to bring Distempers on the Kingdom and the King Who though their violent Councels overwelm The vessell strive to be advanc'd to th' helme Like the Suns daring off-spring nere content Till they 've atchivd the Chariots government Which when their feeble sorces cannot guide Like him they boast in great attempts t o've di'de No he was wise and from ambition cleane Esteemd the truest safety in the meane His actions being temperate and free From crime except too much humanity Who shall like Bedford now instruct the age Both by example and the patronage Of true religious piety how to be Fruitfull in works of publike charity Who with a noble and ambitious zeale To encrease the glory of the Common-weale Did those two works of wonder which shall stand To speak his fame in after times to th' land Built Covent-Garden and that spacious plaine The Fens his cost and industry did gaine From the surrounding waters where to show What a devotion his Intents did owe To heaven lest men its worship should neglect In each a Church his bounty did erect Such was his life it never did enforce The great mans envie or the meaners curse And now his essence by that mortall warre 'gainst nature deaths translated to a starre His Name shall live while never dying verse Has power to hang fresh glories ore his hearse Which shall exâ—oll and dignifie his Name Among the Nobles Hero'es which old Fame Has in its lasting Chronicles inrold In characters of rust contemning gold Till to perpetuat Bedfords merited glory He be his houses nay this Nations story On the right Honourable Henry Earle of Manchester Lord-Privie-Seale ELIGIE VVHat reverend ghost is this which to my view presents the shape of noble Montague As if 't would beckon me to 's herse to come And sing his honoured Epicedium I doe obey thy summons nay and boast The glory cast on me by thee faire ghost Which I perceive now to be truly he Who living bore the stile and dignity Of Earle of Manchester and for the weale o th' Kingdom sat long time Lord-Privie-Seale He who when living truths example stood To teach great men how to be great and good Nay to be wise and learnd to act each part Of their lives scene with vertue and with art Which he made vertues handmaid and with skill Manag'd his greatnesse without greatnesse ill Who is 't that has not in the faire pursute Of honour read the name of Montacute That boasts it selfe derivitive to be From those great ancient Earls of Salisbury That did our English glories so advance In all our Conquests over vanquishd France From whence this Earls descended who did draw Conscience with silken chaines to kisse the Law All whose great Offices to his lasting grace He passd exalted from Recorders place To be th' Kings Serjeant who did then prefer Him first chiefe Iustice then Lord Treasurer And after by his gracious free consent Confirmd him of his Councell president Hence knowing his integrity and zeale To Iustice made him last Lord Privie-Seale Can he then fall unpitied and not have A thousand fluent eyes to wash his grave Those men must mourn him surely who did by His Iudgements gaine long banishd equity As if divine Astrea at his birth Had flown on Turtles wings back to the earth Her own just precepts freely to impart To him and multiply them in his heart And now he is immortall loe from far Me thinks I see the aged Manchester Shine a new starre in heaven and with his bright And gilt reflâ—ction beautifie the light Where he shall live for ever and be read Here is in his works of piety though dead His mortall frame be yet his noble name Shall live eternizd by the tongue of fame And while th' world lasts his Al-Mondo shall Stand canditate for honour even with all The works of learned Writers and his prayes Be by time's hand adornd with wreaths of bayes Thus vertue can secure men dead and give Life to their memories which shall ever live On the Noble and much to be lamented Mrs Anne Kirk wife to Mr Geo. Kirk Gent of the Robes and of his Majesties Bed-Chamber who was unfortunately drowned passing London Bridge Iuly 6. 1641. an Anniversary ELEGY I. VVHat tumor's this that on the tongue of same Flies like a prodigy as if it came To fright the Genius of the world with feares Nay change its moving essence into teares Now now irrivocably flees the sound Her sexes pride illustrions Kirk is drownd See how bright troops of virgins who from farre Appeare resembling every one a starre Drownd in a sea of pearle doe sadly rise From her lov'd urne each one without their eyes Wept out or there left burning as they 'd lent Those lights for tepers to her monument See how the Matrons lay their tires aside And only in their sorrow take a pride Their sorrow which now beautifully weares In stead of diamonds carcanets of teares Where shall we find a frame so fully grac't With vertues in so rich a body plac't That it was truly held the unmatchd shrine Of humane beautieâ— mingled with divine As if the heavens and nature did agree In her to fix the greatest sympathy Could be between them what was faire and good Inclusive possibly in flesh and blood Who with her gentle ' haviour and deport Did gaine the love not envie of the Court And yet she fell untimely like a rose Which in the morning sweetly does disclose Its purple beauties till the winds in love Doe with their frequent boisterous kisses move Its fragrant leaves so rudely that ere night They witherd fall so she did the delight Of womanhood and vertue in whose grave Lie more then ere mortality shall have Agen to boast whose glories shall when all Her sexes Legends unapochryphall For truth and beauty in fames book be writ As a large preface fix i th' front of it That when posterity reads the rape has bin Acted by death on this bright Cherubin The virgins may her annuall Obit keep And big with noble emulation weep To understand their fexes richest store Consum'd on her Nature's become too poore To frame her equall beauty or display Such art and wonder in succeeding clay And though this Ladie fell the spoile of fate Who with too rigorous haste did antidate Her day of destiny nothing could be found Cruell enough to give that desperate wound But the false waves who as they meant to inshrine Her whom they took for sea borne Ericine In watry armes officiously did skip With fluent motion from each lip to lip Till being enamourd on her balmy breath Cruell in love they kist her even to death And viewing then no more life to remaine Like Crocodiles they wept ore her they 'd slaine ELIGY II. THe year 's revolv'd and now once more is come The day in which she suffered martyrdome And 'gainst the usuall custome did expire In water holily as those the fire Did sanctifie for heaven who usd to take Delight to runne to the flame-bearing stake Had she like them beene t o've receivd her death Ere the weak fire by the winds pregnant breath Could have beene blown into a flame our eyes Should have preuented tyrant deaths surprise And let fall such a huge contracted teare Able to quench fires element in its spheare This was the day when that same subtle thiefe Fate stole earths comfort hence and cast a griefe Perpetuall as her virtues ore the face o th mournâ—ull world which can afford no place For mirth or sport till celebrated be The annuall requiems to Kirks memory Which grows more precious like rich mighty wine By being long kept or reliques in a shrine Preservd as sacred which inviolate hold The Charter of their fame though nere so old Wiâ—h what a serious griefe doe men relate Losses in their particular Estate The toyling husbandman will many years After rehearse unto his rustick Peers His past misfortue when the Somers heat Did blast his fruit or mildews hop'd for wheat The greedy Merchant if he doe sustaine A losse by shipwrack in the â—lattering maine Sighes at its memory which does still renew His wealth then drownd to his vext fancies view And must wee not lament are we not bound Upon the day when glorious Kirk was drownd When natures sweetest fruit did blasted fall To solemnize with teares her funerall Yes to diffuse a deluge that as shee By water met her pitied destiny That element to expiate its black crime May spend its moisture on her dust till time Dissolve and we translated to the skies Where teares are wip't away from all mens eyes Exalted to her fellowship may be Her blest companions i th' felicity She with the Saints possesses but till then Her losse must be the griefe of all good men FINIS In Covent-Garden at Thorny Abby in the Isle of Ely
White-Hall A Poem VVritten 1642. WITH ELEGIES ON The Right Honourable FRANCIS Earl of BEDFORD And HENRY Earle of Manchester Lord Privy Seale both deceased during this present Session of Parliament WITH An Anniversarie on the timelesse death of Mrs. Anne Kirk wife to the truly Noble Geo. Kirk Gentleman of the Robes and of his Majesties Bed Chamber drowned unfortunately passing London Bridge Iuly 6. 1641. The Authour Hen. Glapthorne London printed for Francis Constable 1643. To my noble Friend and Gossip Captaine Richard Lovelace Sir I Have so long been in your debt that I was almost desperate in my selfe of making you paiment till this fancy by ravishing from you a new Curtesie in its patrondge promisedme it would satisfie part of my former engagements to you Wonder not to see it invade you thus on the sudden Gratitude is aeriall and like that Element nimble in its motion and performance though I would not have this of mine of a French disposition to charge hotly and retreat unfortunately there may appeare something in this that may maintaine the field courageously against Envy nay come off with honour if you Sir please to rest satisfied that it marches under your Ensignes which are the desires of Your true honourer Hen. Glapthorne White-Hall WHat Earthquake 's this that with such fury shakes My lofty Turrets from their Base and makes My marble pillars totter as they meant To sink into the Centre the event Of these strange terrours certainly must be Sad prefaces to th' book of misery Which now is opend in me every page Of which is able to affright the age To heare it read make Nature mourne and keep My Obit nay the worlds great Genius weep How vaine are humane glories why should men Repine to meet a dissolution when Even in an instant such vast frames as I Castles and stateliest marble fabricks die Nay Monarchies such as have seen the light Of the whole world the Sun rise faire and bright And set within their limits quickly have Had all their greatnesse shrowded in the grave Of that sterne tyrant Destiny who flings His various stormes on Kingdomes nay on Kings Who though they heavens immediate figures be Cannot evade this sad fatality When like loud thunder violent or the North Its sudden tempest hideously breaks forth As 't has on me who have for many yeares Out-shin'd the state and lustre of my Peeres Great Hampton Court faire Greenwich Richmond and The pleasant None-such that I seem'd to stand Equall with Lo'uure or that work of all So much admir'd Spaines costly Scuriall Who since that prince of Prelates Woolsey laid My firme foundations have as Empresse swaid O're all the Birtish pallaces and beene The constant Residence o'th'King and Queene That with their presence royall did adorne My well-built Fabrick As continued Morne Had dwelt about my cheeks whose every ray Appeard sufficient to creat new day Forth of the Chaos As if t' had begunne Here to doe Homage to the Easterne Sunne Which never more shall red with blushes rise To see himselfe out-shin'd by th' orient Eyes Of those pure Constellations that still went About me made me seeme a firmament Of moving starres and unexampled I Was held the seat where Earths best Diety Ioy'd to reside As I had beene the summe Of pleasure the worlds sole Elisium Then were the times when in my infant pride Great Henry who my buildings dignified First with that supreme honour did resort Hither entituling me his Soveraigne Court When he his conquering Ensignes did advance Over the bowels of insulting France When Turwis trembled at his fierce Alarmes Where Maximilian his Emperiall Armes The Roman Eagles bravely did display Without dishonour taking Englands pay When conquered Tournay sent his spoiles to adorne My walls for such Illustrious trophees borne Then who like me was happy when that King To me did all his mighty triumphs bring That Honours owne brow could not beast more Bayes More wreathes of Palme then in those happy dayes Grew to my temples And when silken peace Had ty'd wars surly rage up what encrease Of blessings flow'd about me then as Thames In its curl'd waves had swallowed the foure names Of those sweet Rivers that did once surround Eden and I had beene that happy ground Pregnant with Aromatick Balme and spice The first created long lost Paradise Then did the worthies of that famous Age Make me the constant the continued stage Where they did act their Revels Mirth and Sport Being the harmlesse Genii of the Court When tilts and turnaments did to the life Imitate without blood-shed wars hot strife Then gentle Love did all his Cupids arme To wound the Ladies such wounds cause no harme And struck the stubborne and more marble hearts Oth'gallant Heroes with his flaming Darts And when that King had ran his mortall race The thronging stars striving to make him place Among their weaker fires his hopesull sonne Edward whose vertues all affections wonne That little Eye of Nature the Delight Oth'Kingdome by his bloods undoubred right Weilding this Scepter did confirme to me The former Charter of my Soveraignty So did his Sister Mary though her raigne Cause fraught with trouble scarcely did maintaine Me in my wonted ornaments when she Who was the very soule of Majesty That virgin Queene whose unexampled glory Gives truth to same and miracle to story In whose pure frame as in their sphears were set The starres of Tudor and Pâ—â—ntaginet Eliza. rul'd then I began to weare A dresse of Excellence more rich more cleare And full of wonder then Fames bounty coud Ere clothe her brazen pillars in I stood The envy of all Nations then in me All blessings striv'd to make an unity Then from the whole world I did tribute take Brought into me by that great Neptune Drake Who furrow'd up the threatning Oceans face And swift as billows doe each other chace Pursu'd the steps of honours through the maine Rifling the treasures of scarce known New Spain Whose Mines and Townes he ransackt and ran on Big with a noble brave Ambition Through all opposing dangers till he â—â—rl'd As t were a girdle 'bout the spacious world Then did I groan under the unvalued weight Of spoils cast on me in that Eighty Eight When that same huge Armado did invade The British Seas with terrour and displayd In forme of a vast Crescent on the flood Itselfe as if t' had beene a tall growne wood Till our small Navy did it selfe advance Resolv'd to stand the utmost storme of chance Against that monstrous Fleet that even defide Heaven in its infinite ambitious pride And boldly led on by that sonne of â—ame Our valiant Admirall noble Nottingham Gave them fierce battell then in fire did flie Like thunderbolts in lightning from the skie The deathfull bullets splitting with their stroak The knotty ribs of their tough Biscaine Oak Cracking their Masts and with their sulphurous breath Giving their Ships fresh wounds to let in death Which as they sunk
thunderbolts of lively wit Beamont and Fletcher gloriously did sit Ruling the Theater and with their cleane Conceptions beautifying the Comick Scene And noble Donne borne to more sacred use Exprest his heavenly raptures As the juice Of the Hyblean roses did distill Through the Alembeck of his nectard quill Chapman-like Homer in me often reads His Odisses and lofty Iliads That I did rather then appeare to be The worlds best furnishd learnedst Academy Then the Kings pallace who when fatall fire In its malicious fury did conspire To ruine part of my faire buildings He Great Iames renewd with State and Majesty Like to himselfe that goodly Fabrick which Is for materialls as invention rich On polishd marble pillars which shall stand To speak his fame white this renowned Land Free from the invasion of all forraigne harmes Is walld about with Oceans watry armes For which faire ornament I must bestow My graitude on worthy Inigo Whose skill in Fabrick did direct each part Of that excelling frame with powerfull art Yet should I silent be the very stones So quaintly laid will speak the praise of Iones But now the sands of his full glasse being run In the Imperiall chayre his royall Son Whom heaven protect and with a prosperous reign Grant to rule this faire Island and maintaine It in tranquillity and happy peace To Justice and Religions full encrease Brave Charles succeeded Then my joyes renewd As Eagles their old feathers being mewd I with his vigorous presence warmd grew yong My witherd frame appearing farre more strong Then at its first foundations mirth and sports Like fayries trippidg through my happy Courts When Englands Charles the great in me was seene To give a gracious welcome to his Queene That flower of France her sexes fairest pride Maria Henrietta his deare Bride Who with a numerous progeny has blest The british Kingdom which in peace and rest Was pregnant with felicity untill Like torrents falling from some lofty hill Or like some sudden strome out of a cloud Mischiefe came thundering from the North so loud As'twould have wakend death thence thence did rise Those teares which dwell in seas about mine eyes Then 'gan my stately world admired head To shrink when Charles a puisant Army led Into the field with resolution hot To tame the daring valour of the Scot Who urgd it seemd by some Imagind wrong Their confidence being as their force was strong Came marching hitherwards but yet white peace By its all powerfull goodnesse causd to cease Those so lamented discords and did bring In safety to me home my much lov'd King And as a Taper which ere it expires Collects together its concluding fires As 't were to light it selfe to death displayes Ere it extinguishes a sudden blase More flaming glorious then it 's perfect shine Could ere expand so did those beames of mine Break forth exteading a gay sickly light And now 's obvolv'd in an ere-lasting night Since Charls his absence as you 've seen the ayre Which yesterday was so serene and faire Heavens fore-head wore no wrinkles curle its brow Into a thousand duskie furrows now So t is with me who am enforc'd to shroud My face which yesterday contemnd the cloud That now obscures it timorous to see That which encreases still my misery Where are those beauties now from whose each eye Flew winged flames of love and majesty That trope of Ladies who so oft did gild My starely roomes with their own looks which fild All my Dimensions with rays pure and bright As was in Paradise the worlds first light Vanish'd like shadowes they no more appeare The Sun being set death now inhabits here And a continued dulnesse now instead Of those soft measures which so oft were led Over my spacious floores there does intrude Its meager selfe that nothing solitude In stead of Musick such as by the Spheares And tunefull Orbs is breathd to inchant all Eares Vpon my Turrets nightly there does howle The most prodigious and portentous Owle Nothing but feare and terrour in me dwels Such as is resident in those dark cels Where nought but death raigns what contagious sin Of mine committed 'gainst Great Charls has bin The cause of his long absence I am sure I 'm in my innocence as cleare and pure As in my infancy why then should he Inflict upon me this sad destiny Why should I languish like a faire young bride Thus desolate being causelesly deni'd The comfort of my spouse who now in arms Exposd is to the dangerous alarms Of a rude civill-warre which if a prayer Has power to qualifie I le fill the ayre With Orisons as zealous as my faith Wit or religion nay invention hath Forc'd to produce may these Domestick broyles Like morning dew dry up without those spoyles Of Kingdomes fire and bloodshed May there be 'twixt King and Subiect such a Sympathy As'twixt the soule and body as each part By strickt relation beares to th' head and heart May the King love his Subiects they obey His iust behests till his great Empires sway Be fixt and lasting in his name and blood While this faire Island over looks the flood Showres of continued blessings softly fall Vpon him that the wishes of White-Hall May prove true and prophetick who must mourn In widdow'd sadnesse till best Charles return On the Death of the Right Honourable Francis Earle of Bedford ELIGIE WHat apparition's this who is 't that weares About him wrapt a Christall shrowd of tears Who is 't that in deaths mansion breathlesse lies In stead of tapers having griefe swolne eyes Stuck round about his Hearse what an amase Begot by griefe and wonder here displayes Sorrow in 's blackest Ensignes as if all Mankind intomb'd were in this funerall My admiration leaves me now each breath Sighes in sad accents glorious Bedfords death The Iron Souldier that 'i th rage of warre Nere wept when all his body was one scarre Nor sigh'd at groanes of Infants now does keep His Obit and like a soft Virgin weep The Courtier whom religion scarce would win Ere to diffuse a drop for his loose sin Now unconstrain'd part in this sorrow beares And weares no other Iewels but his teares Wrapt in sad Cyprisse misseltoe and yewe Their Daphne layd aside the noble crue Of Phebus Priests lament him till their cries Turne all to Epicedes and Elegies Nay in this sad distemper of the State When most mens softnesse varies into hate All now contend in mourning to be chiefe And know no other passion but their griefe He whose Illustrious vertues with his blood Ioynd did intitle him both great and good Who with a modest sweetnesse striv'd to win All mens affections as if there had bin In his pure essence multiplyed every part Of true nobility fixing in his heart Which seemed the spheare where honour did reside Without the least formality or pride Not like those curious great ones who create Factions and strange distractions in the state Who by malignant Councels strive
cast forth a purple flood And drownd in water drownd the waves with blood The waves that by th' forc'd motion wrought so high As they had meant to hang teares i th' Suns hot Eye Who in a maze obscur'd his golden light While clouds of smoak transformd the day to night The affrighted Mirmaids flockt in sholes to see That dissolution of Mortality And as it were in pitty did instead Of their false Charms chant requiems to the dead The seas blew Sexton Triton making graves Did work so hard he sweat amidst the waves And Proteus now a constant visage weares Of sorrow shedding pearles in stead of teares Then what was rich and precious in that Fleet With it the joyfull Conquerours did greet Me at their home returne from these brave broyles As I had beene the temple where the spoyles Of that renouned sea fight ought to be Hung up as Trophees to white victory Nor were all these all triumphs that did fall During this reigne on me then blest White-Hall A thousand ornaments my rooms did gaine Fetcht from the richest Cities of proud Spaine When that same joy of manhood whom his fare Did afterwards render unfortunate Illustrious Essex with auspicious sailes Set forth to th' conquest of Hereculean Cales Where great Alcides fixt his pillars and Writ Non plus ultra to the then knowne Land That City glorying in the Indian ore As low as earth humbled her head before That conquering Earle while her tall towers and spires Burnt as 't were Martyrs in those hideous fires Themselves made for themselves till their huge frames Consum'd to ashes in their owne bright flames Then did I flourish then my spacious rooms Were hung with Arras nay with Persian looms Then did my walls drest in rich colours vie With Roman Pallaces for Imag'ry Mosaick paintings though I 'm now forlorne Did then my costly gilded roofs adorne Statues of Parian Marble such as might The amorous Pigmalion invite To laugh at his dull workmanship did grace My walks and gardens then in every place The wheat crownd Ceres with her head unshorne Freely advanc'd her plenty bearing horne The most delicious viands in full state Serv'd to my tables in huge antick Plate While plumpe Lyaens with green lvie crownd Danc'd up to th' eyes in precious wine a round Through my large Lobbies then those sons of chine And pith the Guard carowsd black Iacks of wine In stead of single beare then did they eat Wiâ—hout controule that emperor of meat The lusty chine of Beefe while I did seeme With magazines of plenty still to teeme Without least feare of barrannesse the spring To me her beauties did as offrings bring The glorious summer and rich Autumne paid Their blessings as my tribute while this maid Was my imperiall mistrisse winter's breath Had not the force to freeze my youth to death Which then like the Arabian yeere was seen With gorgeous face still flourishing and green No civill broile or forraigne feare did fright Me from my daily practise of delight Iustice was then return'd agen to earth Those blissefull times gave no sinister birth To fowle oppressions then within my frame Nere had been heard that so detested name Of a Monopoly nor by Patent made Lawfull were iniuries to every trade But each one then did under his own vine Eat his bread freely and carouse his wine Which knew no Medium then 'twixt those extreams Of white and claret then the common theams Of the glad people were full of joy and praise Of those superlatively happy dayes There were no clamors heard within my gates Of men iniustly rob'd of there estates By powerfull Favourites no faction then Reignd lesse an emulation amongst men Who should doe worthiest things As in a hive The Bees small pallace where each one does strive Which shall most honey to the store-house bring Defllouring those chaste virgins of the spring The azure violets that hang downe their heads While they suck all their sweetnesse from their beds With which their thighes fulfil'd they nimbly flie Carrying that victim of their industry Into the common dwelling where they sing Triumphant peans to their ayrey King So'twas in me each striv'd who should excell Others in acting the States businesse well Who could most frequent by th' worlds eye be seen Ready in service to that virgin Queene No tumults then attempted were by th' rude And many-headed beast the Multitude To whom the present times seeme ever worst Praising the past they never knew they durst Not then in mutinous troops have past by me As if they meant to fright bright Majesty Out of my bosome then there was no strife i th' Common wealth about religion rife But all was peace and justice which then grew Together like the Gemini I knew No gawdy fashions then from giddy France Brought hither since to be the Courts mischance Sick of that forraigne pride whose various dresse Has ushered in effeminate wantonnesse The Lords then in their native habit went Which was as comely as magnificent The Ladies then their genuine beauties ware Ignorant of the imposture of false haire Nor did they their owne red and white attaint With that foule treason against Nature paint But each one striv'd with cunning art to finde New wayes of vertue to adorne their mind Such was my fate so temperate and just It ne'r knew riot nor convers'd with lust Nor did my glories when that virgins breath Expiring seemd to bring the Island death End or diminish A new starre brake forth As bright and quickning from the boisterous North Darting its cheerfull influence through my rooms Which did from mournfull solitary tombs Resume their pirstine lustre when great Iames Had past the Twede to view imperiall Thames Whose swans in stead of their own dirgies sing Triumphant welcomes to the long wishd King Whose each look was a starre and every smile The Sunne that quickned with new life this Isle This Iames who the two Kindomes did unite As happy Henry the red rose and white This Iames the darling and delight of fate Borne for the Solomon oth'British State This King of more then Kingdoms all mens hearts Monarch of letters Emperour of arts When he his happy peacefull reigne begunne What plenteous streames of joy and blisse did runne Through all my veines what a full throngd resort Did beautifie each corner of my Court When armes as uselesse were hung up no jarre Was heard no noise of home or forraigne warre The Muses then did florish and upon My pleasant mounts planted their Helicon Then that great wonder of the knowing age Whose very name merits the amplest page In Fames faire book admired Iohnson stood Up to the chin in the Pierian flood Quaffing crownd bowles of Nectar with his bayes Growing about his temples chanting layes Such as were fit for such a sacred Eare As his majestâ—ck Misters was to heare Whom he so oft pleasd with those mighty tasks Of wit and judgement his well laboured Masks Then those two