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
merit and desart doth grace Made great by birth and honor not by chance As Fortune's wont her followers to aduance Can better tell these things then I can name them And learne such vaine affections how to tame them Whereby your Predecessors got more grace And more renowne then time can ere deface Combining to your noble house that fame Which liues in you vnblemisht farre from blame And though that I great Lord doe write of that Which Fame the world and time haue wondered at And by aduenturing wrong my shallow wit In ayming at the marke I cannot hit Yet let some gratious censure from your honor Fall on my pen which tooke too much vpon her Since from that streame and fountaine you doe spring As this most noble lady did I sing Her worth impeach't yours must eclypsed bee Which in all things with hers doth co-agree Though my plaine dutie all too meane prefers Yet reade great Lord not for my sake but hers Which was a light to those that farre succeeds For vertuous 〈◊〉 and honorable deeds Who drawes 〈◊〉 such how much more then Need they of vertue store to equall them When springing honor in such tender yeares Vnto the world so fresh and greene appeares What shall we thinke of after comming time But that your glory more and more will shine Where that bright starre within your brest begunne May quickly rise to be a glorious Sunne And in the highest Spheare of golden fame Rides heauens large circuite with your noble name So thriue still honor flourish euer faire Let no clouds rise such glory to impaire Nor your proceedings any whit dismay T'eclypse the beautie of so faire a day But that your glasse at eu'nings watch match may run As faire and cleare as when it first begun Then noble Lord my humble duety spare What wants in me your Honor may repaire And mend those ruinous breaches which my quill Hath fall'n into for want of better skill And I as bound to this shall tune my song Pray heauens true honor may continue long Thus not presuming what may be amisse I pardon craue and make an end with this TO THE RIGHT HONORABLE the Ladie WENTWORTH RIght Honorable ere I doe begin I pardon craue presumption is a sinne Lest I too much vpon my selfe relying May Icarus-like perhaps repēt my flying The plague of many Poets which do think Their owne to be the pure immortall drinke But I that farre inferiour am to them Ascribe no such vain-glory to my pen Nor yet will ouerprize what I do know Is past my skill to iudge or power to show If ought within this little volume lies A worke too weake for your iudicious eyes Which might ' gainst me the smallest fire incense I should be loath to giue so much offence Yet doe not fixe your wrath before you trie And heare great Lady my Apologie Perchance my meannesse barres me of that fauour Which others gaine in as vnworthy labour If that it doth or bare originall birth In sight of heauen is nought or little worth Hee 's no accepter of the noblest blood Aboue the meaner persons which are good All 's one to him his power created all Hee 's great'st with him that on his name doth call The abiects and the out-casts of all things In this prerogatiue may compare with Kings Heauens are not partiall all 's alike respected None for their greatest honor are elected If this be not the cause another yet May hazard what this former could not hit And bid me call in question straight my pen That hath not writ so learn'd as other men Hauing a subiect so repleate with honor And could not shew no better skill vpon her This plunges deeper and hard claime doth lay Vnto my thoughts I know not what to say But since thou can'st not paint nor steale no wit With borrowed shapes or Artes to furnish it In plainest colours thou hast truely pen'd them Vertue and honor need no arte to mend them Besides it was her pleasure minde and will To haue her vertues vnderualued still For it is not so true as common knowne The purest vertues neuer seeke their owne And heauens agree and with their names dispence To grace the truth and leaue out eloquence For he respects the heart more then the tongue Or else we all should doe his Godhead wrong Then if that heauens in this from blame doth free mee Why should not mortals through his glory see mee And set mee free from any scorne and hate Since heauen in all things all should imitate It may be yet another may arise And show it selfe vnpleasing to your eies And that is this the want of wealth and state Which holds too many in disgrace and hate Yet in the sight of heau'ns the poor'st are grac'd And are not for their want of meanes displac'd If the small'st mite or sparke of grace he findes Doth worke at all within their hearts and mindes Nor doth he cast away the poorest slaue From entring in if grace be found to saue But like vnto decayed plants doth cherish Their dying roots and will not let them perish Then noble Lady if that these may claime The least respect and shelter me from blame I shall be glad when first I vndertooke To write to such great minds this little booke Where my too worthlesse duetie more affords Conceal'd within not to be tould in words Accept it Honor then since 't is the first Your greatnesse soone may grac't or make it worse But whether 't is my fortune or my fate I now must take 't repentance comes too late Yet many fauours farre aboue my merit I haue receiu'd from your most noble spirit Which makes me hope that now I shall not misse But likewise be receiu'd and grac'd in this For which I le studie by my best endeauer In faithfull seruice bound fast yours for euer Then noble Ladie deigne to take a view Of those faire vertuous parts and honors true Which faire example left so rich behinde To fill the vertuous storehouse of your minde Whose worthie branches from that tree descended Make honors goe with vertues rich attended Where some of them if all you doe not finde Ingrauen in your honorable minde TO SIR HENRY CROFTS IF that my lines may be at all respected And not for their vnworthinesse reiected Which though too meane faine would remember yet The loue I owe which many doe forget The seruice and the dutie which desires Though your desarts farre greater worth requires To yeeld some thankes by meane endeauors prest You in your better iudgement know the rest From Shepheards cells expect no more to finde Then what may please the best contented minde Our tables are not furnisht with such cost For sumptuous cheere or lofty faire to boast Such as we haue we giue on trust we goe not To entertaine you Sir with that we owe not Nor yet by stealth doe seeke to winne your loue To beare the name of that we cannot proue
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
VERTVES ANATOMIE OR A COMPENDIOVS DESCRIPTION OF THAT late Right Honorable Memorable and Renowned Bedfordshire Lady the Lady CHEANY of Tuddington By CHARLES PIERSE LONDON Printed by William Iones dwelling in Red-crosse Streete 1618. TO THE MOST VERTVOVS AND TRVELY RELIGIous Lady the Lady CROFTS wife to that worthy Knight Sir IOHN CROFTS all health and prosperity in this world and eternall ioy and felicitie in the world to come RIGHT worshipfull or rather Right worthy Lady the title of the former being made more illustrious by the fruition of the latter For honours and dignities are not the precedent cause of vertue but vertue of them I haue I feare assumed too much vpon me and broken the bounds of that old prouerbe â—e sutor vltra crepitum yet worthy Lady on whose fauourable acceptance not on my owne deserts I altogether rely doe humbly craue your Ladiships most gratious protection to shelter me from those malignaÌ„t which might oppose themselues against me I know it wants that beautie hue and amiable aspect which should externally adorne it and make it pleasing in your eyes Yet if your Ladiship please to take a view of the inward truth and sincere deuotion of the heart it may proue as true begotten though not so fairely featured as the rest For as it is in nature so it is in arte much vice may lie hid in faire complexions and much hypocrisie in arte I speake not this good Lady to derogate ought from learned Arts or worthy wits inriched with eloquence whereby my impouerished and naked lines should bee clothed with their garments but that I feare the hard ceÌ„sures of these ill spokeÌ„ times as much as I hope to receiue some fauorable coÌ„struction froÌ„ your worthy selfe If any put out a Quaere and aske me why I wrote this booke I could alledge many reasons but I cease to erect too large a portall to so small a structure I had rather my booke should be abstracted then detracted Giue me leaue therfore rather in few words to expresse what I would then in many what I could speake Since so many whose loues depend vpon your Ladiships desarts doe offer vp gifts a testimony of the loue they owe which haue of long time knowne your most free and gentle dispotions and seene the vertuous inclinations of your minde I could not chuse nor in common Christianitie do any lesse if no other bound affection nor duetie had moued me but shew some thankfulnes with the rest though satisfaction I cannot giue with the best I haue therefore presumed to present vnto your Ladiship not such as your honor doth deserue or as I desire or as my duety and the subiect of my booke doe require but such as my small ability or rather inabilitie could prepare to offer vnto you for hauing no need of externall gifts I giue the internall gifts of the minde as a free thought a lame sacrifice not worthy to be recorded with those great ones which could cast aboue a widowes mite into the treasurie or offer vp vnto their master more then a cup of cold water Reade it most pious Ladie if ought be in it worthy the least respect or fauour it is not mine but her honors and your Ladiships from whose most pure eminent vertues this dimme and darke candle of mine tooke her first light Some may hold it a disparagement to her honor because est ab indigno others may iudge I write truely but not sufficiently both are right for silent duety though in it selfe it is commendable yet in respect of others it winnes more loue being actiue laus virtutis actio and for the other what my weake skill doth deny yet my vrging will supply vltra posse non est esse What should I speake of your Ladiships free and bounteous disposition What should I speake of those ornaments and graces you are both inwardly outwardly indued with which with as many tongues as Argus had eyes spread abroad your deserued worth that I cannot tel whether our soyle more iustly admires you or inwardly desires you Where vertuous life faire children happie state Doe all concurre to make you fortunate And whereas many will hereafter minde you Blest in the issue that you left behinde you In which most fruitfull buds as may out-liue you Your worth and yours a double life may giue you Where though your soule had reacht eternitie Your name on earth may liue and neuer die So thriue faire Lady and flourish euer in those faire pathes of vertue that as it was a blessing to Dauid that one of his seed did inherite his earthly Throne so it may be a greater blessing to your Ladiship that many of your seed should inherite the Throne eternall It was not so great a glory for Salomon to inherite his Fathers Kingdome as his Fathers holinesse and vertues Then how much Madam may you reioyce in eyther that yours enioy not onely much temporall honors and blessings but also are indued with many gifts and graces of the Spirit great louers of vertue and imbracers of true religion and piety Long may they so continue to your Ladiships full ioy Long may they all liue and grow old in honors and vertues and with that Poet euer wish Fortunati omnes si quid mea carmina possunt Nulla dies vnquam memori vos eximet aeuo Thus humbly intreating your good Ladiship to accept this my first and meane labour vnder whose wings it most hopefully trusts I rest Yours all too meane and farre vnworthy seruant but not least deuoted Charles Pierse TO THE RIGHT HONORABLE LORD THE LORD WENTWORTH WHen meannes speakes and honors balance weighes him Had need speake well for feare his tongue betrayes him Lest vndiscerning there discouered lies Some marke of folly to iudicious eies Euen so great Lord my timerous quill proceeds Much like a scholler that his lesson reades Before his awfull master trembling still Whether vnkind he said it well or ill So like that pupill I the lists doe enter More bold then wise to giue the perilous venter And cannot tell what dangers may ensue Did not I hope much honor lay in you Not like that Fortunes brood whose ayrie spirits Doe mount them Icarus-like aboue their merits Where when their flight's at highest rise of all The Sunne doth melt their wings and then they fall Or like Narcissus who did fondly looke On his owne shadow in a crystall brooke And doting on 't stept neerer to haue kist it Where he fell in and drown'd himselfe yet mist it Euen so this world which these faire streames behold Build their attempts vpon such hopes too bold Making the drossie substance of this earth The greatest cause of honor and of birth Some louing honors so buy them to make them Better contented they that can forsake them Yet our best natures faile in this and vse them Hee 's a rare man that proffer'd can refuse them But you great Lord descended of a race Which vertue
which most hold is tru'st gentility But let them haue it I will not contend Their honors may deceiue them all i' th end Great King of heauen and earth how shall I speake Which am but dust and ashes vnto thee When my soules faculties are all too weake Once to conceiue the meanest thought of thee And yet thou tearmst thy selfe but Sonne of man Which vild wormes scorne whose glorie 's but a span Ambitions age can Auarice blinde thee so To build such castles in vncertaine ayre What can your honors powers and riches doe For age and death thei 'le leaue you to despaire Where thou canst not redeeme an howers time Though al the goods in thousand worlds were thine Thinke yee to buy his fauour with a price Or fee him with so many golden mines Can any let sinne purchase paradise Or giue sufficient ransome for your crimes Oh no these dreames doe but your senses tickle For in that hower all that you hau's too little Reuerse your error let not these molest you Why should faire falshood blinde your mentall eies That it may once be said vertue possest you Wherein the truest fame and honor lies For smal's that greatnes poore weak's that glory Which hath his trust vppon things transitory Then seeke not to enrich posterity With an oppressing hand and cruell might Nor build your houses vp by tyranny Nor take possession of the poore mans right Lest Achab-like in buying so you sell Your house your soule and all you haue to hell VVhat profit shall your tired soules receiue Of all these riches you haue heap'd together VVhen in a moment you must take your leaue Of all your store and goe you know not whither Your childrē shew your wealth the world your shame And all doe hate the memory of your name Most odious euer hated of God and men Accursed riches which will waste in vsing Vnluckie and vnblessed issue then VVhen all you haue is purchas'd by abusing Your parents knew not that their goods ill gotten Their heires wold spēd whē they were dead rottē Oh what a ioyfull thing 't is to behold Heires to succeed their fires in vertuous lore And striue their houses honor to vphold VVith greater glory then it had before Studying by noble deeds t' inrich their name To their immortall praise and endlesse fame But ah I feare what I would not mistrust That heires to prodigall vices rather turne And leaue their honors trodden in the dust The losse whereof some ancient houses mourne Not liuing like themselues in birth but slaues Burying all vertue in their fathers graues The cause of which great waste and fall of heires I iudge the impious times of wretched fathers VVhose auaritious thoughts and greedie cares To fatten them and theirs vniustly gathers And waste their braines in studying day and night To purchase that which is anothers right Oh why should these be grac'd why should a pen Dip'd in the purest liquor of those springs Attend the earthly glory of these men VVhich shame vnto the truest honor brings As we doe see Fame none so much doth boast As those whose liues haue tyranniz'd it most If these vnto such fortunes haue attain'd Built on the slippery ground of fading Fame Then what great glorie shall thy honor gaine Or what sufficient pen can praise the same If Vice with Tombes and Epitaphes is renown'd VVherwith shal thy rare vertuous deeds be crown'd If out-side honor if vsurped greatnesse If painted pictures of Iniquitie Can haue their praises sung with wondrous sweetnesse Which nere deseru'd the meanest dignitie VVhat shall the true bred honor of the minde Adorn'd with vertues excellencies finde Did not thy ventures challenge from Fames wings One quill or pen t'immortalize thy name Is any enuious Serpent left that stings Or can with th'smallest tincture touch thy fame Are not thy vertues and thy honors blest VVith as great grace and glory as the rest Then why should not some worthy spirits vprise And with vndaunted quill her honor sing VVhy should they not her worth and vertues prise As high as theirs which from corruption springs Whose shame 's their glory their aime's their stain At nought but worldly things and glory vaine No worthy Lady doe not thinke a Tombe Can thy fresh memory from this world diuide Nor thinke that this earths all-deuouring wombe Within her bowels can thy vertues hide Nor wrong thy merits nor arrest thy worth Which spite of Time will spring and flourish forth That monumentall white faire marble Tombe Cannot containe thy noble deeds and merits When all the world is knowne too little roome To comprehend in bounds thy boundlesse spirit But still shall time with vs be euer telling Ages to come thy vertuous life excelling Nor doe not thinke though in corruptions bed Thy body lies interr'd at Tuddington That therefore thou art quite forgot and dead Or from our memories cleane exil'd and gone No no thy name and fame againe will raise thee And spite of death will make the world to praise thee No 't was decreed of euerlasting fate That vertue should endure and neuer die Made to out-liue Times rage and longest date Writ with a pen of sure eternitie Where if the Muses faile her worth to raise Then babes and sucklings will speak forth her praise Which hath induc'd my infant Muse to write My suckling wits which all too meane presumes Where if that learning cannot well indite How shall I doe with these impolish'd tunes But hope the best for euils come soonest then When least suspected and deseruing them Then launch into the Ocean of her honor So rare a Phaenix and our countries wonder Thy Muse I doubt much merit will take from her Or else her silly backe will split asunder Yet beare the sayles vp heauens may send a winde T' inspire me how to praise her vertuous minde Which they that true religion pure and blest Not mixed with Idolatrie nor defil'd Whose vertuous life and deeds did her professe An Israelite true in whom there was no guile Imbracing of the sacred truth in loue From which no worldly cares could her remoue That sought to know and learne those artes Diuine Which onely vnto true saluation tend And therein much did exercise her minde To profit by the truth which all defend Misplacing errors which doe seeke to blinde The way of truth in selfe-affected minde No verball but a mentall true profession Ingrauen in her honorable brest Wherein it tooke most sure and deepe impression That grace and honor heere did euer rest Making the one illustrious by the other As if they were both twins sprung from one mother And surely so they are as neere allyed Who wins their honors by their vertues first Can witnesse well their noble deeds haue tried Though Fortune now bestowes them on the worst 'T is but externall honor they doe winne Whose houses end before they doe beginne For thou Religion art a seely sound Accounted in these nice
and red But vpstarts now haue tooke that glory from her Most imitate the fashion few the honor But she which for this vertue liues a wonder Lashes not loosly into such extreames But keeps without constraint her greatnesse vnder And with her honor and her state dispneses Fitting her habit euer to her minde Most ciuill modest pure of vertues kinde She decks not out with gawdy ostentation This earthly substance to be gaz'd vpon No new inuentions and disstinguish'd fashion These changing times can tempt her to put on But liues alone makes vertue all her gaine Despising worldly pompe and glory vaine She couets not this popular admiration The which ambitious nations most desire Nor makes her glory this worlds reputation Which sets the heart of men so much on fire Nor stands on honors titles nor renowne Whose broken trust hath cast a number downe 〈…〉 Nor doth she spend her time like some of those In dressing trimming varnishing of beauty Wherein too many doe such trust repose They cleane forget all heauenly loue and duty And spend their deerest howers and sweetest daies In flourishing that faire which soone decaies Nay which is worse a lamentable case Some new complexious and adulterous art They can deuise to paint their fading face And helpe that worke which nature doth impart Whose dambd inuentions seekes to mend that hew Whom heauen at first did make most best and true And pamper vp the flesh in all delights And sooth their pleasures in what they doe craue Which in vaine studies spend whole daies and nights What diet fashion and attire to haue Consuming halfe their time in flattering glasses To idolize that which is dust and ashes Which trim and dresse with artificiall shapes Their painted bodies like to rotten combs And onely but for worldy glory gapes As if they sprung not from corrupted wombs But had some priuiledge both from heauen nature To be adored like Gods not mottall creatures Whose proud ambitious thoughts do swell so high They thinke no mortall worthy to come neere them But they must crouch or kneele submissiuely Their looks and greatnes makes them so to feare them That scarce a furlongs distance will content them f prostrate duty be not done and sent them Nay when they'aue done the best and all they can If grace speech action doth not well adorne him And rarest gesture art can giue to man The 'le hold him for a seruile clowne and scorne him His duty and behauiour comes far short To grace such honors as attends the Court. Yee glorious heau'ns to whom all honor 's due Yee blinde vs not to such strict seruice here So that our hearts be firme vpright and true And your great reuerent name doth loue and feare These outward duties yee did ne're require Which greatest bloods and mightiest men desire Yet there be duties would but true ones serue them That none in humaine iustice can deny For to be giuen to those that best deserue them And keepe their thoughts from mounting vp too high But if they once abuse them dutie flies And flatterers straight doe sooth them vp with lies VVhat will this age come to will it not burst With vice and sinne and split it selfe a sunder Can patient heauens forbeare their lingring curse And not with speedy vengeance quickly thunder Then truth and conscience iustice loue and pitty Fly quickly hence to that eternall citty For here is no respect nor friendship dwelling For any of you clad in pouerty It is ingrost quite vp by all mens telling Within the closset of eternitie Where they doe dwell sithence as little worth Till Christ doth come againe to iudge the earth Art thou a Lady great in birth and honor Art thou of state ranke meanes to equall others Then why should'st thou take any glory from her Or by obscurity thus thy greatnesse smother Is there a better honor bred within thee That from these worldly honors thus can win thee Yet Lady had thy neuer ranging eye Tooke but a viewe of what they might behold How many vanities might they soone descrie Which nature needs not dayly to be sold Where more spent far in superfluitie Then would some nature in necessitie But thou which from these vaine delights didst flie And little knowes the vices of these times Clos'd vp in one roome from societie In better studies and in arts diuine Didst shew thy temperance from all worldly ioyes And those false baytes which many minds annoyes Thus didst thou spend thy pretious howers and time In reading vertuous and most sacred bookes And truly seruing of the powers diuine Nor to these worldly vanities once lookes Wherewith thou hadst continuall warre and strife Which crownes thee such a meritorious wife Her senses were not organs vnto folly Nor conducts to receiue in vanitie These outward entrances she kept more holy And not expos'd to worldly amitie But for heauens zeale and glory stopt those sluces And bars the passage which might cause abuses Nor did her eares itch after nouelties Nor yet inquisitiue was in curious matters But ere restraine those powers and faculties From smoth tongud Gnatoes which are vs'd to flatter Whose whispring tōgues if that they once come neer thē Will strait infect them if they deigne to heare them And like to hony drop into their eares That poyson which soone swell ambitious spirits That nothing else they doe desire to heare But their owne praises honors worth and merits And rockt asleepe in their securitie Make themselues equall to the deitie Oh had but great men or great princes courts Bene free from this how happy had they bin Such treasons massacres and plots of sundry sorts None had contriu'd to snare the mighty in They might haue stept securely without feares Had not this rancker crept into their eares Oh snare to honor stayne to noble blood Thou great disease obsequious adulation Which Vulter-like doest feede vppon the good And preys vppon them in so faire a fashion That thou doest bite by fawning kil'st by smiling Strangl'st by loue and by most trust beguiling But she which loues not no such Sirens singing Doth tune far better musick to her minde And knowes those rare contents cōforts bringing With all those ioyes which those that proue them finde Whilst many cares and troubles vext their spirits Which hunt for praise and glorie vaine inherits And waste their bodies and their soules together To compasse here this windy blast of praise Which hauing got they haue but caught a feather And like to smoake and vapours soone decaies But those whom truest fame and vertue raises Ne're luls themselues a sleepe with their owne prayses Pardon great Lady my vnworthy quill That it should doe thy name and honor wrong And looke not to my art but to my will Which more affords then can be told with tongue What learning wants let something else supply I know his pitch is for my reatch to high She that did liue so long and rule alone And fairely did