Sr. KENELME Digby's Honour Maintained. ●y a most courageous Combat which he fought with the Lord Mount le Ros, who by base and slanderous words reviled our King. Also the true relation how he went to the King of France, who kindly entreated him, and sent two hundred men to guard him so far as Flanders. And now he is returned from Banishment, and to his eternal honour lives in England.  
Printed at London for T. B. 1641.   

SIR Kenelme Digby's Honour maintained.  
FOrtitude is one of the eleven moral virtues, of which there be three sorts, there is Fortitude or Valour, which consists of rashness, which is to run wilfully upon danger, having no possibility to be a conqueror.  
Then there is an enforced Valour, which is, when a man must either kill or be killed.  
Lastly, there is a temperate Valour, those men which are endued with this sort of Valour, will neither give occasion to make abuse, neither will they take abuse, but are ready at all points to defend their King, Country and their own persons, which is the only true Valour; the other two sorts, though termed so, yet are not, but rather seem to proceed from the loins of cowardice; for to be truly valiant, is to be truly venturous, for as I said before, that Fortitude is a virtue, and by virtue comes goodness, wherefore consequently to be valiant, is to be good.  
Then let all admire the goodness of that most honourable Knight Sir Kenelme Digby, which proceeded from his Valour, as I shall now declare.  
It is scarce unknown to any how that he was exiled from his native soil England, which made him oftentimes thus to cry out,  
Hei mihi quod Domino non licet ire meo, woe is me, because it is unlawful for me to see my Master (his King:) he kept his residence nigh to the Court of France, where he was not less respected for the report of his former valour, then for the present affability and courtesy which he showed to all men; Omni solum sapienti patria est, to a wise man every country is to him as his own native Country; but as the quietest of men sometimes have occasion for strife, so did it fall out with this worthy Knight.  
It was his chance to be envited by a Lord of France to dine with him, whither he went accompanied with those servants he had; very merry they all were for a certain space, at l●ngth they fell to drinking of healths to certain Kings, as to the King of France, the King of Spain, the King of Portugal, and divers others, but in the conclusion, the Lord which ●nvited Sir Kenelme Digby to dinner, presumptuously began a health to the errands coward in the world, directing the cup unto Sir Kenelme, who asked the Lord so soon as he had drunk whom that was he did so term, he bid him pledge the health and he should know, which he did; then answered the French Lord, I meant your King of England, at which the good Knight seemed very much discontent, knowing in what nature his sovereign was wronged, yet very wisely did he seem to pass it by until dinner being ended, than did he desire the same Lord the next day to come and dine with him, who promised him upon his honour that he would.  
The next day Titan being in his greatest pomp, unto Sir Kenelmes' lodging this Lord came, who had entertainment befitting his place, neither did Sir Kenelme seem to remember the former day's discontent, but was very frolic and merry, and in the midst of dinner time desired them all to be bare for he would begin a health to the bravest King in the world; the French Lord asked whom that was, Sir Kenelme made answer that when it had gone about he should know; well, about it went, and then Sir Kenelme said that it was the health of the bravest King in the world, which is the King of England my royal Master, for although my body be banished from him, yet is my heart loyally linked: the French Lord at those words seemed to laugh, repeating the same words before mentioned, than was Sir Kenelme throughly moved in the behalf of our sovereign King Charles, whereupon he whispered the Lord in the ear, telling of him how that twice he had reviled the best King in the world in the hearing of me which am his faithful subject, wherefore for satisfaction, I require a single combat of you, where either you shall pay your life for your sauciness, or I will sacrifice mine in the behalf of my King: The French Lord being of a resolute spirit, condescended to fight, the place was appointed, dinner being ended, they both arise from table and privately went together, being in field, off they plucked their doublets, and out they drew their weapons.  
Mars would have bashful been to have seen himself by Noble Digby there excelled, long work with the contemptible French Lord, he would not make, for fear lest any should lie in ambush and so he might hazard his own life, wherefore in four bouts he ran his rapier into the French Lord's breast till it came out of his throat again, which so soon as he had done, away he fled to the Court of France, and made all known to the King thereof, who said the proudest Lord in France should not dare to revile his brother King.  
A guard was pesently chosen to conduct Sir Kenelme unto Flanders, which they did, where he took shipping for England, where he now is, where in peace and quietness may he still remain.  
As for the French Lord he was paid according to his desert, and may all be so rewarded which shall dare to revile the Lord's anointed, who suffers by other Nations, for the clemency he hath shown to his own Nation, Sed beati sunt pacifici, but blessed is the peace maker; good King for thy patience in this world there are crowns of immortal glory laid in store for thee in the world to come, there shall not traitors dare to show their faces, nor shall perplexity proceed from the great care of ruling of a kingdom, in the mean while may more such Noble Digby's increase, to rebuke all cursing Achitophel's, and reviling rabshakeys.  
Let God arise and then shall the enemies of our gracious King be sure to be scattered.  

Now I conclude, commanding fame to show  
Brave Digbi's worthy deed, that all may know  
He loved his King, may all so loyal prove,  
And like this Digby to their King show love.   
FINIS.