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long, darke, filent, folitary, untrodden Path, leading even to the Chambers of Death, fraught altogether with Sorrow, ending in Teares, wherein I cannot chufe (but by the Exceffe thereof) many Times fall, ftumble, and miffe of my Way, you would with your gentle Excufes reach out your Hand of Love to helpe me up againe, rather expecting what is entended, than done. Laftly, that you, with my other difcreet Reader, who hereafter fhall fee the fame, would onely ufe it as a Hunter's Baite, to ftay your Stomachs a little, until fome others of better Knowledge, and founder Judgement, doe feed you with a better Dinner.

KN

NOW then that the King's Majeftie and the Queene lying at the Caftle of Striveling, (a Place famous for Antiquitie, faire for Building, pleasant for Scituation) on Tuesday the 19. of February 1594, about Three a Clocke in the Morning, his Highneffe was born, to the great Joy of all the whole Ifle, and all forraigne true hearted Princes and People, his Majeftie's Wellwillers, and Confederates, but chiefly the Phoenix of her Age, great matchleffe ELIZABETH, to fhew the exceeding Love to his Majeftie, did not onely fend the Right Honourable the Earle of Suffex, with rich Presents to the Chriftning, but also by him, and for Her, did give unto his Highneffe the Name of HENRY, most renowned and victorious; after which, by speciall Appointment from his Majeftie, he was refigned to the Cuftody and Keeping of the Earle of Marre, affifted alfo by the continuall and vigilant Care of the venerable and noble Matron his Mother, unto whom the chief Charge of his Highneffe's Perfon by his Majeftie was given: She alfo, for many Yeares before, being his owne great happy Nurfe, with whom he no leffe profpered in all Things, than his Royall Father before him did in the felfe fame Place and Keeping. Thus continued the Strength of his Father, and the Glory of his Mother a great while in the Hands of Women, giving in this his tender Age, by his wonderfull Courage, infallible Tokens of a Noble and Heroick Spirit, no Mufick being fo pleasant in his Eares, as the Sounding of the Trumpet, the Beating of the Drumme, the Roaring of the Cannon, no Sight fo acceptable, as that of Pieces, Piftols, or any fort of Armour; all which evidently fhew, that (if he had lived) Mars himselfe would not one Day have dared to looke him in the Face.

Thus he remained untill the 5. or 6. Yeares of his Age; at which Time. his Majeftie thought it expedient he should no longer want a Tutor. Whereupon Master Newton (afterwards his Secretary) was by his Majefty thought fitteft for the faid Place, who prefently with all Care poffible did begin to teach his Highneffe the Grounds of Learning, with the Introductions leading to the fame.

A little after, the Women being put from about his Highneffe, divers of good Sort were appointed to attend upon his Perfon; amongst whom, as chiefe, was the Right Honourable the Earle of Marre, together with Sir David Murray, Knight, firft and onely Gentleman of his Highneffe's Bedchamber, to lye therein, (continuing fo alwaies untill his Death) affifted also by fundry Lords, Barons, Knights and Gentlemen: At which Time, in the

7. 8. and 9. Yeares of his Age, leaving thofe childish and idle Toyes, ufuall to all of his Yeares, he began to delight in more active and manly Exercifes, learning to ride, fing, dance, leape, fhoot at Archery, and in Peeces, to toffe his Pike, &c. Whereof all thefe Things in young Yeares, to the Admiration of all, chiefly Strangers, he did wonderfully performe; and that with fuch a Grace, as it feemed incredible to forraigne Nations; fave that those of their owne, who were Spectators of the fame, did affure them thereof,

Now beganne thofe Sparks of Piety, Majefty, Gravity, &c. which before were true, though small, to flash out bigger every Day, ufing a milde and gentle Behaviour towards all, chiefly to Strangers, before whom he used (if they were of good Sorts, and Nobles) to fhew thefe Exercises, wherein he excelled all those of his Age, thereby filling their Hearts with Love, and all their Sences with Delight, departing exceeding well pleafed, that they had feene Prince Henry.

Meane while swift winged Time, the Mother of Change (whilft we expected no fuch Alteration) joyning with the eternall Decree, which pittying that ELIZABETH, now overcloyed with earthly Joyes fhould any longer be detained in this Vale of Mifery, did fend the bleffed Angels to change her corruptible for an incorruptible Crowne. The Newes whereof (in a fhorter Time than ever was pofted fo great a Journey) was brought unto his Majeftie by the honourable Sir Ro. Carey, Knight, who out of the Abundance of his Love, preventing all others, was the firft Newes bringer, not onely of fo lamentable Death, but also of the fudden enfuing Joy, of his Majestie's right, lawfull, lineall, proclaimed Succeffion: who fhortly after was feconded by the honourable Gentlemen, Sir Charles Percie, and Sir Thomas Somerfett, Knights, with a Letter from the right honourable, the Peeres of England, and Lords of her late Majeftie's moft honourable Privy Counfell, prefenting Heapes of all Sorts of dutifull Services, from fo loving Subjects to fo beloved a King; withall wifhing a haftie Difpatch of his Affaires, that they the fooner might enjoy his royall Prefence, which being with Speed performed, they alfo, (out of their great Love) longing for the reft. The Queene with his Highneffe took their Journey from Edenborough the first of June, 1602. the laft of the faid Moneth comming to Windfor, where, what Joy was at fo loving a Meeting, and fo long wifhed, I leave for you to imagine.

His Majeftie lying at this forefaid Towne, his Highneffe and fome other Lords, were inftalled Knights of the most honourable and noble Order of the Garter; after which (the Sickneffe increasing) his Highneffe removed from thence to Oatelands, where by Appointment from his Majeftie, he tooke Houfe by himfelfe, having fo many to attend upon him in every Office, as was thought fitting for his Yeares. A little after removing to Nonfuch, and from thence being fent for to Winchester by his Majeftie, he againe returned to Oatelands, where he begun to ply his Booke hard for two or three Yeares, continuing all his princely Sports, Hawking, Hunting, Running at the Ring, Leaping, Riding of great Horfes, Dauncing, Fencing, Toffing of the Pike, &c. In all which, he did fo farre excell as was fitting for fo great a Prince;

whereby,

whereby, together with his continuall Travaile, being ever in Action, he' came to have a very active and ftrong Body; fo that then he would many Times tyre all his Followers before he himselfe would be weary.

Much about this Time, being thirteene Yeares of Age, he began to know himselfe a little better, and finding himfelfe to be a Prince indeed, began not onely to strive for Vertues anfwerable, but also to chafe away the Reliques of childish Imperfections naturall to all, increasing every Day in Favour with GoD and Man.

In the 14. and 15. Yeares of his Age, he began to be very juditious, almost in every Thing, drawing neerer to a majeftique Gravity; to be a reverent and attentive Hearer of Sermons, to give Commendations to the same, to have Boxes kept at his three feverall standing Houses, Saint James, Rich mond, and Nonfuch, caufing all those who did fweare in his Hearing, to pay Moneyes to the fame, which were after duly given to the Poore; he beganne now alfo to be of an excellent Difcourfe, putting forth, and afking strange Questions and Suppofitions, both of this, and forraine States, and defiring to know, and to be refolved almoft of every Thing, whereby at length he attained to have a reasonable Infight and Judgement, in State-affaires; now alfo delighting to fhoot in great and small Field-pieces, to levell them to the White, and fee them shot off.

The 16. Yeare of his Age, being to come to the Time of his Investment in the Principalitie of Wales and Cornewall; he did advance his owne Title and Right fo farre, as with Modeftie he might: which prefently was gently and lovingly entertained, and granted of his Majeftie, with the Confent of the Right Honourable, the High Court of Parliament: The fourth of June following, being appointed for that folemne Action, the Christmas before which, his Highneffe not onely for his owne Recreation, but also that the World might know, what a brave Prince they were likely to enjoy, under the Name of Meliades, Lord of the Ifles, (an ancient Title due to the firft borne of Scotland) did in his Name, by fome appointed for the fame Purpose, strangely attired, accompanied with Drummes and Trumpets in the Chamber of Prefence, before the King and Queene, and in the Presence of the whole Court, deliver a Challenge to all Knights of Great-Britaine, in two Speeches; the Relation whereof were out of Purpose, but the Summe

was:

That Meliades, their noble Master, boyling with an earnest Defire, to trie the Valour of his young Yeares in foraigne Countreyes, and to know where Vertue triumphed most, had sent them abroad to efpy the fame, who after their long Travailes in all Countreyes, and Returne; fhewing, how no where in any Continent, fave in the fortunate Ifle of Great Brittaine, they had found his Wishes; which miniftring Matter of exceeding Joy to their young Meliades, who (as they faid) could lineally derive his Pedegree from the famous Knights of this Ifle, was the Caufe that he had now fent to present the first Fruits of his Chivalrie at his Majeftie's Feete. Then after, returning with a fhort Speech to her Majeftie, next to the Earles, Lords, and Knights, excusing their Lord in this their fo fudden and short Warning: and lastly,

to.

to the Ladies; they after humble Delivery of their Chartle, concerning Time, Place, Conditions, Number of Weapons, and Affailants, tooke their Leave, departing folemnly as they entred.

Now began every where Preparations to be made for this great Fight, and happy did he thinke himselfe who should be admitted for a Defendant, much more Affailant: At last, to encounter his Highneffe, with his fix Affailants, 58 Defendants confifting of Earles, Barons, Knights, and Efquires, were appointed and chofen, eight Defendants to one Affailant, every Affailant being to fight by Turnes, eight feverall Times fighting, two every Time with Push of Pike and Sword, twelve Stroakes at a Time; after which, the Barre for Separation was to be let downe untill a fresh Onset.

The great Night of this Solemnity now approaching, his Highneffe in his owne Lodging, in the Christmas, did feast the Earles, Barons, and Knights Affailants, and Defendants, untill the great Twelfth appointed Night, on which this great Fight was to be performed; which being come, his Highneffe, to the great Wonder of the Beholders, did admirably fight his Part, giving and receiving that Night, 32 Pushes of Pikes, and about 360 Stroakes of Swords, which is fcarfe credible in fo young Yeares, enough to affure the World, that Great-Britaine's brave HENRY afpired to Immortality.

Against the Morrow, after the fame faid Fight, was alfo prepared a magnificke Feaft at his Highneffe's House at Saint James's, at which his Majeftie, his Highneffe, his Brother and Sifter, with all the other Earles, Lords, and Knights of the Court were prefent; where after Supper (according as before they had beene judged) his Highneffe gave three Prifes, to the three best deferving, viz. to the Right Honourable the Earle of Montgomery one, and to Sir Thomas Darcy, and Sir Robert Gourdon, Knights, the other two.

The Barriers finished, and Prifes won, judged and delivered, fhortly after began Preparation every where to be made for his Highneffe's Creation, every one from the highest to the loweft (to fhew their exceeding Love) ftriving who should exceed in Bravery, untill faft-pofting Time at length brought forth the long wifhed for Day; before which, his Highneffe then lying at Richmond, a Houfe fcituate on the Rivers Side, feven Miles from Westminster, the Place of his Creation, the Custome being to be brought from fuch a Place, the Right Honourable the Lord Mayor of London, with the worshipfull Aldermen his Brethren, accompanied with thirtie fix feverall Companies of Citizens of divers Callings, in fo many feverall Barges, and all Citie-like braverie poffible, with their feverall Flagges, Banners, Colours, Armes, Trumpets, Drummes, and Phyfes, with other fuch Provifion, came from their mighty and renowned City, up the Silver-ftreamed River, to welcome, meet and accompany his Highneffe, towards the folemne Action, where having encountred with his Highneffe's Barges with all the Joy, Love, and Kindneffe poffible, to the Wonder of the World, all Eyes were bent towards fo joyfull and defired a Sight: they came altogether rowing downe the proud River, which for two or three Miles together, seemed to be covered with Pinnaces, Barges, Boates, and Oares unto Whitehall-bridge at the Court,

where

TRACTS

where he was alfo received, and welcommed by the Right Honourable the Lords of his Majefties moft Honourable Privie Counfel, with divers others, and from thence by them conducted unto his Majeftie, where he remained untill the Time of his Creation, which being the next Day, he was in Prefence of the Right Honourable the High Court of Parliament, Lords Spirituall and Temporall, by his Majeftie, the King his Father, created Prince of Wales, Duke of Cornewall, Great Earle of Chefter, &c. with a full Investment in all the ancient and great Liberties, ever poffeffed by any of his famous Prede-. ceffors, and with the Joy and Approbation of the whole Houfe.

His Highneffe being now abfolute of himfelfe, did take up Houfe with a full Addition of high Officers; Sir Thomas Challener Chamberlaine, Sir Charles Cornwallis Treasurer, and Sir John Hollis Comptrouler of his Houfe; making good and ftrict Orders through the fame, both above and below Staires, more like a grave, wife, and ancient Counsellour, furveying, difpofing, and difpatching his.Affaires, then fo young and great a Prince: Now were allotted unto him certaine Lands for his Revenues, which he was fo farre. from diminishing, that he left the fame encreased, by Thousands a Yeare; his Servants did now begin to looke which Way to helpe themfelves, fince his Highneffe was every Day more and more able to give; yet he being very fparing to give any Thing, did onely give Grants unto fome, with Promifes, Hopes and Delayes unto others, because he would not (he said) dif-. pofe of any thing, untill with the Gift he might perpetrate the fame, which could not be, untill either Yeares, or the High Court of Parliament fhould enable him; but this Time as yet not being come, he went on his owne frugall Courses, fuffering almoft nothing to paffe in his Houfe, or other Affaires, which he himfelfe did not oversee.

At laft, bethinking himselfe that Wales and Cornwall, &c. his Principalitie, had a long Time beene without a Prince of their owne, he thought he might the rather fhew his Authority in renewing and avoyding Leases; wherefore having first by a Writ, called Scire facias, avoided and annihilated all their former Rights and Leafes, he brought them unto a generall Submiffion to compound, take and hold new of him; which they were all ready to performe, a little before his Death: Whereupon Surveyors, and Commiffioners were appointed, and dispatched to furvey all his Lands, and to returne a true Certificate of the whole Value; untill which, (being but a little before his Sickneffe and Death) he deferred all manner of Suits, because he would firft be informed truely, what, and how great their Demands

were.

In the 17. and 18. Yeares of his Age he began not onely to be a Man in Stature, but also in Courage and Wifdome, to the Admiration of all, and with the Eyes of his Spirit furveying the mighty Inheritance whereunto he was Heire apparant, he did alfo ftraine to be the better furnished (if ever his Shoulders fhould undergoe fo great a Burthen with Furniture befitting the fame, it being Wisdome, in the Time of Peace, to prepare for the fame, knowing that Peace is the Harbinger of Warre, (chiefly in Ships, counted the brazen Wall of this Ifle) he in the Time of our Security thought thereof:

and

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