VErtue and fortune agreed to title this Prince Great , whom the wonders of his life have styl'd Incomparable . Hee was conceived at la Fleiche , borne at Pau , passed his infancy at Coyrase , in sharp ayres , in the most rustick exercises of the country , that the delicacy of his breeding might not hinder the actions of his courage . At seven yeares old hee was brought to Court , to be educated with those to whom by right and merit hee was to succeed . The tendernesse of his first age was hardned by divers great accidents . At nine years old , the King his father dies , the Queene his mother being absent , his Vncle in disgrace , his friends in distrust , and his servants in exile . At thirteene he leaves the Court , and to obey his mother , the religion wherein hee was bred . At sixteene he is made head of a party , whose hopes being cast downe by the losse of foure battels , relevated themselves under the favour of his armes , and happinesse of his presence . At nineteene he was intangled in a truely funerall wedding , which began with the unexpected death of his mother , and was followed by the losse of his liberty , death and proscription of his . At twenty three he was freed from that captivity , to enter into the ordinary servitude of those who command in civill warres . He was often constrained to make necessity a vertue , and to entertaine his army , even by his army . The dignity of Generall dispenc'd him not from the dangers of a common souldier , untill he had made his party safe by the fift edict of peace . At thirty one the death of the Kings onely brother raised him to the neerest degree of the Crowne . The Flowers de luce turne towards him and salute him , as the Sunne rising of France . All at once this great calm which they enjoyed , changeth into a terrible storme , which poured on him in five yeares ten royall armies . The battell of Coutras the orient of his hopes , manifested that he ought to be fear'd by those who lov'd him not . Yet the prosperity of his affaires bereaved him neither of feeling the publique miseries , nor of griefe to see himselfe constrain'd to vexe his King , to whom heretofore he had offered his person and friends . The Tragedy , whereof he was made the argument , France the theater , and strangers the authors , was fearefully concluded by the death of two Princes , which filled the Kingdome with fire and bloud . The King being surprized at Tours , was so happily relieved by him , that three moneths after he had entred victorious into his capitall City , but for that execrable parricide that ended his life . Then the true French being quite desolate , apprehending for one King divers Tyrants , and acknowledging the just cause of their lawfull King , cast themselves into his armes . He seeing the most powerfull forces of Europe banded against him , the rebels insolent , and the good subjects astonished , makes as many combats as treaties , as many sieges as lodgings . He disgests in his Cabinet incredible griefes and perplexities , and overcomes in the field infinite dangers . Diep receiving him , serves for an example of obedience , Arques declares him invincible . Paris believing him vanquished , was terrified to see him at her gates . Vendosme , le Mans , Lizieux , Evreux , Alencon , Verneuil , Honfleur are carryed away by the torrent of his armes . Meulan owes her safety to his helpe , Ivry elevates his crowne by a renowned victory , Mantes and Vernon open their gates to him , Melun receives chastisement for her temerity , S. Denis is forced to yeeld , which the enemy taking , is there taken and killed . Paris had beene lost , had hee not fear'd to lose it . Corbeil by her losse ruines the enemyes army , and by him being presently re-taken , manifests his diligence . Longeval admires his conduct , Chartres his perseverance , Noyon his courage , Louuiers his vigilancie , Aumale is a witnesse of the bloud which hee spends for the safety of his . Rouen reduced to extremity , sees him meet his enemies to fight with them , Ivetot disorders them , Caudebecq covers their flight , Espargnay advances , and Dreux augments the shame of it . All the forc'd townes publish his power , the rendred his faith , the surpriz'd his goodnesse . Never beaten , Alwayes victorious . His palmes flourish in the Provinces , under the reputation of his armes , and the good fortune of his commands . The same day that his presence gave life to them at Ivry , his power produceth them at Issoire , they stretch forth even to Grenoble , and further draw Aix from out the servitude she sought , and confirme the fidelity of Bourdeaux and Rennes . Under their shadow doe happily succeed the battels at Poncharra , Vignon , Beaumont , and Villenur . All France being filled with the glory of his exploits , confesseth , that what he could or hath not done , is unknowne or impossible to any other . God who conducted him by the hand to the Throne of his Fathers , fortifies his soule by a singular fore-sight , to break the new designes which rendred the divisions of France immortall . Hee addes to his victories that of himselfe . Stretcheth his armes to the truth , acknowledgeth the Church , the sacred monument of his Predecessors are witnesse of the sincerity of this action , and is sacred and crowned Most Christian King , in the most ancient Temple of the Christian world . At that change , the pretext which had filled the wicked with audacity , and the good with feare , vanisht . The Angel guardian of Kings saves him from a damnable and enormous attempt on his person . Meaux , Lions , Orleans , Bourges , acknowledging him , confirme themselves in their first fidelity . He takes Paris , makes her sensible of the effects of his clemency , safety and felicity enter , justice is re-established , and the authority which sedition had taken from her , is restored . Hee permits the forraigne forces to issue , armed to the glory of his generosity , who knowes neither how to feare nor hate his enemies . Rouen frees her selfe from their yoake , Laon is their sepulture , The townes which followed the greatest in their revolt , imitate them in obedience . Troyes , Sens , Agen , Charteauthierry , Poictiers , Peronne , Amyens , Beauvais , Reims , S. Malo , come and offer him the tables of the shipwrack they escaped . Every where he abolisheth the remembrance of his own injuries , sweetens the resentment of the publick , and amongst so many proofes of a royally generous and debonnaire minde , carefully cherished by heaven , Hell raiseth in Paris a monstrous one , who hurting him with an execrable knife , leaves on his royall mouth , the mark of the unhappy designe it had against his life . Hee darts the fire of warre into the Estates of those who were pleased with the embrazement of France . Luxemburg , Artois , Piedmont , Savoy , and Bresse , have tryed what an offended patience can doe , under a great power . Dijon renders her selfe under his obedience , drawes thither all Burgundy , Fontaine-Francoise , constraines the enemies army to sacrifice his pride at the feet of his valor . He enters the Franche-Conte , that hath nothing against him , but the remaines of his trophyes . Rome receives him , changeth her anathemaes into blessings , acknowledgeth him the eldest sonne of the Church ; his heart being the Temple , and his mouth the oracle of truth , hee induceth his greatest enemies to trust to his word . He happily finisheth the civill warres , drownes in the sea of his clemency all things past , Changeth punishments into recompences , Pacifies Provence , Daunts the obstinacy of la Fere , Tholouze who seem'd to have lost the remembrance of her first being , resolves to regaine it , Marseille recovers her liberty by the death of the author of her servitude . Hee convocates an Assembly at Rouen , that he might provide by the advice of many , for the good of all . Spaine knowing by the regaining of Amiens , that impossibilities yeelded to the justice of his armes , askes peace by the mediation of the Common Father of Christians , and to obtaine it , forsakes all the profit of the warre . Brittanny followes the good fortune of his victories . He confirmes the edicts , which assure the rest of his Kingdome , to perfect the Peace . He leades his armes into the Alpes , Montmelliam trembles to see him , Piedmont becomes a Frontiere , Millan is afraid to be so , Italy is astonish't , but hee declares , that hee is armed but to recover his owne , resistance hinders not the prosperity of his conquests , his pure zeale for the publique rest , stops the course of his designes . He returnes triumphant , Marryes the most Illustrious Princesse MARY , whom heaven had declared Queene of Vertues , before she was saluted Queene of France , and the blessing it bestowes at this marriage , serve to crowne the former , and render the Flower de luces eternall . The severity of his justice was not yet known , when the insupportable contempt of his goodnesse incited and constrained him to lose what hee could not amend , punishment to one onely , feare to many , and to all the example . He dissipates the maligne influences prepared to trouble the State , and subverts the intents of those , who having not made warre to get peace , would disturb the peace to renew the warre . His diligence cur'd the ulcers which carelesnesse had rendred incurable . He comes , he sees , he triumphs . Sedan unable to suffer the lightning of this thunder , shall convince the temerity of those who will abide the clap . His glorious name gets so much authority , that his will is receiv'd for a law , and his counsels for infallible precepts . The Conclave respects them , Italy honors them , the Low-Countries submit to them ; And under the happy auspices of this peace , he enjoyes the rest which he hath given to all , with the price of his bloud , and of thirty five yeares of his life He keeps united divided spirits , tempers passions , restores sciences , calls back by edict the exil'd , by decrees repaires the ruines of warre , ends the great and sumptuous designes of his Predecessos , beautifies France with new structures , both usefull and necessary causeth trade and arts to flourish , so that it seemes France was cast downe by the enemies hands , but to elevate it selfe higher by his victories . Alwaies August , fear'd and lov'd . From him sixe royall plints did spring forth , which heaven ordained for the good and glory of his Crowne . [ Three sons , of which the eldest proves himselfe the true Inheritor of his Fathers greatness and vertue : the second his folower to a heavenly inheritance : The third remains his brothers most worthy second . The other three tendrest and sueetest Lillies , have by their beautifull lustre ravished all eyes , and by their vrtuous odor rejoyced the hearts of all the world : The youngest causing a cntinuall Spring in Great Brittany , The eldest a pleasant qualification of the heat of Hesperia , and the Middlemost an agreeable aspect of the rudest rocks in Piedmont . ] Hee manisests his piety , shews his magnificence in his buildings , his povidence in his revenues , his liberality in his pensions , his judgement in his choice of men , his vivacity in his answers , his magnanimity in accidents , his faith towards his allyes , his moderation at all times , his prudence in all things , his justice towards all men . Invincible in labour , Never idle . His royall haire is not growne white but with watching and experience . The Lawrels which crown his head , were gathered in the victorious field of three set battels , of thirty five encounters , of one hundred and forty combats , wherein hee fought with his hand , and in three hundred sieges . And of all these is formed the great renowne , which by the singular providence of God , makes him Protector of the Publick tranquility , Restorer of the State , Ornament of the Church , Arbitrator of Christendome , and the Delight of the world .