Prince-protecting providences, or, A collection of some historical passages relating how several princes and personages (born for great actions) have had miraculous preservations : made publick upon occasion of the late memorable (and miraculous) deliverance of His Royal Highness, James Duke of York.

Prince-protecting providences, or, A collection of some historical passages relating how several princes and personages (born for great actions) have had miraculous preservations : made publick upon occasion of the late memorable (and miraculous) deliverance of His Royal Highness, James Duke of York.

Table of contents

Prince-Protecting PROVIDENCES: OR, A COLLECTION OF SOME Historical Passages, Relating how Several Princes and Personages, (Born for Great Actions) have had Miraculous Preservations. Made Publick upon Occasion of the late Memorable (and Miraculous) Deliverance of His Royal Highness, JAMES, Duke of York.

[And, first, Some out of Sacred Writ.]

§

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Prince-Protecting PROVIDENCES: OR, A COLLECTION OF SOME Historical Passages, Relating how Several Princes and Personages, (Born for Great Actions) have had Miraculous Preservations.
Made Publick upon Occasion of the late Memorable (and Miraculous) Deliverance of His Royal Highness, JAMES, Duke of York.

Numb. 23. 23.‘Non est Incantatio; non est Divinatio contra Jacobum.’Prov. 21. 30.‘Non est Concilium contra Dominum.’

[And, first, Some out of Sacred Writ.]

JOseph's Brethren conspire his Death: Reuben (of all the rest) is against the Bloody Cruelty; but advises to put him into a Pit, (as a means either to be starved, or devoured by some Evil Beast.) Judah, afterward, advises to sell him to the Midianitish Merchants; and They carry him into Aegypt, and sell him to Potiphar, the King's Steward: Being in his Service, he has an unjust Accusation framed against him by his Mistriss. He is imprison'd; and, in Prison, Expounding the Chief Butler and Baker's Dream, he is after made known to the King; and Expounding his Dream also, is made sole Govenour over all Aegypt. [So to save, not only the Aegyptians from starving; but also his Father, and unnatural Brethren.]

[Page] Moses (when Born) is hid Three Months; then exposed in a little Ark upon the River Nile: Pharoah's Daughter spies him, causes him to be taken up, and Nursed as her Son; Heb. 11. [...] As a Presage of his future being a Prince, and good Justicier, he kills the injuring Aegyptian; for which Pharaoh seeks to slay him: He flies to Midian; Marries the Priest (or Princes) Daughter: God appears to him, induing him with a Spirit, working Wonders; makes him the General Conductor of the Children of Israel through the Red-Sea, (a miraculous Passage!) and afterwards institutes him their Governour.

David is deliver'd from the Paws of the Lyon and Bear, from the Sword of Goliah; [and after of other Philistines,] from Saul's Javelin, and his Lyings in wait, and continued Persecutions, [from the Envy of the Philistine Lords]; from all these, to fight the Lord's Battels, and be King of Israel, at the appointed Time.

Athaliah puts to Death all the King's Sons, except Joash; for his Aunt takes him, and hides him Six Years in great Privacy; [the Seventh Year the People rise unanimously, slay Athaliah, Crown Joash King.] This was that good Prince; that Repaired the Temple, and did that which was Good in the Sight of the Lord, 2 King. Chap. 11. Chap. 12.

Paul, Ordained to be the great Doctor of the Gentiles, and to die a Martyr for the Truth at Rome, (the Mistress of the World) is miraculously Converted, and as miraculously often-times Preserved. Act. 9. a Conspiracy being to Kill him, his Friends let him down over the Wall in a Basket. Act. 14. is stoned, and supposed to be dead. Chap. 16. whipped and imprisoned, with a succeeding Miracle. Chap. 18. accused by the Jews, excused by Gallio. Chap. 19. escapeth the Sedition raised against him by Demetrius. Chap. 23. delivered by the Chief Captain, from a Conspiracy of Forty. Chap. 27. escapes Shipwrack: and lastly, arrives at Rome, which was his Terminus ad Quem, to Receive the Crown of Martyrdom.

Josephus tells us, The Divine Protection appear'd in Titus, the Son of Vespasian, (destin'd to ruin Jerusalem, and subdue the Jews); before he besieged the City, he went about to discover, and fell into an Ambuscado of his Enemies: At which time (if ever) it was known; God disposeth of the Moments of War, and Lives of Princes. He had neither Helmet on his Head, nor Armour on his Body, (because he went not to Fight, but to discover,) of an infinite Number of Arrows, that were shot at him, not one lighted on him, but fell beside him, or at his Horses Feet; though the Jews, encouraging one another, Sallyed out, charging and re-charging him which way soever he turned.

Suetonius tells us, That Augustus Caesar escaped a Great Danger; for one of the Chief Men among the Gauls, confessed to some of his Friends, That he had fully resolved to make, as if he would have parlied with Augustus, in his Passage over the Alpes; and that at his coming within him, he would have thrown him down: but the Amiableness and Majesty of the Emperour, deter'd him in the very moment. Valerius Maximus, lib. 9. chap. 11. maketh mention of such another Treason intended against this great Prince, which was likewise frustrated.

Gabriel Fondulo, Lord of Cremona, confessed (before his Death) That he had once resolved with himself, to throw down head-long from the High Tower of Cremona, the Emperor Sigismond, who was gone up thither, to see the City and Country thereabouts. But at the very Juncture and Moment, his Conscience was affrighted: (Historia Italica.) All Historians say, He was a most excellent Prince: He it was, that to cure the great Schism in the Papacy, procured the General Council of Constance.

The Famous Emperour, Charles the Fifth, (born for Great Actions) escaped just such a Designe of being thrown from the Top of the Temple of Pantheon in Rome, by a certain malevolent Italian; but his Heart failed him in the Nick of Time. (Camerarius.)

Henry the Third, Emperour, (a Famous Prince, and a Manager of great Wars) was Entertained and Lodged very sumptuously by the Countess Richilda; and as she was making a Request to the Emperour, and he reaching his Hand to her, in token of Appeal, the Chamber-Floor suddenly brake under them; the Emperour fell into a Bathing-Vessel, that was in the Room underneath, and had no Harm: [Page] But Bruno, Bishop of Virtsbourgh, Alemannus, Bishop of Eversbourgh, and the Countess, were so bruised, they died in few days. (Aventinus.)

Frederick the First, Emperour, being in St. Peter's Cloyster in Erford, had Occasion to go the Privy, (some of Quality accompanying) suddenly the Floor sunk, and the Emperour had miscarry'd, if he had not suddenly taken hold of the Grates of a Window, where he hung till some came, and relieved him. Some Gentlemen fell to the Bottom, and perished; among others, Henry Earl of Swartzenbourgh, who carryed the Presage of his Death in a common Imprecation; which was this, If I do it not, let me die in a Privy. [This was that Famous Emperour, stiled Barbarossa, (recommended to the States by his Predecessor Conrade) famous for his Wars in Italy, Sicily, and Armenia; and who also 'scaped a great Danger, accompanied only with one Servant; for a desperate Fellow of a sudden rushing upon him, (out of an Ambuscado) close by a River, endeavoured to cast him in: but not prevailing, leapt himself into the River, and swam away. Albertus Crantzius.]

Henry the Fourth, Emperour; This famous Prince was fain to put his Hand to the Sword at Fourteen years of Age, and fought Sixty-two Battels, ere he laid down. Aventine writes of him, he escaped a great Danger, near to Spire; for having been by the Plotting of Hanno, (Arch-Bishop of Collen) brought into a sumptuous Boat, trimmed and provided to carry him away Prisoner; misdoubting that some ill Turn was meant him, he cast himself into the Rhine; where he had been drowned, but for the kind Endeavour of his Kinsman Egbert, who got him a Shoar.

This same Emperour used to go often to Prayers in St. Maries Church, in Mount Aventine. Pope Gregory the Seventh, (who carried a watchful Eye over this great Princes Actions) commanded one to take notice of the Place where he was wont to pray, and got a certain Fellow to go up upon the Top of the Church, and there upon the Beams, to place certain great Stones, which should be so fitly laid, that with the least touch they should fall down upon the Emperour's Head, and brain him at their Fall. The Villain went so hastily to work, that as he thought to have rowled down a very great Stone, the said Stone (with his weight) drew him too: So that Man and Stone came down together upon the Temple-floor; where the Man was killed with the Stone that fell upon him, and the Emperour escaped. The good Emperour notwithstanding, would have the Wretch to be buried.

Bodin tells of a certain Gentleman of Normandy, who once resolved to have killed King Francis; but the Divine Power operating, he repented him of his wicked Purpose. This was that Famous Francis, the great Emulator of Charles the Fifth, and opposing him in all his Ambitious Undertakings.

Justin tells us, Astyages, upon a Dream, caused his Grand-Son to be delivered to Harpagus, to be made away; which he unwilling to do himself, delivers him to the King's Shepherd; he also unwilling to kill the Infant, exposes him in the Woods, and afterwards finds a Bitch suckling of him, and defending him from Beasts and Birds. His Wife perswades him to expose her own Son, and bring up the other; which is consented to. Thus was that great Conquerour of Asia (Cyrus) preserved, whose Birth was foretold by Isaiah Three Hundred years before it happened. Isa. 44. 28.

Justin telleth us also, Gargoris (King of the Curetes) his Daughter was got with with Child; he commands the Innocent to be made away: First, It was exposed in Solitary Places; and the Wild Beasts they suckle it, instead of devouring it. Secondly, It is laid in a narrow Way, where droves of Beasts went to, and returned from the Field; they trod not on him, but contrary, Goats and Cows stand still, and suckle him. Hungry Dogs spare him: And cast to Sows, they suckle him. Then he is cast into the Sea, where he floats, and the Waves carry him a Shoar; and a Hinde nourishes, and brings him up. Finally, After sometime, he is taken in a Toil, or Net, and presented to his Grand-Father; and known by certain Marks, is proclaimed Heir, and proved an Excellent Prince.

Procus Silvius had two Sons, Numitor and Amulius; Amulius having chased his Elder Brother, Numitor, out of the Country, caused also his Daughter Rhea to become a Vestal-Virgin; she becomes great of two Sons, and delivered. These Amulius exposes; Fortune provides 'em for Nurse a Shee-Wolfe, bereaved of her Whelps, and willing to have her Duggs drawn, who often suckles them. Faustulus, [Page] the King's Shepherd, takes notice of this wond'rous Accident, and brings them up in a Country way. At length, they revenge the Injury done to Numitor, and restore him. [These Miraculously nourish't-Twins, were ordained to be Founders of the City Rome, (the future Lady of the World:] And so by an unexpected Providence, were preserved, (as Justin, and other Authors.)

Hiero, King of Sicily, was a Bastard, and exposed by his Father Hieroclitus. Wanting Humane Helps, the Bees nourish him; which his Father knowing, and consulting the South-sayers, holds it for a good Omen; takes him home, and gives him agreeable Education. This was he, that succeeded the Great Pyrrhus, (in the Sicilian Kingdom, and of whom Justin gives a most Royal Character.

Homay, Queen of Persia, left with Child by her Husband, at five Months end is deliver'd of a Son. The Astrologers are conven'd, who consult the Stars, and find, He should cause great Miseries and Ruin to his Realms; so as many were of opinion, he should be put to Death. The Mother would not yield to that; but caused him to be put in a little Cradle, enclosed within a Coffer or Ark of Wood; in which she put many precious Jewels of great value; to the end, if any poor Man found him, he might the rather afford to bring him up. He was carried far from thence, upon the River Jehun; and was taken up by a poor Landerer, or Washer of Linnen. He brings him up; when he was grown Great, nothing would serve him but the Profession of Arms. He enters into the Army of his unknown Mother; performs Wonders; is brought before her; and after Questions aks't, is by her acknowledg'd, and succeeds in the Kingdom. [Exceeding all his Predecessors in Bounty and Wisdom, contrary to the Opinion of the Chaldeans or Astrologers, who do not always Preach the Gospel.] Ex Chronio Persico.

Kozrar. King of Persia, (upon a Dream) caused Jazdegard, his Grand-Son, to be carried into a Solitary and Desart Place; exposed to the Mercy of Wild Beasts; where certain Herdsmen passing by, took him, and gave him Breeding according to their poor Quality. Coming to Age, he found means to know his Beginning; and having a Mind agreeable to his Birth, he went to Court; where he carried himself so bravely, that at length he was acknowledged for what he was; so as after he was made King, and Governed exceeding well.

On St. Dunstan's Day, 1251. E [...]anor, the Queen, (Wife to Henry the Third) sitting with her Children in a Chamber at Windsor-Castle, a marvellous Tempest of Thunder and Lightening beat down to Dust the Chimney of the said Chamber where they were, they receiving no harm. She was a devout and good Queen, (and the Children are supposed to be Prince Edward, then some Twelve Years old, Edmund Earl of Lancaster, Margaret, after Queen of the Scots, Beatrix, afterwards Dutchess of Britain.) Stow.

Anno 1287. The fore-said Prince Edward, (now become King) sitting with the Queen together in a Chamber, a Thunder-Clap entring the Window, passed between them, and slew two of their Houshold Servants; they remaining unhurt. Stow. This was that Famous Edward, that tamed the Scots and Welch: See Weaver, pag. 456, 457, 458, 459. During his being in the Holy-Land, he was wounded by a Saracen, with a venom'd Knife, the Poison whereof was sucked out by his Queen, otherwise the Wound thought uncurable.

Fox the Martyrologist, in the Beginning of his Discourse of this Princes Reign, has a Memorable Passage: That he once playing at Chess with a certain Souldier, suddenly (upon no occasion given) rose up, and went his way; when presently a mighty Stone fell down from the Vault, directly upon the Place where he sate, which had undoubtedly brained him.

Henry the Eighth, following his Hawk, leapt over a Ditch with a Pole, which broke; so that, if Edmund Moody (a Foot-man) had not leapt into the Water, and lift up the King's Head, which stuck in the Clay, he had been drown'd. (This Foot-man was rewarded both with Means and Arms, speaking his Service done to his Prince.) And the King lived to perform afterwards a Deed of grand Concern.

I could mention some notable Deliverances of Queen Elizabeth; but her Sufferings and Life having been Printed not long since, I shall forbear.

But I will recite what Camerarius says concering King James. His words are: We must not forget the Divine Protection, and miraculous Deliverance of James the Sixth, [Page] late King of Scotland, and Now King of Great Britain, upon the Fifth of August 1660. This Prince giving Credit to the Words and Protestations of Alexander, Brother to the Earl Gowry, fell into an Ambush, laid for him by these two Brethren, and other their Confederates; where, being unarm'd, and assaulted by two (that were intent to Murder him) he so defended himself for a while by his Royal Port, and forcible Speech, they had no Power to bind him. And adds, That Andrew Hinderson (appointed to be the chief Assassine) seeing Alexander, the Earl's Brother, with his naked Ponyard threatning the King, he lost all Courage, and fell into an exceeding Horrour and Fear, &c.

I might mention here the Miraculous Restoring of the Royal Family: I shall only mention some Verses of a Panegyrick to his Royal Highness, upon His Majesty's late Declaration, concerning the said Duke's Pretensions; which Verses hint the said Restauration:

God's wond'rous Hand, after a long Exile,

Them hand in hand reduc'd to Native Isle:

When Wisest Men esteem'd Their State forlorn,

They saw Them stated in the Land where Born.

A strange Agreement They have underwent,

Sometimes of Bliss, sometimes of Discontent!

Viz. The King and Duke.

Day-Fatality, pag. 7. says thus of his Royal Highness his going to Holland:

The Gods Thy Exit have Ordain'd; and also They,

Thy Blest Return have 'firm'd, Born on a Lucky Day.

He adds also, The Third of March, the Day of his Departure, was Dedicated to St. Maximus, St. Marinus, St. Lucius; and says, Quod hic Maximus princeps, gestis Marinis Maxime Lucet, & alias Lucebit; This most Great Prince is extreamly Illustrious in Sea-Matters, and shall yet be otherways most Conspicuous.

I think the Late Shipwrack has made him so; and proves, God has set his Titular Angels over him. 'Tis true, he lost his Ship; but that is like the Snakes casting off his Skin, (foreboding a Renovation of Felicity.) St. Paul religiously boasts of his Shipwrack; 2 Cor. 11. 25. Thrice (says he) have I suffered Shipwrack: And why may not his Royal Highness rejoyce in this Disaster, as St. Paul does Ver. 20. of the said Chapter?

Great JAMES, whom Shipwrack lately hath assail'd;

But whom, Divine Protection never fail'd;

And upon whom, great Glory is entail'd;

And at whose Presence, all his Foes are quail'd:

Still Trust in Him, who is of Kings the Shield,

And to Good Princes, always Help doth yield.

Those that presum'd, thou wer't of God forsaken;

Must now confess themselves Fools, and mistaken.

The Malice of the Devil, Wind, and Sea,

To check Thy Fortunes, can hold forth no Plea.

Good Omens still, accompany Thy State;

And God himself forbids Distast'rous Fate.

The Malice of Thy Foes has now an End;

And They, with the lost Frigat, downward tend.

But Thou (buoy'd up with Providence Divine,)

Shall float above, [and fear no Ʋndermine.]

[Page] He whom the Seas did dare, but could not harm,

Need not to fear the mean Phanatick Swarm.

A Signe from Heaven has those Jews confounded,

Whose Cancre once against Thy Face rebounded.

Tutus sit Augustissimus Rex Carolus (Sancti Foelicis Festo prospere natus) Celsissimus Illustrissimus Dux Jacobus; (Quem stellam Borealem ante multos annos Praedixere Vates) & Ʋniversa Stirps Regia a turba Phanatica Anti-monarchica. [Introduct. ad Latinam Blasoniam, pag. 165.]

It's remarkable, His Royal Highness Arrived safe at London, on Saturday the Twenty-Seventh Day of May, after his so Memorable Escape; which Day is Dedicated to Venerable Bede: A good Omen, that hence-forward the People shall Eum Respicere & Venerari, quem non ita pridem visi sunt Despicere & Venari; Reverence and Respect Him, whom so lately they Despised and Persecuted.

§

A Book very lately Printed, (stiled, Introductio ad Latinam Blasoniam) mentions in its Prologue to the Addenda, a Pamphlet Published upon his Royal Highness's Return from the Low-Countries; whose Title should have been, Dux Bonis Ominibus Appellens, or The Swan's Welcome. But there was a strange Mistake, not only in that, but in other Material Circumstances; so that many suppose, the Printer could never have done it himself, but borrowed the Assistance of the Evil Spirit, to render it Ridiculous; and not only so, but the very Duke himself, and the Loyal Artillery.

The Explanation of the Title was this: ‘Some Remarks upon that Note-worthy Passage, mentioned in the True Domestick Intelligence, Dated Octob. 14. 1679. concerning a Company of Swans, more than ordinary gathered together, at his Royal Highness's Landing.’

The Printer smelt he had befoul'd himself, with-drew his Vent, and smothered the far greatest Number of them; so that (for some Reasons) I have thought good to Reprint it; and it follows: ‘I Hope my Flagellum Mercurii Antiducalis, hath given the World some Satisfaction, as to my Day-Fatality, so much carp'd at by Romes-Packet, Septemb. 5. as also, by the Touch of the Times: I shall only say, That even the pure, sincere Cloak-party themselves, have taken notice of the Fatality of Days; for page 367. of the Memoires of the Lives and Actions of James and William Dukes of Hamilton, says; That the Rout of Duke Hamilton 's Army was received with great joy by the Kirk-Party in Scotland; who Religiously observed, That the Division of the Duke's Army (which was its Ruine) was upon the 17. of August; which was the Day on which the Covenant was made; thence called by some, St. Covenants Day.’

But to my present matter.

I concluded my Decastich in the Fatality, with this English Version,

Great Duke, rejoyce in this Your Day of Birth;

And may such Omens still increase Your Mirth.

Since which Composition, some kind Omens have befallen His Royal Highness; as the Third of March's Dedications, which (though derided by the Time-Toucher)

St. Felix Day, the 29th. Day of May, observed by the Publisher of the Royal Effigies, and since recited by me in my late Flagellum. And

[Page] Also, St. Lucie's Day, memorably observed by the two eminent Brethren St. Marthes, in the Birth of Henry le Grand, King of France; sufficiently excuse, allow, and protect; the words are these, He was Born the 13th of December, St. Lucies Day; as if, by a good Augury, to be the Light and Ornament of the Princes of his time: A Day remarkable for the Winter Solstice, and esteem'd the most happy point of all Nativities. Thus they.

And again, the Accidents of the Swans accosting the Duke at his Landing.

That Birds, some are Male-ominous, some Bene-ominous, (ill or well boding) Authors give many instances, (and I am able my self to particularise) I will onely mention three or four, from the Authority of others.

Chrales (from His Stature called the Little, a Man of admirable Courage and Conduct) King of Jerusalem and Hungaria, and many other Provinces, had at his Coronation several ill Omens; among many others, a multitude of Crows seated themselves upon the Royal Palace; and immediately after his Coronation, he was traiterously and miserably Massacred. See the fore recited Authors, in their Genealogick History of the House of France.

H [...]ylen, (speaking in Chaldea, of Divination or Southsaying) says, a Company of Crows accompanying home Sejanus, with great Clamours and Croakings, was deemed Fatal to that great Favourite and so it proved.

Ovid, lib. 5. of his Metam. in his story of Ascalaphus, terms the Owl, Ignavus Bubo dirum mortalibus Omen.] Lib. 6. he calls it, Prophanus Bubo; and says, It sate upon the Bride-bed of Tereus and Progne, fore-boding the unluckiness of that Marriage: So Lib. 10. Funereus Bubo. And Lib. 15. he terms, Stygius Bubo. ‘Tristia mille locis Stygius dedit Omnia Bubo.’

Virgil. Georg. Lib. primo versus finem. And again Aen. Lib. 4. The First hinting the Death of Caesar, the last of Dido, by divers Portents: Among the which, the Owl acts her Part.

Learned Selden, p. 36. of his Comment upon Poly-olbion quotes Silius Italicus: (Obsedit (que) frequens castrorum limina Bubo.) a presage of the Romans Overthrow at Canna.

Look the Book of Martyrs, (sub. H. 5.) and you find the Pourtraict of the Council of Constance, and the ill-ominous Owl that appear'd there, prodigiously presaging the Deposition of Pope John 24. But see Camcrarius, p. 244. who elegantly relates the Story, and highly praises the excellent Qualifications of this Pope.

Heylen, in the Place before recited, observes an Owl screeching in the Senate-House, was deemed Ominous to Augustus.

Mellificium Historicum says, Two Eagles sat upon the Pallace-top a whole day, when Alexander the Great was born; which the South-sayers averr'd, to portend the double Empire of Europe and Asia.

A certain Monk foretold to Philippicus Bordanes, that he should be Emperor, by the Augury of an Eagle, which he saw Shadowing the Head of the said Philippicus, as he slept. (Les Estats du Monde.)

The Romane Histories tell us, That the snatching off the Cap of Tarquinius Priscus by an Eagle, and the putting of it on again, was by the Augur interpreted as a Presage of his future Possessing the Roman Diadem.

And Justin reports, That Hiero, that excellent King of Sicilia (whom Livy also highly extols) was foretold to be a King, by an Eagle lighting upon his Shield, when He first entred upon the Military Employ.

The Dove was accounted Fortunate among the Heathen, and Recorded for Blessed in Sacred Writ.

But let us see what Authors say of the candid Swan; All esteem him for a Bird-Royal; and oftentimes, in Coats and Crests, we meet him either Crown'd, or Coronally Collar'd. I could give several instances; I will only mention that of the Famous Dutchy of Stormaria, which the Learned Civilian Ʋredus Blazons thus, Cygnus argenteus aureá circa collum coronâ in Solo Caeruleo: Bl. a Swan Ar. Collared with a Crown Or. And he was the Badge of several great English Princes; of which, anon.

[Page] Mr. Guillim (but indeed Dr. Barkham, as Mr. Fuller avers in his Worthies) says, He is a Bird of great Beauty, and Strength also; and this is reported of him, That he uses not his strength to prey or tyrannize over any other Fowl, but only to be revenged of such as offer him wrong: In which case, says Aristotle, he often vanquishes the Eagle.

Pierius says, He signifies Purity of Mind; nay, Apollo himself.

Now in antient time he was consecrated to Apollo, Apollo signifying nothing else but the Sun, which is Oculus & Lux Mundi, Gen. 1. 16, 17, 18. Apollo is sometimes called Liber Pater, a Liberal Father, (the Latin word bears that sense as well as others) and that is confirmed, Deut. 33. 14. Astrologers term him, Rex Planetarum, and says, He gives Rule, Riches, and Honour, (is Significator of Emperors, Kings, Princes, &c.) The Swan is the Bird of the Sun, and also of his Royal Highness.

Martianus says, Shipmen take it for good luck, if in Peril of Shipwrack they meet Swans. I hope the Attendance of these Swans (the Matter in hand) forebodes his Royal Highness's happy Deliverance from all his stormy, tempestuous, vexatious Troubles.

Let us see what brave Princes have used this happy Bird (commended by St. Ambrose) for their Cognizance.

First, Edward 3. (a brave Prince as ever was, and concern'd in the Auspicious Fate of 14th. Octob.) used it at a Tournament, being embroider'd on his Shield and Surcoat, with this Motto,

Mr. Ashmole his Garter, 885.

Hay, hay, the Wyth Swan;

By God's Soul, I am thy Man.

Secondly, Thomas of Woodstock, Duke of Gloucester, used it continually; John Gower, that Famous Poet, much bewails the Murder of that excellent Prince; Stiling him, Cygnus de corde Benignus, oftentimes giving him the Epithet of Swan. See Weaver, 638.

A Swan, with a Coronet about his Neck, was one of the Supporters to King Hen. 4. (as Mr. Sandford in his Gen. History, 258.) A Prince of singular Valour and Clemency; for he refused not the Duel with Tho. Mowbray, Duke of Norfolk, (see St [...]m, Anno 1 [...]78) And Secondly, He pardon'd Owen Glendowrdy, that had so damnably plagu'd him; (see Stow, Anno 1401, 1402. Bis. 1403, 1404, 1405, &c.) at the request only of David Holbech, Esq that was but a Servant of his own, and formerly Acquaintance of the said Owens, (ibid. 1404.)

Certainly he was an Admirable Prince, by that wise and honest Advice he gave his Son upon his Death-bed, (as R. Brook, p. 27) viz. To Minister the Laws indifferently, To ease the Oppressed, To beware of Flatterers, Not to defer Justice, Nor to be sparing of Mercy: Punish (quoth he) the Oppressors of the People, so shalt thou obtain Favour of God, and Love of thy Subjects; who whilst they have Wealth, so long shalt thou have Obedience; but being made poor by Oppressions, will be ever ready for Rebellion. But let me not forget, that before he came to be King, the Swan was his Badge, and was imbroider'd upon his Caparisons, when he entred the Lists aforesaid, against the Famous Duke his Adversary, (as a Mss. given to the Heralds Office, by Sir William Dudg. Garter.

The Seal of Cicely Nevil Dutchess of York, (a little Woman, but Famous among our Writers, for her great Spirit) was supported by a Swan; (see Mr. Sandford Lancast. Herald, p. 352.) She was Mother to Edw. the Fourth, and Rich. the Third, as also to George, Duke of Clarence, (Princes of great Valour and Wit) She saw first her Husband, and third Son slain. Secondly, She saw the two Princes, her Grand-children, Murder'd (by their own Uncle, and her Son.) Thirdly, She saw her said Son also slain. Yet bearing all these Crevecoeurs with a most even and invincible mind, she lived to the 11th. of Hen. 7th. admirably making good—Mala sunt superanda ferendo.

Ladislaus, King of Jerusalem, Sicilie, Hungaria, and many other Provinces, had for his Devise a Swan treading under his Feet, and biting an Eagle; with these words, Inculpata tutela: And agrees with what Aristotle asserts, (by me before [Page] mention'd) concerning the Bravery of this Bird. The Genealogick History of France, recites Two Epitaphs for their Magnanimous King; and mentions another, made by the Famous Italian Poet, Sannazara, greatly to his Commendation. ‘And such as these were the Princes of the SWAN.’

There was an Order of Knight-hood of the Swan in Cleveland, (as sayes Favine) who also affirms, the Princes of that House have ever borne that beautiful and generous Bird for their Devise, Crest and Supporters.

Richard de Vassebourgh, in his Antiquities of Belgia, makes mention of the Antient Knights of the Swan, instituted by one Silvius Brabon, (of whom, as some hold, Brabant took the Name) giving them this Bird for an Hieroglyphick of the Love and Concord he would have among 'em; Amoris & unionis Symbolum, &c.

I need make but little Comment upon what hath been said. I have hinted before, the generous Nature of the Swan, being like that of the Heroick Lyon; and he cannot but be the Duke's Bird. My Advice is: ‘Desistant Ranae torvum irritare Leonem.’

The Lyon is by Nature kind, though bold,

If that the Beasts themselves in duty hold.

‘Cygnus de Corde Benignus.’

Ovid, lib. 2. tells us, That Cycnus, King of Liguria, grieving for his Kinsman Phaeton, was turned into a Swan; a Royal Bird then. And he describes his Nature thus;

Stagna petit, patulos (que) lacus, ignemq, perosus.

Quae colat elegit contraria flumina flammis.

Rivers and spreading Lakes are his Delight,

Which are to Flames and Fires quite opposite.

This Great Duke hath been Lord High Admiral of Arragon, and also of England, (Maximus Marinus Maria petens) hath had great Command upon the vast Lake of the World, (viz. the Sea.)

He hath been Immensi Ashm. p. 119. Tremor Oceani, (as Sir Tho. Higgens, in his Excellent Ode, which henceforth I shall call Swan-Song, (imitating Leland.)

And as to that damned Reflexion, impos'd upon the World by a late Knave, (Septemb. 5. 1679. Romes Packet) this Poet, by a Divine, Praevious Inspiration, long since hath foretold the contrary. And the Divine Providence will in due time, (as in the Case of Joseph and Susanna) confound the Faces of impudent and seditious Detractors.

A later Motto (of King Charles of Blessed Memory) as upon His Royal Pourtraicture in his Book, and in several Churches may appear, was Clarior e Tenebris. Even so his most Illustrious Son, e tenebrosis Calumniarum Cimmeriis, clarissimus, purissimus, ac Columba innocentissimus (ad instar Cycni candidissimus) olim orietur. Out of the black and dark Sullies of ignominious Calumniations, he shall arise clear as the Sun, innocent as the Dove, white as the candid Swan.

In my Flagellum Mercurii Antiducalis, I mention'd the evil Spirit that we read of, Judges 9. And I now add, His Royal Highness's condition, at present, is like the Kingly David's (so much celebrated by the excellent Marquess Virgilio Malvezzi) 1 Sam. chap. 30. vers. 6 The People, &c. But he comforts himself in the Lord his God, Acquiescat & videbit salutem Domini, Isa. 52. 10. According to the Reverse and Anagram of His Title Yorc, being Croy in French, id est, Credo: I believe, &c. ‘Flebile principium melior fortuna sequetur.Ovib. lib. 7. sab. 10.’

Since I had finisht this, I heard of the Artillery's Solemn and Cordial invitation to His Royal Highness, to congratulate his happy Return—The Duke was usherd into the World with Medals, intimating the very Circumstance—Mille Cohortes, (see Mr. Sandford, p. 562.

[Page] Neither am I now such an impertinent Wizzard, as Rome's Packet, September. 5. 1679. would make me; for I averr'd, the Duke's Return would be accompanied with Joy and Feasting.

And it seems, the Artillery Cohort begins it.

[...]reat Duke, Thee safely home return'd we see,

Feastings and gladsome Healths intended be.

The Military Band make first their fair Address,

The Senators and Citizens must do no less.

Their Swans have shewn them what they ought to do;

They are Apollo's Birds, their

Lore, an Old English Word, and Signifies Instruction, Advice, or Document.

Lore is true.

In my Fatality, I would have mention'd the good Omen of the Medal and Motto, (for I have it in my Notes) but I was afraid the capricious, malicious, Anti-Monarchical Crew, would have made malevolent Reflexions upon it, as tending to a standing Army, and Gladiatory Government.

But Providentially this Auspicious Invitation intervening, I become bold, and daring to Publish it.

And so much for the Welcome SWANS.

P. 72. of the Weekly Packet, or Advice from Rome, Printed 1679. There's a scurrilous Reflection made upon the Day-Fatality, and Blaspheming His Royal Highness, viz. In the mean time, let that impertinent Wizzard read and apply, 1 Kings 22. 22, 23 Verses. The Author of the said Fatality replyed; I shall then (and not before) prove an impertinent Coxcombe, when such as you come to have the Rule of That Providence, that attends His Royal Highness; and will then apply to my self your 1 Kings, &c. (See The Touch of the Times.) Now, what Providence that is, that attends His Royal Highness, can by no means be better understood, but by his late Miraculous Deliverance; and (since that) His, and His Dutchess safe Arrival, and by Sea too: His Highness no what dismay'd by the former peril.

At contra audentior [...]

Confisus (que) Deo; Scit quod sibi militat Aequor.

Et Conjurati Veniunt ad Classica Venti.

But on He Bravely goes.

He trusts in God, who makes the Sea His Friend;

And Winds Conduct Him to His Journey's End.

Page the Seventh, fore-going, I have spoken something of the Dove; but was very short, as to that Blessed Bird: But forasmuch as very many took notice, That at His now MAJESTY's Proclamation, at the very instant when it was performed at the Royal Exchange, a great number of 'um were there flocked together. I cannot omit what Jacobus Capellanus (quoted by Ferne, pag. 236.) says of it, viz. 'Tis the Emblem of Gratitude.] Nor be silent in what Monsieur Segoigne (in his Traitte des Armoiries, pag. 39.) averrs: Says he; C' est l' Image de l' Humanite & Douceur. The Image of Courtesie and Sweetness.

As for the Gratitude and Courtesie of His Majesty, He was always highly commended for it, whil'st yet only DUKE: What may we expect of Him, now a KING, less than what Caelius (Lib. 7.) says of Alexander the Great; and Panormitane, of Alphonsus, King of Arragon and Sicily; A nemine unquam Gratitudine & Officio [...]se vinci passus est? He never suffer'd himself to be out-done in Gratitude, and Good Turns. (Panorm. l. 1. de dictis & factis Alphonsi.) Luckily Presag'd by this Columbal Concourse, or Flocking together of Doves: But He must be used like the Herb Basill; of which Heylyn tells you a notable Story, in his Description of Genoa; and I have Moraliz'd in the First English Distich of the Page preceding.

FINIS.

[Page]

Information about this book

Title statement

Prince-protecting providences, or, A collection of some historical passages relating how several princes and personages (born for great actions) have had miraculous preservations : made publick upon occasion of the late memorable (and miraculous) deliverance of His Royal Highness, James Duke of York.

Gibbon, John, 1629-1718.

Edition statement

1682

Publication

Publisher

Text Creation Partnership,

Place of publication

Ann Arbor, MI ; Oxford (UK) :

Date

2008-09 (EEBO-TCP Phase 1).

ID [DLPS]

A42686

ID [STC]

Wing G652

ID [STC]

ESTC R30409

ID [EEBO-CITATION]

11309873

ID [OCLC]

ocm 11309873

ID [VID]

47411

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Early English books online.

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(EEBO-TCP ; phase 1, no. A42686)

Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 47411)

Images scanned from microfilm: (Early English books, 1641-1700 ; 1461:40)

Source

— Prince-protecting providences, or, A collection of some historical passages relating how several princes and personages (born for great actions) have had miraculous preservations : made publick upon occasion of the late memorable (and miraculous) deliverance of His Royal Highness, James Duke of York., Gibbon, John, 1629-1718..

Extent

12 p.

s.n.,. [London :: 1682]. (Caption title.) (Imprint supplied by Wing.) (Reproduction of original in the Harvard University Library.)

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