Monarches.  
Oh happy Britain! which though thou wert most happy in thyself, yet (if it be possible) art more than most happy in such a Sister, which is the Palace of pleasure, & the Mansion-place of delight, which sendeth all rare delicates, as gifts unto thy People; and the rarest Gem of Nature, the most exquisite Fruit that ever that Country could make itself or other Country's happy in, The Lady Henrette Maria, to thy Prince, whose virtues show themselves to the life, more to the eyes of all, than the most perfect eloquence is able to declare them to the ears of any; who, in her virginity, was wedded to Virtue, and is now marched with the most virtuous Prince that ever lived; who for virtue, parentage, education, proportion, and portion, stands as a matchless Mirror to all her sex, and no whit unworthy of such a Husband.  
Consider but her virtues, and you will say, and yet speak nothing but that which you think, that She is rather an Angel sent from Heaven, for to be a Miracle and Oracle of her time, for all to admire, than borne of mortal seed, for any to imitate; in whom wisdom sits in her perfection, and all to make Her perfect, whose words are all weighed in the balance of consideration in her mind, afore they be vented by her lips; for She knows words are like time, once past, they cannot be recalled, and howsoever the tongue be an unruly evil, and that evil most predominant in a woman; yet She deeming it most unworthy to command others, and not to command Herself, always premeditating of whom, to whom, where and what She speaks; and as She suffers not her tongue to be the key of her mind's closet, where silence is a virtue; so She will not neglect to let her tongue be the testament of her mind, where necessity enforceth Thrice happy Kingdom at this instant, in which there is such a Princess extant, so fully accomplished with such rare virtuous qualities: It is She, whose chastity doth challenge the superiority of all her Ancestors, and stands as a Pattern to future ages, whose heart never harboured the least thought of uncleanness, whose ivory Alabaster Soul hath not been touched or tainted with the least impurity can be imagined; but, from her infancy, hath been the undefiled Temple of Diana; whose harmless heart hath evermore walked clothed in a white spotless robe of matchless innocence, and hath been hurtful to none, except it hath been in being too merciful; and if She hath done any injury, it hath been in doing good to those which never deserved it: She is free from the oppression of the fatherless, or wronging the widow, free from the effusion and pouring out of innocent blood; her hands were never imbrued in the purple die of infant's gore. And thus being guarded with the armour of proof of innocence, She walks secure, dreadless of danger; for neither do needless fears in the time of her watching, surprise Her; nor horrid dreams of danger, in her sleep, affright Her; for her innocence doth evermore secure Her.  
Neither may her patience be passed over in silence, who heiring her Father in his spirit (as if He had left Her his good Genius, as part of her Dowry) is resolute beyond her sex, in bearing adversities; and all afflictions, which time in the whole course of her life hath inflicted upon Her, have been entertained like snow upon the ground, without any noise or murmuring; Religion and Discretion did inform Her, that the more patiently She took her punishment of her Heavenly Father, the more gently He would correct Her; and She deems it mere madness, with the fish, to leap out of the pan of misery, into the fire of impatience; or to seek to withstand that which She could not avoid: therefore in all those sicknesses and afflictions, which God either for trial, or otherwise, hath inflicted upon Her, She hath behaved Herself with such meekness, such mildness, and yet such courage of Spirit, as we may truly say, She hath been God's Patient in all her miseries: if She were sick in the highest degree, yet her comfort was, She could not be sicker: and thus, though potions could not help her body, yet patience did cure her soul, and (like a rare extraordinary Bird) She sung in a stormy tempest, being not only thankful 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 gave them such kind entertainment, and good welcome.  
Neither may her humility be forgotten, who makes it Gentleman-usher for her Honour, esteeming that honour cannot follow except humility goes afore; She knows it is the Basis upon which all other virtues are erected, and that pride is a great disgrace, even in the greatest Potentates: To see a poor dejected miserable man, which is low and cast down in estate, low in mind, it is no wonder; but to see one high in honours and preferment, humble in spirit, it is a strange rarity: And it is most true, that as there is nothing more odious in the sight of God, than a poor man proud; so there is no sight more acceptable to his Allseeing Eye, than to see one which is mighty, mean in his own opinion: But such is this honoured, yet humble Lady, who though She be laden with honours, riches, and virtues, yet like a fertile Plant, by how much more it is enriched with fruit, by so much nearer it bows to the ground: So this Illustrious Princess, by how much more God hath advanced Her to dignities, by so much more She doth honour Him by humility.  
And to the end that She might walk safely between two extremes, and absolutely attain to the golden means; as She is not prone to pride, so She is void of baseness; She doth not altogether forget the greatness of her birth, but through the remembrance of it, is incited to goodness of life; She holds it the highest indignity, and the greatest unworthiness that may be, to be superior to any in birth or place, and to be inferior to them in grace and virtue. And thus striving to exceed, She is beyond compare, and good in the superlative, the which (howsoever Herself doth more look on the defects in her labouring to mend them, than those perfections which cannot be bettered, whiles her divine soul is shadowed with this veil of mortality, and deprived of the freedom in this prison of flesh) yet She would have others see her virtues, not in a foolish vainglory, but a religious piety, that others by her good example might be the more stirred to the practice of virtuous actions, and that men seeing her good works, might glorify her Father which is in Heaven, and as She doth holily desire that they might see her virtuous disposition and pious qualities, so She doth wisely labour to cover her infirmities, and to bury in oblivion her (if there be any in Her) imperfections. She considers She is set upon a hill, and hath many eyes upon Her, and that which is but a moat in another's eye, is a beam in hers; that infirmity which is but a scratch to another's credit, is a wound to her reputation; She observes also, that as her weaknesses are eminent, so they are dangerous: For if the King holds his neck awry, all the Subjects will imitate Him; if the Tutor stammers, the Scholar will scarce speak plain, and vulgar people think it their greatest perfection to imitate their Prince, although it be in their imperfections; She therefore, to prevent that which might be anywayes prejudicial to her underlings, endeavours to be as perfect as may be, and to hide that in which She is imperfect. But that I may be constant in her praises, let me likewise commend her constancy; for whereas other women are like the Moon, ever changing, and in one instant loathing that which they loved, having the eyes of their affection not fixed upon one certain object, but having their minds drunk with the variety of affections, they reel here and there, and their heads being sick of the staggers of inconstancy, they are indeterminate in all their proceed. She, on the contrary, being sober and stayed in her fancy, loveth only One, and will never leave to love Him: Light substances, as feathers, shittle-cocks, and such like, are moved with every puff, or the least blast of wind; but creatures more ponderous and precious, as your Diamond, Ruby, Carbuncle, and Saphyr, are not removed out of the place where they rest, but by violence; and howsoever they be harder to find, yet it is not so easy to lose them. Some women do love ad libitum, and can find no centre of their desires; but, like your straw, are so accendible, as the least puff will set their affections on flaming, and kindle their desires; but alas, as they are soon in, so they are soon out: It is an easy matter, in every place, to meet with such light stuff, but it is difficult to find Diamonds, whose affections are well balanced, and whose fancies are of long continuance: But such is this Princess, so stayed, so sober, so constant, so Penelope-like, whom many may woo, but none can win from Ulysses, who though She may have many pleaders for Her, yet nonsuits them all but One; being so divine a Creature, as in her affection, She resembleth her Creator; who, whom He loveth, He loveth to the end. The beams of her love, as they be most bright, so they are of long continuance, being no ways wavering, nor speedily fading, but constant and durable. Neither is She constant in her affections only, but also in her virtuous actions; for what virtue more natural or necessary in a Prince, than liberality? and who more liberal than She? Her bounty, like the Sun, shines upon all She sees; She knoweth none are more miserable, than they which are miserably covetous, who starve in a Cook's shop, pine in the midst of plenty, who, Tantalus-like, have golden apples above, and Crystal Fountains beneath his chin; but yet, can neither taste the apples, to satisfy his hunger, nor touch the water, to allay his thirst. She therefore, holding it a thing inconvenient, to command others, and not to command her passions and her purse; She therefore esteeming riches, but the exiles of Fortune, the which She can keep no longer, because She must part from them, doth liberally and freely give to such, whose either earnest petitions, or silent deserts, do plead for them: For reason teacheth Her, that they are given Her only to give to others; therefore, with most incomparable bounty, and yet discretion, She doth bestow them; and like the Heavens, being full, She poureth and showreth down the dew of her pity, upon the gaping necessity of poor people: She well remembreth, that the faithfullest friends She can make, are her charitable deeds; for her goods leave Her at her death, nothing we brought, and nothing we must carry away: Her Friends and Allies forsake Her at her grave, they may accompany Her to her tomb, but they will not dwell with her in darkness; but her almesdeeds and pious actions follow Her, saying unto her soul, as Ruth to Nahomi, Whithersoever thou goest, I'll follow thee. It is that which moves Her to show such piety in her pity, that makes Her a Prop to the poor, a Staff to the needy: It is from hence, that the blessings of the Lord do still accompany Her, She is so much favoured of Him, because virtue is so much favoured in Her; and it is as far from doubt, as truth from falsehood, that She shall be the most fortunate, most blissful and happy Princess, that ever was extant in this Christian world.  
Thus have you seen her virtues in some part deciphered, though not to the full described; for that were as impossible to contain her praises (who, though She be young in years, yet is old in Grace) in this small volume, as to confine the boundless Ocean to a cistern.  
But because howsoever Virtue is true Nobility, yet Nobility is an ornament to Virtue; examine but her Princely Parentage, which is lineally descended from so many Kings and Emperors, never was Branch sprung from a more Regal, Imperial, and Royal Stock, than She; therefore not to make any troublesome search into ancient Chronicles, but to look into those later modern times, it will appear, that never had child greater cause to joy in a father, than this Princess in hers, whose Father Henry the fourth, of the royal Race of Bourbon, a Prince so truly, fully, and nobly accomplished, as He deserveth to be styled the Worthiest of the French Monarchy; for finding the Kingdom fraught with hatred, rebellion, infidelity, treason, and such like; but He, by his moderate and discreet government, like a wise Husbandman of that his vineyard, rooted out those enormous weeds, planting in stead of them, love to his Person, submission to his Sovereignty, faithfulness to his Crown, and loyalty to his Government; and howsoever some did so fare oppose Him, as they sought to depose Him, yet He being directed and protected by a Higher Power, in spite of all humane violent oppositions, did triumph, both over domestic & foreign foes, and France may confess truly, and without flattery, that she languished with the want of such a Prince, until He, like another Hercules, did ruin and root out those hideous monsters, which did seem prodigious to her own proper progeny, and restored France to her former reputation, and crowned her with her pristine beauty. It is He whose acts may stand to instruct Captains their duties in succeeding ages. It is He that was like David in his reign, full of afflictions and blessings, that resembled Him in his zeal of piety and justice (the prime and principal pillars of a Royalty) who ruled his people happily, to the glory of God, the good of his Subjects, and the consolation of his own Soul. Indeed, infinite were the virtues of this royal Prince, who succeeded his famons Ancestors, who were so worthy, as they may add glory to his immortal fame and memory: For He was lineally descended, in direct masculine and lawful line of Lewis, for his singular piety, surnamed Saint, the 44th. French King, whose quiver was full of such arrows, as David calleth blessings, to wit children, as Philip the Hardy, his Successor in the Crown, Peter Earl of Alancon, Robert Earl of Alancon, through Peter's untimely decease, and also Robert the eldest and the youngest, were fortunate in leaving Issue, in whom they might live after their deaths; the other died without heirs sprung from their own loins. The Issue of the forenamed Philip the Hardie succeeded lineally, until Henry the third, King of France & Poland, in whom the name and family of the Valour being extinct, the Crown fell to the Race of Robert Earl of Clerimont, who by Beautrix, sole heir and daughter of Archibald Earl of Bourbon, had Lewis afterwards created Duke: The which Lewis Duke of Bourbon, had Issue by Marie, daughter to john the eighteenth Earl of Hainhault, had Peter Duke of Bourbon, and james Earl of Ponthieu, Constable of France: Peter had by Isabel, daughter of Charles Earl of Valois, Lewis and james; Lewis surnamed the Good Duke of Bourbon, had by Anne, Countess of Auvergne, Lewis Earl of Clerimont (deceasing without Issue) john and james; john had by Bonne, Duchess of Auvergne & Countess of Montpensiere, Charles, and Lewis of Montpensiere, father of Gilbert, of whom issued Charles the last Duke of Bourbon; the which Charles Duke of Bourbon, had by Agnes daughter of john Duke of Burgoigne, john and Peter; john the second of that name was linked in marriage with joane of France, daughter to Charles the seventh, who dying without lawful Issue, the name and arms of Duke went to Peter his younger brother: Peter the second of that name Duke of Bourbon, married Anne of France, daughter to Lewis the deventh, and had Issue by her, one only daughter, Susan the general heir of Bourbon, who was wife to the abovenamed Charles the youngest son of Lewis abovenamed, Earl of Montpensiere, and brother to Charles Duke of Bourbon; but no children issuing from this marriage, the branch of the eldest son of Lewis Duke of Bourbon was broken off, and ended in this Charles Duke of Bourbon and Constable of France, who died at the siege of Rome. Now the Duchy of Bourbonois being incorporated into the Crown of France, it fell to the line of james of Ponthieu Constable of France, they youngest son of Lewis Duke of Bourbon, the which james had by joane daughter of the Earl of St. Paul, john his Successor Earl of La March; john had of Catherine, the only daughter and heir of john Earl of Vendosme, james King of Naples, who leaving no Issue Male, the right of inheritance was transported to Lewis the younger brother; Lewis had no Issue by jane of Russy his first wife, but by his second marriage he had john his Successor and Earl of Vendosme: john the second had by jean of Beavire, Francis his Successor and Earl of Vendosme, and Lewis Prince of La Roch Syr-you, who of Lovise of Bourbon, the daughter of Gilbert of Bourbon, left Lewis of Bourbon Earl of Montpensiere, you was father to Francis Duke of Bourbon, and Earl of Montpensiere, who was father to Henry last Duke of Montpensiere, Prince of Dombos, Dauphin of Auvergne, Lieutenant General for the King in Normandy, and husband to Catherine Henrette of joyeuze, a Prince so famous for all virtues, as he was admired of all. To Francis were borne, by Marie of Luxenburg, Countess of St. Paul, and daughter of Peter of Luxenburg, Charles, Earl; but created Duke of Vendosme, by King Francis the first. Francis Earl of St. Paul, who by Adrian Duchess of Esterhout ville, had Francis, who died young, Lewis Cardinal of Bourbon, Antoniette wife to Claude of Lorraine Duke of Guise, also Lovis Abbas of Fontevaraux. Charles the first Duke of Vendosme, had by Lovis the daughter of Rene Duke of Alancon, Lewis, who died at the age of seven years; Anthony, who succeeded in his right, and was afterwards King of Navarre; Francis Earl of Anghien; Charles, Cardinal Archbishop of Rovan; john, who lost his life at the battle of St. Quintin; and Lewis Prince of Conde. Anthony the Successor of Charles first Duke of Vendosme, and King of Navarre, had by joane of Albret Queen of Navarre (daughter to Henry the second of that name, King of Navarre) Henry the fourth of that name French King, as his Father's Successor, and the third of that name King of Navarre, by the right of his Mother. This is the Royal Root from whence this Princely Branch is sprung, which shows the nobleness of her descent: so that as She graceth her parentage by her virtues, so They grace Her by her birth: For howsoever wine be good out of a wooden dish, yet we esteem it better, if we drink it out of a golden vessel: So howsoever virtuous noble personages, though ignobly borne, aught to be respected, yet those which have virtue joined with their nobility of birth, are worthy of double honour: Then who more to bereverenced in our hearts, extolled in our speeches, than this noble, and never-enough to be honoured Lady? who is descended by the father's side, from Henry the fourth, French King, who no whit unworthy of his famous renowned Ancestors, added lustre to their former glory, who respecting the Commonwealth more than Himself, indeed only loving Himself, because He loved the Commonwealth, was not only the Father of his Country, but also of the peace and tranquillity of his Kingdom.  
But perhaps some will say, the child is not always the inheritor of the father's worth: For neither the soul nor the virtues of it come by propagation, and the only juice we draw from our parents loins, is their infirmities. Moreover, though the child hath not often the father's wisdom, yet for the most part it hath the mother's wit, will, and affections. Do but search Chronicles and Histories for her mother's virtues, and you shall find Her afore her marriage, the most virtuous Virgin; after her marriage, so worthy a Matron, as Heaven could joy in, or earth be proud of: To speak her virtues in particular, were a burden heavier than Aetna; to pass them over in general, were a wrong to her perfections; to undertake to write of them severally, were pride in my pen; and to speak of them, but jointly and briefly, were an argument of poverty of invention. To avoid therefore both these enormities, let it be my ambition, to use that commendations of Her, at her entertainment and arrival in France, formerly uttered by Monsieur du Varais, who making an Oration to Her, in which he seemed to build the whole felicity of France, upon her marriage with the King, he praiseth her perfections in these words.  
Seeing in you so many graces, wherewith Nature hath endowed you, admiring the beauty wherewith she hath adorned you, considering that natural sweetness wherewith she hath tempered your royal gravity, and hearing with our ears the voice renowned by fame, which proclaims the quickness of your spirit, the soundness of your judgement, the eloquence of your discourse, and that which exceeds all, the incomparable commendation of your holy and religious disposition; we persuade ourselves that you are She, whom the Heavens had appointed by your pleasing company, to mollify the life of the King, to prolong his days by his content, and to make his reign perpetual, by the continuance of a great and happy posterity. We believe that you are only She upon earth, worthy to make the life of the most triumphant King in the world, to rest in your chaste bosom; and that He, above all others, did merit to embrace the most virtuous and pleasing Princess in his victorious arms. Whereby we presage we shall soon see a number of goodly children carrying in their foreheads their father's valour, their mother's virtue, the greatness and ability of the house of France, whereunto you are allied, the happiness and power of the house of Austria, from whence you are issued, and the wisdom of Florence, in which you were borne. To the belief of this presage all things seem to invite us, but chiefly the Heaven & the Sea for we see at the arrival of your Majesty, the Sea full of storms is grown calm, & the Heaven overcast with clouds is clear, as if they would, with a pleasing eye, celebrate with us the magnificence of your reception. For in good time then, oh great Queen, are you come into our coasts, long may you live happy in France, and to France, that the age in which we live, may term you a happy wife to a King, and future ages, a happy mother of Kings.  
Here than you may discern the most excellent perfections of this most excellent Princess' mother, who carried herself so submissively to her Lord the King, that nothing was more dear or near unto Him, than Herself, so lovingly and royally to her Subjects, that She won the hearts of all those, whose souls and affections were sealed and delivered to her Majesty; so worthily to her children, that not only by her instructions, but her example (which children are most apt and ready to observe) She incited them to goodness, having a diligent care, that good education might water those good seeds of virtue and blessed endowments, which Nature had planted in them: For howsoever the Root, from whence this royal Stem sprang, and the Father of this Princess, had very short continuance in the wearisome pilgrimage of this world (as who should say, the Heavens saw it not convenient, that he should any longer live, when another came to be an Inheritrix of his virtues, and Possessor of his perfections) whereby Shoe might seem to have some want of her progenitors care, to see Her brought up in all virtuous lore, necessary or requisite for the accomplishment of so great a Princess, yet her mother, and not only her mother, but her mother's care, still surviving and outliving her father, hath so educated and nourished up this Princely Sprig (although indeed of Herself, She was declining from all evil, and inclining to all goodness) that She wanted nothing to make Her most excellent in all rare virtues and qualities; for her religion having a principal care (as She supposed that She should be instructed in the truth and Christian faith, the which this mighty Queen professed, as Catholic and universal) in the which howsoever there be some positions, like the Coloquintida in the jews pot, which spoileth all the pottage, as justification by merits; Adoration of Images, which cannot hear us; Prayer to Saints, which cannot help us; for the dead, which cannot be helped; Purgatory, Mass, Absolution of sins to any, though impenitent; yet notwithstanding there be many practices 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 fervent prayer to God, to beautify our souls religious fasting, to mortify our bodies; as continency (which many of the Romish Religion profess, but few of their Friars, Monks, Nuns, or jesuites practice) And truly She hath been wise hearted, and chosen the better part; for although by her mothers, supposed good, though truly misconceived opinion, She hath been brought up in the Romish Religion, yet like the industrious Bee. And howsoever She might err in some things, for want of true judgement, which cannot be expected in such tender years, especially the semall sex, who are most ready to be seduced, and to walk as their, leaders guide them, being most credulous, and the weaker vessels, yet reason and charity may depose, that a Princess of such ripeness of wit, and incomparable understanding, may easily be brought from giving any internal worship with her heart, though She may external with her body to any Image. Oh no; She scorns to worship a thing more base than any of her basest servants; nay, of a lower condition than any of the meanest living creatures; for the trees grow, and are clad in variety of garments, having their summer and their winter suit, putting on in the Spring a vesture of green, and in Autumn their grey clothing. Morcover, the flowers of the field are the work manship of God; and therefore certes, more excellent than the child of man's industry and invention: but an Image hath not power to  in self, as the plants and, flowers, but is the effect of man's labour, and is only clad in that array, the which the Painter hath given it; the trees increase and bring forth fruit for our sustenance, but an Image hath only the figure according to which the Carver cut it, neither yields it any profit, but dishonour to God, and destruction to them that honour it.  
And if it be thus, much less than a vegetative, by how much less to be esteemed than a sensitive creature; for they move, see, hear, taste, smell, and feel; but an Image is void of motion, and without the help of others, confined to the same mansion-place, blind and like jacob, cannot see when joseph doth him reverence, deaf cannot hear what thou speakest, and in every respect senseless: But how much inferior is it to man, yea even to the poorest miserable mortal; for look upon his soul, it the Image of God his Maker; look upon his body, and every organ performs its office, the eye sees, the ear hears, the  tafteth, the palm toucheth, the nose scenteth, the foot walketh, the hand worketh, and that which is more, the heart understandeth.  
And surely, if any thing but God were to be worshipped, it were this little world, and yet great world of wonders, this masterpiece of God's workmanship, called Man. And surely, I deem it a less error with the ignorant Indians, to worship the Sun and the Moon, for they are heavenly creatures; a smaller fault in the Egyptians, 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 styles Princes, than to prostrate and cast down ones self to an Image: Fare be it therefore to commit such sacrilege to her sanctity, or that our imaginations should rob Her of so much sense and saving knowledge, to suppose that She will not be brought from the adoration of Images, if now She doth, or ever will adore a senseless block, a stock, or it may be indeed, She may do it some outward reverence, as one may do to a picture, in the remembrance of his friend, or in the respect they bear to him whom it represents. Neither is it possible, but She will be instructed, that whosoever doth trust to his own merits, doth rely upon a broken reed, and buildeth the howl of his salvation, upon the sands of his own works, which is ready each moment to be ruined with every stormy tempest of the Devil's temptations; but he that doth build upon the Cornerstone and Rock Christ jesus, his foundation being fast and firm, his building is perpetual and everlasting: She, 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 impurity; that when we have done all we can, we are but unprofitable servants; and that although good works justify the faith, yet faith justifies the man, that though works prove faith to be living in the man, yet faith proveth the man to be living in Christ; that as faith without works is like the barren fig tree, or like the wombs of Sarah and Elizabeth, fruitless; so works without faith are of no consequence.  
Moreover, it is not to be believed, but that She will be brought to believe, that prayers to Saints cannot aught avail Her, that when She prays unto them, they have no ears to hear Her, or if they have ears to hear Her, yet it may be they want hearts to pity Her; or if they have hearts to pity Her, yet they want hands to help Her: She will easily therefore understand. that her prayers ought to be directed to the Fountain of all goodness, the Giver of all good gifts, that as He is her Lord for power, so He is her God for pity, whose will is not frustrate for want of power, nor his ability unexercised for want of will, but being omnipotent, He is omnivolent to help Her in all her necessities: It is He which hath commanded Her to call upon Him, which hath promised to hear and to help Her: and surely, She will not forsake the fountain of living water, to seek the puddles which were digged by humane inventions, which are as dry as the barren Arabian Desert, in which is no comfort.  
Neither is it to be despaired of, that She will understand, that each Christian soul hath its purgatory in this life; for he runneth thorough a world of miseries and afflictions, that his soul is purged and cleansed by the blood of Christ, from all our sins; that our Saviour Christ maketh mention but of two waves, the strait and narrow, leading to everlasting bliss; the other broad, bringing us to the pit of destruction: and if there be but two ways, there be but two homes, to wit, Dives his infernal, and Lazarus his resting place, Abraham's bosom. It may be indeed some Devil, in the shape of an Angel of light, may persuade Her of a third place, alleging Scripture, wrested from the proper sense, for their positions, viz. that of St. Peter, Christ hath once suffered for our sins, the Just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, and was put to death concerning the flesh, but quickened in the Spirit, by the which Spirit He went and preached unto the spirits which are in prison, which were sometimes disobedient in the days of Noah, while the Ark was preparing; wherein few, that is eight souls, were saved in the water. But how can they from hence prove Purgatory; for was not Christ's Spirit from the beginning? Hath not his Spirit from the beginning been in the mouths of his Ministers, Prophets, and Preachers? And is not Noah, in the second Chapter of the next Epistle, termed a Pracher of righteousness? Did not also Noah preach faithfully to that incredulous and impious people, which stopped their ears & would not be reform? Therefore the Text saith, were then drowned, and are now in prison, and without God's Spirit did preach unto them, as it doth now by his Ministers. There is also great hope, that She will be won neither to fear the Pope's Bull, or esteem his pardons; for who can forgive the offence, but he which is offended? Can the Subject remit any fault committed against the Sovereign? We know Gods Ministers have a great prerogative, and that whatsoever they bind or lose on earth, shall be bound or loosed in Heaven: and we read that Balaams' blessing was of great estimation, yet Balaam must have a care, not to bless those whom God curseth, nor to curse those whom God blesseth; for than it is in vain, and shall light upon his own head. Neither hath the Pope, or any Priest, power to absolve any absolutely, but only such as God doth pardon, and conditionally upon faith and repentance: I do confess, that sins unconfessed, are as wind in the earth, the which if not vented, will cause an earthquake in the conscience; and it is a great ease to acknowledge our sins to God's Minister, and absolution from his lips, is as a kind of confirmation and seal of the pardon of them, in regard he is God's Angel; for so God terms the Ministers of the seven Churches in the Revelation, they are his Messengers and Ambassadors sent unto mortals, to bring unto them glad tidings of peace, and to preach unto them remission of sins: but when his pardon falls where there is no penetecie, & his absolution on a soul which is not broken, and on an uncontrite heart, it is like drops of rain and timely showers distilled upon a slintie rock, the which in regard it is denied entrance, it makes no abode upon it; for is any man so mad, to think his sins to be forgiven, which is given over to work uncleanness? Or any man to believe, that he is a holy vessel, when he is filled with the dregs of Satan, and his own corruptions? Is any man so mad, to think his sins are pardoned, when he hath not wept for those sins which he hath committed, and doth still commit sins, and that willingly, which he ought to weep for? And therefore She will be, and is truly penitent, that She may be truly absolved; She is abstinent, that She might be continent; and temperate, that She might not be brought or wrought unto unchastity. And me thinks She speaks to our Prince, as the Church to Christ in the Canticles, Draw me, and I will follow after thee: such is her conscience.  
For look into her education for her carriage, and you shall see that She is instructed in all manner of courtly and courteous behaviour, carrying Herself humbly to her inferiors, yet honourably amongst her equals; that her overstately carriage to the one might not make them dejected, nor her too much submissive behaviour to the other, make them too high conceited; for as her excellencies put all pride out of her countenance, so She is not void of pride, by being ignorant of her excellencies, but by making all her excellencies void of pride; and howsoever Nature hath so framed her heavenly lights, that there appears a Parisetene when her eyes be open, yet the two more shining guests of meekness and Majesty, like two good Inhabitants, beautify and adorn that lodging. And howsoever her breath is more sweet, than gentle Zephyrus creeping upon the bosom of Flora, yet the sweet delightful Philomel's staying tunes, carried in that breath, are more pleasing: And as Grace hath taught Her to rule the passions of her mind, so Art hath enstrustructed Her to rule the parts of her body, and like a well-framed Engine, each part observes the due and true motion. Indeed, what can be that is worthy in a Princess, which is not in Her? What rareness of education and behaviour, either for the captivating, or the keeping a Prince's affections; for though indeed virtue is the greatest beauty, yet had She nothing but her beauty, yet no mortal (whose ambitious eye durst soar at so high an object) could consider of it, but he must confess, nor confess, but admire, nor admire, but love so rare perfections, as are portrayed in her beautiful countenance, and amiable proportion. A creature so fair, as except Fame itself will be infamous, it dares not style any fairer; and that which makes an addition to her fairness, is that her beautiful body is but the clothing of a more beautiful mind, a mind fraught and full of wit, more ready to censure, than to show itself; her words being as rare as precious: who is silent, but not sullen; modest, without affectation; shamefast, without ignorance: whose eyes are like the palaces of Cupid, and yet sets reason upon the desires of all the beholders, and teacheth the spectators chastity; whose face being the true frontispiece of her mind, is the seat of sweetness and sovereignty; whose cheeks are like gardens of Roses and Lilies, and Alabaster besprinkled with Vermilion: both of which are the ineffable ornaments of Nature.  
Alas, what should I say more of the rare composure of her Angel-like celestial countenance, in the framing of which, Nature hath showed herself no stepmother, but hath manifested the perfection of her affection unto that sex in Her, whose praises since I cannot utter in speeches, let it be sufficient to admire in silence. Not to omit the proportion of her body, in the discourse of which the most eloquent Orator might find a most spacious field to walk in; the which is like her mind, neither too lofty, nor too excessive low; but her stature is indifferent, and in the mean, as if Nature in framing of Her, had been the Ape of Virtue, and intended to dwell in the mean, and shame both extremes; each ligament and lineament of her body is so strongly, and yet so sweetly framed, as indeed they claim the admiration of all, and the affections of the most Peerless Prince in the world.  
As for the portion, which indeed is in the last and least place to be respected; what Princess can equal Her? For what greater portion than happiness? and what greater happiness, than that which She will bring tome Kingdom, into which She shall match, and in the which She shall be resident? whose Allies shall be as strong Bulwarks to the place, to whose Prince She shall be conjoined in wedlock, in the time of war; and in the time of peace, the means of the transporting of all necessary and requisite benefits to that Kingdom.  
Thus her virtue, her parentage, her education, proportion, and portion, prove Her worthy to be linked with the Worthiest in marriage, these make Her fit to be a Wife; but the entire affection which She beareth to our Prince, prove Her worthy to be his Wife; and no doubt, but as there is the highest degree of love betwixt Them, so no doubt they shall have the pledges of true love, and shall live and give life to this Kingdom hereafter by their posterity.  
Thus it appeareth, that as now She is every ways a most excellent Virgin; so if virtue, education, parentage, portion, proportion, love, all these, or any of these, may make a happy Spouse, She is likely to make a most blessed Yoke-fellow; these make Her fit to be a Wise, but her love to Prince Charles, his Wife; her virtues joy the world in general, but her love to Him, doth solace Him in particular; and who is able to describe her love? not man, for they are not so violent in their passions; not women, for few or none of them are so virtuous, to love so chastely affectionate: no surely, neither man nor woman can relate it to the measure, although they may utter some part of the manner of it; for her love is even like her virtues, infinite, Oh the incomprehensible wisdom of the Deity! which even afore our birth, doth not only foreknow, but doth also predetermine all the actions and affections or us mortals, effecting things, and that for our welfare, even by almost seeming impossible means, beyond our hope or imagination: Who would have thought that Saul should have found a Kingdom, when he went to look his father's Asses? Or David a Crown, when he went to carry relief to his brethren? God oftentimes shows us our home in the midst of our journey; for so did He deal with our mighty Prince, who manifesting a high degree of wisdom, in looking afore He leapt; and shown no less religion than discretion, in undertaking though a tedious journey, to view the Cabinet into which He was to put his Soul, and to place his perpetual welfare, before He trusted it with the custody of it, most fortunately met with the Centre of his affections, even in the mid way; He aimed, but God directed the arrow of his love at a more happy mark, more happy and less dangerous for Himself, more happy & more prosperous for his Countries; In so much, me thinks, that so soon as the lovely pourtraicture of this Peerless Prince (though by his picture) should be conucyed thorough those Crystal Casements of her affections, into the closet of her secrecies, it should cause her intellectual faculty thus to rationate with itself in silence: Whither wanderest thou, sweet Prince, so far from thy home? Thou art lodged in my heart: Oh let it be thy perpetual habitation: Why dost thou carry my heart so far from my body? It is thou which dost now possess it; for I am no more Mistress of that which was mine own: Why shouldest thou seek far for that which isneerer home? Expose not thyself to the dangers & troubles of travail: sail not into an Ocean of sorrows, when thou mayst lie at road in a more quiet Harbour. Oh let my love be the loadstone of thy person, & the Remora of thy affections: But if thou wilt needs travel into the Western parts, and make a night of sorrow in our Hemisphere; yet return turn to us again, and let the brightness of thy beams expel the darkness of our dolour. No doubt but our Prince was inflamed, before He saw the smoke of her desire: her looks were the messengers of love, and his heart was open to entertain the embassage: They were the darts of Cupid, and his heart was joyous in being wounded with such weapons: Thus did they meet in their affections, and the Almighty seeing (if mortals can merit any thing) that The deserved what They desired, will join their hands as well as their hearts, & make Them one really, as they are mentally. Happy there. fore (oh royal King) which shall live to see your children's children flourishing in your Palaces, & these Kingdoms eternally conferred & confirmed upon your posterity. Happy, o Prince, who shall be linked to one which is the Golden Chain of Virtue, this Diamond of the world, whom Nature hath so preciously set in the eyes of men, to be the chief work of her workmanship, and the Ornament of the world. Oh happy Princess, so happy in finding such a Head, whose welfare shall be guarded by such a Prince, that you shall seem like sweet Rose-water kept in a crystal glass: Who when you rejoice, shall see your joy shine in an other; and when you grieve, shall see the face of your sorrow in another's melting liquid heart. Oh happy both of you, when like two heavenly Strings conjoined together, you shall make a sweeter harmony: Oh how delightful will the name of Parents be unto you, when they shall see your Children flourish, in whom they are. Oh what an ineffable bliss it will be, when they shall see their children with awful love run about them, and like little models of themselves, carry themselves about them. Oh happy pie England! which art like never to be like a flock of sheep without a Shepherd, or an army discomfited without a Leader; but hast more than hopes, never to want one of thy blessed King's Race to sit upon thy Throne, so long as the Sun and Moon endureth which haste likewise the number of thy friends increased, more than the multitudes of thine enemies is augmented. Oh happy France! who gavest birth to a Princess, which giveth life to thee, & promiseth safety to thy Confines, which is the Ornament of thee, as thou art the Ornament of the world, which mayst joy in each benefit thou affoordest, yet in nothing more than Her.  
Happy in this Contract is Christendom; for although now it may for a time endure the corrosive 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 air shall be the issue of storm and lightning. Happy in this Contract are Christians; for they see the bow of the wicked broken, and the horn of the righteous exalted; the woman in travail 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 Gospel shall be exalted, and the man of sin and perdition cast into everlasting destruction.  
But still me thinks there be some sick queasy stomached people, who distaste all sweet delicates, and only delight in sour and unsavoury salads, who have such timorous tender consciences, as they fear where there is no danger, making that, which otherways (well applied) should be the cause of their rest, the mother of disquiet, fearing lest this Contract should bring an innovation of religion. For (say they) was not, I pray you, Solomon seduced and brought to idolatry, by marrying? Did not Abraham forbidden Eleazar his servant, nay bond him by an oath, not to take his son a wise amongst the Canaanites, but his own kindred? and were not the jews forbidden to match with the Heathen? 'tis true; but it is a question, whether this was any otherways ceremonially enjoined to the jews, and not necessarily imposed upon the Gentiles.  
Moreover, if the servant of Abraham could not have found a woman for Isaak, that would have come with him, he had been discharged of his oath: Likewise Prince also are public persons, and aught to be Supporters of the public welfare; and therefore that marriage may be lawful for Him, which seemeth inconvenient for a private man, in regard that He is not so much to respect that which may be for his own, but his people's welfare; No doubt, could joseph have well forsake Egypt, without the prejudice of the Country, & inferring a general discommodity, he would have disposed himself, it may be, with more joy and contentment; but God had allotted, that by his means Egypt should be preserved; nay, and I may well say, not so much Egypt as Israel might have safety, therefore joseph must be brought into Egypt by a strange means matched with a strange women: and what was all this to intimate, but that joseph was sold to Egypt, that Israel might be preserved from famine: and no doubt God's wisdom doth oftentimes see beyond the reach of man's apprehension, and may match a diversity of Religion to make an uniformity of faith, to the end that there may be one Shepherd, one sheepfold, one Christ, one Christian faith.  
For is not in her breast the whole globe of this world's worth contained? is not her bosom a stately Theatre in which each several virtue acteth a lively part? is not the ivory compared to her whiteness, and Aurora pale being joined to her blushes; her blushes, the which modesty doth always dye, which notwithstanding doth always live in her countenance, whose matchless virtue is not like a Pearl found in a dunghill, but dwelling in so fair a lodging: It is she only whose beautiful form is such rare physic, as it is able to make an old Prince young, and to make a young Prince live till he be aged. True, but it is an ancient position, that stately buildings must have great means to maintain them, and such rare beauties, rich revenues to uphold their lustre, for the whitest cloth doth soon take soil, the richest vesture soon spoilt, if not well looked to, and the fairest creature most subject to be deformed, and wrinkled with want, poverty, and afflictions. It is requisite therefore that your most curious workemanships should be most curiously kept, that pictures excellently drawn, should be excellently preserved. God therefore, with whom all things past, and to come, are present, foreseeing the excellency of this model of true perfections, gave her beauty to her virtues, and means to her beauty; for what Princess in Europe shall have a richer dowry? The treasure which follows her as a servant whithersoever she goeth is in finite; and as she wanteth no wealth herself, so that Kingdom shall want no riches which doth enjoy her; for what greater riches than happiness, and what greater happiness than that which she bringeth to the place she shall inhabit? Is it worth or same which they thirst after? what greater fame than her beauty? and yet her beauty less than her least virtue: Surely, that Kingdom shall need no sun, in which her virtue shineth; that Hemisphere no light, in which such a light is resplendent; no riches in which is such a jewel Neither is she meanly powerful in her mighty Allies, for as she is near to all men in affection, (for what heart can hate so harmless a creature) so she is dear to many Princes by affinity, as to her brother in virtues, as well as by birth, Lewis the 13, King of the French and Navarre, a Prince so virtuous, so valiant, that the one might make him prosperous in peace, the other triumphant in victories, for he is not only his Father's heir in his Kingdom, but is like to be his successor in his conquests; for though his face as yet doth scarce show his sex, yet his fortitude proves him a man, a man of such invict courage, and incredible force, that few can equal, none exceed him; for though time as yet hath not much outstripped him, in regard of his tender years, yet he hath outstripped time, who indeed so fare goes beyond all his time and years, that whereas others seem to watch and catch time, which always stealeth away with a gliding sly pace, yet he seemeth to fly from time, & time to run after to catch him; in so much, as when following times shall read the story (or rather the beginning) of his life, they shall admire to see one so young in years and courage, so old in wisdom and experience, and shall think by his precedent, that discretion hath shaked hands with the grey head, & hoary hairs, as an house overweake and unworthy of such an inhabitant, and taken the Castle to defend herself against her enemies, intemperance and unchastity, rage, fury, and diverse other such like troops of adverse enemies, and envious adversaries, for though intemperance and unchastity are usual (I had almost said, for so they are accounted, venial) sins; yet He is a rider and ruler of his affections, raineth in his lusts with the bridle of wisdom: others, if they be distasted in the strength of their youth, have such heat of blood, and do boil in anger, that they seem to have enough fury to furnish all the furies in hell, and yet notwithstanding themselves still have heaped measure, throwing themselves upon each apparent danger, without consideration or fear, doing any injury without conscience and religion, but wisely foresees a danger, and seeks to prevent it, and is so valiant, that He dares not fight but upon just occasion. This is the royal Brother of so virtuous a Sister; this is that mighty Monarch, with whom England shakes not only the hands of friendship, but fraternity. And who is it but the most Illustrious Princess the Lady Henrette Maria which puts the hands together? It is She whose twin was happiness, and whose birth brought in felicity to all this part; nay, to all the world, especially to France and England; to France, for God (no doubt) foresaw that he had sufficiently stored it with Sons issued from that fountain of goodness Henry the fourth, whereby that blessed Country might seem sufficiently strengthened and fortified in itself. God therefore in due time sent it a daughter, so excelling and transcending in virtue & beauty, to make it strong without itself, and to make walls of friendship about it to England, for it was not obscured from the All, and all ways Allseeing eye of God, before the beginning of the world, much more Her being, what need England should have to help her Allies and Neighbours, though not herself; and therefore ordained two such Potentates as K. Lewis of France, & Prince Charles of England; and likewise sent this worthy Princess to join these two together, and to make them Brothers who are so like one another in virtuous conditions, who are both magnanimous, both wife, both valiant, and no doubt both of them shall be fortunate; they will draw their swords in justice, handle them with such courage, as each blow shall seem to be the postilion of death unto their enemy; so that they shall satisfy their thirsty blades with the blood of Tyrants, and die their swords with the death of the enemies to truth and equity.  
And who is the foundation upon whom these hopes are erected, but upon this gracious Princess, who hath not only virtue in Herself, highness of birth and good education in and from her Ancestors greatness of estate; but also hath beauty to move love, wit to apprehend to love, and excellent body to content it, and a grateful mind to reward it: For had She all these rare endowments and aptitudes of marriage, and yet had no inclination to wedlock, her rare gifts would be like precious jewels, which lose their lustre for want of wearing, like fragrant flowers in a most delightful garden, which are never gathered, but finde their tomb where they had their birth, like a root buried up in the ground, which never brancheth: if She were resolved not to make an exchange change of virginal for conjugal chastity, She should do the world too much injury, in cloistering up Christendomes joys, whose hopes are chief in Her, with Herself.  
Moreover, her virtues would return to the King of Heaven, of whom they all hold in capite, for want of heirs, and could only find life after her death in the mouth of Fame; her nobility of blood would die in Herself, for want of posterity to whom it might still be derived; She would lose the worth of her education, in not teaching that to others, which She hath been taught Herself, all that She could well dispose of would be her Dowry, to the which the poor would be rightful heirs, and as for her beauty, it would perish without blessing any but a multitude of wounded admiring spectators: And howsoever indeed it may be Death could not take it away with her soul, yet the grave would consume it with her body: She therefore, as She was the child of a mother, so desireth to be the mother of a child.  
Moreover, let no man be guilty of such a foolish suspicion, once to doubt or imagine, that our Prince's wisdom should be overcome by a woman's weakness; that the eye of his reason and religion should be put out with the eye of affection; Or fare be it to commit such blasphemy against his Highness, either so much to diminish his constancy in the truth, or derogate from the soundness of his knowledge and judgement, that ever He should be brought to forsake that, in the defence of which He would deem the loss of his life and blood precious: Will He relinquish that which is built upon the ground of God's word, which is disagreeing in nothing, agreeing in every thing with the holy Scriptures, to be the Follower of men's traditions, and an Observer and server of the foolish inventions of humane fancy, to reverence that termed Holiness, which is but true Insanctitie; to rely upon any thing but the merits of Christ; to trust to his own works, or deem them meritorious, and so to make Himself his own Saviour, and by consequence, the coming of Christ of no necessity; to forsake that faith which was founded by Christ and his Apostles, upheld and followed by the Fathers, whose antiquity is such, that it was preached by our Heavenly Father to our earthly parent in Paradise, by the which all former and future ages must be saved, to follow that which is but an upstart Irreligion; which was set up by Covetousness and Ambition, which is to bring gold to the Pope's coffers, not God to the people's consciences, which is only to hide the light of the Gospel under the bushel of an unknown tongue, to starve the souls of poor people, which makes Ignorance the mother of Devotion, which is Author of destruction; which maketh people think it nothing to sin, because they think themselves sure of a pardon; which maketh adultery, Sodomy, fornication more honourable, than marriage allowable; which maketh Moses inferior to Aaron, which bringeth the necks of Princes and Kings under the foot and follies of Antichrist, which is the Nurse of rebellion in Subjects against their Sovereign, and maketh him a God which is but a devil incarnate, who Lucifer-like prefumeth to sit in the seat of God.  
Or what heart can be such a detractor from Her virtue, to think that this Phoenix of her age, this noble Princess, whose breast is the Cottage of humility, and the quiet harbour of lowly thoughts, will offer to seek to guide Him by whom She is to be directed, to be the stern when She is but the vessel of which He is the Pilot; to be the Sun, when she is but the Moon, which must borrow light from his knowledge? can She which esteems him to be all worth, think that the greatest ornament in him is unworthy? No surely, She knows that She may be the crown of the head, but She will not presume to be the head of the body; She desires not to metamorphize water into oil. It is not hidden from Her, that Nature and Grace hath given man the superiority, that the strength of his body, the stoutness and courage of his mind, the staidness of his affections, the wisdom of his soul, the pregnancy of his wit, the dominion of his will, the soundness of his judgement, the ripeness of his understanding, in a word, all the powers of his soul, and the perfections of his body, do plead for and claim a Diadem of dominion and government over women, which are the weaker sex; She desires but to rest in his bosom, to be his heart, and not his head; She knows that is his peculiar, and therefore She will not challenge it; She is the heart, and He is the head, the head in which is the eye of knowledge, the ear of understanding, the gift of discretion; and will not the heart think as the eye informs it, as the ear certifies it, as discretion tells it? Yes surely, and She will do as her Prince instructs her; for will not She which loved himself for himself, love God for him, and for herself also? may not He which hath drawn her heart to love him, persuade her soul to embrace God? Yes surely, there is small doubt, great hope, nay almost assurance, that not only She, but many millions will be brought and wrought to embrace the Christian faith, to favour and follow the true Religion, by the means of this happy union and blessed contract.  
Neither are these all the evidences for this ground of our happiness, but we have more mighty motives to induce and persuade us that She will open her breast to entertain the truth, and unfold Her arms to embrace affectionately this our ancient Catholic, Apostolic, and reformed Religion. For can She call to remembrance her Grandmother joanna Albrettana Q. of Navarre, the loving, chaste, modest, sober, discreet wife of Anthony Duke of Bourbon her Grandfather; can She (I say) retain in her mind that delight of Heaven, and light of earth her Grandmother, and yet forget her Religion, in the profession of which She was constant and unmoveable? And what was it, but that which we now profess, to wit, the faith which is according to knowledge, and not ignorance; for, how can they be good which know not what goodness is? as the Laity of the Romish Church which is nursed and nuzzled up in blindness, the faith which teacheth us to put on the robe of Christ's righteousness, to rely wholly and solely upon his merits, to abandon ourselves, and our own actions, as death and darkness, unless Christ give life and light to us and them. Thus was she in practice pious, in profession a Protestant, in which she lived, in which she died, by which now she resteth in peace, shall rise in power, and reap a crown of immortal glory.  
Was not likewise that Royal King Henry the fourth, the great late French King, in education and profession a Protestant, and though he might afterwards (to prevent civil broils, and intestine and unnatural wars in his Dominions, for the peace of the Kingdom, for the safety of his Subjects) let policy a little get the upper hand of Piety, and did somewhat connive and favour the Romish Religion; yet no doubt he did never truly affect it. And howsoever some black-mouthed monsters are not ashamed to say, that he was like the Church of Laodicea, neither hot nor cold, yet charity and equity may depose, that he did not like to the Church of Ephesus, which forsook her first love.  
No surely, but though in external show he might countenance the Pope's Prelates, in regard most of the Princes of his Country were of that faction; yet we may say of him, as it is said of David, his heart was with God; & no doubt his soul soared upon the wings of the Protestants profession unto the hill of God, Mount Zion; In so much, as that cursed murderer Ravilack, though he might wound him mortally, yet could not kill him eternally, but God did turn the hate of that monster of men, or rather Fury of hell, to the welfare of this mighty Monarch, who did but leave a crown of thorns to gain a Crown of glory, who did but lose a kingdom subject to so many alterations (by time and troubles) to find a Monarchy subject to no mutability.  
Oh happy Henry, if thou hadst never been the nourisher of such a viperous brood, which have eaten out the bowels of thee which was thy foster-Father. Oh, had the valour of thy soul been equal to the courage of thy mind, thy Country had never been wounded so much by thy loss, nor thou by that monster; but thou hadst blessed it with a longer life, and a more timely death. Oh happy, if thou hadst laboured to have purged God's floor, and rooted out these tares out of God's field; for had not these tares stood, the tears of sorrow had not so overflown thy Kingdoms, whiles thou didst valiantly profess and maintain the Gospel of Christ. How secure and free thou wert from danger: How secure in thy estate, and how did all things fall out prosperous to thee? How vainly did these King-killing Caitiffs attempt to hurt thee? No surely, the love of God did shield thee from all thy enemies, but when thou show'dst too little love to God, in throwing too many favours upon them, than the Lord did show thee, that the effects of thy love to them was their hate to thee.  
For the father doth not always beget a child like himself; no more hath love always birth from affection: God did take away the guard of his protection and the bulwark of his defence, exposing thy breast to an open enemy, both to himself and thee. Whereas Queen Elizabeth, who beyond the valour and constancy of her sex, maintained and continued the Christian Religion: How many dangerous treasons did the hand of the Lord conduct Her thorough, and still She was preserved? For the Devil and his instruments are like the Crocodile, which flies if a man pursues it, but pursues if a man persist not in his pursuit; Or as a shadow, the which if a man flies will follow him, but if he run after it, will run from him. In a word, God no doubt brought that famous pious King, Henry the fourth, to eternal durable life, through the purgatory of a sharp and sudden death: So doth the Physician give bitter potions, to procure the better health: So doth the Chirurgeon lance the wound, to heal the sore; so are sharp copperess waters given to salve sore blinded eyes; so is the ground harrowed to make it fruitful; and so no doubt God suffered this affliction of sudden death, to be effected by that cursed hand, that He might be more sound in his soul's resolution, that his eyes might be opened, to see the sorditie of the Popish jesuitical Sect, and that He might be better instructed by their cruelty in his death, than He could by their flattery his life, who shown themselves true Absalon's, who the more David did respect him, the more he rebelled against him: Is it possible then that her mind can ever lose the impression of her father's remembrance? And can She remember Him, and yet forget his death? Or can reminiscence retain his death, and not think of the instrument of it? Or can the instrument of that murder be in her memory, and the setters on work of that wicked Instrument, the Instigatours of that bloody Butcher, to that beastly, cursed, cruel fact, be out of her mind? And can She remember them, and not abhor them? And can She abhor them, and not relinquish their religion, which hold that lawful, which Gods Law hath forbidden? For God prohibiteth the murder of any private person; but these Doctors maintain it to be lawful to kill Kings, which are public persons. Neither do they permit it as a work not impious, but persuade men to it, as a deed meritorious: For Ravilack had no sooner played his part in that bloody Scene, but he was so confident in the blessedness of the act, as he thought immediately to have flown to Heaven, and been crowned a Saint by God, as well as canonised a Saint by the Pope: Such is the leaven of the Popish Doctrine, that sours all the subjects of the Prince which doth profess it. For what treacherous attempt against any King, either Protestant or Papist, hath been made by a Protestant in our memories? Oh no, we are taught to fear God, to honour the King; we must follow David's example to Saul, not lift up our hands against the Lords Anointed; we know He is Gods Vicegerent, placed there by God, and therefore to be displaced by none but Him: But on the contrary, what plots have been laid? What treasons have been committed, either for the destruction of a King, or subversion of a Kingdom, in which the Papists have not only been Parties, but principal Agents? Who were they which plotted so many treasons against the Person of Queen Elizabeth, but Papists? But what treasons were plotted against Queen Marie by any Protestant, notwithstanding she was a cruel persecutor of that Profession? What was Gowrie that conspired the overthrow of the Sacred Majesty of King james, but a Papist? What were the plotters of that horrid Gunpowder Treason, who sought with one puff to blow away both the Prince and Peers of our Kingdom, but all professors of the Romish Religion? What was he which murdered King Henry the third of France, but a Papist jacobin? In a word, what treasons have been committed, which are contained in the Register-booke of man's memory, which have not been plotted and performed by them? And no marvel the Priests and people practise it, since they preach it; and it is an orthodoxal opinion and position amongst them, that the Pope hath power both to dispose of Kingdoms, and depose Kings, and that King-killing is not only a lawful, but a holy and honourable calling. Who then can suspect, that a Princess of her peerless part, of her pious disposition, of her matchless understanding and discretion, doth affect truly that religion, which doth infect the hearts of Prince's subjects, which doth teach men to be monsters in government, and not to subject themselves to higher powers, but to rebel against the rule and authority of the Regal Sceptre? How can those Princes have any peace with God, that do so little respect, and much hazard their lives, as to harbour and foster such murderous rebellious minded men in their Kingdoms? How can Princes have any peace with men, when they suffer men which are so wicked, to preach such doctrine, and practise such villainy? How can they have any peace within them, when they may justly fear that each one which smiles in their face, may smite their heart? when they nourish up such vipers in their bosom, as are ready each moment to eat out their bowels? How can then this Royal Princess 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 safety of his person, if it be tolerated? which may impair the security of her posterity, who are never like to possess their Princedoms in peace, unless such vermin be hunted out of their Territories; for peace and such people cannot inhabit in one Kingdom, or dwell together, no more than wine and poison in a crystal glass, but the glass will be broke, and the wine spilt and spoiled: If then a Prince will possess his soul and sovereignty in peace, he must banish these breakers and disturbers of it. Neither is it a strange or unheard of matter, for France and England to shake hands of amity and unity in those blessed Contracts; for since almost the beginning of either Monarchy, there have been continually these friendly and fortunate interchanges of marriage: For it was not concealed from our Ancestors, how beneficial peace was between France and England; therefore Steven Earl of Bloys was linked in the bond of marriage with Adela, daughter to William the Conqueror. And on the other side, William Waren Earl of Surrey, son of Gunred, daughter to William the Conqueror, married the daughter of Hugh Vermandoys, brother to the King of France. For in like manner, William Duke of Normandy did marry Marie, daughter to Foulke Earl of Anjou; Maud the Empress was linked in marriage with jefferie Plantagenet Earl of Anjou. And for the happiness of his Kingdom, the tranquillity of his Country, and felicity of his Countrymen, Steven King of England married Constance, daughter to the King of France. Henry the second married Elinor, sole heir to William Duke of Aquitaine. Henry, son to King Henry the second, married Margaret, daughter to Lewis the French King. Richard Cordelion married Berenger, daughter to Sanches King of Navarre. john King of England married Isabel, daughter and heir of Amorie Earl of Angoulesme. Arthur, nephew to King john, married the daughter of Philip King of France. Edward the second married the daughter of Philip King of France. Isabel, daughter to Edward the third, married Ingelram de Guisnes, Earl of Soysson and Bedford. Richard the second married Isabel, daughter to Charles the French King. Henry the fourth married jane, the daughter of Philip the third King of Navarre. Henry the fifth married Catherine, daughter to Charles the French King. Henry the sixth married Margaret, the daughter of Reiner Valois Duke of Anjou. Marry daughter to Henry the seventh, married Lewis the twelfth, French King. Charles Prince of Great Britain, betrothed to Maria Henrette, daughter to Henry 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 marriage, producing peace and plenty to each Dominion: so have these matches been prosperous to former, so is this like to be to future ages, that all happiness to either Kingdom shall be the issue of this most longed for and liked Union: For who can be made more happy in themselves, more blessed in their people, than this Prince and Princess, who are so like in themselves, and their Countries, their people, their loves, & their virtues, as this rare Lady and her Prince? who by his supreme virtues, might seem only to challenge Her; and She, for her exquisite qualities, to enjoy Him: So that from this Match may be derived all happiness, and all felicity; as also all virtues join in them; for hath his greatest indignation and choler been ever made a crime against them, whom He hath hated? No, no, but his royal Soul, which had nothing in it but courage, seemed to fail in his revenge, and though that with the eyes of his mind He may apprehend offences, yet his mercy is as ready to forget them, as his wisdom 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 ears conceive it, and succeeding ages shall publish his present valour; and it is not to be feared that this assertion shall need confirmation, since there is hope it is not only without contestation, but comparison, who hath also clemency joined 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 blood, so the other shall be sealed with tears.  
And for his pious life, the world knows that he hath no superiors, few equals, but multitudes of inferiors; who as if he made it his only happiness to serve God, doth only please himself in pleasing him, esteeming his services his greatest freedom, and deeming it a thing most unworthy, to be a Sovereign of men, and not a servant of God. And a thing most requisite in a Prince to be as eminent in grace, as in place; and in virtue, as in dignity; than the which there cannot be a greater honour, nor any thing which doth more prove or improve the stock He came of, who is like pure pearly water flowing from a Crystal fountain; or like an Apple of gold hanging upon a goodly Cedar, which brancheth itself into all the parts of Christendom.  
For how royally descended, and nearly allied is He; for how frequent have the interchanges of Marriages with England, and other the chiefest and noblest Families of Christendom, being the only son of james the sixth of that name, King of Great-Britaine, France, and Ireland, lineally descended from multitudes of most mighty Monarches, the undoubted Heir of the said Dominions, being issued from Marie Queen of Scotland, and Dowager of Francis of Valois the second French King, who departed this life 1586, marrying Henry Steward Lord Darnely her second Husband, eldest Son to Matthew created Duke of Albany, in an. 1565, and slain in the year 1566: the which Q. Mary was the daughter of james Steward the 5. king of Scotland, whose first wife was Magdalen daughter of Francis the 1. French king, who died in the year 1541: The which james the 5. was descended from james the 4. king of Scotland, who married Margaret elder daughter of king Henry the 7, and sister to king Henry the eighth, in the 11. year of her Father's reign, 1489. and was slain in battle at Flowden, anno 1514, in the sixth year of king Henry the 8. his reign. The which james 4. was issued from james the 3. king of Scotland, who married Margaret daughter of Christian the 1. king of Denmark, mark, who was descended from james Steward the 2. King of Scotland, who married Marie daughter of Arnold Duke of Gelder's, and was slain anno 1460, who was sprung from the loins of james Steward the first king of Scotland, who married joane daughter of john Earl of Summerset: In the which England and Scotland in those times also gave the kisses of peace in marriage; for the said joane was descended from john Plantagenet, surnamed of Gaunt, Earl of Richmond, Duke of Lancaster, called king of Castille, who married three wives, and died in anno 1398. being issued from the royal stock of Edward Plantagenet the 3. king of England and France, who quartered the Arms, erected the Order of the Garter, married Philip of Henault, and deceased anno 1377.  
But to return unto our former discourse, this james the first was issued from the loins of Robert Steward the third king of Scotland, sometimes called john, married Annibell daughter to john Drummond, and died in anno 1406, who was descended from Robert Steward the 2, who after David Bruise 1370. was king of Scotland, whose second wife was Elizabeth daughter of Adam Marre knight, who died 1309. was descended from Gualther Steward Lord Steward of Scotland, who married Margery daughter of Robert Bruise, sister and heir to David-bruise, both kings of Scotland, by which means the royal name of the Stewards was matched into the blood royal, and made apparent heirs of the Crown; in which worthy and noble Name it doth still unto this present day continue. Which honourable and ever to be reverenced Name, was first advanced to the dignity of Lord Stewardship by king Malchol the 3. who conferred that honour upon Walter borne in Wales, at his return into Scotland, for some memorable and worthy services which he performed. But they were entitled in the Crown by the marriage of the abovesaid Margery, daughter to Robert Bruise Earl of Carrick, the first king of Scotland, who married Elizabeth sister to the Earl of Marre, and died in anno 1329. Whose Ancestor Robert Bruise Lord of the Valley of Anandie in Scotland, and Cunnington in England, married Martha daughter to the Earl of Carrick. He also married Isabel the sister and coheir of john the Scot, Earl of Chester, who brought unto him Cunnington in England for her Dowry, being of the stock of David Earl of Angus and Huntingdon, the 3. son of Henry Prince of Scotland, who married Margaret daughter and coheir of the Earl of Chester, and died in anno 12 19 William king of Scotland (surnamed the Lion) second Son of Prince Henry, succeeded his brother king Malchol in anno 1160, and died without issue. Henry Earl of Huntingdon married Ada the daughter of William Earl of Werren, having a period prefixed to his days by the Almighty, afore the expiration of his Father's life anno 1152. David the first king of Scotland, son of Malchol, married Maud daughter and heir of Waltheof Earl of Huntingdon, and died in anno 1153. in the 19 year of the Reign of king Steven; so Maud Queen of England, daughter of Malchol, and brother to David the first king of Scotland, was espoused to Henry the first king of England, son to William the Conqueror, who died anno 1119, from whose loins sprung the famous race of the British Kings, who have for their valour, and their fortunes been famous, and admired throughout the world.  
Neither was here a beginning of the love and amity between them, who now by one are for ever made one: For likewise before the Conquest there was a mutual exchange of these contracts, & between the ancient famous Saxons, and our pious Kings & Princes ancestors, have been famous matches for the good & benefit of both Kingdoms, for both the Lines of Egbert the Saxon K. of England, & Alphin K. of Scotland, met in the marriage of Malchol the 3, and Margaret sister of Edgar Ehelin right heir to the Crown of England, who died an. 1093. Which Malchol was the son of Duncan, who vanquished Mackboth in fight, yet afterwards himself was slain in anno 1092, whose Father Dunken the 1. king of Scotland, (& heir of Beatrix who succeeded Malchol) was slain by Makbeth in anno 1046. Beatrix eldest daughter, and coheir of king Malchol the 2, was married to Abineth Crinathany of the West Lands of Scotland. Malchol the second king of Scotland, son of Kenneth the 3, subdued king Trim, was slain in anno 1034. Kenneth the third king of Scotland, succeeded king Culen, became a tyrant, and was murdered 994. Malchol the first son of king Donald, was the successor of Constantine the 3, and was murdered in the year 958. Donald the sixth king of Scotland, next after king Gregory was his predecessor, who died anno 904. Constantine the second, king of Scotland, after the death of Donald his Uncle, was slain in anno 874. Keneth the second, king of Scotland, called the great, succeeded his Father king Alphen, and died in anno 894. Alphin son of K. Achai, who made the first league with France, after the death of king Dongallies, he likewise recovered the kingdom of Scotland anno 830, and was afterwards slain in anno 834.  
This is the royal descent of our renowned Prince by the Father's side, being sprung by the Fathers and Grandfather's side, from so many glorious stems of the kings of Scotland. By the Grandmother from the renowned race of the Kings of England, to whom Scotland hath been often linked by the performance of Hymen's rites, and the celebration of happy nuptials; but now it hath found (by the means of our gracious Sovereign) a more blessed and assured union. Whose ancestors (the true objects of admiration) have ever been famous for virtuous actions, for what have they been defective in which savoured of perfection? what worth have they wanted, that might make them esteemed to be the most noble worthies that ever lived? For he hath beeneallyed to so many mighty Kings of England and Scotland; and in fine, doth heir rightfully the virtues and renowns of both Kings and kingdoms; for who can be silent but dumb men in his praises? or can any be tongue-tied whose heart is linked to him by the bond of obedience? and can any one which is a true subject but make such a Sovereign the subject of his praises, and object of his duty? But to the intent that all may know the highness of this Prince's birth, as well as the goodness of his mind, examine but the greatness of his ancestors and allies of the mother's side, whose remembrance to us is like Myrrh unto the body which it embalmeth, incorruptible, but wondrous bitter; for how can it be better then bitter unto us, seeing it reduceth into our reminiscence her Name which was so delightful, seeing that putting us in mind of her perfections, the which making us see how necessary she was for us, manifests unto us how miserable we are for her. Oh no, it is impossible for us to remember her, and to forget her virtues; or to retain the loss of them in our minds, and to forget sorrow, but to have weeping eyes and bleeding hearts; considering that the perpetual welfare of England required that she had been immortal, from whose death our grief hath birth, and from whose tomb floweth our sorrow. But why should I thus produce this mournful dish at this marriage feast, unless it should be like sour sauces tobeget us better stomaches to our sweeter dainties, and to make the beauty of our solace more amorous and excellent by the proposing of the paleness of our sorrow: So doth a fair stately Steed seem most to be esteemed being amongst a number of ill-favoured jades. So doth it serve as well as a painting for a fair Lady to have a foul Chambermaid; so doth a passionate speech delight in a pleasant Comedy, and a sorrowful passage thrust in amongst a company of merry scenes. And no doubt this serves like the face of a blacke-Moore to his teeth, makes them seem more white and comely.  
This sorrow, for the loss of our Queen Anne, makes our joy, for the enjoying of this Princess, 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 live in Her, as being the true Mirror of her most gracious qualities; He also most happy in Her, in finding a kind of a mother in a wife, so like Her, who may serve Him for his mother's picture, all times to look on, with a respective, loving, joyful remembrance, to see his mother living in Her: For surely, her beauty and virtue cannot die, so long as this famous Princess shall live. And thus, like Isaak with Rebecca, He shall be comforted after the death of his mother, who for the goodness and the greatness of her blood, was almost unparallelled; For how many royal Kings, which wielded their regal Sceptres with policy, power, and piety, is She descended from? How nearly allied was She to multitudes of potent Princes? in so much, as walls of friendship were erected by her means, round about these Kingdoms, as the King of Denmark, who for his place and person, is both wealthy and worthy, and able, both for men and money, to raise a friend, or ruin an enemy; but howsoever, to defend an Ally, who was the natural and most affectionate brother of our most royal Queen, who by this most happy Contract, is united to France, as we to Him, who will be always in readiness to do any office of friendship and fraternity unto it.  
What should I speak of the Ancestors of our Queen, as Frederick the second, King of Denmark, Norway, Goths, and Vandals, son to Christian the third, who died in that menacing memorable year 1588. and the 32. of the reign of Queen Elizabeth, of neverdying fame and memory, who married Sophia (not unworthily so called, in respect her disposition did answer her denomination; for indeed She was all wisdom, as her name importeth) Queen of Denmark, sole heir to ulrick Duke of Meckleburg, in anno 1572. from whose blessed loins and fruitful, as from a fertile Soil, hath flowed such a noble Progeny, as seemed to promise to people the world with Princes, as that Princely, royal, religious, pious, prudent Queen Anne, the mostrespected, chaste, meek, merciful, Majestic Wife of the Sacred Majesty of our most mighty Monarch, james the first; and the most happy Mother of our most promising Prince Charles, the Felicity of his Father, and the Pledge of our succeeding Peace, & the Propagation of Religion; & also the fortunate Mother of many hopeful Children, the most Gracious Queen Elizabeth, hath borne unto Frederick King of Bohemia. Also the aforenamed Christian the fourth, the now King of Denmark, who married Anne Catherine Queen of Denmark, daughter to joachim Frederick Marquis of Brandenburg, borne in anno 1575. who hath now reaped the fruits and pledges of his marriage-bed, the most warlike and worthy Prince, Frederick Christian Heir of Norway, Duke of Holst and Sleswick, and is still surviving, a most prosperous, hopeful, and honourable Prince: As also ulrick, Heir of Norway, Duke of Holst, Knight of the noble order, Brother to Queen Anne, and Uncle to Prince Charles, second son of King Frederick the second: And in like manner john Duke of Holst and Sleswick, Brother to Queen Anne, and Uncle to Prince Charles, who was borne 1583. and died unmarried in Muscovia. Also Elizabeth, eldest Daughter of King Frederick the second, Sister to Queen Anne, and Aunt to Prince Charles, who was espoused to Henry julio Duke of Brunswick and Luneburg, father of two brothers, the elder Duke of Brunswick and Luneburg, and Christian Duke of Brunswick and Bishop of Halberstadt, who hath manifested his infinite love and courage, for the defence of the true religion and his Allies, exposing his breast to open dangers and infinite perils, hazarding his substance and himself, beyond ordinary valour or virtue, for the restoring of his so much beloved, and so much worthy to be beloved kinswoman, Q. Elizabeth. O worthy Prince! never enough to be commended by the weakness of a humane pen; for I think no Tullian, no surely, nor Tertullian eloquence, could sufficiently compile thy commendations: and I doubt not, but thy virtues have engraven more noble thoughts on Thee, in the hearts of all, than can be expressed by the hands of any. But to return to the famous Offspring of this happy King Frederick the second: and not to forget Augusta, third daughter to King Frederick the second, and Sister to Queen Anne, and Aunt to our worthy Prince Charles, borne in the year of Christ 1580. Hedwige, fourth and youngest daughter to King Frederick the second, Sister to Queen Anne, and Aunt to Prince Charles, married to Christian Duke Elector of Saxony, Marquis of Mismia; all which Princes issued from the loins, and are the posterity of the famous King Frederick the second, and Sophia his chaste Spouse and worthy Wife. Christian the third, King of Denmark, etc. son to Frederick the first, King of Denmark, who married Dorothy Queen of Denmark, daughter to Magnes the second, Duke of Saxony, Angry, and Westphaly. Frederick the first, King of Denmark, married Sophia of Pomerland, Queen of Denmark, his second wife, daughter to Bugslane the tenth, by Anne of Poland. Christian the first, King of Denmark, etc. married Dorothy Queen of Denmark, daughter to john Marquis of Brandenburg, widow of Christopher Palatine of Rhine. Theodore the fortunate, Earl of Holdenburg, married Hedwige his second wife, daughter of Gerard Duke of Sleswicke. Henry the elder, Duke of Brunswick and Lunenburg, was married to Catherine of Pomerland, Duchess of Brunswick. Albert, surnamed the Achilles of Germany, Marquis of Brandenburg, married Margaret marchioness of Brandenburg, youngest daughter of james Marquis of Baden. Frederick Earl of Zolern, Burgrave of Norrenburg, married Elizabeth of Bavaria, daughter of the Duke of Bavaria, who died in the year 1457. Frederick the Hardy, Landtgraue of Thurin, married the daughter of Henry Earl of Henneburg. james Marquis of Baden, Earl of Spanheim, married Catherine the daughter of Charles Duke of Lorraine. Henry the first, Earl of Holst and Scaumburg, married Agnes daughter of Florence Earl of Bronchersteine. Albert of Habsburg, Archduke of Austria and Emperor, married Elizabeth of Carinthia, who was murdered 1308. Otho the first, Palatine Elector of Rhine, Duke of Bavaria, married Agnes daughter of Henry, son of Henry Leo. Lewis Duke of Bavaria married Lowisa, daughter of Primislay King of Bohemia, widow of Albert Boggai, and died in 1231. Henry Bureven, Prince of the Obotrites & Meckel, married Maud daughter of Henry Leo, Elector of Saxony. Otho the Rich, Earl of Ascanie, Marquis of Salisquetie, married Helica daughter of Beling the Great, Elector of Saxony. So likewise Squantiber the first, Prince of Vandals, Sclavonie, Duke of Pomerand and Stetin, one of the prime Progenitors and Roots of these royal Branches, died in the year of Christ 1107. being the first year of the reign of Henry the first of England.  
Here then the blindest man may see the famous Genealogy of our mighty Prince, the which I have related in a compendious manner, fearing to be tedious or troublesome; yet not so briefly, but it is void of obscurity; so that the most ignorant may conceive the most illustrious marriages, between the Ancestors of this Royal Prince, and all parts of Christendom. For the Progenitors of his dear Father, and our dread Sovereign, have matched into the most famous Families of the house of Bourbon, French King, and of Navarre, Arragon, Castille, Lorraine, and Haspurge, now called Austria, of the Emperor, and King of Spain.  
Also by the way, the houses of Luxenburgh, Gelder's, and Douglas, all the which manifest unto thee how often they have been graced with the participation and joining in the Imperial stem of his sacred Majesty, the King of Great-Britaine.  
Also the noble Line out of which sprung the Kings of Denmark, as Saxony, Pommerland, Brunswick, Plantagenet, Oldenburg, Shamburg, Holst, and Sleswicke, Zelerne, and being descended from the Electors of Brandenburg, Bavare, 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 Denmark's stock. This is the never-enough to be illustrated descent of our most royal Prince, whose famous Predecessors and Allies do, like so many burning Lamps, shine to keep his virtues from obscurity; but that being so high of birth all men might look upon and love his worthy disposition and pious inclination, the which, if I should offer to produce upon the Theatre & 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 story. Oh no, let such ambition be as remote once to think, or undertake to pen his praises to the full, which desires no praise, but deserves all: Let it only be my comfort that I have paid some duty to him, unto whose perfections my affections are devoted, and whose I am. Millions of times more than my own, of whose worth I am an admirer, unto whose Highness it is my only desire to express my service, and manifest my duty; and likewise to that high borne Royal Princess, his intended and contracted Spouse, whose Royal Person includes all high beatitudes: for her birth is most excellent, and yet her fortune exceeds her birth, and also her virtues her fortunes, whose beauty darkens the beams of mundane lustre, & draweth all humane lights to it, to behold it with admiration.  
Alas, what shall I say? If I should undertake such an endless enterprise, as to express her virtues to the full, which are above measure, except I should take in hand a task infinite; for her praises must be infinite, because her worth is such, and sure I am my work is infinite in nothing but weakness; let me therefore have leave to make that the Omega which was the Alpha of my work, and end with that with the which I did begin, humbly besseeching the Giver of all good gifts, and Father of lights, in whom is no variableness or shadow of turning, to bless this Union with a happy process, which he hath happily begun, to make their virtues permanent which now are peerless, and (howsoever man can scarcely conceive how they should be more virtuous) yet that they may still increase and grow in goodness, in which there is evermore a plus ultra. Long may they live and love together, and bring forth such golden Apples of Posterity, and have such a happy offspring, that they may be justly joyous, and all the world fortunate in it, that they may have length and prosperity of days here, Peace at the time of their passage out of this world, and a happy resurrection to eternal life; the which, that it may be, let all good Subjects say as I pray, Amen.  
FINIS.