Hunting hath ever bene an exercise in request with the greatest Heroes . Chiron trayned Achilles up in it , and Xenophon thought it not unbefitting the compleatest Prince , when he presented it in his Cyrus , whom he proposeth as a patterne of persection . Nay , I have read of some people , who in the election of their Kings did especially require that he were an expert hunter . The ancient Romans , however they did not practice it at home , yet they did not dislike it abroad , and I suppose it was rather want of convenience , then desire to use it , which made them refraine it . It was alwaies accounted an exercise masculine , and military , as being the Schoole , and Theater of warre , and therefore the Magnanimous King CHARLES makes use of it , as a recreation , not an imployment ; free enough from what was imputed to Antiochus by his Countrey Host , That his care of his game made him neglectfull of his government . Plut in Apopth . He makes it but a sweet retire from his more serious affaires , solacing himselfe in the shadow that he may be inured to the shocks of warre : Enodius . Agit vice spectaculi , quod sequenti tempore poterit satis esse virtuti . Though he be the first borne Monarch of the Christian fayth , and Salomon-like desire to possesse his Throne in peace , yet he hath a portion of Davids spirit , and is not afrayd of warres . His goodnesse makes him affect peace , but his wisedome tels him the best meanes to conserue it is a preparation for warre : therefore he sets forth a royall Navy by Sea , therefore he delights in the martiall exercise of hunting by Land . Caesar carryed a Penne in the one hand , and a Sword in the other . The most Invincible CHARLES , hath in the one hand an Olive branch , the Embleme of peace ; in the other a Palme , the Prognosticke of victory : proposing to his enemies the same conditions that Rome did to Carthage , to make their choyse .

The ancient Heathens entitled the same goddesse , Diana , both to hunting , and chastity : in both which , the King hath so deepe a share , that Hippolytus would thinke it an honour to be his second . The comparison being here as apposite as in the first application , to Constantinople in regard of Rome , Suid. Dignius est ab hoc secundum numerari , quàm caeterorum omnium primum . For his eminency in the one vertue , I take the voyce of the publique for a sufficient proofe , and of his excellency in the other I have had no lesse then experience , When at Newmarket , anno 1633 , his Majesty being attended with a glorious traine of Noble Courtiers , a pursued Hare runne for protection to his sacred Person , and freed herselfe from an eminent danger by taking sanctuary under his Horses belly . An accident which howsoever to others but a nine dayes wonder , made a deepe impression in my thoughts , who imagined that little creature might afford some considerations , not mis-beseeming so great a Majesty .

Perhaps she signified the affability , and naturall courtesie of the King , which makes him gracious in the eyes of all his observers : she being of old an Embleme of lovelinesse , and sacred to that goddesse , which it may be , Philostrat . in iron gave occasion to that jest put upon the Emperour Alexander Severus ,

Perhaps she knew the justice of the King , and how much hee tenders the effusion of blood , requiring the punctuall observation of the old Rule ,

Witnesse that memorable accident which befell in Fleet-street , where when the Sergeants had arrested a man for debt , and were carrying him to Prison , some of his freinds or acquaintance , more transported by affection then judgment , attempted to rescue him by violence , and amongst them one Stamphord , a Gentleman of good fame , but bad fortune , sometimes an appendant to the late Duke of Buckingham , being more couragious then discreet , by misfortune killed one of the company ; whereupon he was , according to the usuall forme of justice , first apprehended , then condemned , and lastly executed . Nor could the dearest memory of his deceased Master , or the humble petitions of the noblest Courtiers , and such as were in greatest favour with the King , prevaile any thing for his pardon : howbeit he were a man which both had , and might have done his Countrey better service . But offended justice must be satisfied ; and the cry of blood rung so loud in the Kings eares , that it drowned those of the petitioners . He is armed with constancy against their importunity , and thinkes it not fit to bestow a courtesie which might haply cost the receivers a repentance . God himselfe is oft bountifull in denying our requests ; and the flight of Fabius was accounted for fortitude . Here the King triumphed over the most intestine enemies , his passions , and made it knowne to the world that he hath a soveraignety over himselfe as well as over others : Georg. 2. that his inclination to goodnesse is as sound in substance as spacious in shew , like Virgils Esculus , the roote as deepe as the branches high . A resolution which holds good against the threats of an enemy , doth often yeeld to the entreaties of a friend : No violence to that of love , it is strong as death : Cant. 8. and yet he , who was never inexorable , if the suit were honourable , strongly denied what was earnestly desired , by those whom he most affected : and made the lawes of love give place to those of the Land . His clemency knowes how to pardon an errour , his discretion how to correct a fault , and his justice how to punish a crime : which he sometimes doth for terrour to others , not because of rigour in himselfe . However he be thrifty in dispensing pardons for publique , yet he is sufficiently prodigall of private injuries : and he that will punish murtherers hath oft forgiven traytours : if to breake the Statutes , or deface the pictures of a petty Prince be more then petty treason , he concludes it a crime of a deeper die to deface the Image of the King of Kings : and therefore will not indulge it , lest his mercy to man should make him guilty , and injurious to God . But where the fact immediately concernes himselfe , he can as freely pardon malefactours , as they offend : he hath not grudged to let those children enjoy their hereditary possessions , whose parents attempted to dispossesse him of his Throne , to let the Exchequer loose the commodity rather then he his clemency : thinking it sometimes convenient to purchase that respect by favours , which he might exact by force , that being a more proper act of his goodnesse , this of his power ; and he being resolved by Gods example , to be more rare in the exercise of this , more frequent in that . But I feare in this long excursion I have runne counter . Therefore I returne .

The Hare in her kind is endowed with a quicke hearing : which may well betoken the Kings facility in affording audience to the meanest suiters . Plutarke tels us the Hare was anciently the Hieroglyphicke of attention ; which is a knowne vertue in the King : his hand is ever open to receive requests , and his eare to heare : nought but the unreasonablenesse of the demand needs feare a denyall : his distressed Subjects never despaire of remedy , if he be once acquainted with their malady . The appeale of Machetas hath not beene heard of in his dayes ; against whom when King Philip of Macedon had by inadvertancy passed sentence , he made his appeale , a Philippo , ad Philippum , from Philip winking to Philip waking : his vigilancy stops all such : and that s a quality may afford another parallell .

The Hare is observed to sleepe with her eyes open : whereby the Aegyptians expressed the vigilancy of a Magistrate , Video virgam vigilantem , sayth the Prophet : and the rod with the eye in it is the Embleme of the Scepter . The King never slumbers in the affaires of his people , but watcheth over them that they may sleepe secure ; and buyes their rest by his owne disquiet . Iupiter told Agamemnon in Homer , it was not for a man in office to sleepe all night ; fit counsell both for a god to give , and a King to take : all night he must not sleepe , lest he hazzard the publique , part he must , lest he endanger his private welfare .

La caccia è ombra di guerra , le fiere figure di feroci ●emi●i , il magnanimo Rè Carlo si diletta d'essa , e non può esser tacci●to come un vill●no forestiero piccò il Re Antiocho dicen●ogli Plut in apopth . la diligenza della caccia render lo negligente nel governo del Regno ,

Si serue il Re Carlo della caccia ▪ per solle vamento d●ll● maggiori ocupationi , ricevendo solazzo in qvesta dolce guerra per dover esser poi nell' istesso modo pronto al vero tenzone . Enodius . Agit vice spectaculi , quod seguenti tempore poterit satis esse virtuti .

Ben●he si● Primogenito Monarca della Christiana fede , et a guisa di Salomone desideri stabilire in pace il suo ●rono , non dimeno è anco● herede dello spirito Davidico , nè teme la guerra , la di lui bontà fà ch' ami la pace , la prudenza gli so ministra non esser al●ro pi ù convenevol mudo per conservarla che apprestar la battaglia , quind ' è ●he tiene in ordine un armata navale di sorti e ben forniti vascelli reali che rassembrano mobili et inespugnabili castelli di legno in mare , quind ' è che per terra si da al Martial studio della caccia .

Cesare in una mano haveva la spada , nell altra la penna e l Invitissimo Carlo in una ti●nel' oliva Emblema di pace , nellaltra la palma impresa di vittoria , proponendo al nemico l'●stesse conditioni che Roma già à Carthagine , accio elegga qual di due più gl aggrada .

L'antic●● Gentili dic●iararono Diana Dea della castità e della caci● , delle quali prerogative talm●nte ' è dotato il Rè che Hypolito si terrebbe ad honore appo luihaver' il luogo .

Questo paragone non disdice qui niente meno di quando già f●● fatto nel paralello tra Constantinopoli e Roma , 〈…〉 id . Dignius est ab ho● secundum numerari , quam caeterorum omnium primum . L'universal opinione e voce del popolo è assai buon testimonio per confermar quanto sia ammirabile in questa ●●rtù , l'esperienza fà fede ancor nell' altra avanzar tutti .

Si ritrovava à Neuu Market l' Anno 1633. accompagnato d● molti nobili cortegiani et ●●co un lepre seguito da cani correr all●●●lta di sua sacra Maestà e come ' in franchigia ricoura●s● s●t●● 〈…〉 R●al ●●vallo Cos● per●● to : enuta da gl ●ltri se ben non più di nove giorni come si suole dir per miracolo , niente dimeno ●el mio petto più profondamente s'internò pensando che questo piccolo animalet●o dava occasione d'alcuni concetti non punto sconvenevoli alla Real grandezza .

Forsi accennava la grande benignit à e natural piacevolezza del Re che ne gl'occhi de riguardami non altro stampa che gratia . Il lepre già era tenuto per Emblema d'amorevolezza Philostrat ▪ in i●on . et alla Dea d'amore consecrato onde derivò il motto appropriato al Imperator Alesandro Severo

Forsi gl era nota la giustitia del Rè e quanto schiv● lo spargimen●o del sangue , e vuol puntualmente sia osservato il detto Qui gladio ferit , gladio perit . Dicalo il memorabil fatto nella strada di Fleet-street , dove li sbirri fermando un certo per debiti , mentre lo menav●no in prigione , à caso al●uni suoi amici più tosto dall' amore che dal s●n●o trasporta●i à viva forza contendevano liberar lo e particolarmente un bravo gentil huomo chiamato Stamford non molto tempo fà della famiglia del Duca di Buchingham , assai più p●onto di mano che di prudenza , mentre d'ambe le parti era gran z●ffa , non so come quest' ardito spadacino amazzo ' uno di quella baruffa , ma che ? prevalse la giustitia , f● preso , condotto prigione , poco dopo condennato e con la morte pagò il sio del sangue sparso . La ●resca'e cara memoria del defonto Duca suo signore , le supplichevoli preghiere de più favoriti cortegiani non furono bastanti ad impetrare dal Rè perdon al homicida che con il suo valore haurebbe potuto altresi pugnare pro Patria , mà fù di im●sti●ri che desse sodifattione all' offesa giustitia e nell' orecchie del Rè assai più rimbombò il'grido del s●●gue the le voci de gl' efficaci oratori .

S'armò d●lla prop●ia costanza contro Palirui instanza , nè giudicò ●spediente dispensare ●al favore à chi poi , se ne fusse pentito .

Spesse volte Dio e benigno , mentre volta le spalle alle demande impertinenti , la suga di F 〈…〉 o sù stimat● per gra de fortezza .