I. IT was an an­cient custom among the ci­vill nations, so oft as [Page 2] they were blessed with a just and a gra­cious King (lest their felicity should bee mutely smother'd, and moulder in their brests) to pour sorth their affections and joyes in elogies, in hearty wishes, and in applauses; especially, when any occasion did excite their ac­clamations. By emu­lation [Page 3] of which sacred custom, being rapt, and my very bowells in this my frozen age being warmed there­with, I have taken a flagrant confidence, to celebrate this day which hath restored your Majesty to us, and us unto our selves: being so little daunted with the weaknesse of mine [Page 4] own elocution, that almost I am ready to esteem my self there­by the fitter to per­form it. For, what need is there here of any rhetoricall stuff? or why should I too curiously ballance words by weight? it will be enough this day simply to rejoice. Sincerity is a plain and impolite thing, by [Page 5] how much the lesse tricked, so much the more joying in her owne naturall ala­crity; and fine speech while it adorneth, cor­rupteth our gladness. Neither do I fear that this duty shall appear a flattering blandish­ment, or to proceed from one ambitiously projected at the feet of fortune, which in­truth [Page 6] were unworthy of that ingenuity that I have received from my parents, and like­wise of that blessed contentment, which liberall studies have taught me. Yet, one thing I confesse [...]d oh involve my thoughts at the very entrance, in a kind of Solicitude; namely, lest I should with true praises of­fend [Page 7] that verecundi­ous modesty, where­with Your Majesty doth so sweetly sea­son all your other vertues: for although your fortitude bee great against any thing that requires either Constancie of spirit, or validity of body; yet, I cast some doubt, lest you should bear these applauses [Page 8] the more tenderly, by how much they are the more justly due.

II. We read that Germanicus (and yet what a man?) some­what before the battel against the Catti; went disguised with a beasts skin about his shoulders, to listen behind the souldiers tents what opinion [Page 9] they had of him. So as they seem the wea­kest receivers of their own commendations, that are the worthy­est to receive them.

Whence I easily foresee that I must prepare a way for your Sacred Eares, by more severe argu­ments then I can bor­row from the shop of light Rhetoritians. I [Page 10] will therefore round­ly affirm, that neither the fair, nor the de­formed lives of Prin­ces, should be suppres­sed under ignoble si­lence, but that both the good and bad, should bee delivered to posterity with the same liberty in wri­ting, which them­selves used in living: and with no less reve­rence [Page 11] of truth then of majesty: the good, lest by subducting the ex­amples of vertue from our knowledge, ver­tue it self by little and little should decay: the bad, that being exempt while they live, from all danger of laws, they might at least be attempered with some awe of fu­ture records. This I [Page 12] dare speak to your self (most excellent Soveraign) and, even that I dare say so much as this, I owe on­ly to your self, who have now so lived 33 and reigned almost nine yeers, that you are not afraid of truth.

III. Most famous it was of old, and wil eter­nally [Page 13] live, that answer of Virginius Rufus, to Cluvius: You know Virginius (saith hee) what credit is due to history: wherefore if you read any thing in my books, otherwaies then you would have it, I pray pardon me. To whom replies Vir­ginius; Cluvius knows this, that I have done those that I have [Page 14] done, that it might be free for you writers to write what you list. Which was the security (I must con­fess) of a brave gen­tleman indeed, but of a private personage.

How much more may this day rejoice, at the reception of a King, of whose life and whole deport­ment wee may speak [Page 15] both openly and safe­ly. Yea, let me add this boldly, that if nature her self (the first Ar­chitectres) had (accor­ding to Vitruvius his conceit) windowed your brest: if Your Majesty should admit all mens eyes, not on­ly within the walls of your priviest cham­ber, but into the in­ward'st closet of your [Page 16] heart, nothing would there appear, but the splendor of goodness and an untroubled serenity of vertues. What said I? if you would admit? why, can they whom the supreme power hath set in a high and lucent throne bee secluded from the eyes of men? or the course of your life and government [Page 17] be hidden in a mist? certainly in this point, obscurity of degree and solitude it self, is more vailed then Ma­jesty. Doth that Em­peror of Abyssine (who they say is seen but once a yeer abroad) think that it is lesse known what he doth with in? Doe wee not know even at this day that Domitian even in [Page 18] his secret retied room, whither hee dayly in private resorted, did nothing but stick flies with a bodkin? Lay Tiberius hid in his re­cesse to the Islands of Capreae, when among so many wounds and tortures of his consci­ence (with which he was vexed like so ma­ny furies) many to­kens of a distracted [Page 19] mind did daily break forth? Surely no.

Your Majesty hath taught the Princes both of your own, & future times, the only and most wholsome way of concealing your self, in this, that you indeavour no­thing that is to bee concealed. There are certain creatures of ingratefull aspect; as [Page 20] Bats and Owls, (con­demn'd by nature to hate the light,) and I know that some Prin-have held it among the secrets of Empire, and for a great myste­ry of craft, to be ado­red afar off, as if reve­rence did only dwell in holes, and caves; and not in full light. Whence flow those Sophistries of Gover­ment? [Page 21] I will speak in a word, and freely; they wandred in crooked paths, because they knew not (the shortest way) to bee good. But, Your Ma­jestie doth not flie the eyes and accesse of your subjects; you do not joy to be hid, you do not withdraw your self from those that are yours; you doe [Page 22] not catch at false ve­neration with a rigid and clouded counte­nance: yea, sometime you vouchsafe to de­scend to a certain affa­bility without offence of your dignitie: for thus you reason with your self in the clear­ness of your owne bosome; if it were not above our power to lie concealed, yet [Page 23] were it below our goodness to will it; then which nothing (in conclusion) is more popular; for good Princes are by all good men openly revered, and even si­lently by bad: so much do the beams of vertue dazle even unwilling eies. Wher­fore as of late I did pass with Tranquillus [Page 24] Suetonius (who hath anatomized the very bowels of the Cesars) to beguil in the time of your absence with some literate diversi­on, the tedious longi­tude of dayes, and had by chance faln upon that passage, so lively describing the wai­lings of Augustus, after the Varian defect, of­ten crying out, Render [Page 25] me Quintilius Varus; straight there arose a fervent desire of Your Majestie, and wishes glowed for your return: for it seemed much juster that England should solicit her sister with panting suspirations, then Augustus the ghost of Quintilius: Restore to mee, Scot­land my sister, our [Page 26] King; restore the best of men, whom none but bad doth not love, none but igno­rant doth not praise; both the ruler of our Manners, and the rule together; that we may not only be the glad­der, but the better for it, while we shal never contemplate (a thing most rare) in the high­est degree a pattern [Page 27] of the least licentious­ness. Seeing therefore (excellent King) that you are such, permit I most humbly beseech you (if supplications may more prevaile then arguments) that nine people of di­stinct language (for so many they are in my account) whose realms you moderate, may glory that you [Page 28] are such, and proves that not only in every ones particular Idiom, which would bee in truth too narrow for our joy, but in this common language however exprest, that even forreigners may know heretofore yeelded the best Em­peror, and of greatest name to the Christi­an world, not to be so [Page 29] drie at this day, but that it still can afford a type of a most lau­dable Soveraign.

IV. Now, having as I hope a little mol­lified the way to your patient hearing, hence forth I shall take a pleasure, out of a ge­nerall habit, & course of your life, to crop a few things like the [Page 30] gatherers of flowers: for, I joy more in the chief then in the plen­ty; though not igno­rant that either the di­ligence, or ambition of Ancients in this kind was so profuse, as perchance Timeus did not say unplea­santly, that Alexander the Macedonian had sooner subdued all A­sia then Isocra [...]es had [Page 31] writ his panegyrick. The truth is, art was much cherished in those dayes, while in a rank age of eloquence the wits of Orators were wanton▪ but it becometh me, being mindfull both of my simplicity and age, to touch rather the ge­nerall heads of your due praises▪ then to prosecute the parti­culars; [Page 32] that the very brevity of my speech, may in a sort imitate the defluxion of my sliding years. Now before other things, there offereth it selfe unto mee, the singular Nobility of your birth: whereby, in the long pedegre of ante­cedent King [...] yee are eminent above them all, even your blessed [Page 33] father not excepted; this I will deduce more clearly: your great great-grandfa­ther Henry the se­venth, (I know not whether more behol­den to his fortune or his fortitude) being almost at once an Ex­ile, and a Conquerer, united the white and red Roses; the Armo­mories of two of our [Page 34] mighty families, by the marriage of Eli­zabeth of York; w^ch be­ing in division had so many yeers polluted their own Countrie with infestous rancor and bloody fewds: A more blessed Colliga­tion of the King­doms then of the Ro­ses, wee owe to the good dayes of your fa­ther, even for that a­lone [Page 35] never to bee remembred without high veneration. But, in you alone, most Imperiall Charles, is confluent the glory of all nations, of all a­ges, which since the Romans have posses­sed Britannie either by right, or by Arms. In you▪ I say▪ alone, whom of all hither [...]o crowned, we acknow­ledg [Page 36] the only branch of the Cabrians, Anglo­saxons, Scottish, Nor­ma [...] and Danish Race. In this perchance (if the comparison bee not too mean) not un­like to the Ister that [...] river of [...]rope, which rolling down so [...]minense a [...] enn [...]bled by [...] way with the con­tri [...]tion of so many [Page 37] famous streams. A­mong our authors, one of no mean condition, that our Elders would not legitimate the Norman government in England, till Maude marrying with Henry the first brought into the world a branch of the ancient Saxon Kings: she was the si­ster of David, ne­phew twice removed [Page 38] of King Ethelred your Progenitor.

What greater cause have we to imbrace Your Majestie with open arms, descending to our times from so manifold a stock of Kings; adorned with access of the Cambry­an line by Queen Ann your Mother, a Lady of a masculine carriage and more truely may [Page 39] we challenge that which Buchanan (who next the ancients had the happiest strain) attributed to your grandmother (to whom might a better fate have faln)

Yee sway Scepters independing,

From elders number­less descending.

But these you scarcely account your [Page 40] own. I pass to your peculiar glories, which no less give then re­ceive lustre.

V. Three things are remarkable in your beginning, Best of Kings, (give me leave to call you so often) of no small moment to your following fe­licities; and things in their encrease for the [Page 41] most part keep a re­lish of the beginnings; first, that you were not born to the su­pream hope of Sove­raigntie, whereby flat­tery (though a swift & watchfull evill) cling­ing to the very cradle of Heirs apparant, slowly crept on your tender years, giving time to your naturall goodness to suck in [Page 42] the generous juice of honesty: for certain­ly it much importeth the Common-weal to see that the first pro­pensions even of pri­vate men bee well in­formed and instilled: how much more of Princes, whereof they are not only sustainer [...] for the present, but patterns for the fu­ture?

[Page 43]Next, that you suc­ [...]eed a brother of no [...]mall endowments of [...]ature: this redoubled [...]nd contracted the se­ [...]ulity of your parents [...] I call it sedulity, for [...]t exceeded an ordi­ [...]ary care) about the [...]mprovement of their [...]nly son: Nay, by this, [...]our own spirits were [...]he more and more [...]rected, when now [Page 44] such a weight of exp [...]ctation was faln onl [...] upon your self; the [...] were they appoint [...] which should fait [...]fully endue with th [...] elements of knowled [...] your age not yet fit f [...] affairs of State: the [...] were such sent for [...] might dresse yo [...] growing strength w [...] feats of Chivalr [...] which I well remem [...]er [Page 45] how handsomly [...]ou performed in the [...]rime of your youth, [...]ill afterwards run­ [...]ing at Tilt I knew [...]ot whether we took more joy or fear to [...]ee you adventure.

Thirdly, it falls into [...]y mind how nature [...]rugled for a time with the weakness of [...]our body, far unlike [...]o that firm vigour [Page 46] which wee now be [...] hold with joy and ad [...]miration: which [...] think did not happ [...] without a secret pro [...]vidence, that the [...] might be the more i [...]tentive care of cult [...]vating your mind, [...] indeed well becam [...] the heir, then secret [...] destinated, of such [...] King, whom of all a [...]ter many ages his ve [...]ry [Page 47] maligners doe not deny to have been the Prince of greatest knowledg. But I haste from your first essayes to your stronger times, not forget­ting my promised bre­ [...]ity.

VI. After your tra­vells abroad, obnoxi­ous to many hazards, you came unto the [Page 48] Crown, where was seen how much you [...] self then dared to ad­venture, while in the mean time all at home were trembling fo [...] your sake. But, th [...] celestiall favour di [...] reduce you again faf [...] unto us, with not s [...] much as a taint of fo [...]raign tincture like a [...]nother Vlysses, t [...] whom it was enoug [...] [Page 49] even by Homer, to peruse the manners of men and their gover­ment.

VII. When you had taken the Crown, be­fore all other things, there was resplen­dent in you a Roy­all religious mind: the pillar of King­doms and the joy of good men: the regal [Page 50] Chappell never more decent, the number of excellent Divines dai­ly increased, Sermons in no age more fre­quent, in none more learned, and the ex­ample of Prince more informing then the Sermons; no execra­tions rashly procee­ding from your mouth; your eyes ab­horring, not only any [Page 51] sordid, but even the least lascivious word: which perchance un­der Edward the 4^th. while vagrant loves did raign, was accoun­ted a piece of courtly eloquence; neit [...]r was this piety im­mured within the Court, but diffused through the King­dom.

The Church reve­nues [Page 52] not toucht; Temples here and there newly founded; delapidations repai­red; and, (which po­sterity will ever speak) the contributi­ons of your King­dom, excited by your Majesties most religi­ous exhortation, to restore the Temple consecrated to the Apostle of the nati­ons, [Page 53] which had suffe­red some injury of time; in all the Chri­stian world, without question, the most ample work of equall antiquity; where your Majesties care was e­minent in demolish­ing those private hou­ses which disgraced the view of so goodly a worke: Nor less in imposing the charge [Page 54] of that whole busi­ness, upon that most vigilant Prelat [...]e who for his singular fideli­ty and judgment, hath lately been assu­med to higher digni­ty.

Now (next to God) how tender was your affection to your peo­ple? when contagion grew amongst them, recourse was had to [Page 55] publick fasts, by your own commandement: when wee were pres­sed with greater fears then affliction of fa­min, the cornmongers were constrained to open their barns, and the prices underrated. Among those pious cares, I cannot omit one peculiar Elogie, proper to your owne providence, whereof [Page 56] I must fetch the be­ginning a little high­er.

VIII. Some years agoe, certain points about sublime points of our Belief were born abroad, or ra­ther perchance newly rub'd up out of anti­quity; which when they had also flown hither unto us (as [Page 57] flames of wit are quickly diffused) lest here also our pulpits and pens should grow hot with publick di­sturbance, Your Ma­jesty hath by Edict with most laudable temper compressed all disceptation on either side. Let others think what they list; in my arbitriment (if the phrase may be pardo­ned) [Page 58] the Itch of Disputing will prove the Scab of Churches. I wil relate what hath hapned to mee in my observation more then once: namely, two arguing about some subject very ea­gerly, till either of them transported by heat of contention from one thing to a­nother, they both at [Page 59] length first lost chari­ty, and then the truth. Whither (in the name of God) would restless conceit pro­ceed if it were not bounded? there is no end of subtil ar­guments: but Your Majestie hath found out a seasonable pro­vision.

IX. To these prai­ses [Page 60] of piety I wil add a mighty pattern of gratitude: and almost a greater of Constan­cy towards George Villers Duke of Buc­kingham, who being the chief concomitant adjoyned unto them amongst the hazards of the Spanish Jour­ney, Your Majestie afterwards at home as it were by ex­change [Page 61] did safely carry through all the rocks of either for­tune, till the unfore­seen day befell him. We have also seen no small means of your favour cast upon ano­ther of trusty & judi­cious associates in the same Journy. Neither do I only recount these things, as argu­ments of an heart [Page 62] mindfull of faithfull service (which is a truly regall vertue) but likewise of singu­lar obsequiousnesse towards the memory of your own parent, though then decea [...]sed, to whom the Duke of Buckingham had stood so many yeers in his speciall privity: as if Your Majesty reputed your [Page 63] self no lesse the Heir of his affections, then of his Kingdoms; a rare example among the memorials of all ages. He was indeed a Duke of many lovely parts, very seldome consociated, in all the limbs of his body ex­quisitely composed, yet doubtful whether his shape or his grace were the more emi­nent: [Page 64] undubitably of an undaunted spirit, e­qually attentive to affairs either imposed, or assumed: he shewed likewise in the midst of so many distractions an incredible temper & equability. I wil not deny his appetite of glory, whereof gene­rous minds are not ea­sily divested; but, that w^ch of all I reckon the [Page 65] sweetest, no austerity of behaviour, nothing outwardly tumerous: but obvious, accosta­ble & almost exposed to every mans accesse: as if so high felicity had scarce been sen­sible of felicity: for which endowment though it had been single, he might well have merited (in hu­mane judgment) at his end a softer Bed.

[Page 66]X. After this there began to grow power­ful in Your Majesties principall affairs and daily growth, by how much the more tryed, by so much the more trusted, a person cer­tainly of a moderate course of life, and of most weighty counsel, & w^th contempt of va [...]nity born to solid wis­dom, whom to nomi­nate [Page 67] were injurious, for after a sincere de­ [...]cription their needs [...]ot a name.

XI But the highest Empire over your af­fections, is deservedly challenged by your most worthy consort of your royal bed, her self likewise descen­ded from an antient line of Kings: but it is [Page 68] enough to say the daughter of Henry the Great, and Sister to Lodowick the Just; whom for most deer pledges already of ei­ther sex, for the en­dowment of chastest beautifulness, and (which chiefly bles­seth the nuptial bed) for congruity of dis­positions, Your Ma­jesty embraceth with [Page 69] so religious and invi­ [...]lable love, that just­ [...]y you may seem to have passed from the Title of an excellent pattern, into that of an excellent husband.

XII. To chastity you have added tem­perance her nearest Companion: which vertues among mise­rable and impotent [Page 71] men, who would not pass by with silence [...] but in a King so young, in the vigour of his age; & in such a promptness of satis­fying all appetites, know not whether we should more com­mend or admire. Now, after these Elo­gies (which partly beget love, and partly beget wonder) to [Page 70] doubt once of the justness of your times, were most unjust. It wil not yet repent me to repeat a little at large a thing of illu­strious example, in a man of obscure con­dition. There fell out at London I know not what tumult for one rescued out of a Ser­jeants hands, who for debt was carried to [Page 72] prison, where in the midst of those confu­sions, one or two (as for the most part it falleth out) did perish of sodain hurts; wher­upon one Iohn Stam­ford a stout and lusty fellow (who had fa­tally run into the throng) was appre­hended as guilty o [...] murther; he watched not with Your Maje­sty [Page 73] intercessors of great name; and there was a certain hope of his pardon already in vulgar imagination conceived, because he waited on the Duke of Buckingham in his Chamber, and among attendants of his own condition was many times very acceptable to his Lord for a mighty ability of [Page 74] body, & skil in wrest­ling, whereof the me­mory as then was yet fresh, which perchance made the poor man the more audacious; but neither the inter­cessions of the living, nor the mans own wel known valour, nor fi­nally the remembrance of so wel known a Pa­tron whom he served, could prevaile with [Page 75] Your Majesty above Justice, (but which is much to be said) after these circumstances he suffered the ordinary death—. Fresher is the execution which a Baron of most anci­ent linage suffred for a fact; unworthy of his ancestors. But, if an old observation of a witty author may yet have place, that some [Page 76] examples are more il­lustrious▪ and some greater, I should think the Barons the more illustrious and Stam­fords the greater.

XII. But whither am I ravisht? while I revolve these things, with no unpleasing meditation? Your Ma­jesty hath in your Tri­bunals of strict Justice proper Judges; whose [Page 77] Sentences are rigid; you have also a most sage Chancellour of right and equity (not inferior to the ancient Pretors) who for the peoples relief mollifi­eth the former severi­ty; but, those doe sit apart, in severall Bars: if one should ask by chance, why they sit not together (which might seem the more expe­dite [Page 78] way) I wil deliver my opinion, our An­cestors out of a most grave providence, that Justice and lenity w^ch in the inferiour Magi­strate sit divided, might be consociated in the only brest of the Soveraign: And truly so it is, for, com­posed in your self, as it were of the very de­sire of your ancestors, [Page 79] hath so tempered them together, that none have presumpti­on to be evill, nor grieve to be good Hi­therto I desire to bee understood, that I have only spoken of the restraint of com­mon vices, which eve­ry where swarm, for of more hai [...]nous trans­gressions (by Gods goodness) wee have [Page 80] not a word, no not so much as a dream; wee are in labour of an ex­cellent ignorance: we know not what insur­rection is: what plot­ter is against the Com­mon-weal: or that is, which Gramarians cal the offence of Maje­sty: the very words are vanisht with the thing [...]; and (in truth) no marvail; for, what [Page 81] wretch (unless hee were of all mortall men the most stupid and felonious, and both equally a fool and a villain) would violate the quiet of so just and pious a Go­vernor?

XIII. Now as you maintain your lustice, (which I would call the health of your [Page 82] Kingdom) in an even Ballance, without too much stretching or slackning the strings [...]punc; so you are not careless of the security; for so the same would fal to Empires, which falleth out in natural bodies, which subsist dange­rously, if nothing but meer health sustain them: wherefore after a war w^th two mighty [Page 83] Kings together with various event (as it falleth out in humane affairs) concluded by new Confederations on either side, your principall care at home, was to provide for the Maritine strength, as it became the Tutor of Insular Kingdoms; where the Navy Royal was year­ly more increased and [Page 84] furnished; likewise more cōmodious roads chosen for the Ships, and of readyer issue upon sodain occasion; Your Majesty not on­ly commanding, but with your own Eyes pe [...]using the places, as if in a matter of that moment you had scarce trusted another mans view: Then a more exact survey of [Page 85] Arms, and the general Musters at due time better executed.

XIV. Amongst these things it were uncivill to pass over silently, that which wise men oft time have noted; namely, that Your Majesty doth more frequent the Counsel of State, then any of your Predecessors, un­less [Page 86] perchance wee should reflect our eyes upon Edward the Sixth, whom they say even in his childhood, to have been seldome absent.

XIV. In that Sessi­on of your privy Counsell, the highest Prelates add reve­rence, the Nobles of both Kingdoms, dig­nity.

[Page 87]Some there are whom forraign expe­rience, some whom the knowledg of our Laws do adorn: a­mong whom the lear­ned and faithfull Sa­gacity of your Secre­taries watch over all accidents; but above these the very pre­sence of the Soveraign hath alwaies (I know not how) a certain [Page 88] blessed inspi [...]ation: it is a smal matter which I have said, your Pre­sence only, yea those which participate of your Counsells, (not altogether I must con­fess incurious, for w^ch I beg pardon) I have many times heard how attentvely (as often as you are pleased to be present) you resolve things propounded; [Page 89] how patiently you hear, with how sharp judgment you pon­der the particulars; how stiff you are (for I will use no milder word) in good reso­lutions, and how stout in great.

Finally, in secret affairs, what taciturni­ty you impose, and how severely you ex­act an account therof; [Page 90] in this also, your own example leading your Commandement. For besides other, there are two things which Your Majesty hath most blessedly bound together; namely, there was never Prince since the Con­stitution of Empires, a safer preserver of a secret, and yet none whose secrecie and si­lence [Page 91] wee less fear; which wee read anti­ently noted of that excellent man Iulius Agricola, who was the first Roman that inva­ded the skirts of your Calydonia: for Your Majesty doth not suffer secretly in your bosom tyrannous and crafty thoughts, nor hatch the sparkles of offence til they flame: [Page 92] but if any bee contri­ved, you doe vent it and as I may say) ex­hale it with a high noblecan [...]or. Truly I confess, I do not more willingly insist in the reverence of any of your vertues, then in this very attribute of your heroicall in­genuity: for as the su­preame Character of the most high power [Page 93] is Verity: so what can more become or more magnificently invest his Representants on earth, then veracity it self? hitherto we have seen your obsequlous­ness towards your pa­rents, constancy to­wards your friends, fidelity towards your Consort, and towards the Common-wealth, not only the affection [Page 94] a King, but of a fa­ther; neither among these (as the conditi­on of the times, and the perplexed state of things would bear) the regards of an ex­cellent brother to­wards your only sister, whom I have alwaies thought the only— of her sex; the greater by suffring, and the more illustrious by [Page 95] obscurity, & though constituted in this world under chance, yet above the com­mand of fortune, whom how much Your Majesty loves, nay how much you e­steem, did appear in a late legation, when to consolate the lo [...]s of her husband, you sent the chief of your Nobility, and himself [Page 96] a personage even of the ancient vertue and deportment; that to so loving an Am­bassie, there might be something added by the very election of the Ambassador.

XV. Thus much of Comfort; now for a point of assistance: did not Your Majesty give leave to a Mer­chant [Page 97] of chief Nobili­ty in Scotland, though tyed here to your per­son by neer & assidu­ous attendance, to ex­ercise his valor abroad by intricate passages in such an interrupti­on of accesse, by ad­ventures of Sea and Land; by places and Townes beset with Plague and famin: where it was almost [Page 98] easier to conquer then to enter; and harder suffering then doing. If after this success hath wanted, yet not the generous affecti­on of a King; not the valour of his subjects; not expences of di­vers kinds; not lega­tions upon legati­ons, to appease if it were possible by e­quall conditions, and [Page 99] by friendly treaty the frenzie of the time: for the rest, we must repose our selves in S [...]lons advice, Let no man glory before his Time.

XVI. Now among so many cares where­with even the best of Kings are least free; it will be no unpleasant Speculation to en­quire a little how ele­gantly▪ [Page 100] Your Majesty doth dispose your va­cant houres.

You joy in Chi [...]l­ry, and use of the great Horse, of which no man doth more skil­fully manage [...] those that are already gen­tle, or tame the furi­ous▪ Insomuch as I doubt whether it were aptly or worthi­ly done of him who [Page 101] hath lately erected an Equestrian Statue to Your Majesty of so­lid brass, the lively work of Listerius.

To this I must add Musick, which under you (both instrumen­tal and vocal growes every day more regu­lar; as being fitted to the judgment of your ear. This (lest it should seem too tender a de­light) [Page 102] you temper with hunting. In which Image of War you doe, so exercise your vigorous Spirits, that it is hard to say whether you love the pleasure more, or the labour, or whether you had rather wish the killing or the long standing of the Ch [...]se.

But the most splen­ded [Page 103] of all your enter­tainments, is your love of excellent Ar­tificers, and works: wherewith either Art both of picture and Sculpture you have so adorned your Pala­ces, that Ita [...]y (the greatest mother of elegant Arts) or at least after the Greci­ans) the principall Nurse, may seem by [Page 104] your magnificence to be translated into England; what can be more pleasant then those sights? nay I am ready to ask, what more learned then to behold the mute elo­quence of lights and shadowes, and silent poesy of lineaments, and as it were living bles? here would the spectator almost [Page 105] swear that the limbs and muscles design'd by Tentoret did move: here the birds of Bas [...] ­sano doe chirp, the oxen bellow, and the sheep bleat; here the faces of Rafael are breathing, and those of Titian even spea­king: here a man would commend in Coreggio sweetnesse, in Parmesano dainti­ness [Page 106] of limbs. Neither do the Belgians want their praise; who if they paint land-skips, al kind of plants seem in their verdure; the flowers doe smile; the hills are raised; the vallies in depression: in your statuary works likewise learned vari­ety, of which some glory in vivacity, some in the tender­ness [Page 107] of limbs. But, those are the enter­tainment of your eye. To delight you some­time you read a book of some choice sub­ject: but for the most part you read men, as well knowing how much it importeth a Prince to look into the nature of his peo­ple. Now and then al­so you please your [Page 108] mind with the rehear­sall of some antient Epigrams, with no less sharpness then they were composed. Thus have I cursorari­ly run over your seri­ous thoughts, & your remissions: but this very pleasure which I have taken, (though but a flight transcur­sion) doth (I know not how) infuse into [Page 109] my pen now in moti­on a new spirit to re­present (with Your Majesties leave) though it bee but to my self, your true portraiture in little: and (as it were) in one short view toge­ther, which I thus con­ceive in my fancie. I would cal your stature next a just proporti­on; your body erect [Page 110] and agil; your colour or complexion, hath generally drawn more from the white Rose of Yorke, then the red of Lancaster; your haire neerer brown then yellow; your brow proclaimeth much fidelity; a cer­tain verecundious ge­nerosity graceth your eyes, not such as we read of Silla, but that [Page 111] of Pompey; in your gestures free from af­fectation; in your whole aspect no swelling, no rigidity, but an alluring and pleasing suavity: your alacrity and spi­rit appears in the cele­rity of your motions, otherwaies stayed af­fections, and compo­sed demeanour; in your purposes and [Page 112] promises unremovea­ble, a lover of truth, a hater of vice, just, constant, couragious, and not simply a­lone, but knowingly good.

Such you are; and being such, with what applause shall wee receive you! methinks I see, when sometimes I compare together horrid and quiet [Page 113] times, as often as Ri­chard the third re­turn'd perchance from his Yorke, or further off to London, and assembled his States about him, how the heads of noble men did hang down, how pale were their cheeks! what solici­tous suspitions, and murmurs they confer­red together; as if so­dainly [Page 114] some dismall Comet or inauspi­cious starre had risen above the Horison: but contrariwise, the return of a just, and a good Prince, is in­truth nothing else but the very approach of the Sun, when with his vernall beams hee doth expell the de­formed winter, and with a gentle heat [Page 115] doth comfort and ex­ [...]ilarate all things a­bout us.

XVII. Welcome therefore Most grace­full King, to all that are good: But in what wishes shall I end? Among the ancients (by whose example I have too boldly un­dertaken this small labour) there was a [Page 116] form after the times of Trajan, under eve­ry excellent Empe­rour, Long maist thou live Antonius; long must thou live Theo­sius; happier mayst thou be then Augustus; better then Trajan: but let this bee the concluding Character of Your Majesties time; that the things we can with, are fewer [Page 117] then those we praise.

Wherefore when I have out of an ardent zeale only wisht this, that CHARLES our excellent King and Master may raign and live like himself;

I will end thus,