The Gift of _Kingdomes_, _Children_, and _good-Wives_, Are three of God’s most choice _Prerogatives_, In temp’rall Blessings; and, of all these three, The gifts of _Kingdomes_, his rar’st Favours bee: For, in five hundred Millions, there’s not one, Whom this high _Honour_ is conferr’d upon; Nor is there any knowne _Estate_ on earth, (Whereto wee come, by _Merit_, or by _Birth_) Which can, to any man assurance bring, That, hee shall either _live_, or _die_ a _King_. The _Morning-Starre_, that’s Heire unto a _Crowne_, Oft sets, before the _shining-Sunne_ is downe; And, some, that once a glorious _Empire_ swayd, Did lose their _Kingdomes_, e’re their heads were layd. The greatest earthly _Monarch_ hath no powre, To keepe his Throne one minute of an houre, (Vse all the meanes, and policies hee can) If God will give it to another man. _Hee_, when _Belshazzar_ was in high’st estate, His _Kingdome_ to the _Persians_ did translate. King _Saul_, and _Rehoboam_, could not stay The _Royalties_, which God would give away; And, _Hee_ that was the proudest of the rest, God, changed from a _King_, into a Beast. Nor is there any man so meane, but hee, When God shall please, an _Emperour_ may bee. Some, from the _Pot-kilne_, from the _Sheep-cote_, some, Hee raised hath, great _Princes_ to become: Yea, hee o’re heav’n and earth, hath rear’d his _Throne_, That was on earth, the most _despised-one_. _Her favours, =Fortune=, oft imparts, To those that are of no deserts._ [Illustration: INDIGNUM FORTUNA FOVET. ILLVSTR. XVI. _Book. 4_]