THere being an Ʋni­on of Vertue and Fortune in the person of this French K.H. the 4, whose life I will onely point at; hath iustly gotten him all the eleuated titles of an immortall glory. So many actions of his person are as so many miracles, and may safely exempt him from being paralleld ei­ther in the difficultie of obtaining, or happi­nesse in keeping so great and stirring a King­dome. And the particulars indeede of the course of his life; seeme by the Diuine pro­uidence to haue bene conducible to the re­seruation of that State; which otherwise had fallen into an irrecouerable consump­tion. His birth being amongst the barren [Page] rockes: and his education comporting with the asperitie of the place, were the ingredi­ents with which his youth was tempered, and wherby (his body as his spirit made in­uincible) he was prepared fit for the accō ­plishment of great, and glorious labours. Hee had not drawen the breath of seuen yeeres in this world; but his qualitie drewe him into the knowledge of the world: where, his royall towardnesse begot him estimation, and that estimation (euen then) extended it selfe to the assured hope of succeeding great­nesse. By the Ciuil warres was his Father, (the Light, & Conductor of his Nature, and fortunes) extinguisht; his Mother remoued from Court; his Vncle imprisoned; his friends in disgrace; his seruants banished; and his owne ruine plotted.

And now these of the Religion (beeing wrapped in like extremities, disposing their eyes to heauen, & their bodies to the earth, finding no other hope of safetie, then in his Armes) elected him their Generall; the aba­ted hopes of whom, by the losse of foure Battels, could not bee repaired but by the [Page] felicitie of his Generous courage.

At nineteene yeere old he was inueigled into his first marriage; a marriage as dan­gerous, as illegitimate; for celebration of which direfull Nuptials; Hymen had his garment not sprinkled; but daubed all ouer with the blood, of the best bloods in France; his Mother lost her life, his friends were banished, himselfe, and his seruants captiued. All which mischiefes he suffred patiently, and vnder-went the perils, in­conueniencies, and labours, (though a Ge­nerall) euen of the Common souldier, vntill the time; that his wisdome obtained to his partie, some relaxation of euils; and brea­thing from toiles, by the meanes of a fift Edict of peace.

But suddenly; was this calme conuerted into a storme, which powred vpon him the charge of ten royall Armies in lesse then foure yeeres. At the battell of Coutray, his name was made terrible to the enemie; who, but by so apparant merit; was vnwil­ling to haue acknowledged his Vertue. A cruell tragedie ended, where France was [Page] the Theatre, strangers the Actors, the E­pilogue of which was closed with the death of two Princes, who had filled the Realme with fire, blood and confusion.

The King then reigning Henry the 3. (predecessor to this King, as well in being murdered, as in rule) being in desperate di­stresse and almost surprised at Tours, was happily rescued by this H. the 4. whose approach (like the discouery of a Land to men long at sea) inspired a new courage into the Kings drooping and disheartned forces, and had conducted him to the vn­doubted conquest of PARIS; but for that execrable King-killing-Friar, whose face, as his disseigne was mufled with the veile of pietie; by meanes whereof he was so vn­timely rent from himselfe, his fortunes, and his friends: The true naturall French men (being thus desolated of their Prince, and fearing many tyrant-Kings in stead of one-lawfull) cast themselues into this mans armes, and did commit to his vertue and valour, the reuenge of their slaughtered King, and the saluation of their State. Ne­uerthelesse, [Page] to such an height was the asto­nishment of the fact growen, and to such an ebbe was the fidelitie of the people drawen, by reason of diuersitie in Religion: that many did shamefully abandon him; chusing rather to be idle spectators in their Countries ruine, then faithfull Patriots in procuring, or defending the Libertie thereof.

All these oppositions augmented his resolution, and were but as so many darke cloudes, in which his fortunes and vertue being inuolued, might in their due time breake forth with the more astonishing vi­olence.

The insolent obstinacie of his rebelli­ous subiects, made him to haue as many combats, as iourneyes, and as many sieges, as encampings, opposing themselues a­gainst him as a publique enemie to entrappe him, whilest he sought them as a father his children, to gaine them. Within his tent were nothing but griefes & anxieties cau­sed by vn-intermissiue infidelities, and per­nitious desseignes, discouered euery mo­ment [Page] against his person and the State: eue­ry day double combat, double victory: one against his enemies, another with his owne, and himselfe: in the last of which, vsing a conniuent lenitie, where a shar­per insight into the offences might bring domage. Diepe serues for example of his fidelity. Arques the scale to raise his glory. Paris beleeuing him vanquished, was a­mased to see him victorious. He made roades into diuers prouinces, to confirme those who were falling off. In his passage all yeelded to him, and an infinite number of taken-townes receiued a happy proofe of his puissance, and moderation. He retur­ned with the same successe and diligence, to the reliefe of Meulan, chasing away the armie, and the Generall of the enemies, that held it besieged: who a litle after, be­ing ioyned with the Spanish forces, instead of diminishing their former shame, aug­mented his glory, giuing him new tri­umphs by the memorable battaile of Yury. Following this happinesse, Vernon, Mante, Melun, and many other places, were [Page] brought to his obedience, as Chartresse was after, and Paris it selfe had also bin, if his goodnesse had not feared her ruine and desolation.

To recount all his exployts, were mat­ter enough for an ample Historie, and a taske for a perfect Historian; yet through these small lights: may his conduct, experi­ence, diligence, constancie, patience, bountie and valour (the essentiall parts of a Gene­rall) be discerned.

At Aumale he was prodigall of his own blood to saue others. Roan brought to extremitie, saw him depart from her to encounter Strangers, which hee put to flight; and had hee not bene diswaded by the counsell of others from the chase, they had receiued the reward of Runne a­wayes.

Thus neuer beaten, alwayes victori­ous, conducted by God, through the pikes of his enemies, and from their clandestine machinations, (which a false deuotion rai­sed incessantly against his life) hee disco­uered and ouerthrew the infernall des­seignes [Page] of those, who (to the attaining of their licentious and cruell purposes) had made Religion their vizard.

But, at length the hearts of the waue­ring were fortified, and the eyes of the o­uer-violently-deuout vnseeled; who then saw the vniust causes that held them in rebellion: Then beganne the Townes of France, in aemulation one of another, to contend who should offer first, or most their Duetie. Meaux, Lyons, Orleans and Bourges first in obedience, brought him the first honour; and, the King by his auspi­cious entrance into Paris, got an immor­tall glory of the knowledge of Lawes, and Armes, pardoning, as well as vanquishing, forgiuing in a day so many people, and rendring and confirming life and libertie to so many Strangers; who could not per­swade themselues, but that they were in the iawes of Death and Bondage.

The particular sieges of Laon, and La-Fere, the scite and qualitie of the garison being impregnable, the voyage of the Franch-comte, the combats of Fountaine-François, [Page] the taking of Dijon, and other Townes of Burgongne, the submission of many Princes, the reduction of Roan, Newhauen, Amyens, Abbeuille, Peronne, Poitiers, Perigueux, Tholouse, Marseillis, Vienne, Valence, Troy, Sens, Rhejms, and other Townes following their example, will one day fill many volumes, and con­ferre vpon this Prince the Laurels of Alex­ander, the triumphes of Caesar, and the fe­licities of Augustus.

At his generall assembly held at Roane, he furnisht himselfe by the aduise of some, for the Sauegard of all; and authorised those edicts which assured peace and rest.

In the surprise of Amyens, in liew of bearing ill will, the successe confirmed the diuine assistance, the fidelitie of the French, the courage of the Prince, and the terror of the Strangers, who astonished at his ca­riage in this businesse; esteemed them­selues fairely blessed, to haue obtained a peace from him. The obstinacie of Britanie had giuen matter for his power­full Iustice to worke vpon, if the prayers [Page] of his friends, and the teares of the van­quished, had not diuerted his iust displea­sure. And then to giue France an honou­rable and glorious repose, and to make re­tribution to the State of that which had beene taken from her, hee displayed his Floure-de-lices within the Alpes, ouertur­ning all interposed obstacles. The proude rocke of Mountmeliend (which the people thereabout held impregnable) looked fear­full at his presence, and humbled it selfe to the force of his Cannons.

Piedmont, doubting her taking, and Millaine suffring a neighbour-feare (as be­ing a frontier) implored the Pope by per­swasion to diuert him; at whose sollicitation he was content to desist from further pro­secution; and to consecrate to the peace and good of that part of Europe, his iust anger & conquests, if he had followed his courage, his puissance, and good fortune.

To make all perfect, hee espoused the Princesse Maria de Medices, whome the heauens had designed to be the ornament of Italy, the glory of Florence, the Lustre of her [Page] house, and the hope of France, with whome he made his royall entrie into Paris, and thinking he had now triumphed ouer all the enemies of the State, he disposed him­selfe to recompence the merits and vertues of those, who had formerly wel serued him; howbeit the ingratitude of one whome he had mightily raised, exasperating his na­ture, constrained him to deliuer him to the punishment of death, whom no other casti­gation could reduce to amendment; giuing, by this correction of one; feare and example to all. His watchfulnesse, stirred by this allarume; he preuented and dissipated the remainders of that treason, iniecting a suf­ficient terrour into the towne of Sedan, by the onely clash of his armour, who found in their teares more safetie then in their rampiers; and so were assumed into his fauour. By this excellent example he con­firmed the good in obedience, reduced o­thers to duetie, and blotted out all remem­brance of their former enormous offences; preferring Mercie before Iustice, and Cle­mencie before Profit. He reestablisht by so­lemne [Page] Edicts, such as were condemned, and banished by Arrest, and rased those monuments, sacred to his memorie, because they were erected to the infamie of others. So strong is he in himselfe, and in the opi­nion of the world, that the conclaue re­spects him: England is in perfect amitie with him, Almany and Italy honours him, Spaine feares him, and Belgia seekes him. And now hee reioyceth in the labour of his handes, and in the tranquility which hee hath made with the price of his blood, and from the twentieth yeere of his age purchased with his laborious and dange­rous exercises.

The lawes & Arts enioy a sweet repose, and large increase vnder his Empire, and a free commerce is reestablished through­out his Kingdome; he hath adorned his Cittie of Paris with many and excellent buildings, besides other his particular workes of great Magnificence.

He shewed his peacefull prouidence in finances, his iudgement in the choise of men, & his viue-spirit and excellent com­position [Page] of mind and body in all suddaine accidents; And since he was a King, his greatest enimies cannot iustly vpbrayd him with the least breach of contracted friendship with any of his neighbours.

And lastly, to summe vp this Man of men, this princelike souldier, and souldier-like Prince: whose royall face is white with Time, with watchings and with experience, and the Laurels which begirt his venera­ble head, & tooke their roote in his Caske, haue beene gathered in the grounds of three pitched fields: of 35. encounters of ar­mies; of an hundred and forty combats, and 300. sieges of places; in all which; his person striued (if it were possible) to haue got the start of his courage: For these cau­ses hath the Christian world reason to re­ioice in the contemplation of so able a champion against the common enimie: and the French Nation to hold them­selues happy in hauing so excellent a Prince.

BVt now I must forsake this groue of Baies and Oliues (which his Valour and Wisdome had planted for my Pen to walke in) and addresse my selfe to speake of his Death; in which the liues of so many thou­sands were interessed. And as He, who being to set his hand to a Proscription of the Death of others, wished he had bene ig­norant of letters, rather then to vse them in such a funerall affaire: So I protest before the knower of all Hearts, that I doe vnfai­nedly wish, not onely that I were igno­rant of letters, but that I had also lost that hand, with which I write these lines, so that hee were liuing; and that I had not true matter to write of his inhumane and barbarous slaughter, which I will briefly touch in the maine particulars; as being a Subiect in which my spirits languish, be­fore they begin to enter, and in which being entred, I haue small delight to con­tinue long.

The King (for explanation of his dea­rest affection to his Queene; and for sa­tisfaction of his owne minde) had (before [Page] his intended departure for this Warre) in­uested Her with the Crowne and Title of Queene of France and Nauarre. The mor­row after which great solemnitie, hee ap­pointed to goe to his Arsenall, to visite the Duke d' Suylly his Treasurer, who at that time was in some indisposition of body. And notwithstanding (as it is writ­ten from good place) that hee was disswa­ded from going abroad that day by some, as a day markt out by Astrologers, to por­tend danger to his Person: yet he; a second Caesar as well in the course of his life as of his death, was little swayed with their dis­swasions, but like a King, and a Christian replied, That it was an offence to God to giue credit to these Prognostiques; and that ha­uing God to his Guard, he feared no man.

That morning, walking in the great gallerie at the Twilleries, hee had beene slaine by this villaine, (who to that pur­pose pestered somewhat neere his Person) but that by some then about the King, he was thrust off, esteemed onely as some rude rascall. After dinner, about foure of [...] [Page] storie of the new King, by whosoeuer else shall write it: Only thus much, the Queene was proclaimed Regent; during the Kings minority: the state of France yet enioyeth her former Tranquility, and Monsieur Praslyne was dispatched away to the Ar­mie to hold some discipline vntill the com­ming of the Dukes of Neuers; and Bul­lion.

The peacefull Plenty, and Discipline this King had brought France vnto: the great affaire of warr which he had in hand, the sumptuous crowning of his Queene which he had finished; and to be thus snatched away from these, and in these, by a second Herostratus; who hath defaced one of the royallest buildings the earth bare: must powre a myriad of the worlds cur­ses, and the vengeance of God in full vialls vpon the Actor and deuisors thereof.

That the sacred person of so great a King; should be vndone by the hands of an vnholy Villaine, and his owne vassaile: that a Prince of the sword, should be but­chered with a Knife: that He, who had [Page] returned victoriously aliue, from the head of so many Armies (where Death keepes his open shambles) should now be robbed of his life, by the hands of only one, and in the peacefull streets of Paris: which were yet warme with the glory of his Queenes late Coronation: is a villenie; that exceeds (if it were possible) the merrit of damna­tion.

I demand euen of the Diuell himselfe (in whose office all former villenies are enrou­led) whether the praeceding Ages haue begot so stupendious and wicked a deed: Nay I will demand of his Astrologie; (wherein he is so great a Master) whether the succeeding Times can be malignant enough to produce such another?

Truely I confesse; that the Intention of the Pouder-treason if it had come to Act: (by which our entier State had beene en­tirely ruined in an instant) had exceeded this: (for as yet, God be praised the State of France goeth on in her former and e­uen Course:) I confesse that Treason; blew vp all other treasons, as it would haue [Page] blowen vp all vs: It was the Diuells Master-peece; deuised by himselfe; exceeding all Thought, all Expression; all Example.

O How vnthankefull then are we to God for that his miraculous preseruation of our King for the States sake; of our State, for the Kings sake: Whose Constancy in Religion, and Iudicious profoundnesse in the controuersed points thereof; whose tempe­rance in gouernement, and mercy euen to greatest Offenders, hath giuen vs cause to confesse the valew of so inestimable a King, and with publique sacrifice of prayers, im­portune God for the continuance of his safetie. How can we heare of so terrible a blow but on the other side of the wall, and forbeare to fixe our eyes and hearts on him, that disposeth all things, howsoeuer man propounds.

And whether the speech proceeded from some planetary obseruation in forreine parts, or from some Intelligence broken forth from out the denne of these lurking-assacinates; yet sure I am, (and my in­formation [Page] is of credit) that euen about this very time, the like assault was said should bee made vpon the Person of our Soue­raigne: which diuert O God, for thy Holy Names sake, who art King of kings: for Re­ligions sake, he is the nourice and protector of Religion: for Nature and Humanities sake, wee are borne, and must liue vnder him: preserue him O God, as thy image be­ing a man; as thy vicegerent being a King; that as thou hast with a miraculous peace brought him to these his owne Kingdomes; so thou wilt euery night, and euery mor­ning sprinckle his diademe with the dew of Security, Peace, and Plenty; that posteritie may compare his reigne, with the reigne of Solomon, vntill being full of dayes, he shall quietly lay downe his life and resigne his precious soule into thine hands, and deliver his Empires into the hands of those, who by thy Lawes, and by the Lawes of Nature are borne to inhe­rit them.