gone and now though much beneath His Coronet is next th' Imperiall Wreath No richer signe his flowry Garland drown's Which shines alone aboue the lesser Crownes This thou inioyd'st as sicke men tedious houres And thought'st of brighter Pearles and fairer flowres And higher Crownes which heau'n for thee reserues When this thy worldly pompe decayes and starues This sacred seruour in thy mind did glow And though supprest with outward state and show Yet at thy death those hind'ring clouds it clear'd And like the lost Sunne to the world appear'd Euen as a strong fire vnder ashes turn'd Which with more force long secretly hath burn'd Breakes forth to be the obiect of our sight Aimes at the Orbe and ioynes his flame with light Vpon his Noble Friend Sir William Skipwith TO frame a man who in those gifts excels Which makes the Country happy where hee dwels We first conceiue what names his Line adorne It kindles vertue to be nobly borne This picture of true Gentry must be grac'd With glitt'ring Iewels round about him plac'd A comely body and a beauteous mind A heart to loue a hand to giue inclin'd A house as free and open as the Ayre A tongue which ioyes in Language sweet and faire Yet can when need requires with courage bold To publike eares his neighbours griefes vnfold All these we neuer more shall find in one And yet all these are clos'd within this stone An Epitaph vpon my deare Brother Francis Beaumont ON Death thy Murd'rer this reuenge I take I slight his terror and iust question make Which of vs two the best precedence haue Mine to this wretched world thine to the graue Thou shouldst haue followd me but death too blame Miscounted yeeres and measur'd age by Fame So dearely hast thou bought thy precious lines Their praise grew swiftly so thy life declines Thy Muse the hearers Queene the Readers loue All eares all hearts but Deaths could please and moue Of my deare Sonne Geruase Beaumont CAn I who haue for others oft compil'd The Songs of Death forget my sweetest child VVhich like a flow'r crusht with a blast is dead And ere full time hangs downe his smiling head Expecting with cleare hope to liue anew Among the Angels fed with heau'nly dew We haue this signe of Ioy that many dayes While on the earth his struggling spirit stayes The name of Iesus in his mouth containes His onely food his sleepe his ease from paines O may that sound be rooted in my mind Of which in him such strong effect I find Deare Lord receiue my Sonne whose winning loue To me was like a friendship farre aboue The course of nature or his tender age Whose lookes could all my bitter griefes asswage Let his pure soule ordain'd seu'n yeeres to be In that fraile body which was part of me Remaine my pledge in heau'n as sent to shew How to this Port at eu'ry step I goe Teares for the death of the truly Honourable the Lord Chandos LEt him whose lines a priuate losse deplore Call them to weepe that neuer wept before My griefe is more audacious giue me one Who eu'ry day hath heard a dying grone The subiect of my verses may suffice To draw new teares from dry and weary eyes We dare not loue a man nor pleasure take In others worth for noble Chandos sake And when we seeke the best with reasons light We feare to wish him longer in our sight Time had increast his vertue and our woe For sorrow gathers weight by comming slow Should him the God of life to life restore Againe we lose him and lament the more If Mortals could a thousand liues renew They were but shades of death which must insue Our gracious God hath fitter bounds assign'd And earthly paines to one short life confin'd Yet when his hand hath quench'd the vitall flame It leaues some cinders of immortall fame At these we blow and like Prometheus striue By such weake sparkes to make dead clay aliue Breath flyes to ayre the body falls to ground And nothing dwels with vs but mournfull sound O might his honor'd Name liue in my Song Reflected as with Ecchoes shrill and strong But when my lines of glorious obiects treate They should rise high because the worke is great No Quill can paint this Lord vnlesse it haue Some tincture from his actions free and braue Yet from this height I must descend againe And like the calme Sea lay my Verses plaine When I describe the smoothnesse of his mind Where reasons chaines rebellious passions bind My Poem must in harmony excell His sweet behauiour and discourse to tell It should be deepe and full of many Arts To teach his wisdome and his happy parts But since I want these graces and despaire To make my Picture like the patterne faire These hasty strokes vnperfect draughts shall stand Expecting life from some more skilfull hand Vpon the vntimely death of the Honourable hopâ—full young Gentleman Edward Stafford Sonne and Heire to the Lord Stafford DEad is the hope of Stafford in whose line So many Dukes and Earles and Barons shine And from this Edwards death his kinred drawes More griefe then mighty Edwards fall could cause For to this House his vertue promist more Then all those great Ones that had gone before No lofty titles can securely frame The happinesse and glory of a Name Bright honours at the point of Noone decay And feele a sad declining like the day But he that from the race of Kings is borne And can their mem'ries with his worth adorne Is farre more blest then those of whom he springs He from aboue the soule of goodnesse brings T' inspire the body of his Noble birth This makes it moue before but liuelesse earth Of such I write who show'd he would haue been Complete in action but we lost him greene We onely saw him crown'd with flowres of hope O that the fruits had giu'n me larger scope And yet the bloomes which on his Herse we strow Surpasse the Cherries and the Grapes that grow In others Gardens Here fresh Roses lie Whose ruddy blushes modest thoughts descry In Flowre-de-luces dide with azure hue His constant loue to heau'nly things we view The spotlesse Lillies shew his pure intent The flaming Marigold his zeale present The purple Violets his Noble minde Degen'rate neuer from his Princely kind And last of all the Hyacinths we throw In which are writ the letters of our woe To the Memory of the Learned and Religious Ferdinando Pulton Esquire AS at a ioyfull Marriage or the birth Of some long wished child or when the earth Yeelds plenteous fruit and makes the Ploughman sing Such is the sound and subiect of my string Ripe age full vertue need no fun'rall Song Here mournefull tunes would Grace Nature wrong VVhy should vaine sorrow follow him with teares VVho shakes off burdens of declining yeeres VVhose thread exceeds the vsuall bounds of life And feeles no stroke of any fatall knife The Destinies enioyne their
brests Not Oratours so much with flowing words Can sway the hearts of men and whet their swords Or blunt them at their pleasure as our straines Whose larger Spheare the Orbe of prose containes Can mens affections lessen or increase And guide their passions whisp'ring warre or peace Tyrtaeus by the vigour of his verse Made Sparta conquer while his lines reherse Her former glory almost then subdude By stronger foes and when the people rude Contend among themselues with mutuall wrongs He tempers discord with his milder songs This poore lame Poet hath an equall praise With Captaines and with States men of his dayes The Muses claime possession in those men Who first aduentur'd with a nimble pen To paint their thoughts in new inuented signes And spoke of Natures workes in numbred lines This happy Art compar'd with plainer wayes Was sooner borne and not so soone decayes She safer stands from times deuouring wrong As better season'd to continue long But as the streames of time still forward flow So Wits more idle and distrustfull grow They yeeld this Fort and cowardly pretend Prose is a castle easier to defend Nor was this change effected in a day But with degrees â—nd by a stealing way They pull the Muses feathers one by one And are not seene till both the wings be gone If man inioying such a precious Mine Esteem'd his nature almost made Diuine When he beheld th' expression of his thought To such a height and Godlike glory brought This change may well his fading ioy confound To see it naked creeping on the ground Yet in the lands that honour'd learnings name Were alwayes some that kept the vestall flame Of pow'rfull Verse on whose increase or end The periods of the soules chiefe raigne depend Now in this Realme I see the golden age Returne to vs whose comming shall asswage Distracting strife and many hearts inspire To gather fewell for this sacred fire On which if you great Prince your eyes will cast And like Fauonius giue a gentle blast The liuely flame shall neuer yeeld to death But gaine immortall spirit by your breath To the Prince IF eu'ry man a little world we name You are a World most like the greatest frame Your loue of Learning spreads your glory farre Lifts you to heau'n and makes you there a Starre In actiue sports and formes of martiall deeds Like Fire and Ayre your nimble courage breeds A rare amazement and a sweet delight To Brittaines who behold so deare a sight Though higher Orbes such glorious signes containe Doe not braue Prince this lower Globe disdaine In pure and fruitfull water we may see Your minde from darkenesse cleare in bounty free And in the steddy resting of the ground Your noble firmenesse to your friend is found For you are still the same and where you loue No absence can your constant mind remoue So goodnesse spreads it selfe with endlesse lines And so the Light in distant places shines He that aduentures of your worth to sing Attempts in vaine to paint a boundlesse thing An Epithalamium vpon the happy marriage of our Soueraigne Lord King Charles and our gracious Lady Queene MARY THe Ocean long contended but in vaine To part our shore from France Let Neptune shake his mace swelling waues aduance The former Vnion now returnes againe This Isle shall once more kisse the Maine Ioyn'd with a flowry bridge of loue on which the Graces dance Leander here no dang'rous iourney takes To touch his Heros hand Our Hellespont with Ships becomes as firme as Land When this sweete Nymph her place of birth forsakes And England signes of welcome makes As many as our gladsome coasts haue little graines of sand That voyce in which the Continent was blest Now to this Iland calls The liuing Woods and Rocks to frame new rising Walls The moouing Hills salute this happy guest The Riuers to her seruice prest Seine into Thames Garonne to Trent and Loire to Seuerne falls This Royall Payre the Bridegroome and the Bride With equall glory shine Both full of sparkling light both sprung from race diuine Their Princely Fathers Europs highest pride The Westerne World did sweetly guide To theÌ„ as Fathers of their Realmes we goldeÌ„ Crownes assigne Great Henry neuer vanquisht in the field Rebellious foes could tame The Wisdome of our James bred terror in his Name So that his proudest Aduersaries yeeld Glad to be guarded with his shield Where Peace with drops of heau'nly dew supprest Dissention flame Our Charles and Mary now their course prepare Like those two greater Lights Which God in midst of Heau'n exalted to our sights To guide our footsteps with perpetuall care Times happy changes to declare The one affoords vs healthfull daies the other quiet nights See how the Planets and each lesser fire Along the Zodiake glide And in this stately traine their offices diuide No Starre remaines exempted from this Quire But all are ioyn'd in one desire To moue as these their wheeles shall turne and rest where thâ—â— abiâ—â— What can these shouts and glit'tring showes portend But neuer fading ioyes The Lords in rich attire the people with their noyse Expresse to what a height their hopes ascend Which like a Circle haue no end Their strength no furious tempests shake nor creeping age destroyeâ— On this foundation we expect to build The Towres of earthly blisse Mirth shall attend on Health and Peace shall plenty kisse The Trees with fruite with Flowres our Gardens fill'd Sweete honey from the leaues distill'd For now Astraeas raigne appeares to be a Tipe of this O may our Children with their rauish't eyes A race of Sonnes behold Whose birth shal change our Ir'n to Siluer Brasse to Gold Proceede white houres that from this stocke may rise Victorious Kings whom Fame shall prize More dearely then all other names within her Booke enroll'd At the end of his Maiesties first yeere Sonnet first YOur Royall Father Iames the Good and Great Proclaim'd in March wheÌ„ first we felt the Spring A World of blisse did to our Iland bring And at his Death he made his yeeres compleate Although three dayes he longer held his seate Then from that houre when he reioyc'd to sing Great Brittaine torne before enioyes a King Who can the periods of the Starres repeate The Sunne who in his annuall circle takes A dayes full quadrant from th' ensuing yeere Repayes it in foure yeeres and equall makes The number of the dayes within his Spheare Iames was our earthly Sunne who call'd to Heau'n Leaues you his Heire to make all fractions eu'n Sonnet second ABout the time when dayes are longer made When nights are warmer the aire more cleare When verdant leaues and fragrant flowers appeare Whose beauty winter had constrained to fade About the time when Gabriels words perswade The blessed Virgin to incline her care And to conceyue that Sonne whom she shall beare Whose death and rising driue away the shade About this time so oft so highly blest By precious gifts
in the seas Then Richard with these newes himselfe doth pleâ—â— He now diuerts his course another way And with his Army led in faire array Ascends the rising ground and taking view Of Henries souldiers sees they are but few Imperiall courage fires his noble brest He sets a threatning speare within his rest Thus saying All true Knights on me attend I soone will bring this quarrell to an end If none will follow if all faith be gone Behold I goe to try my cause alone He strikes his spurres into his horses side VVith him stout Louell and bold Ferrers ride To them braue Ratcliffe gen'rous Clifton haste Old Brakenbury scornes to be the last As borne with wings all worthy spirits flye Resolu'd for safety of their Prince to dye And Catesby to this number addes his name Though pale with feare yet ouercomne with shame Their boldnesse Richmond dreads not but admires He sees their motion like to rolling fires VVhich by the winde along the fields are borne Amidst the trees the hedges and the corne VVhere they the hopes of husbandmen consume And fill the troubled Ayre with dusky fume Now as a carefull Lord of neighb'ring grounds He keepes the flame from entring in his bounds Each man is warn'd to hold his station sure Prepar'd with courage strong assaults t' endure But all in vaine no force no warlike Art From sudden breaking can preserue that part VVhere Richard like a dart from thunder falles His foes giue way and stand as brazen walles On either side of his inforced path VVhile he neglects them and reserues his wrath For him whose death these threatning clouds would cleare WhoÌ„ now with gladnes he beholdeth neere And all those faculties together brings VVhich moue the soule to high and noble things Eu'n so a Tyger hauing follow'd long The Hunters steps that robb'd her of her young VVhen first she sees him is by rage inclin'd Her steps to double and her teeth to grind Now horse to horse and man is ioyn'd to man So strictly that the souldiers hardly can Their aduersaries from their fellowes know Here each braue Champion singles out his foe In this confusion Brakenbury meetes VVith Hungerford and him thus foulely greetes Ah traytor false in breach of faith and loue What discontent could thee and Bourchier moue Who had so long my fellowes been in Armes To flie to Rebels What seducing charmes Could on your clouded minds such darknesse bring To serue an Out-law and neglect the King VVith these sharpe speeches Hungerford enrag'd T'vphold his honour thus the battaile wag'd Thy doting age saith he delights in words But this aspersion must be try'd by swords Then leauing talke he by his weapon speakes And driues a blow which Brakenbury breakes By lifting vp his left hand else the steele Had pierc'd his burgonet and made him feele The pangs of death but now the fury fell Vpon the hand that did the stroke repell And cuts so large a portion of the shield That it no more can safe protection yeeld Bold Hungerford disdaines his vse to make Of this aduantage but doth straight forsake His massy Target render'd to his Squire And saith Let cowards such defence desire This done these valiant Knights dispose their blades And still the one the others face inuades â—â—ll Brakenburies helmet giuing way â—o those fierce strokes that Hungerford doth lay â—â—brus'd and gapes which Bourchier fighting neare Perceiues and cries Braue Hungerford forbeare Bring not those siluer haires to timelesse end He was and may be once againe our friend But oh too late the fatall blow was sent From Hungerford which he may now repent But not recall and digges a mortall wound In Brakenburies head which should be crown'd VVith precious Metals and with Bayes adorn'd For constant truth appearing when he scorn'd To staine his hand in those young Princes blood And like a rocke amidst the Ocean stood Against the Tyrants charmes and threats vnmou'd Though death declares how much he Richard lou'd Stout Ferrers aimes to fixe his mighty Launce In Pembrokes heart which on the steele doth glaunce And runnes in vaine the empty ayre to presse But Pembrokes speare obtaining wisht successe Through Ferrers brest-plate and his body sinkes And vitall blood from inward vessels drinkes Here Stanley and braue Louel trie their strength VVhose equall courage drawes the strife to length They thinke not how they may themselues defenâ— To strike is all their care to kill their end So meete two Bulls vpon adioyning hills Of rocky Charnwood while their murmur fills The hollow crags when striuing for their bounds They wash their piercing hornes in mutuall wounâ— If in the midst of such a bloody fight The name of friendship be not thought too light Recount my Muse how Byrons faithfull loue To dying Clifton did it selfe approue For Clifton fighting brauely in the troope Receiues a wound and now begins to droope Which Byron seeing though in armes his foe In heart his friend and hoping that the blow Had not been mortall guards him with his shield From second hurts and cries Deare Clifton yeeld Thou hither cam'st led by sinister fate Against my first aduice yet now though late Take this my counsell Clifton thus replied It is too late for I must now prouide To seeke another life liue thou sweet friend And when thy side obtaines a happy end Vpon the fortunes of my children looke Remember what a solemne oath we tooke That he whose part should proue the best in fight Would with the Conqu'rour trie his vtmost might To saue the others lands from rau'nous pawes Which seaze on fragments of a lucklesse cause My fathers fall our house had almost drown'd But I by chance aboord in shipwracke found May neuer more such danger threaten mine â—eale thou for them as I would doe for thine This said his senses faile and pow'rs decay While Byron calles Stay worthy Clifton stay And heare my faithfull promise once againe Which if I breake may all my deeds be vaine But now he knowes that vitall breath is fled And needlesse words are vtter'd to the dead Into the midst of Richards strength he flies Presenting glorious acts to Henries eyes And for his seruice he expects no more Then Cliftons sonne from forfeits to restore While Richard bearing downe with eager mind The steps by which his passage was confin'd Laies hands on Henries Standard as his prey Strong Brandon bore it whom this fatall day Markes with a blacke note as the onely Knight That on the conqu'ring part forsakes the light But Time whose wheeles with various motion runne Repayes this seruice fully to his sonne Who marries Richmonds daughter borne betweene Two Royall Parents and endowed a Queene When now the King perceiues that Brandon striues To saue his charge he sends a blow that riues His skull in twaine and by a gaping hole Giues ample scope to his departing soule And thus insults Accursed wretch farewell Thine Ensignes now may be display'd in hell There thou shalt know
rapine should his courses guide Though all the world conspire to doe him grace Yet he is little and extremely base If in his heart these vices take their seate No pow'r can make the slaue of passions great Vpon my Lord of Buckinghams Armes BEhold the Ensignes of a Christian Knight VVhose Field is like his minde of siluer bright His bloudy Crosse supports fiue golden Shels A precious Pearle in euery Scallop dwels Fiue Vertues grace the middle and the bounds VVhich take their light froÌ„ Christs victorious wounds Vpon the Top commanding Prudence shines Repressing Temp'rance to the foote declines Braue Fortitude and Iustice are the hands And Charity as in the Center stands VVhich binding all the ends with strong effect To euery Vertue holds the same respect May he that beares this Shield at last obtaine The azure Circle of celestiall raigne And hauing past the course of sliding houres Enioy a Crowne of neuer-fading Flow'rs Vpon my Lord of Buckinghams Shield at a Tilting his Impresse being a Bird of Paradise SEe how this Bird erects his constant flight Aboue the Cloudes aspiring to the light As in a quiet Paradise he dwels In that pure Region where no winde rebels And fearing not the thunder hath attain'd The Palace where the Demigods remaind This Bird belongs to you thrice glorious King From you the beauties of his Feathers spring No vaine ambition lifts him vp so high But rais'd by force of your attractiue Eye He feedes vpon your Beames and takes delight Not in his owne Ascent but in your sight Let them whose motion to the Earth declines Describe your Circle by their baser lines And enuy at the brightnesse of your seate He cannot liue diuided from your heate To the Duke of Buckingham at his returne from Spaine MY Lord that you so welcome are to all You haue deseru'd it neuer could there fall A fitter way to prooue you highly lou'd Then when your selfe you from our sights remou'd The clouded lookes of Brittaine sad appeare VVith doubtfull care ah who can bridle feare For their inestimable gemme perplext The good and gracefull Buckingham is next In their desires they to remembrance bring How oft by mediation with the King You mitigate the rigour of the lawes And pleade the orphans and the widowes cause My Muse which tooke from you her life and light Sate like a weary wretch whome suddaine night Had ouerspred your absence casting downe The flow'rs and Sirens feathers from her crowne Your fauour first th' anointed head inclines To heare my rurall songs and reade my lines Your voyce my reede with lofty musick reares To offer trembling songs to Princely eares But since my Sou'raigne leaues in great affaires His trusty seruant to his Subiects pray'rs I willing spare for such a Noble end My Patron and too bold I speake my friend To the Duke of Buckingham THe words of Princes iustly we conceiue As Oracles inspir'd by pow'r diuine Which make the vertues of their seruants shine And monuments to future ages leaue The sweet consent of many tongues can weaue Such knots of Honour in a flowry line That no iniurious hands can them vntwine Nor enuious blasts of beauty can bereaue These are your helpes my Lord by these two wings You lifted are aboue the force of spite For while the publike Quire your glory sings The 〈…〉 rules them keepes the Musicke right Yoâ—â—â—â—ppy name with noble prayse to greet Gods double Voyce the King and Kingdome meet To my gracious Lord the Duke of Buckingham vpon the birth of his first Sonne GIue leaue my Lord to his abounding heart Whose faithfull zeale presumes to beare a part In eu'ry blessing which vpon you shines And to your glory consecrates his lines VVhich rising from a plaine and countrey Muse Must all my boldnesse with her name excuse Shall Burley onely triumph in this Child VVhich by his birth is truly Happy stil'd Nay we will striue that Eccho with her notes May draw some ioy into our homely Cotes VVhile I to solitary bils retire VVhere quiet thoughts my Songs with truth inspire And teach me to foretell the hopes that flow From this young Lord as he in yeeres shall grow First we behold and neede not to presage VVhat pleasing comfort in this tender age He giues his Parents sweetning eu'ry day VVith deare contentments of his harmelesse play They in this glasse their seu'rall beauties place And owne themselues in his delightfull face But when this flowry bud shall first beginne To spread his leaues which were conceal'd within And casting off the dew of childish teares More glorious then the Rose at noone appeares His minde extends it selfe to larger bounds Instinct of gen'rous Nature oft propounds Great Duke your actiue graces to his sight As obiects full of wonder and delight These in his thoughts entire possession keep They stop his play and interrupt his sleepe So doth a carefull Painter fixe his eyes Vpon the patterne which before him lies And neuer from the boord his hand withdrawes Vntill the Type be like th' Exemplar cause To courtly dancing now he shall incline To manage horses and in Armes to shine Such ornaments of youth are but the seeds Of noble Vertues and Heroick deeds He will not rest in any outward part But striues t' expresse the riches of your heart VVithin a litle modell and to frame True title to succession of your fame In riper yeeres he shall your wisedome learne And your vndaunted courage shall discerne And from your actions from your words and lookeâ— Shall gather rules which others reade in bookes So in Achilles more those lessons wrought Which Peleus show'd theÌ„ those which Chiron taught Vpon the Earle of Couentryes departure from vs to the Angels SWeet Babe whose Birth inspir'd me with a Song And call'd my Muse to trace thy dayes along Attending riper yeeres with hope to finde Such braue endeuours of thy noble Minde As might deserue triumphant lines and make My Fore-head bold a Lawrell Crowne to take How hast thou left vs and this earthly Stage Not acting many Months in tender age Thou cam'st into this world a little Spie Where all things that could please the eare and eye Were set before thee but thou found'st them toyes And flew'st with scornefull smiles t' eternall ioyes No visage of grim Death is sent t' affright Thy spotlesse soule nor darknesse blinds thy sight But lightsome Angels with their golden Wings Ore spread thy Cradle and each spirit brings Some precious Balme for heau'nly Physicke meet To make the separation soft and sweet The sparke infus'd by God departs away And bids the earthly weake companion stay VVith patience in that nurs'ry of the ground VVhere first the seeds of Adams limbes were found For time shall come when these diuided friends Shall ioyne againe and know no seu'rall ends But change this short and momentary kisse To strict embraces of Celestiall blisse To my Lord Vicount Purbeck a Congratulation for his health IF we inlarge
our hearts extend our voyce To shew with what affection we reioyce VVhen friends or kinsmen wealth and honour gaine Or are return'd to freedome from the chaine How shall your seruants and your friends my Lord Declare their ioy who find no sound no word Sufficient for their thoughts since you haue got That Iewell Health which Kingdomes equall not From sicknesse freed a Tyrant farre more fell Then Turkish Pirates who in Gallies dwell The Muses to the friend of Musicke bring The signes of gladnesse Orpheus strikes a string VVhich can inspire the dull can cheare the sad And to the dead can liuely motion adde Some play some sing while I whose onely skill Is to direct the organ of my Quill That from my hand it may not runne in vaine But keepe true time with my commanding braine I will bring forth my Musicke and will trie To rayse these dumbe yet speaking Letters high Till they contend with sounds till arm'd with wing My featherd pen surmount Apollo's strings We much reioyce that lightsome calmes asswage The fighting humours blind with mutuall rage So sing the Mariners exempt from feare When stormes are past and hopefull signes appeare So chaunts the mounting Larke her gladsome lay When night giues place to the delightfull day In this our mirth the greatest ioy I finde Is to consider how your noble minde Will make true vse of those afflictions past And on this ground will fix your vertue fast You hence haue learn'd th' vncertaine state of man And that no height of glitt'ring honour can Secure his quiet for almighty God Who rules the high can with his pow'rfull rod Represse the greatest and in mercy daignes With daug'rous ioyes to mingle wholsome paines Though men in sicknesse draw vnquiet breath And count it worst of euils next to death Yet such his goodnesse is who gouernes all That from this bitter spring sweete riuers fall Here we are truly taught our selues to know To pitty others who indure like woe To feele the waight of sinne the onely cause Whence eu'ry body this corruption drawes To make our peace with that correcting hand Which at each moment can our liues command These are the blest effects which sicknesse leaues VVhen these your serious brest aright conceaues You will no more repent your former paine Then we our ioy to see you well againe To the memory of the faire and thrice vertuous Gentlewoman Mistris Elizabeth Neuell ANymph is dead milde vertuous young faire Death neuer counts by dayes or mon'ths or yeeres Oft in his sight the Infant old appeares And to his earthly mansion must repaire VVhy should our sighes disturbe the quiet Aire For when the flood of Time to ruine beares No beauty can preuaile nor parents teares VVhen life is gone we of the flesh despaire Yet still the happy soule immortall liues In heauen as we with pious hope conceiue And to the Maker endlesse prayses giues That she so soone this lothsome world might leaue VVe iudge that glorious Spirit doubly blest VVhich from short life ascends t' eternall rest Of the truly Noble and Excellent Lady the Lady Marquesse of Winchester CAn my poore lines no better office haue But lie like Scritch-Owles still about the graue VVhen shall I take some pleasure for my paine Commending them that can commend againe VVhen shall my Muse in loue-sicke lines recite Some Ladies worth which she of whom I write VVith thankfull smiles may reade in her owne dayes Or when shall I a breathing woman prayse Oneuer Mine are too ambitious strings They will not sound but of eternall things Such are freed-soules but had I thought it fit T' exalt a spirit to a body knit I would confesse I spent my time amisse VVhen I was slow to giue due praise to this Now when all weepe it is my time to sing Thus from her ashes must my Poem spring Though in the race I see some swiftly runne I will not crowne them till the goale be won â—ill death ye mortals cannot happy be VVhat can I then but woe and dangers see If in your liues I write now when ye rest I will insert your names among the blest And now perhaps my Verses may increase Your rising fame though not your boundlesse peace Which if they euer could may they make thine Great Lady further if not clearer shine I could thy husbands highest Styles relate Thy Fathers Earledome and that Englands state VVas wholy manag'd by thy Grandsires brow But those that loue thee best will best allow That I omit to praise thy match and Line And speake of things that were more truely thine Thou thought'st it base to build on poore remaines Of noble bloud which ranne in others veines As many doe who beare no flowres nor fruite But shew dead stocks which haue beene of repute And liue by meere remembrance of a sound Which was long since by winds disperst and drown'd While that false worth which they suppose they haue Is digg'd vp new from the corrupting Graue For thou hadst liuing honours not decay'd With wearing time and needing not the ayd Of Heraulds in the haruest of whose art None but the vertuous iustly clayme a part Since they our Parents memories renew For imitation not for idle view Yet what is all their skill if we compare Their paper works with those which liuely are In such as thou hast been whose present lookes If many such were would surpresse all bookes For their examples would alone suffice They that the Countrey see the Map despise For thee a Crowne of Vertues we prepare The chiefe is Wisdome in thy Sex most rare By which thou didst thy husbands state maintaine VVhich sure had falne without thee and in vaine Had aged Paulet wealth and honours heap'd Vpon his House if strangers had them reapt In vaine to height by safe still steps he climes And serues fiue Princes in most diff'rent times In vaine is he a Willow not an Oke Which winds might easly bend yet neuer broke In vaine he breakes his sleepe and is diseas'd And grieues himselfe that others may be pleas'd In vaine he striues to beare an equall hand 'Twixt Somerset and bold Northumberland And to his owne close ends directing all Will rise with both but will with neither fall All this had been in vaine vnlesse he might Haue left his heires cleare knowledge as their right But this no sonne infallibly can draw From his Descent by Nature or by Law That treasure which the soule with glory decks Respects not birth-right nor the nobler Sex For women oft haue mens defects suppli'd VVhose office is to keepe what men prouide So hast thou done and made thy name as great As his who first exalted Paulets seate Neere dew yet not too neere the thunders blow Some stood 'twixt Ioue and him though most below O well waigh'd dignity selected place Prouided for continuance of his race Not by Astrologie but Prudence farre More pow'rfull then the force of any Starre The Dukes are
whose walls VVere made of clay his whole ambition falls Into a graue death onely can declare How base the bodies of all mortals are The lying Greekes perswade vs not to doubt That Persian Nauies sailed round about The Mountaine Athos seuer'd from the Maine Such stuffe their fabulous reports containe They tell vs what a passage framed was Of ships that wheeles on solid Seas might passe That deepest Riuers failed we must thinke VVhose Floods the Medians at one meale could drink And must beleeue such other wond'rous things VVhich Sostratus relates with moyst'ned wings But that great King of whom these tales they frame Tell me how backe from Salamis he came That barb'rous Prince who vs'd to whip the VVinds Not suff'ring strokes when Aeolus them binds He who proud Neptune in his fetters chain'd And thought his rage by mildnesse much restrain'd Because he did not brand him for his slaue VVhich of the Gods would such a Master haue But how return'd he with one slender bote VVhich through the bloody waues did slowly flote Oft stay'd with heapes of carkases these paines He as the fruits of long-wisht glory gaines Giue length of life O Ioue giue many yeeres Thou prayst with vpright count'nance pale with feares Not to be heard yet long old age complaines Of great continuall griefes which it containes As first a foule and a deformed face Vnlike it selfe a rugged hide in place Of softer skin loose cheekes and wrinkles made As large as those which in the wooddy shade Of spacious Tabraca the mother Ape Deepe furrow'd in her aged chaps doth scrape Great diff'rence is in persons that be young Some are more beautifull and some more strong Then others but in each old man we see The same aspect his trembling limbes agree With shaking voyce and thou may'st adde to those A bald head and a childish dropping nose The wretched man when to this state he comes Must breake his hard bread with vnarmed gummes So lothsome that his children and his wife Grow weary of him he of his owne life And Cossus hardly can his sight sustaine Though wont to flatter dying men for gaine Now his benummed palate cannot taste His meate or drinke the pleasures now are past Of sensuall lust yet he in buried fires Retaines vnable and vnfit desires What ioy can musicke to his hearing bring Though best Musicians yea Seleucus sing Who purchase golden raiments by their voyce In Theaters he needs not make his choice Of place to sit since that his deaf'ned eare Can scarce the Corners and the Trumpets heare His Boy must cry aloud to let him know Who comes to see him how the time doth goe A Feuer onely heates his wasted blood In eu'ry part assaulted with a flood Of all diseases if their names thou aske Thou mayst as well appoint me for a taske To tell what close adulterers Hippia loues How many sick-men Themison remoues Out of this world within one Autumnes date How many poore confederates of our State Haue been by griping Basilus distrest How many Orphanes Irus hath opprest To what possessions he is now preferr'd Who in my youth scorn'd not to cut my beard Some feeble are in shoulders loynes or thighes Another is depriu'd of both his eyes And enuies those as happy that haue one This man too weake to take his meate alone With his pale lips must feede at others hands While he according to his custome stands With gaping iawes like to the Swallowes brood To whom their hungry mother carries food In her full mouth yet worse in him we find Then these defects in limbes a doting mind He cannot his owne seruants names recite Nor know his friend with whom he supt last night Not those he got and bred with cruell spots Out of his will his doubtlesse heires he blots And all his goods to Phialè bequeathes So sweet to him a common Strumpet breathes But if his senses should not thus be spent His childrens fun'ralls he must oft lament He his deare wiues and brothers death bemones And sees the vrnes full of his sisters bones Those that liue long endure this lingring paine That oft they find new causes to complaine While they mishaps in their owne house behold In woes and mournefull garments growing old The Pylian King as Homers verses show In length of life came nearest to the Crow Thou thinkst him blest whom death so long forbeares Who on his right hand now accounts his yeeres By hundreds with an ancient num'rall signe And hath the fortune oft to drinke new wine But now obserue how much he blames the law Of Fates because too large a thread they draw When to Antilochus last Rites he came And saw his beard blaze in the fun'rall flame Then with demands to those that present are He thus his gre'uous mis'ry doth declare VVhy should I last thus long what hainous crime Hath made me worthy of such spatious time Like voyces Peleus vs'd when he bewail'd Achilles whom vntimely death assail'd And sad Laertes who had cause to weepe For his Vlisses swimming on the deepe When Troy was safe then Priam might haue gone With stately Exequies and solemne mone T' accompany Assaracus his ghost His fun'rall Herse enricht with Princely cost VVhich Hector with his other brothers beares Amidst the flood of Ilian womens teares VVhen first Cassandra practis'd to lament And faire Polyxâ—na with garments rent If he had dy'd ere Paris plac'd his sayles In ventrous ships see what long age auailes This caus'd him to behold his ruin'd Towne The swords and fiers which conquer'd Asia drowne Then he a trembling souldier off doth cast His Diademe takes armour but at last Falls at Ioues Altar like an Oxe decai'd VVhose pittifull thinne necke is prostrate laid To his hard Masters knife disdained now Because not fit to draw th' vngratefull plow Yet dy'd he humane death but his curst wife Bark't like a Dog remaining still in life To our examples willingly I haste And therefore Mithridates haue orepast And Croesus whom iust Solon bids t' attend And not to iudge men happy till the end This is the cause that banisht Marius flies That he imprison'd is and that he lies In close Minturnaes Fennes to hide his head And neere to conquer'd Carthage begs his bread VVise nature had not fram'd nor Rome brought forth A Citizen more Noble for his worth If hauing to the view his captiues led And all his warlike pompe in glory spred Then his triumphant soule he forth had sent VVhen from his Cimbrian Chariot downe he went Campania did for Pompeyes good prouide Strong Feuers which if he had then espy'd What would ensue were much to be desir'd But many Cities publike vowes conspir'd And this so happy sicknesse could deface Reseruing him to dye with more disgrace Romes and his fortune onely sau'd his head To be cut off when ouercom'n he fled This paine the Traytor Lentulus doth scape Cethegus not disfigur'd in his shape Enioying all his limbes vnmaimed lyes And
The custome is to spread abroad VVhite linnens grac'd with splendour pure Sabaean Myrrh on bodies strow'd Preserues them from decay secure The hollow stones by Caruers wrought VVhich in faire monuments are laid Declare that pledges thither brought Are not to death but sleepe conuay'd The pious Christians this ordaine Beleeuing with a prudent eye That those shall rise and liue againe Who now in freezing slumbers lye He that the dead disperst in fields In pittie hides with heapes of molds To his Almighty Sauiour yeelds A worke which he with ioy beholds The same Law warnes vs all to grone VVhom one seuere condition ties And in anothers death to mone All Fun'rals as of our Allies That Reu'rend man in goodnesse bred VVho blest Tobias did beget Preferr'd the buriall of the dead Before his meate though ready set He while the seruants waiting stand Forsakes the cups the dishes leaues And digges a graue with speedy hand Which with the bones his teares receiues Rewards from heau'n this worke requite No slender price is here repaid God cleares the eyes that saw no light While Fishes gall on them is laid Then the Creator would descry How farre from reason they are led VVho sharpe and bitter things apply To soules on which new light is spred He also taught that to no wight The heau'nly Kingdome can be seene Till vext with wounds and darksome night He in the worlds rough waues hath been The curse of death a blessing finds Because by this tormenting woe Steepe waies lye plaine to spotlesse minds VVho to the Starres by sorrowes goe The bodies which long perisht lay Returne to liue in better yeeres That vnion neuer shall decay VVhere after death new warmth appeares The face where now pale colour dwels VVhence foule infection shall arise The flowres in splendour then excels VVhen blood the skinne with beauty dies No age by Times imperious law With enuious prints the forehead dimmes No drought no leanenesse then can draw The moysture from the wither'd limmes Diseases which the body eate Infected with oppressing paines In midst of torments then shall sweate Imprison'd in a thousand chaines The conqu'ring flesh immortall growes Beholding from the skies aboue The endlesse groning of her foes For sorrowes which from them did moue VVhy are vndecent howlings mixt By liuing men in such a case VVhy are decrees so sweetly fixt Reprou'd with discontented face Let all complaints and murmurs faile Ye tender mothers stay your teares Let none their children deare bewaile For life renew'd in death appeares So buried seeds though dry and dead Againe with smiling greenenesse spring And from the hollow furrowes bred Attempt new eares of corne to bring Earth take this man with kind embrace In thy soft bosome him conceiue For humane members here I place And gen'rous parts in trust I leaue This house the soule her guest once felt VVhich from the Makers mouth proceeds Here sometime feruent wisdome dwelt VVhich Christ the Prince of VVisedome breeds A cou'ring for this body make The Author neuer will forget His workes nor will those lookes forsake In which he hath his Picture set For when the course of time is past And all our hopes fulfill'd shall be Thou op'ning must restore at last The limbes in shape which now we see Nor if long age with pow'rfull reigne Shall turne the bones to scatter'd dust And onely ashes shall retaine In compasse of a handfull thrust Nor if swift Floods or strong command Of VVindes through empty Ayre haue tost The members with the flying Sand Yet man is neuer fully lost O God while mortall bodies are Recall'd by thee and form'd againe VVhat happy seate wilt thou prepare VVhere spotlesse soules may safe remaine In Abrahams bosome they shall lie Like Lazarus whose flowry Crowne The rich man doth farre off espie While him sharpe fiery torments drowne Thy words O Sauiour we respect Whose triumph driues black Death to losse When in thy steps thou would'st direct The Thiefe thy fellow on the Crosse The faithfull see a shining way Whose length to Paradise extends This can them to those trees conuay Lost by the Serpents cunning ends To Thee I pray most certaine Guide O let this soule which thee obay'd In her faire birth-place pure abide From which she banisht long hath stray'd While we vpon the couer'd bones Sweet violets and leaues will throw The title and the cold hard stones Shall with our liquid odours flow FINIS