support her houses fame A widdow wife and maide confinde in one In all and seuerall states so free from blame That enuy nor the iniurious hand of time Could euer staine or touch with any crime Her thoughts so continent and her chast desires Which neuer rioted in exppense of time Sprung from those true eternall liuing fires Which doth all vertue to it selfe combine Not lightly led nor starting now and then To place new fancies in affecting men But truely kept her selfe vnto her loue Her worthy loue in youth in age in death So constant faithfull true as turtle doue Where her affections gaue no second breath But liu'd in one pure loue and neuer changed In thoughts so firmly knit they neuer ranged Which for the space of almost thirty yeares Did rule alone her house admir d of many Such holy graces in her life appeares Such perfect vertues seldome seene in any A virgin wife a widow maide to be So old in honor yet from folly free Could not her long deceased spouse before Grac'd with so many worthy after loues Nor time nor nature which could argue more Nor any thing from that strict course remoue But still her resolution doth perseuer Inuiolate vnto the first for euer Why then poore pen doest thou attempt so far And canst not touch the riches of her honor Nor nothing neere describe this glorious starre But rather much vnhidden worth take from her The little world of thy poore wit on fire Will rather burne then satisfie desire Yet giue me leaue great Readers to admire Faire imitators of her honors worth Although I cannot satisfie desire Nor set her high desarts and honor forth Accept my will which must remaine your debtor Till time or heau'ns shall grace me to sing better She in whose breast grace such impression tooke That made her time not like a mortall creature Which honors state and dignities forsooke A thing most hard and wondrous strange to nature That vertue should be found for to contemne Such meanes and fortunes as aduanceth them Could grace and vertue natures force expell And breake those lawes wherein she binds too many Could heauenly gifts in such a concord dwell So welbelou'd within the heart of any That in so many daies they should not fall Nor yet be toucht with any crime at all Pure-thoughted Lady which preserues thy soule So cleane from fleshly crimes and carnall pleasures Nor didst consent vnto such actions foule Wherein too many wallow out of measure That inbred sin which neuer leaues the most Till nature's ready to yeeld vp the ghoast One loue thy soule delighted which decease Did liue a fresh in the still vndiuided Two persons ioynd in one makes no release Till both be dead in loue so firmly guided Death parts the body but the soule doth honor In shadie groues to meete so true a louer So constant Lady thou which after death In strengh of yeares to no such bayts did yeeld Gaines fame a second life and longer breath Whose stedfast loue on better ground did build Where palmes of victorie in thy hands are found And lawrell wreaths to girt thy temples round Where thou Diana-like didst lead a life In sacred loue mixt with most chast desire Or like those holy vestalls void of strife Which keepes their honors spotlesse and intire And neuer lookes so true a course they liue To those inchantments which the world doth giue Where purest loue like to the morning dew Sent downe from him which all good gifts infuses Inioyes those rare contents giuen but to few To very few which worldly traffique vses So great and meeke so chast and yet a wife For not a mortals but an Angels life Which onely keeps not from societie Thy person free but quencht those inward fires And from loose thoughts and vaine delights didst flie Hating th'imbracements of vnchast desires And gaue no place to such inticements vaine Which proues the owners losse the actors paine How canst thou then great Lady all forsake So many thousand bayted hopes to see And many great ones little rest to take Whilst thou securely sleeps from dangers free No thy chast bosome neuer lusted so To loose a freind for to imbrace a foe Thou worthy patterne of this wanton age Whose pure affections dispossesseth sin And acts thy part vpon this earthly stage As chast as she whose loue Troy towne did win Oh who would wish more honor in this life Then die a vertuous widow virgin wife Thou mighst haue knit thy selfe in sacred bands With honorable persons in degree In Hymens rites vniting hearts and hands And not haue wrong this first loue being free Oh but thy soule sayes to thy selfe alone That fayth most firme that keeps it selfe to one No friend nor louer since thy bosome smothers But Christ thy Sauiour spouse and husband deare For whose deare sake thou hast forsooke all others How great or rich so e're they liued here And sworne vnto thy selfe and made a vow To serue loue feare and keepe him onely now Oh happy choyse yet man and wife do varry From these pure paths which vnto vertue tends They care not who nor yet how oft they marry For loue of lucre lust or worldy freinds Exchanging oft the better for the worse Who weds a second neuer lou'd the first Such soule respects are so ingrauen in vs First beauty that faire obiect doth allure vs. Then mighty friends in state or meanes doth win vs That from insuing dangers may secure vs But last and greatest is wealth reuenewes riches The which the soules of men so much bewiches Long maist thou liue in thy more happier choise That euerlasting loue which fadeth neuer Long mayst thou with that Bridegroome faire reioice In those triumphing ioyes which lasteth euer Long maist thou honor praise and glory sing Vnto the soueraigne Lord the King of Kings Where thy pure thoughts chast bosome vertuous life Weds thy vnspotted soule to endlesse ioyes Whose loue to that great spouse makes a chast wife And whose rare gifts weake flesh and bloud destroyes Whose outward honors many equals finde But few to match the honor of the minde Why should my striuing pen desire to tell What it by force cannot attaine to know Why should my will against my skill rebell My passions thus ' gainst reasons lawes to show What ardent furies workes within my minde To seeke for that no wit nor toile can finde Oh giue me leaue to breake off thou my Muse I cannot diue so deepe I may be drown'd Then spare my weakenesse and defects excuse Which must retire when it can feele no ground That glorious streame of honor 't is too deepe For my weake braine aboue the waues to keepe But yet her bountie doth inuite my pen That vertue which doth challenge praise with best And vrges my dull hand to write agen Which crownes her with more glory then the rest And makes her name and honor mount the higher With such great grace as makes the
and curious times Of many mightie troubles made the ground VVhom ouer-searching doubts and errors blindes So many truths that which of them to take To many wandering wits doe question make This is the truth they 'le neuer start away From this vnto another straight they are gone Then to that sect they know not what to say Thus are they busie in all but firme in none Then this they like then that then straight they le turne To any thing I thinke before they le burne Such trees which like the fig-tree seemes most faire VVhen nought but leaues and blossomes it affords And in the eyes of th' world are iudg'd most rare That onely paints Religion out in words That learnes to tip their tongues with Artes diuine VVhen damn'd Hypocrisie resteth in their minde VVhose gesture workes lookes words and actions all VVith similar showes are varnish'd to deceiue men VVith heau p vp hands and eyes to heauen they call As if deuotion would of sense bereaue them And knock their brests when as their hearts within Lie buried vp in flesh and bloud and sinne Such strange comixtures of Religion holds them That they like mad-men care not where they bite And Iudas-like a little price hath sold them That euen the worst of errors they doe like Thus are they through their owne rash-daring skill Led captiue of the Diuell to doe his will How many strange Religions are there found That will dispute of truth and seeme to know it How many sects and rules yet all vnsound As this vaine light-beleeuing age can show it If such a number into errors fall How many more which hold no truth at all Good God which art the onely truth and guide Keep 's from those errors wherein some are caught That we from thee may neuer fall nor slide But willingly embrace the Gospell taught That no inuentions heresies crafts or guiles May worke in vs our safetie to beguile But worthy Lady who did'st keepe the truth From superstition and Idolatrie free Both in old age in middle yeares and youth That in such greatnesse few haue done like thee Where many liue to whom that name belongs Which onely Christianize it in their tongues But thy firme resolution fixed was And vnremoued stood against all those Which seemes to set a colour and a glosse Vpon Religion falshood to inclose Vnder which faire pretext often doth lie Most dangerous deepe deceits our soules to trie The truth thy soule delighted not to striue On idle questions which no profit brings Whil'st some new sought inuentions can contriue To draw hard questions from the meanest things Wresting those words that sence to what they 'd haue it And not as right and true constructions craue it But thou the praise of these vnconstant times Mad'st not this world the patterne to doe ill But like a candle did'st in darknesse shine And fram'dst thy life vnto thy Makers will Not tossed to and fro with euery winde Which wraps in many errors wandring mindes But did'st continue to thy vtmost breath A zealous Protestant and religious friend Not stain'd with heresie in thy life nor death But seald'st thy last gaspe with a glorious end Which made the Angels sing and heauens reioyce That thou with Mary madest so good a choyse Thy faith as great and rare did apprehend The second person in the Trinitie On whom thy whole saluation did depend Wrought by his passions so effectually Not mingling of his merits with humane powers Ascribing that to vs which is not ours But to thy selfe by priuate application Did'st ceize on all those promises sweet and faire Writ in the Scriptures for our consolation To keepe vs vp from horror and despaire That when deepe flouds waters seeme to drowne vs Our faith may shine in darknesse then crowne vs. And bring our soules into that glorious rest Wrought by his passions sufferings death and merit Which he hath purchas'd for the chosen best After this mortall labour to inherit Redeeming vs when we were cast away With such a price as none but he could pay That holy one that pure vnspotted Lambe That did descend from his eternall throwne For vs vile sinners being God and man To satisfie the wrath of heauen alone And vnderwent such torments griefes and paines To make his greatest losse our greatest gaines Oh happie Lady whose erected minde This glorious obiect of thy faith so loues Thy soules delight which ioyes and comforts finde Where all the triall of thy faith he proues And viewes the pure deuotions of thy heart Which for his seruice thou had'st set apart There in that euerlasting booke of fate Are written downe the triall of thy loue Thy faith zeale piety and that happy state Which far beyond our thoughts thy soule doth proue Such great felicitie ioyes which ioyes excell That tongues of men and Angels cannot tell Could the heau'ns see thy labours and endeuor And to thy louing cares giue no regard Thy constancie whereby thou did'st perseuer Vnto the end and yeeld thee no reward Oh no 't is hard to thinke but worse to say That heau'ns great giuer should himselfe denay He that rewards vniust and wicked men With ample benefits shall he not be kinde Vnto his owne deare chosen children then Or suffer them to slip out of his minde If he so liberall be to the vniust What shall he be to those that in him trust Oh no Great Lady he will doe no wrong Nor once deny himselfe let none so thinke Hee 's iust and true although he beareth long Nor is he blinde although he seeme to winke But doth behold thy faith which neuer faints Where he doth crowne thee with his dearest Saints That bitter combate held with flesh and blood And mightie conflict which assaults the best Which by his powerfull hand thou hast withstood And quench'd those fiery darts which neuer rest But still new battailes warre and strife begin Against our soules faire Sions for t to win Yet all these cannot shake thy glorious hold See firme and constant faith doth still endure Which makes thy trust and confidence so bold Ayde him that most vndoubted ayde assure He takes thy part he will not see thee foil'd Nor to thy foes become a prey nor spoild Heere did the triall of thy faith appeare In his continuall fight with flesh and blood Which shew'd thy loue vnto thy Sauiour deare Which could not be by worldly hopes withstood But still persisted striuing for to winne That powerfull monster Hydra-headed sinne Thou neuer vnto Saints and Angels prayde Nor mad'st petitions to them in thy need Which whil'st they liu'd did want our Sauiours ayde Whose sinnes as well as ours did make him bleed And was the cause that stopp'd his glorious breath To ransome them as well as vs from death Yet will not these proud Pharisees be perswaded But vrge traditions from their fathers taught And haue the Gospell through their power inuaded And many holy needlesse reliques sought Of ancient Saint
and holy men deceased Whereby their great Idolatry's increased If Peter Iames nor Iohn nor reuerent Paul Would neuer suffer but denied those men To offer any sacrifice at all Nor with the smallest worship honor them Why should wee thinke they craue such wonderous ods To be ador'd or pray'd to now like gods If that the Angell would not suffer Iohn Whose brightnesse made him fall downe flatte before him Ascribe no honor but to God alone Nor with diuine prostration to adore him Why should those Saints which were but sinful men Desire such grace and glory done to them Nor sure they doe not did not superstition Broch now for doctrine what true faith enuies And by their Romish trash make such Diuision Which God Saints Angels heauen and all denies Where Christ with them and they with Christ agree To make their prayers t'only none but thee For him hath God the Father sealed true He pay'd the price he bought vs with his blood Then vnto him the debt is onely due Which can in humane iustice be withstood All worship prayer praise and glorie too Belongs to him and more then we can doe For there 's no precept which that dutie bindes No law that doctrine found to ratifie Vnlesse some false zeale and affections blinde Should broach for truth this error first for why Should not the Prophets Patriarkes and the rest Be pray'd vnto which were as highly blest Yes sure their grace their merits and their faith Were euen as great as were the great'st of them And had as much praise giuen as Scripture saith Which heard saw knew and talk'd with God like men More loue more grace more fauor who hath knowne To be to any of th'Apostles showne And yet Romes Towre proud Babell will withstand And broach their owne inuentions for pure truth With sweete compounded doctrines held in hand They cunningly beguile vnstable youth And doe deceiue their soules with name of him Which did descend from heauen to die for sin Which in the habite come of harmelesse sheepe Yet are most strange deuouring wolues within And many holy obseruations keepe To varnish out hypocrisie and sin They seeme pure Saints but looke a little further And you shal find their poisonings rapes murther And yet the heau'ns their lingering vengance spares Good Lord grant grace vnto thy little flocke For to discerne their frauds deceits and snares And build our trust on thee the liuing Rocke That sure and certaine ground which neuer falls When theirs shall waste consume and perish all But thou which build'st vpon that corner stone Thy faith whose fruits so euidently appeares And mad'st thy soules desire to him alone VVhich on his head a crowne of thornes did weare VVhose vnpolluted conscience better tells That truest faith with grace and vertue dwells And where thou seest with those translucent eyes Thy Soueraigne Lord and Sauiour crown'd in glorie VVhich all the waies of his elected tries Through pains griefes teares and sad afflictions storie The patient sufferings of his poore elected VVhich in this world are vil'st of all respected Thus worthy Lady if thy faith was weigh'd VVith many Ladies now it would contend For crowne and praise and all their pride vpbraid VVhich makes externall honor all their end And glory in the greatnesse of their birth Or else their wealth which is as little worth But thou which honor praise and glory sings Vnto the Father of eternitie And to his Sonne which such saluation brings Crowning our faithes with immortalitie VVere now translated to that place of rest I le leaue thy faith triumphing with the best And to that vertue which few ladies knowes Or at the least will not acknowledge knowne Because it loues not pride nor Court-like showes But still retires it selfe to liue alone Sequestred from those great resorts of sinne VVhich many spend their youthfull glories in Is that rich vertue Great humilitie Yet not too great in great men now adayes The onely badge of true Gentilitie If gentle bloods would ponder all her wayes And scand thy worth or truely finde thee out Then Adams brood would neuer be so stout Nor would the mightie Monarchs tyrannize Nor seeke by violence to vsurpe a crowne Nor noble blouds their honors preiudice In treading poore dispised Orphanes downe The quondam Farmer turn'd a gentle now Would not vpon the backes of poore men plow Oppression would not beare so great a hand Nor these Rent-raysers racke their tenants ground Authoritie would not on such strict tearmes stand Nor with his grisly lookes the weake confound No pride nor periuries fraud nor glory vaine Shall haunt thee when this vertue thou hast gain'd The key t' vnlocke the knowledge of the minde That all her imperfections may appeare The salue to cure her eyes that were so blinde The wholesome balme to heale the deafest eare The soueraigne cordiall which the heauens affords To mortall men not to be spoke with words Oh thou which makes the heart of man as poore As is the sparrow on the houses top And commend'st him with feare and shame the more VVhen conscience pleads the sinnes which he forgot A heauie reckoning did not heauen forgiue vs And with their grace and mercie great relieue vs. Thou which pul'dst downe the proud aspiring spirit And makes it leuell with the low estate Confoundest naturall pride wit strength and merit An leauest humane worth cleane desolate Rob'st vs of power and workes to build our trust Not in our selues but Iesus Christ the Iust Thou Queene of vertues and the onely guide VVhich lead'st this ladie to that heauenly rode And that meane path so opposite to pride VVhich in these sinfull times but few haue trode The reines which bridles Natures power tels thē How vile a sinne ambition is and swels them Thou whose low spirit meeke heart and humble minde Did crowne the Conqueresse o're the crowne of pride Thou which did'st lose these toyes those ioyes to finde And hast thy selfe within thy selfe denide Hast found by meekenesse honor rest for crosses Ioyes for thy sorrowe profit for thy losses So gentle curteous affable and kinde That most would think it would disgrace their honor If they should beare but such a lowly minde And much renowne and dignitie take from her As not to vse that state to her belongs Impaire her worth and noble honor wrongs Why should not persons of the noblest straine Their honors vse their state and name vphold Why should they not their glory great maintaine As well as their forefathers did of old It is their owne and they were borne vnto it Why is it counted pride in them to doe it 'T is true great Ladie I do know no cause If honor in it selfe doth liue confinde Nor breakes not iustice loue nor natures lawes Which sauadge beasts in some affections binde That hath well learn'd to know and rule himselfe Imbracing vertue and contemning pelfe But they that glory in their state and greatnesse And gentle curtesie count base
slauery Which holds the highest pride but cleanly neatnesse And their strong Tyranny braue validity Nor in his nature 's found but little good What profit is their in this noble blood What house so famous that did not begin And from most meeke and worthy mindes proceede Which did at first their braue achiuements win From vertues time and honorable deeds If it be so why should not humble spirits Possesse vs still like glory to inherit But such are the vilde customes of these times That vertue is asham'd her selfe to knowe She shall be taxt she feares for some base ruines If their full power and grace she publicke shewes Vertue must weare the cloak of vice about her Or else your greatest gallants will but flout her 'T is now dishonor to be honorable And right must now indure a little wrong Truth like the times must change or be vnstable Or else she must but whisper with her tongue Loue pitty charity if they want I feare Must get their liuinh where they cannot heare Well could thy better guided spirits approue To kepe a meane gate in an humble path And not to climbe those lofty seates aboue Which many cares and discontentments hath Whereof Dame fortune queene of chāge doth raigne And who she list shall vp then downe againe But still pure heau'ns thy honor did preserue Clad in those humble garments Christ did weare From which thy vertuous minde did neuer swarue But still a gentle spirit did'st loue and beare And neuer hadst this lesson far to seeke Come learne of me that humble am and meeke But hadst both read and knowne from the beginning How grace attends the one and shame the other Greatnesse and honors are such spurres to sinning And there 's no vice so great but pride can couer Humility the first true lesson learnes vs How we should know our selues best discernes vs. In thy faire brest this vertue fixed lies Which like a pretious Iewell doth adorne thee And as a chaine those other graces ties Which through the earth with such renowne hath borne thee With mounting Icarus doest feare no fall Nor yet seekes meanes to raise thy state at all Great Lady whose rare vertues passing thought And weake imagination can't attaine A prize for mortall men too dearely bought And which the Gods themselues can best maintaine For who can tell the spirits power that 's giuen From that all powerfull power the king of heauen Thou which didst seeke to hide thy honour great Lapt vp from fame within our countries armes To keepe with vs thy residentall seate So faire and sure from high aspiring harmes Suppressing by a life retir'd that guest Which crown 's thee with more glory then the rest No that true honor which from vertue springs Like to a sparke will kindle without blowing Or like a tree which fruite in autumne brings That spite of winters rage is euer growing And fills the owners brest with glory store That Kings ne're knew nor yet possest before Whilst those that liue in greatest Monarches grace And sit vpon the pinacle of fame That fortune at their pleasure can imbrace And thinke to get a neuer dying name Haue not to halfe thy praise with all their paines Arriu'd vnto which thou vnsought for gaines Thy humble life like to thy Sauiour led In greatest greatnesse meeke in plentie poore Did make thy fame renowne and honor spred And did increase thy prayses more and more That in concealing as the worthiest vses Thy honors grace thee and more grace infuses Thou didst not beare a loftie scornefull eye Nor glory in the greatnesse of thy state Nor exercise thy minde in things too high But vnder-ualuest what most highly rate And mad'st thy minde a map for all to see The straine of vertue in gentility Thus did thy humble life in high degree Raise thy vnwilling minde to more renowne Induing thee with greater dignitie Then those that with mo worldly pomp were crown'd For thine were true and did from vertue growe Else heauen earth would ne'r haue grac't them so But for her temperance in attire and diet Which shew how much she worldly pompe dispised And free from that super-abounding riot Which is by some to prodigall bloods deuised So strict vnto her selfe to others free That gaue content in liberallity And which did liue confinde in her estate Not prodigally to wast in surfets store Nor after such a vild luxurious rate To pamper flesh with cloide delights the more But kept a better course and shun'd those sinnes Which curious and delightfull appetites brings Whilst some in beastly Epicurisme spend And waste their daies in vild licentiousnes Glutting insatiate tasts but to offend And make their God their bellies for excesse Which eate drinke spend their time like slaues To fatten sin wormes Sathan and the graues Whilst she did vse the meanes that might procure The least offence that could be giuen in this No such delitious bayts could her allure T' abuse heauens gift in vsing them amisse But did obserue and keepe so true a diet As kept her health full and her soule in quiet What Abstinence hath she vs'd to subdue Those causes those motions which might tempt her To make her proue vnto her selfe vntrue Or with the tast of follow could preuent her Oh no who striues that glorious marke to win Must fly the meanes as well as fly the sin What man that open lies vnto his foes From dangers and disgraces can be free What man that with his enemies walkes and goes That can stand firme and neuer conquered be What man that graspes sin in his wanton armes Can free escape and ne're be toucht with harmes Oh no it is too hard for flesh and blood If heau'ns should vs with our owne frailties trust We should come short for to performe that good Alas what power and strength doth lie in dust When euery winde blast tempest storme weather Blowes vs away far lighter then a feather Good Lady how far was thou blest aboue vs That could so moderate thy affections here Where thy example is enough to moue vs If any loue zeale grace and heauenly feare Were wrought in this obdurate heart of ours To make vs better serue th' eternall powers That ciuill block not larded with much cost Nor wrought with broadered worke most curiously Whereby some haue both wealth and credit lost A iust reward for thoughts that mount too high Could not surprize nor in subiection bring Her minde at all to like so vaine a thing For well she knew that flesh and blood is apt Of it owne nature to be proud enough And needs not such inticements to intrap As cloth of Tissue gold or richer stuffe Which often makes the wearer wondrous proud Though 't is for Kings and princes courts allowd Yet for those men that can direct their minds Whose gentle spirits in vertue haue bin bred And by desarts haue vnto honor climb'd Such costly garments haue bene giuen
world admire Her bountie Alexander-like did win A generall loue and liking of the best Her fame and honor doth but now begin As if no worthy gifts had fill'd her brest And shee had not been fraught with such great store Of vertuous parts in all her life before Heere Fame and Bountie are at strife together Which shall excell each other in their praise Such copious matter both affords that neither I cannot tell her worth will highest raise Both speakes so well that I will doubtfull leaue it Vnto the world that better can conceiue it Yet in the booke of true recording fame Such mightie volumes of her vertues stand Most fairely drawne by ancient time which came Attented with a faire incompass'd band Of minutes houres daies weeks months and years And spoke a speech that rauish'd humane eares I that fell downe at that most pleasant spring Make my petition vnto aged Time That he would ope the booke againe and sing Those too much blessed words and crowned lines Whereat he smilde at th' weaknesse of my braine And said 't was more then nature could containe For in deepe characters heere doth lie inrol'd The famous Arts and memorable deeds Of all those worthies which haue beene of old Which from faire Vertues line and stocke proceeds The monuments of Fame which through my hand For rustie age haue beene forgotten long Where shee amongst the rest of honors line Lies surely writ in those eternall scrowles Inrol'd in those great monuments diuine Which true and euerlasting fame in rolls In heau'ns great store-house lock'd till fatall doome Raises her body from this earthly tombe Where her most bounteous and munificent hand Which neuer turn'd vnto her selfe in vaine Did more affection in our soyle command Then thought can thinke or honor can obtaine Made friend of foes and feared loue combines In those that loue but miserable mindes For Bountie is a key that will vnlocke And mollifie the cruell'st dispositions Able for to dissolue the hardest rocke And make it flexible to th'mild'st condition For none I thinke so obdurate e're haue bin But bounteous deeds or liberall gifts could win For 't is a badge of Christianitie A cognizance to know rhe noble natures The truest touchstone whereby we may trie The generous race from base and worldly creatures Whose greedie cares doe eate the soule like rust And neuer leaues till leaue them needs it must This sinne of Auarice makes vs like to hogges Which roots i' th earth and digs i' th ground for gaine And with a thousand feares our conscience clogges Vexing our spirits with long leane pining paines Which like a mad consumption wasteth all Both soule and body for a rising fall That like a vulture feeds vpon the liuer And gnawes the intralls like a pining sicknesse Which where it once possesses leaueth neuer Take the yong man i' th Gospell for a witnesse For this rancke age is much farre worse then him Which kept the Law and was not stay'd with sin He something had to answere for himselfe And iustifie him for this life of ours Had not he beene in loue with worldly pelfe A clearer light shin'd not in humane powers For who can tell that he hath done so well As this rich yong man that is gone to hell Oh no deare heauens in mercie looke vpon vs One of a thousand cannot say so much Yet doe not take thy grace and fauour from vs Although so pure a life we cannot touch For we renounce our selues and trust in thee Out of this mortall toile to set vs free Then noble Bounty I must needs commend thee If that no other cause were giuen but this And with more praise then I can giue commend thee Which had he knowne of heauen he could not misse If for one sinne heauens cast this man away VVhat shall we doe that sinne thus euery day VVell may the greatnesse of this vertue moue vs And pricke vs forward Bountie to embrace VVhich generally doth make the world to loue vs But most those men of greatest birth and place If Auarice be so great and vile a sinne VVhat praise and glory then shall bountie winne Great honors mirror in whom I doe finde Such rare perfection that my soule admires it Thy vertues marching in their seuerall kinde That those that heares it more more desires it And glutted pen doth surfeit with the store Of those rich vertues Ignorance makes poore Her bounteous hand and great rewarding minde VVhat pen from you can well the same expresse As thy true merits and desarts doth binde And not eclypse the same and make them lesse If those that tread the tract of honor true Deserue a golden pen it falls to you VVhere though thy soule hath reacht eternitie And thou art there inrol'd in ioy and glorie Yet giue thy seruant leaue his wits to trie And write insuing times this sacred storie For heauens decreed such vertues ne're should die Nor such bright honors taste mortalitie Yet there be some whom my concealing pen For breuities and for manners sake omit That caries vertues or should carry them VVhich can themselues and vertue too forget And can since honors hand did them preferre Take ease and pleasure and not thinke of her VVhose power as weake as others were before Now fully fed can swell and keepe no bounds And most insatiate couet more and more That should not be in arte and learning found VVhich once for halfe that meanes would humbly bow VVhere hauing all are not contented now Yet bounteous Lady let not this thing grieue thee That Benefactors are so ill respected But let thy innocence in this cause relieue thee Christ had but twelue yet was by one neglected If one from him needs more must fall from thee VVhich being once dead their loyalties cannot see 'T is our corruptions that is bred within vs VVhich is the cause of this and hath beene euer And present profit hath such power to winne vs That dead and gone we straight forget the giuer And few remembers good turnes past and gone VVhere such great persons naturall glasse is runne Could I collect together in one summe A record of the honorable deeds Of all those gifts bestow'd and fauours done Which from her free and bounteous minds proceeds Then should I to small purpose spend my dayes In writing that which hath no end of prayse VVhat bounds or limits hath her honor knowne Or who can sound so deepe or well declare her VVhen those faire wings shee flyes with are her owne VVhich to that mightie height of fame did reare her I need not adde vnto the Ocean more VVhat is one drop vnto such wonderous store Alas great Ladie thou hast little need Of my harsh tongue to praise thy bountie so In euery place thy fame as well doth speed And better too then I haue power to show Thy worth by me no more disgrace endures Then Sun when clouds her glorious light obscures No Honorable Lady know thy selfe Although I
were to perish Thus did thy faith beare sweete and pleasant fruits Which euer from that flourishing tree proceeds VVith such rich graces as best honor sutes And did extend it selfe to bounteous deeds Relieuing cheerefully those silly elues VVhich had no meanes here for to help themselues Thou faire example liue without compare Thou map of honor be for euer blest Since to the poore such pitty thou dost beare Which meaner persons in their pride detest And dost extend thy hand to helpe their neede Whilst their fell cruelties make their harts to bleede Nay not contented thus thou lefts behinde As long as any age or time indures A faire example of thy bounteous minde Which shall for euer stand most firme and sure Where thou hast meanes and liuing left in store To helpe the helpelesse and releiue the poore Could I but reckon what her honor gaue Or what a number at her gate she fed How many needie wretches liues she sau'd For want of foode halfe pinde and almost dead The sum I feare would grow so wondrous large And far extend my weakenesse to discharge No 't is not to be told with any tongue Those great accounts my pen must let alone Vnlesse attempting I should doe her wrong To take away from her what is her owne For numberlesse they are and so I 'le leaue them Where endlesse ioyes for endles good receiue them For what she gaue to those she lent to him VVhich will repay 't againe vnto a penny She shall not loose by that she knowes but win And crowned be in heauen with ioyes as many VVhere double recompence she shall surely haue And thousand fold more finde then here she gaue Her goods possessing she did not possesse But made them free for others which did neede them They were not hers she often would confesse But lent her to refresh the poore and feede them Where she as tenant held from his great hands All that she did possesse both goods and lands And knew right well that she account must giue Of all those rich demeanes she here inioyd And in so great a calling how she liue Vnto what vse her Talent was imployd Where now with that good seruant she doth finde Her masters ioy and ten times more assignde Oh Lady why doe I this vertue vrge So much in thee and cannot finde in others Art thou alone vnto these times a scourge To whip their dulnesse forward and discouer Those monstrous wolues which neuer will be fed But eate vp poorest Orphants like to bred Religion is the cause of this I hold That to good workes will not ascribe saluation Which makes our age in charitie grow so cold As few will giue because 't is out of fashion Then let our works be meritorious found It may be then more charity will abound Thus doth this topsie-turuie age delight In contraries and leaues the good vndon Wrong hath the vpper hand of truth and right And euery man to swift perdition runs If this saluation were as none it is Who would be damn'd then that should doe amisse But world thy share will come farre short I feare For vain 's that hope whose faith brings forth no fruit Nor showes it selfe in vertuous actions here What 's better for a tongue if one be mute Or for that rise which breeds a greater fall Or for that faith which showes no workes at all Good Lady thou which did'st possesse so much And spent'st so little vpon idle pleasure How farre doest thou digresse from these I touch And seeke to store thy soule with better treasures Those secret graces which the heau'ns impart To such as be vpright and true of heart Where zeale grace faith loue hope and pietie Concurre in one to make a blessed soule Where temperance bountie and humilitie Doe all foule Vice and errors false controule Where her renowned hospitalitie Makes her most happie ioyn'd with charitie Where with that worthy Captaine well shee speeds Nor feares shee death that freely is forgiuen Her prayers gifts rewards and almesdeeds Are now remembred in the sight of heauen Where shee doth heare the voice of him shee lou'd Which hath her faith through such affliction prou'd And where her workes and deeds and vertues all Attends her after this expired breath And did not suffer her great name to fall Into obliuion by forgetfull death But breakes those prison doores and sweetly sings Hell where 's thy victorie Death where 's thy sting Thou fore-decreed by that eternall doome A sacred vessell of most free election A marke of pietie to the times to come Seal'd with heau'ns finger at thy first conception Grac'd with his grace which doth all grace secure VVhich time consumes not but doth still endure Looke when as Tytan from his scarlet bed Doth rise and all thicke vapors driue away And all the curtaines of the heau'ns are spred VVithout a cloud to blemish any way Where that bright frame to mortalls doth appeare Most wondrous calme most perfect faire cleare Euen so this rising Sunne of honor shines The hopefull signe of a most glorious day And all the graces firmely so combines That mists nor clouds nor vapors can dismay This faire vnblemish'd frame keepes still true honor Which Time Death Fortune neuer shal take frō her What man so great in pompe and earthly glorie That hunts full crie with hungrie breath for fame Can write insuing sinnes a fairer storie Or win more honor or a grater name Or graces be with more desarts and prayse Then shee had beene so truely all her dayes Those that in the full circuite ride of pride Liu'd in a world of eyes for to behold them Had what this earth could grace them with beside And at the highest rise of fame hath sold them Made all their words and deeds like Herods then Which cried the voice of God and not of men Yet in the mid'st of all their pride deceiued Haue brought their honor to vntimely ends And of their golden hopes haue bene bereaued VVhich with the world would die such mighty freinds Their mistris with vae vobis leaues them all VVhen they doe least dreame and suspect to fall But they which build their house one vertues ground And leade that life which thou before hast done No age no fortune euer shall confound Their honors when their naturall glasse is run But they shall flourish faire and still suruiue Death takes not them like those which dye aliue Thus hauing loos'd theese earthly fetters here That heauie bondage worse then Egipts thrall And ouercome by faith those doubts and feares VVhich greues the best and doth in question call Our liues and deeds with many frailties shaken How shal we stād when such strict reckonings taken But fly to the heauens true and onely sonne Deere Sauiour and redeemer whose strong might Di'dst that huge blacke internall host orecome And put those powers and enemies all to flight That conquerest quite hell sathan death and sin VVhich none before nor since
could euer win And open sets the doore t'eternall life Freed vs from all our enemies by thy death Although we suffer toyle cares greefe and strife VVithin our selues during this mortall breath Yet when thou thinkest good thou wilt inlarge vs And of our weary heauie load discharge vs. Whereof being freed and set at liberty Thou endlesse ioyes for ending greefe imbracest And di'st no more but liu'st eternally With him from whom thou hast bene euer grac'd Where now enioying what thou wantedst here Thou sing'st Halluiah with that heauenly quire Where now vnto that glory I will leaue thee That true felicity and eternall rest Which like to earthly ioyes will not deceiue thee But still indure effectuall and ere blest Triumphing with those Saints which euer sings All praise and glory to the King of Kings Here noble Lord some vertues of your owne May in this darke and little glasse appeare Or of that seede which you your selfe are sowne Which cannot like your honors shine so cleare Yet may you see some shaddow of your fauour If that you truely doe but read my labour For in this little booke I haue not err'd Although her honors worth I could not weild Nor vice before true vertue haue prefer'd Nor yet on such false slipperie grounds doe build As grace a sin by a dissembling tongue To doe the best and noblest natures wrong No let me neuer rise but rather fall If lower then I am I can descend When euer I take vices part at all Or ayme at any such vaine hopes or end But rather study vertuously to please Then haue my duty sicke of that disease No worthy Lord I le neuer sell my selfe Though I should be farre poorer then I am By vniust meanes to purchase worldly pelfe As sooth vp folly in the greatest man That gaine is losse that glory turnes to shame Which branded is with Gnato's flattering name Then let not honor iudge my liues amisse Although your iudgement farre extends my verse My duty 's true and so shall proue by this Which I vnworthy farre haue heere rehearst If I in ought through weaknesse haue offended Let greatnesse by their faire acceptance mend it For I doe know two noble natures springing From one pure fountaine cannot be diuided What wrong to her to you some blot is bringing Which cannot be but by your worth decided For you that doe succeed her roome and place Are heire vnto her vertues and her grace Whose faire example happie you may proue And like a greater light the lesser guide Adorn'd with honor glorie grace and loue And blest with all these earthly things beside That wanting nought to fill vp eithers store Your honor still may flourish more and more Who takes a patterne of his glorious maker And seekes to treade the tract of honor true Cannot at first be made a full partaker Of all those rich demeanes to honor due Such faire examples must haue time and space To ouertake them 't is no common race Which shee true vertues patterne left behinde Much like a marble pillar vnremou'd Such tokens of her honorable minde As make her heere generally belou'd Whereof when you shall take a fuller view Shall finde those honors fall to th' house and you Where I doe pray that heau'ns would grace it still With as great honor as it had before Or greater if it be his blessed will Vntill the surges ouerflow the shore That Wentworths noble race with Cheauies name May be inrol'd in euerlasting fame And you faire Lady grac'd with Natures gifts And with a spirit that hath true vertue in it Which my deiected Muse from sorrowes lifts And hath more power then others haue to win it bound with a dutie which must not be broken Giuen at my first conception for a token You the true Image of that Lady great For vertue and an honorable minde Of whom for your faire worth I would intreate More then affection doth in others binde To whom I owe more then you deigne to craue Loue seruice dutie life and all I haue A present all too meane if 't were farre better In one whom meanenesse meanenesse doth excell To whom I must and will remaine a debter A debter great how great I cannot tell Whos 's many fauours show'd to friends and me Lies hid within that cannot vttered be VVhat shall I giue that nothing haue to paie The widowes mite will not passe currant now That metall 's growne nought with vs now adaies Nor is it for true currant pay allow'd Yet where there 's nothing to be had you finde Accept good Lady of a gratefull minde This worke to your pure minde I doe present This honors prize vnto thy Iudgement sound VVhere if for any fault I should be shent Let some defence in thee be had and found Lest if some tempest should arise too fast I should be shiprack'd or in danger cast For well I know you lou'd her honor liuing Intirely so as pen cannot declare And after death in true affections giuing Did'st loue and zeale still to her honor beare Then for her sake let these some fauour finde That was her selfe so courteous free and kinde Good Lady which her life hast seene and knowne And all her vertues and her honors proued To whom her thoughts and counsels all were showne So much was you and shee of you beloued Can better tell what store of vertues lie Hid in her brest which no man can descrie I doe but adde a droppe vnto the sea For who can comprehend in any bounds Her honor 't is but labour cast away To finde out that which is not to be found But as a sparke is to a mightie fire So must I yeeld and valew my desire And though her modest blushes will not let her Her vertues prize nor take what is her owne Nor with that true deseruing praise beset her VVhich to the world is blaz'd so much and knowne Yet shall her vertues in their force abide Which through her modest vaile shee sought to hide For what can heart desire shee hath not found If wealth or riches shee hath not least store If fame or praise her name with that doth sound If honor who for her estate had more If with long life or length of daies and time VVho longer liu'd whose honor more did shine If with the gifts or graces of the minde VVho with her almost now may well compare Or hath had more or better beene inclinde VVhich kept her vertues with the fairest faire And like that praise which Scriptures Dauid gaue Brought good old age and honor to her graue Thus in this little volume may you reade Some vertues of her honorable minde Some of her merits worthie parts and deeds For all it is vnpossible to finde Vnlesse that I should out of nature dwell And learne such notes which humane notes excell Thus hoping of your gratious censures all I leaue yee to that euerlasting blisse 'T was fate not wit which to this taske did call My meaner spirits and rays'd my minde to this If ought miscaries blame not my intent For what is rudely sung is better meant To which pure sacred blessed Trinitie Which rules vnseene all things for th' best aboue vs Those Persons three inclos'd i th vnitie A wonder strange yet not so strange to loue vs Being such sinners ' gainst his Lawes rebelling Past all the tongues of men and Angels telling To him in all and vnto all in one Be all praise powre and glorie giuen alone FINIS