But then twise wounded Accident enraged and betweene feare and furie desperate shall strike the triumphant King so cruel a blow with his Sworde of Distemperature that though styll remayning in courage inuicible yet shall he in his health and strength finde him selfe greatly impayred Neuerthelesse drawing the weakenesse of his body vp to the worthynesse of his mynde he shall enforce him selfe styll to mainteyne the fight tyll traytor Debilitie mercilesse like a preuayling cowarde shall while the King contendeth with Accident powre downe vpon him with all his violence so vnreliueable a blow of remedilesse Sicknesse that the neuer-before yeelding Prince shall now seeing such he knoweth to be the diuine pleasure with a quiet yet magnanimous resolution couering him selfe with his Target enrich the earth with the noble burden of his fallyng body and the heauens with his freed soule empouerishing onely the worlde whose griefe for his losse shalbe such as though the greatest pyller thereof being gone it coulde not but attende a speedie ensuing downefal and ruine But herewith as Sommons woulde haue proceeded in his wofull hystorie I feeling my very soule ouerburdened with an insupportable greatnesse of sorow entreated him to spare my alredie enough miserable eares and not to afflict them with hearing of further tragedies but yf euer he would do me pleasure then to shorten the time of my prolonged combat For alas what shoulde I miserable wretch that I am desire to lyue or wherein should life be sweete vnto me seeing the glorious lights of the worlde so soone extinguished no vertue no wysedome no loue no honour no beautie no conquest no nobilitie no goodlinesse no scepter no force no prayer being able to stay the stryking hand of vnmercifull DEATH Whereunto Sommons replying I had thought fayd he to haue reuealed vnto you two future Combats more of two great and Princely aduenturers The one of the most valourous and towardly young Prince of the worlde eldest sonne and successor to this great Englysh King The beames of whose sayre rising Sunne shall no sooner begin to glimmer in our Orizon but they shall warme the whole worlde with his loue The other of his eldest daughter lykewise succeding him in the royall Diademe who wereby Accident both soone depriued of their lyues and dispossessed of their thrones But seeing thee alredie of apprehensiue of forow and afflicted with such extremitie of passion I will forbeare to perplex thy eares with any farther griefe yet woulde not I haue thee to repine at the diuine ordinance For though the Almightie in his secrete iudgement shall thinke good to depriue the worlde of these most excellent Princes yet shal he not leaue it altogeather desconsolate and abandoned For he shal blesse the perished Princes with successors of such worthinesse that lyke true heyres as wel of the Vertues as Crownes of their predecessours they shal afresh brighten the worldes obscured face and with the goodly shyning of their wel deserued glorie returne the estate thereof into the former blisfulnesse But aboue all the rest so shall he ennoble the memorie of the late Englysh Monarch with so excellent and glorious a DAVGHTER that in her alone shalbe seene vnited all the seuerally dispersed Vertues that made so glorious the forenamed Princes in so much that all the worlde with one agreeing consent shal proclayme her to be the most admirable Princesse that euer lyued And which is a thing not of the lightest consideration but perchaunce one of the greatest wonders that euer any age hath seene In her onely shal not Fortune contende with Vertue but contrarie to her nature lyke a submisse and willing Handmayde attende vpon her noble desires constantly effecting them yea sometimes in things most rare and marueylous Likewise there shalbe so sweete a consent so fit a proportion betweene the great richesse of her minde and the fayre ornaments of her body that as the one shal atteine to the height and perfection of fortitude wisedome temperance iustice and all other diuine vertues wherewith a royall minde should be garnished so shall the other in goodly lyneamentes and beautifull features so without all degree of comparison surmount the rest of her sex that the worldes eye shal neuer more beholde a sweeter and more louely obiect as being in deede Delitiae humani Generis singular in her selfe and excellent beyonde al comparison And to make vp the full poynt of her happinesse as she shal both in rules of gouernment and vertue of gouerning serue to all Christian Princes as an excellent Paterne and example preseruing her Subiectes in a quiet estate full of reposefull blessednesse when round about her some through the tyranous exactions of their Prince and some through the vnskilful gouernment of their Prince and some through his negligent and contemptible loosenesse shall murther them selues with mutuall woundes and be torne within them selues to peeces As she I say shall by her princely care and prudent foresight maynteine her Subiectes in this calme securitie of vntroubled peace so shal they againe with so quiet and unmurmuring a course of faythful obedience loue and honour her that she if euer any Prince shalbe blessed in her Subiectes and they yf euer any Subiectes blessed in their Prince But which is strangest comming to the royal Diademe in the fayre youthful spring of her virgins yeeres she shall finde the estate of her Realme diuided in faction differing in religion and through the troubles of the late preceeding gouernement exceedingly discontented All which incōueniences being by the vnfortunate successe of the former gouernment wherein the Sworde was more employed then the Scepter styrred vp and in apparance tending to some feareful and dangerous issue she shal with the sweete breathing gale of her well tempered Mildnesse so pacifie alay and vtterly extinguish that she shal reduce her Subiectes from the deepest degree of constreyned feare to the highest pytch of faythful loue and duetiful obedience that euer Prince was honored withal Neither shall her inuincible armes in iustly vndertaken Warres abrode be lesse glorious vnto her then this her admirable Peace and iustice in ciuill gouernment at home Neyther shall be most warlike nations of Europe onely as Spayne Portugall France Scotlande and Irelande but euen the remotest regions and concealed partes of either Tropique the frozen Poles and the middle burning Zone be constreyned to bow vnto the victorious Englishe Enseignes nothing being more rife in the mouthes of men yea as well of the farthest Indians and sauage people as of the proude neighbouring nations then the name of great ELIZABETH written in the blood of those that resist and the pardoned lyues of those that yeelde of all victories the fayrest register and best enduring monument To recount vnto you the seuerall egregious victories that shee shall giue both by sea and land to the most fierce and warlike nations that then shall possesse the world were fitter for the large relation of a Chronicle then this my short
consisteth in fruitfully reading the sacred volume of the holy Scriptures the precious workes of those godly Doctors Fathers whose blessed pennes haue diuinely prescribed vnto vs the way of perfect repentance and vertuous perfection teaching vs nothing but that which still we ought to contemplate with the eyes of our mynde that is to lyue and die well For there is not any thing vnder heauen so happelesse heauie and miserable as for a soule sleeping carelesly in sinne to approch the dolorous passage of Death Of this desirable place I speake off the walles were all round about trimmed with Delight The Portal at which you entred figured foorth nothing but Pleasure The Dytches were secure deepe and well trenched curiously wrought in great conformitie by Good exercise The Chappel was of Zeale the Windowes of Charitable Loue the Gate wherein was the entrance and going foorth of Heedefulnesse and the Bridge of Industrious Trauaile The Vanes and Streamers of the house were of Pleasure which glystering aloft shewed all the passers by that there was the schoole and practise of Vertue and Learning No Idlenesse dared to approch this blessed Mansion for Diligence was the Porter Onely Emulation is suffered to enter who there serueth as a spurre to Vertuous operation In fine the time there bestowed is in the onely learning and exercise of that heauenly philosophie whereto whosoeuer arriueth may well be accounted happie and blessed That I was desirous to enter into this blisfull place no man needeth to doubt but in the end seeing the gates did not of themselues open vnto me I was bould to goe vnto the porter with earnest entreatie that I might by his fauour meanes be suffered to enter To which he answered this house said he which is the very Perfection of studie and enemy of ignorance is not to be dallied withall or to be entred with sportfulnesse and scorne For within it is enclosed the Treasure of life and the Riches of the Worldes wisedome it is kept and gouerned by a beautifull Princesse whom it hath pleased the highest to blesse with a Happy euer-during youth shee neuer changeth estate liuing free from deaths subiection her proper name is Memorie of all the worlde highly honored and esteemed From her are deriued all the chiefe pleasures wherewith Olde age is honored whom through wisedome and experience shee ennobleth with regard and worship Where shee is enterteined shee neuer breedeth weerinesse making him blessed with whom shee pleaseth to harbour Some there are whom shee flieth though they labour neuer so earnestly to be acquainted with her for in her operations is so great strange a secret of nature that neither Socrates nor Plato noral the deepe pearcing wits of the passed Philosophers haue bin able to define whence or how this corruptible body of ours is beautified with so pure and excellent an ornament as this of Memorie But for my part I do verily beleeue without any doubt or question that this being so singular a good procedeth onely from the miraculous working of God and not from any setled habite or ingrafted guift of nature for as the soule hath by God her habitation domicile appointed her in the body so hath Memorie hers in the soule it selfe whence she springeth vsing her qualities and operations And seeing the soule is an inuisible peculiar frame and workmanship of God as a sparke of his diuinitie It foloweth then also that my Ladie and Mistresse must needes be a seuered work of God alone without hauing any relation to Nature 〈…〉 Her excellence nobilitie and byrth considered and withall the notable comforts and sweete sauouring vertues that she in her selfe conteyneth she hath euer bin of all wise men honored in high degree as one of the chiefest beauties and ornaments of lyfe Since I first came acquainted with her seruice I haue bin in stead of her seruant as it were her gardian My name is Diligence and I continually accompanie her in respect of the vehement loue I beare vnto vertuous studie whose true perfection without her helpe is not to be obteyned The onely way to see her perfectly is through Vertuous industrie first by exercising our mindes to learne and know and then fastly to reteine that which we haue once learned and knowen But because I see you are arriued to this vncomfortable soyle of Olde Age taking compassion of your weakened forces I will accomplish your desire hoping somewhat therewith to refresh and comfort the languishing of your spirites Whereupon being by this industrious Porter brought to the presence of Memorie I was of her saluted with a most pleasing and gentle behauiour Her attire was sumptuous and rich embrodered in meruailous art by Cogitation rounde about strangely presenting vnto my view a large course and historie of Time both past and present And withall the more to subtilize my remembrance she made me smell to a Garlande of Knowledge which she ware whose excellent and delicious odour did so refresh the vigour of my senses that me thought I was not halfe so earthly as before After some few conferences I requested her to fauour me with the sight of her librarie which I imagined could not be but rare magnificent But she briefly answered me that whosoeuer determined to studie there may not vse any other bookes or lessons then such as Remembrance yeeldeth him for it were labour lost and meere vanitie for old men to begin first then to studie Their exercise ought rather to be in well keeping and reteyning that which before time they had seene and learned and therewith in shewing the fruites of their wysedome to recreate them selues and to counsell others But now tell me sayd she what is the thing that you do demaunde of me you shall finde me redy to yeelde you satisfaction Being comforted with her courteous and gentle language I did without delay acquaint her with the circumstances of my aduenturous enquest telling her how that my thought-fulnesse had instantly mooued me to visite the forest of Atropos which voyage I had now resolued and withall to enter in single combat with eyther of the two famous Champions Debilitie or Accident to whose garde the place is committed beseeching her earnestly to tell me if she had heard read or founde in any ancient bookes writinges or recordes hidden figures or long remembrance of times that any of these Champions had bin put to the foyle by any of those worthy men that at sundry ages haue liued so puissant and conquering in their times For yf any one had at any time or in any age vanquished them I woulde not doubt but by Gods assistance to goe as farre as he that had gon farthest But in fine howsoeuer the matter shoulde goe I tolde her that I was resolued to winne eyther glorie with my sworde or with my body death Memorie hauing with attention heard my speaches I will not sayd she smilingly enterteine you with long discourses but geuing
from sorow But returning to my discourse at the ende of the combat when I had seene the death of these three my so dearly honored soueraignes my eyes being drowned with teares and my soule with sorow vnwilling to ouer-liue so great a desastre I pulled downe my beuer and dreadlesse and carelesse what might happen nor looking nor fearing who came against me I rushed into the listes defying my aduersaries to come both or one or how they listed or dared Memorie seeing me thus altred feared least I had bin troubled with some passion of Despaire and therefore willed me to recommende my selfe vnto God which I did and constantly attended the comming of my aduersaries But by and by came vnto me a felow like a Heralde of litle stature with a blazon of prolongation his name was Sommons Great Atropos saith he that heere gouerneth hath commaunded me to tell thee that thy houre is not yet come and therefore willeth thee to stay till thou be called which shall not be long first In the meane time rest contented for there are now many other combats to be determined of greater worth and among the rest especially of fiue famous aduenturers whose names and particularities I desiring him to recount vnto me though sayd he some of these be things to come and the secretes of the destinies are not to be reuealed yet for this once I will satisfie thy request Know then that these fiue dismall conflictes I speake off heere to be tryed are such that the onely thinking of them breedeth an astonishing terrour both to Atropos and her Champions who hearing of the victorious conquestes that are and shalbe by these excellent aduenturers atchiued are fore-possessed with an incredible feare and amazement I will therefore tell thee first what each of the aduenturers is and then how prepared and armed they will come to this the last combat that euer they shall make And do not thinke that I do fable with thee in telling thee of things to come for I doe certeinly assure thee that the euent shalbe as I doe tell thee for Atropos is well acquainted with the Destinies who haue discouered the whole vnto her But because it greeueth me exceedingly to see thee so sorowful and sad I would yeeld willingly some comfort to thy perplexed minde And this assure thy selfe the heauens doe neuer denie consolation to the comfortlesse and distressed As for the three ended princes whose vntimely deaths haue brought thee to such excessiue and immoderate sorow and these other with the particularitie of whose combats I haue promised to acquaint thee they shall leaue behind them such and so noble a succession that their losse shalbe to the whole worlde restored But especially the great English Monarch who among the rest of his royal issue shal leaue one so excellent a daughter so highly of the heauens blessed that besides the glorifying of the frozen poles and the fiery equinoctials with the trophes of her inuincible armes such shalbe the worldes wonder and admiration of her vertue that the greatest kings princes and estates of the worlde shall thinke it the greatest happinesse that may befall them to be shrowded vnder the faire spreading wings of her Imperious gouernment some of them falling downe at her sacred feete and flying into her realme for refuge as to an vnblemished Azyle and inuiolable sanctuarie But now to enterteine thee no longer with circumstances know that the first which in these listes is by Atropos so fearefully expected is the great and mighty princes Dōna Isabella Queene and enheritrix of Castile Her am I ere long time ouerpasse to sommon to the aduenture of this passage to which as euery mortall creature is subiect so shall shee not be disobedient but presently come into the field armed and accompanied as followeth Shee shalbe mounted vppon a triumphall Chariot accompanied with innumerable vertues contending betweene them selues which of them shoulde haue the chiefe possession and presidence within the royall harbour of her thoughts They shall attende on eache side of her Chariot singing in her honour immortall prayses Fayth and pure Zeale shalbe her Chariots guyde Foure Horses exceeding the snow in whitenesse therein denoting her puritie shall draw the same their names Wisedome Religion Hope and Charitie all being blessings and especiall graces of the highest her armour shalbe of Magnanimitie her Helmet of good Counsayle assisting her in gouernment The Sworde she shalbe gyrt withall shalbe of an accustomed vertue of hers called Natural Pitie the which she shall employ put in vre against Crueltie Her Speare shalbe of good Desart steeled with a head of hating Errour all her workes and cogitations being thereunto incessantly bent and directed her Shielde of Honestie and her Coat-armour of Aucthoritie before which vayne Pleasure and worldly Vanitie neuer dare appeare Vpon her arriuall her King at armes called Gouernment shall proclayme all the particularities of her estate name condition and cause of coming Presently will weerilesse Accident come foorth armed with a new and fryghtfull Harnesse of Amazement his Shielde of Dispayre therewith to bereaue the defendant of all hope to escape his Dart of Crueliie his battle Axe of Impossibilitie whose blow no soundnesse of health nor vigorousnesse of force shalbe able to withstande his Sworde shalbe of Passion his Dagger of Sorow And thus furnished shall he begin the combat halfe dismayed at the vertue fame and estate of so great an enemie onely encouraged by the perswasion of Furie that still incenseth him forwarde The gentle Princesse seeing him come shall presently dismount off her Chariot and with a well resolued constancie attende him opposing against his fiercenesse her Speare of good Desart But inexorable Accident no whit at all thereof esteeming shall in such sort vexe and pursue this noble Ladie that notwithstanding all the defence of her infinite vertues he shall in the ende depriue her of lyfe and the worlde of his chiefe ornament So that heere shall be seene the ende of the mightie and puissant Queene the very thought whereof forepossesseth my minde with griefe But so firme and vnuanquished shall her vertue be that it shall perpetually retayne her name and memorie in lyfe in despite of Atropos that gaue her death Fame and Glorie shall geue her Sepulture and though her body be by death vanquished yet with a farre more worthy conquest shall her ioyfull freed soule by the grace of Gods goodnesse winne eternall rest in the heauens At the ende of this wofull conflict shall a noble and heroyicall aduenturer present him selfe in the lystes by name great Philip heyre to Austria Burgundie to which by mariage with Donna Iohanna daughter to Ferdinande and the late remembred Q. Isabelle he shall adioyne the riche and mightie kingdome of Spayne Sicily Arragon and Naples Accident vnderstanding the arriuall of this matchlesse Prince shall presently mount vpon a fresh Courser called Outrage his Armour shalbe of cruell Chaunce of a