found this well formed cabinet Try what rich Iewels are within it set Set wealth apart thou shalt more clearely see His Vertues Riches dazell Iudgements Eye Who weds for wealth she onely wealth doth wed Not Man which got and in possession had Loue languishes yet till ones death shee s forced To liue with him thogh wealth faile yet diuorced They cannnot be so is shee all his life His riches Widow though shee be his Wife That golden Age when sullen Saturne raigned For Vertues loue not Golds the glory gained To be so stil'd it was not then demanded How rich in gold or how that he was landed When they did wooe simplicity had wont be first which now is last in least account With Vertue leading Loue be Wedlocks aime And greatest wealth a pure vnspotted name They liu'd and lou'd then ioying each in other Not fearing that their Mate should loue another Seduc'd by tempting Gold their time they spent Free from distrust or open discontent But the next Age when as our mother Earth Fertile before in voluntary birth VVas sought into and had her bowels torne For hidden wealth then wheÌ„ the keel was worne Plowing the Ocean for his hidden store The sweet content did vanish was before The silly Maide then ignorant of ill Hauing no wealth might liue a Maiden still And die except seduc'd so the poore swaine Though vertuous was streight held in disdaine But yet the Wortâ—…ies that the world brought forth Since that blest Age posponed wealth to worth Great Alexander did disdaine the offer Declining Darius with his Child did proffer Nor Maced's full of Gold nor Eupâ—…rates brim To bound his Empire could innegle him But He for that rather contemn'd his Foe For thinking He could haue beene conquer'd so True worth doth wealth as an addition take Defectiue vertues wants of weight to make Vertues best wealth wherwith he â—…hould be nurst That smell stayes long a vessell seasons first Yet build not there for good natures depraued Are stilâ—… the worst so thou maist be deceiued See that he haue so spent his forepast time That he be free from censure of a crime Youtâ—…s apt to slip but a notorious deed From Nature not from Age doth still proceed And though that Fortune herein oft hath part Yet th'actions still are iudged from the heart Adrastus thinking to reuenge the harmes Of his dead Loue his naked weapon warmes In his brothers bosome too deare bloud to spill Instead of his that did his Lady kill Fleeing to Craesus he him entertain'd VVhere his behaâ—…iour so much credit gain'd As Lydia's hope young Atis Craesus heire He got in charge whom hunting vnaware His haplesse hand vnfortunatâ—…ly slew VVhiles at a Boare his dismall Dart he threw Yet was it thought intention and not chance Till being freely pardoned the offence Lest more disast'rous chances should fall out His own self slaughter cleer'd them of that doubt Thus when opinion hath possest the mind It leaues a deepe impression long behind And they must doe much good that haue done ill Ere they be trusted wer 't by fate or will See Drunkennesse from which all vices spring Doe no way staine him for that still doth bring Contempt disgrace and shame Cyrce made swine Of wise Vlisses fellowes drunke with wine The Macedonian Monarch lately nam'd Is not for worth so prais'd as for that blam'd He in his drinke destroy'd his dearest friend That did fore him his Fathers deeds commend Nor could his after-teares wash off that staine Which doth to blot his actions still remaine For if one would his glorious actions shoe How strong chast valiant mild to captiu'd foe With such braue deeds though he the world hath fild Yet this still stayes He drunke deare Clytus kild No Gamester let him be for such a Man Shall still be looser doe the best he can His mind and money it frets and destroyes And wasts the precious time he here enioyes Some in lesse time vnto some Art attaine Then others spend in Play somes pleasing vaine Will seeme so mild in this deare double losse They outwardly not take it for a crosse But when all 's gone for they but then giue ouer Their smother'd anguish they at last discouer Whereof mans foe the Fiend aduantage takes Whiles on selfe-slaughter'd rockes hee gathers wrakes Examples â—…ereof we may daily see How some by halter some by poyson die And who goe not so farre yet their last ends Contemned need and misery attends For this ill haunts them who to play are bent They seldome leaue till their estate be spent With others sheetes let him not be acquainted They are stil stain'd whoÌ„ once thâ—…t sin hath tainted And neuer hope to haue him true to thee Who hath oft pray'd on chang'd variety Be sure who hath had choice will nere digest To feed on one dish though of sweetest tast And who so strayes loues not but lusts in one Doth Loue delight wheÌ„ that leà ues Loue is gone For Grace and Lust nere harbour in one â—…nne And where Lust lodges euer lodgeth Sinne Which Sinne when it is to a habit growne Not feare of God but Man lest it be knowne Doth stay the execution but be sure Though the Act be hinderd yet the harts impure VVhose Lusts will predomine in time and place Not ouerruld by Godâ—… 〈◊〉 Grace Besides he will be still suspecting thee Though thou beest pure as spotlesse Chastity For vice is euer conuersant in ill And guilty as it selfe thinkes others still Vpon this Earth there is no greater Hell Then with suspecting â—…ealousie to dwell See that his humors as ncere as may be Doe with each humor of thy minde agree Or else contention and dissention still VVill bar your sweet conâ—…ent while the ones will The others doth resist Loue cannot be Twixt fire and water they will nere agree True friendship must expresse twixt man wife The comfort stay defence and port of life Is perfect when two soules are so â—…onfus'd And plungd together which free wil hath chus'd As they can neuer seuer'd be againe But still one compound must of both remaine From which confused mixture nere proceeds Words of good turnes requitals helpes of needs For it is euer after but one soule Which both their wils actions doth controule And cannot thanke it selfe for the owne deeds What is done to it selfe no selfe-louâ—… breeds But this holds not where humors disagree There 's no concordance in disparity See he feare Gâ—…d then will he feare to sinne VVhere vice doth leaue there Vertue doth begin Sinne is nipt in the bud when we doe mind That Gods all light and can in darkenesse find VVhat we can hide from Man the reines heart He searches through knowes each hidden part And each thought long before we cannot hide Our faults from him nor from his censure slide The Wiseman saith its Wisdomes first degree To haue a true feare of the Diety For that makes Honest Honestie 's commended VVhether
no â—…ombe Croeâ—…us hâ—…z one Nor sâ—…ills it much what shrowdiâ—…g sheet they wore For I nere heard that worms the shrowd forbore Because the pompe or state wherein they laide Might by their terror make poore wormes afraide But as on earth great ones did feed on small So worms do feed on great ones most of all Do well then while we liue for being dead Or Fame or Shame our Actions merit meade ¶ Vpon Delia. Thou Delos-sacred-chaste inhabitant For of thy followers Albion haz but scant Plant pray thee heere some house religiously Where we may reuerence spotlesse Chastitiâ—… For since thy ship did from this Iland lance Best gifts we had were fire balls sent from France Coole vs this Climate that seemes to aspire Not by her owne but by a for raine fire That now at last the Albionact may know Th' Delian our friend thogh th'Frenâ—…h noâ—… be our foe In Mydam Miser nemini est bonus sibi pessimus My das would feed on gold vnhappy wretch That starues himselfe to make himselfe more rich 'T is like a painted couer that conueies Each sparkeling obiect to our piersing eies Which while the eies delight in they grow dim Euen so it fares poore miser still with him He feeds on gold for there 's his hearts delight But that same obiect takes away his sight And makes him duâ—…kie â—…ide clouded and blinde Though not in body yet in th' eyes of minde Then this shall stand fixt on the misers â—…oure He liued rich to th' eye but truly poore Nâ—…c copia nec inopia minuitur In Veprem Iuridicum Heere lies Brier a Lawyer true Yet no true Lawyer giue him 's due His cause of sickenesse as I heare Was There 's but foure Terms in the yeare But others thinke and so they may Because he could not long deâ—…ay His Clients suite yong Had-lands cause Which hauing got into his clawes He by renewing of their strife Thought to keep 't for terme of life But AEacus that god of warre Pitcht me thiâ—… Lawyer ouer-barre So in despaire unhappy elfe The Lawyer went and hang'd himselfe ¶ Vpon a Broaker Heere lies a Broaker of Long-lane Who by Pick-hatch Hounsditch got infinit gaine The Pyrats of Wapping were likâ—…wise his friends Bequeathiâ—…g to him their clothes at their ends O hard-hearted death more cruell then any That would not be mou'd at the sutes of so many ¶ Vpon Tacitus Heere lies an old Concealer vnderneath Who hardly could conceale himselfe from death Thus though man â—…e disguis'd in varied formes Conceal'd on earth yet not conceal'd from worms Thou thâ—…n that passest by this seely wretch This morall may experience thee teach There 's nought so hid which in Earths bosome lyes â—…ut fate with pierciue eyes looks through spies ¶ Vpon one Holofeâ—…nus an vnconscionable Vsurer Within this Grate lies one Holofernus His bodie 's in earth but his soule in Auernus Vnder his head lies a bagge of red gold Which both heart and conscience together enfold See worm-holes are sprouting which seems to express They loaâ—…h to feede on an Usurers flesh ¶ Vpon one Gnat. Sleepe on poore Gnat Gnat was thy proper name And thou as properly exprest the same No difference 'twixt thee buried and before Saue that in death thou sleepes in life didst snore ¶ Vpon an Actor now of late deceased and vpon his Action Tu quoque and first vpon his Trauell Hee whom this mouldered clod of earth doth hide New come from Sea made but one face and dide Vpon his Creditors His debtâ—…rs now no fault with him can finde Sith he has paid to nature all 's behinde Vnto his fellow Actors What can you craue of your poore fellow more He does but what Tu quoque did before Then giue him dying Actions second wreath That second'd him in Action and in death ¶ Vpon Loues champion Once did I liue and loue not loue but lust And in loues turnament perform'd my iust But now return'd I am whereto all must Rendring my life loue lust and all to dust ¶ Amor viuat crescat honor inuitis fatis resurgat virtus augeatur pietas foueatur sanctitas altera harum miserijs subuenimus altera Reip. saluti prouidemus Corpus vt perijt creuit virtus Vertue that vs'd to sit enthron'd in state In purple cloâ—…thed not in purple sin Lies heere interr'd for shee 's enshrin'd in him Not prun'd as vicious men by common fate For vertue is of higher estimate Then to subscribe to times abridged date Nor can the clowde of Enuie honour dim For when shee seemes to die shee does begin To raise her glory higher then bâ—…fore Immortaliz'd in Heauen for euermore An happy passage happy pilgrimage Where our Earths conflict wins eternitie Securest harbour of tranquilitie To passe from Earth â—…o Heauen where mutually The Saints of God reioice free from the rage Of sinnes assaults or of this fleshly cage Wherein we are enthrald distressed age That makes vs old in nought saue miserie But pilgrims if for Christ perplexed be Shall liue with him in ioy perpetually Thrice blessed pilgrime that hast spent thy daies In the promoting of thy Countries weale Faithfull in all wherein thou wast to deale Shoaring vpon thy shoulders those decaies Which seem'd to ruinate the state alwaies These blessed actions do deserue due praise Triumphant patroâ—… of thâ—… common-weale Who though she should vnthankefully conceale Those many vertues which thy minde possest Thou needs not feare in Heauen they are exprest True Register where all thy acts remaine In perfect colours liuely shadowed The map of honour well decyphered Where innocence receiues immortall gaine For her pure life polluted with no staine Of earths allâ—…rements Earth cannot containe A vertuâ—…us minde for it will still aspire To Syons hill ascending eueâ—… higher Till shee discerne the fruits of her pure loue By leauing earth to liue in Courts aboue Thou that art here immur'd with barres of earth Returning to the place from whence thou came Shall by thy death perpetuate thy Name Siâ—…h forraine Coasts haue much admir'd the same And though thy foes yet they extoll'd thy worth Being twice noble in thy selfe thy birth Which no succeeding times shall ere raze forth Honour will euer flourish as it was Though not engrauen in faire leaues of brasse For what is Brasse Marble or Iuorie What will auaile tâ—…e Monuments of time When those they represent seeme to dâ—…cline In the Worlds eye in whom our memorie Liues or lies dead O then liue vertuouslie That winnes a Crowne here and eternallie Worlds respects a blast a bud a flower Now sprouting faiâ—…e blasted in an houre But who shall flourish in the Sacred Groue Shall ere stand firme his Scyons cannot moue Liue in this Hearse Death to the good 's no death But a transportance from a Sea of woes To future ioyeâ—… from shipwracke to repose For such as these God for himselfe doth choose Clipping their
Temples with a golden wreaâ—… Infusing in their soules eternall breath Thrice blessed vine that in heau'ns Vineyard growes Whose spreading branches farre more beauty showes Then Sun or Moone or th'purest Element Or any Starre within the Firmameâ—…t Such trees we see bring forth the ripest fruit As planted are vpon the waters side Whose liquid streames their neighbour bankes diuide Euen so where Springs of diuine grace doe glide The seeds of Vertue take the deepest roote Where euery sprig both bloome and fruit sends out A Glorious Haruest wâ—…ich what ere betide Is not by stormes dismaide but fructifide Such goodly trees are plants of Paradise Which bring forth fruit in such varieties And such a â—…ree art thou whose noble stem Did nourish Learning Mineruas friends Thy flowrie blossome in their growth extends And after death some fruitfull gleanings sends From Heauen aboue to Earths-suruiuing men That seeing them might seeke to follâ—…w them But most to such as 'bout the Court attends That vertâ—…ous liuâ—…s may weaue their glorious ends For Uertue was as Ariadnes thread That led the liuing and empales the dead What â—…issing Serpent with her venemous sâ—…ing Can hurt thy vertues which be registred In Heauen aboue where th' art canonized And with the fruits of vertue garnished Shining for euer with the suprâ—…ame King Of glorious Sion where the Angels sing Hymns of delight whose Quires are polished With Saphires Emeralds replâ—…nished With springs still flowing full of sweet delight Not cross'd by shadowes of a gloomie night If we be Pilgrims here as sure we be Why should we loue to liue and liue to die If Earthen Vessels why should we relie With such assurance on our frailtie Since greatest States doe perish soon'st we see And rich and poore haue one communitiâ—… In th' eyes of Fate nor could I ere espie In humaine state ought saue inconstancie Times follow Times motion admits nâ—… rest But in this motion worst succeede the best If loue be said to liue honour encrease Or Uertue flourish in despite of Fate I neede not feare this noble Heroes state Though much pursu'd as 't seemes by publike hate His Ship is harbour'd in the Port of peace Where times succeeding ioyes shall neuer cease Great are they sure which none can explicate And great in worth which none can estimate Thus great on Earth and great in Heauen together Uertue with greatnes makes him heire of either Let this same Epitâ—…ph I consecrate Unto thy Noble Hearse expresse my loue And duty both for both doe me behoue If of my poore endeuours thou approue These lines be th' obsequies I dedicate Which though they come like Seede that 's sowen toâ—… late Yet some in due compassion they may moue To plant more cheerefull tendrells in thy Groue Honour attend thy presence famous Herse Too much obscur'd by my impolisht verse Epitaph Mortis vbi stimulus pro me tulit omnia Christus Consul eram primo tempore Consul erâ—… ¶ A funerall Ode O thou heauen-aspiring Spirit Resting on thy Sauiours meriâ—… liue in peace for encrease Blestâ—… this Iland in thy being Mindes vnited still agreeing Peace possest thee Peace hath blest thee Halcyon dayes be where thou dwellest As in Glorie thou excellest Death by dying Life enioying Richer fraight was nere obtained Then thy Pilgrim-steps haue gained Blessed pleasure happy Treasure Thus many distinct ioyes in one exprest Say to thy Soule Come Soule and take thy rest ¶ Vpon the death of the vertuously affected Sr Thomas Bointon a Knight so wel-meriting as his vertues farre aboue all Titles enstiled him worthy the loue of his Countrey Sadâ—… shadie Groue how faire so ere thou show Reft art thou of thy Teare-bath'd maister now Yet grow thou shalt and mai'st in time to come With thy shed-leaues shadow thy Maisters tombe Which is adorn'd with this Inscription Weepe Marble weepe for losse of Bointon Yet he 's not lost for as the Scripture saith That is not lost for certaine which God hath Ceasse Ladie then with teares your eies to dim He must not come to You but you to Him ¶ Vpon that memorable Act atchieued by an Auncestour of the Cogniers in the discomfiture of a Winged-worme or Snake Whose approach was no lesse obuious then mortally dangerous to the distressed Passenger His Monument remaineth in the body of the church at Sockburn where hee lieth crosse-legged which inferreth his being before the Conquest hauing his Fauchion by his side his Dogge at his feete Grasping with the Snake the Snake with the Dogge the renowmed memorie of which Act addeth no lesse glory to the houses Antiquitie then the worthy Knight who now possesseth it gaineth harts by his affability Câ—…lle sub exiguo iacuit canis vnde peremit Aligerum vermem quo sibi fama venit Quo sibi Famavenit veniet semperque manebit Sidera dum coeli gramina tellus habent Paraphrastically translated Vpon a hill his Gray-â—…ound lay till that his Maister blew His writhed horne at whose approach the winged Worme he slew Whece Fame gaue wings to Cogniers name which euer shal be giueÌ„ So long as grasse growes on the earth or stars appeare in heauen Vpon his Tombe Who slew the Worme is now worms meat yet hope assures me hence Who th'worme ore-threwhe after slew the worme of Conscience ¶ Epitaphs vpon diuerse of the Sages of Greece translated omitting Thales and Solon and beginning with the rest originally traduced from Laertius Vpon Chylo Thankes to the blushing morne that first begunne To decke the Laureat brow of Chyloes sonne Which He old-man as ouer-ioy'd to see Fell dead through Ioy I wish like death to me This Inscription also was engrauen on his Tombe Heere Chylo lies in Lacedemon bred Who 'mongst the Seuen was rightly numbred ¶ Vpon Pittacus whose Tombe was erected by the Citie Lesbos wherein he liued beautified with this inscription to perpetuate his memory Within this Tombe doth Lesbos thee enshrine Drencht with their teares and consecrate as thiâ—…e ¶ Vpon Bias whom Priene with all solemnitie and magnificence at their owne proper cost interred Engrauing these verses vpon his Tombe for the continuance of his Name This well-wrought stone doth Bias corpâ—… containâ—… Who was an honour to th' Ionian Pleading his friends cause as a faithfull friend Pausing to take his breath He breath'd his end ¶ Vpon Cleobulus who was buried in Lyndus which boundeth on the Sea-cliffe the situation whereof is shadowed in this inscription vpon his Tombe That wise Cleobulus should extinguish'd bâ—… Lyndus laments enâ—…iron'd with the Sea So as two Sâ—…as neâ—…re Lyndus 〈◊〉 A Leuant Sea a Sea in Lyndus eies ¶ Vpon Periander of Corinth was this Epitaph ensuing found to be engrauen which through the iniurie of time and want of Art in the impressure was so defaced as by the testimonie of Laertius it could scarce be reduced to Sence yet now according to the Originall faithfully translated including a Christian resolution in a
was well 's peruerted to abuse And though a natiue liâ—… erâ—…ie of choice Be planted in vs Such is Adams Curse We see bâ—…th good and bad yet chuse the worse O Athens sâ—…id that Sagâ—… once wast thou free And wast sincerely wise but thoâ—… hast left Thy perfect Wisedome for Philosophie The loâ—…e of Wisedome and since that bereft Of Wisedomes loue and falâ—…e to Rhetoricke Nâ—…r dost thou leaâ—…e there but that thou mightst erre Oâ—… degree further play'st meere Sophister Albyon that hast thâ—… name of puritie Albyon that 's blest by peacâ—…full gouernment Albyon that 's freed from forraine enmitie Albyon that 's plac'd i th' fruitfull'st continent Albyon that 's temperate in each Element Weigh thy selfe Albion in an equall poize And thanke thy God for that which thou enioies But now thou wandrest silly Prodigall Farther from wit then thou before from grace Whaâ—… am I or whence came I what 's this all This little World this Body but a case To shroud thy soule in what 's thy pilgrimes racâ—… But short and brittle where there 's many run Neuer till then their race is fully done Run Pilgrim run for thou art farre behinde Thy race but short and many staies there be Which will oppose themselues to tempt thy minde Inducing it with pleasures vanitie Vaine pleasure reanes thee of felicitie Let not faire golden Apple force thy stay For Apples were the cause of mans decay What though the world moâ—…e thee to forsake Those preciouâ—… vertues that will leade thee straight Unto that glorious consort which partake Th' eternall beautie and th' immortall light Of Sâ—…ons kingdome Put this foe to flight For none must crowned in â—…hat kingdome be But such as got on Earth the victorie Great Constantine for Great he was iâ—… name And glory had no other monument Or hopefull signe to propagate his fame Then th' Crosse of Christ which from the ayre was sent Encircled with a 〈◊〉 Element Wherâ—…on engrauen waâ—… thou warlike Sonne Take this for in this thou shalt ouercome What signe but this apt to discomfit sin What signall better for sins ouerthrow What greater warrant then the signe of him That was my Sauiour and his loue did show In that for mee his life he did bestow Thrice-happy souldier then that spends thy time Vnder so good a guide so blest a signe Heere shall the Prodigall himselfe repose And by this signe confoâ—…nd his mortall foes FINIS ¶ A compendious Discourse annexed by the Author touching Moderate Weeping behouefull for euerie tenderly-affected Reader who many times offends in the extremitie of this Passion vsing such Immoderation as if Dâ—…ath were no Passage but a Parting this life no Pilgrimage but a dwelling and our bodies of no fraile substance but euerlasting Quid perdis tâ—…mpora luctu Lucan WHen the Roman Princes in their Conquests and publique Triumphs were with acclamations reâ—…eiued and by the generall applause of the people extolled there stood alwayes one behinde them in their Esseds or triumphant Chariots to puâ—…l them by the sleeue with Memento te esse hominem The like we reade of Philip Caesar that and in that onely memorable of Agathocles commanding his Statue to be made with the head and body of Brasse but the feete of Earth implying on what infirme ground this specious Little-world the beautcous Epitome of the greaâ—…er world subsisted True it is that we are to glory in nothing hauing of our selues nothing but Sin which should rather occasion our Shame then our Glorie And this it was which moued that deuout Father to call our life A perpetuall and continuall Repentance habitually if not actually hauing such euident Arguments of our Shame such spirituall eye-sores of sin annoying vs hourely Therefore did Cicero terme it a Punishment Seneca a Bondage Maro a Dreame Pindarus the shadow of a Dreame Plato a Game at Chesse Canius a medley of Cares Mimus an Enterlude of Feares and Zenâ—… a Deceiuing hope of Yeares Thus were the Ethnickes conceited of this life discoursing more diuinely then our imagination can extend considering the palpable darkenesse of that Time wherein they liued Yea if we should but suruey the generall Opinions of all the Pagan Philosophers Poets and Orators we might finde many Christian-like perswasions for our Liues indifferencie singular obseruations to caution vs of our Mortalitie with impregnable Arguments of this lifes infelicitie Yea that I may vse the words of Cicero giuing his opinion of the Tragedies of Euripides As many Verses so many Testimonies be there mouing a Morall by way of Christian Instruction Where for indifferencie because nothing can be taught without examples being ocular and personall and therefore more perswasiue then Precepts we shall see a Theodorus Leena Hiero Phocion Vtican Merula Scapula Petreius and Catulus like generous and true-bred Romans expresse their contempt of life by their free and forward acceptance of Death Nor were women of a lesse resolute temper though more soft and delicate by nature for we shall find them likewise wel read in Platoes Phâ—…do of the Immortality of the Soule where Alcesta chearefully embraceth death for the loue of her Admetâ—…s â—…damia for her Protesilaâ—…s Paulina for her Seneca Arria for her Cecinna Halcyone for her Ceix Iulia for her Caesar Euadna for her Clorio Portia for her Cato Panthia for her Susyus Artemysia for her Mausolus esteeming it a noble death where the act of death purchaseth memorie after death Secondly for Mortalitie we shall reade how the eminentest Princes had the Portraitures of their Progenitors and Auncestors liuely expressed as moouing Resemblances of their owne frailtie which they caused to be curiously engrauen in small portable Tables to represent the intimacie of their loue and breuitie of their life As for example that of Mithridates reserued by Pharnaces his sonne as a Mirrour of humane mutability bearing this tenour Mithridates that victorious Prince who had discomfited in diuers set battells Lu. Cassius Oppius Quintus and Manius Acilius at last ouer come by Sylla Lucullus and vtterly by Pompey for all his infinite treasure in Talauris those many confederate Princes admired his valour and the ample Boundiers of his Kingdome so largely extended for all this his body the poore remainder of so great glorie was buried at the charge of the Romans being sent by Pharnaces in gallies to Pompey The like of Cyrus who translated the Empire of the Medes to the Persians whose Epitaph so passionately was it composed drew teares from Alexanders eyes reading how A clod of earth did coâ—…er the Translator of an Empire and that emphaticall one of the Souldan Saladine sealing vp his graue with a Tandem victus commanding a little before his death that the Generall of his Armie should come vnto him One that had beene his Leader in al the successiue and victorious encounters wherein he euer departed Conquerour during his time to whom he vsed these words Goe saiâ—…h he to the
great Citie Damascus and in stead of a Banner take this sheete this shrowde which thou shalt waâ—…e in the ayre and crie This is all that the victorious Saladine hath left him of all his Conquests Thirdly â—…for the infelicitie of this life diuers Ethnickes haue spoken worthily as Thales who affirmed no difference to be at all betwixt Life and Death and Crates reply who being asked what was the greatest happinesse could befall man answered Either not to be borne or to die sooâ—…e where the entrance to life is Shriking the middle Sorrowing and the end Sighing and better is it to haue no Being then to be miserable by Being confirmed by that sentence of Cneus Dentatus I had rather be dead then liue as oâ—…e dead vacancie from affaires being the graue of a liuing Soule With especiall reason may I seeme to approoue which a spirituall man approues in himselfe of that diuine Oracle The houre of our death is better then the houre of our birth since at the best we are but here in the state of Grace and that is only a glorie inchoate but after in the state of Glorie and that is a grace consummate It might seeme that the Cusani had some superficiall taste of this in bemoning their childrens birth and reioycing at their death but the experience of worldly griefs made them so desiâ—…edly approach their ends for certaine it is Mori velle non tantùm fortis aut miser aut prudens sed etiam fastidiosus potest where our liues louing falles to a loathing and the sacietie of delights being externall and therefore farre from reall breedes a dâ—…staste The consideration of these and many more anxieties whiâ—…h attend man in his Soiorne of Flesh hath no question moued sundry of those diuine Fathers to contemne this life reioycing much in the remembrance of their Dissolution but more especially that ardent and vnfained Loue which they bore to their Redeemer whose glorie that it might be promoted and furthered death seemed to them a singular fauour confirming their loue by the testimony of their faith and such to illustrate our Discourse by instance appeared the affecâ—…ion of blessed Hierome when he publiquely protested That if his mother should hang about him his father lie in his way to stoppe him his wife and children weepe about him he would throw off his mother neglect his father contemne the lamentation of his wife and children to meete his Sauiour Christ Iesus The like appeared the loue of all those glorious and victorious Martyrs during the Ten Persecutions shewing euident proofe of sanctitie in their liues of constancie in their deaths where neyther promise of preferment could allure nor extremest punishment deterre remaining to vse the words of Cyprian as an impregnable rocke amiddest all violent assaults assailed indeede but not surprized threatned but not dismayed besieged but not discomfited appearing like starres in the darke night like greene Baies in the midst of hoarie winter and like liuely fresh fountaines in the sandie Desert I could amplifie this Discourse by instancing the exercise of that Monasticall and Eremeticall life in former time professed and by an austeritie too rigorous for flesh and bloud continued abiding sequestred not onely from all mundane pleasures but euen enemies to humane societie so as rightly might Damascene terme it a kinde of Martyrdome being dead as well to men as to the world but I intend to be short speaking rather by way of admonition then discourse to caution such whose Desires seeme planted on this globe of frailtie accounting death the greatest infelicit incident to man as men incredulous of future good These haue their treasures on earth where they haue indiuidually fixed their hearts for where their treasure is there is their heart also Like I siâ—… Asse idolatrizing their owne gainesse ignorant poore makes how soone they shall bâ—… stript of their imaginarie glorie but these are those filij deperditi sencelesse of Sinne in the Desert of Sinne little knowing how mans securitie is the diuells opportunitie but crying with the Horse-leech More More are not to be satissted till their mouth be filled with grauell whose speedy Conuâ—…rsion I wish before their Dissolution lest Desolation second their Dissolution Yea may this effect worke in them before the day of forgetfulnesse receiue them Moriatur Paulus persecutor Viuat Apoâ—…tolus Praedicator Moriatur Magdalena peâ—…cans viuat poenitentiam agenâ—… Moriatur Matthaeus Publicanus viuat fidelis Dei seruus So shall Death be a passage to a life subiect to no death so entire consolation shall receiue them where their sincere conuersion reclaimed them euer applying this as a chearefull receit to an afflicted ConscieÌ„ce 〈◊〉 est hominis errare nullius nisi insipientis perseuerare in errore True it is that neither Homers vndeâ—…standing though he could reduce what memorable thing soeuer he had read into a golden verse Platoesâ—…it â—…it Aeschynes art of Oratory nor Ciceroes tongue shall preuaile when wee become 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a breathlesse Corps then the hearts sincerity not the excellency of any outward faculty shall bring vs to the inheritance of glory which Saint Augustine compareâ—… to the Sun Pascuntur omnes non minuitur Whence it is that Plato in â—…is Timaeus saith If a man lose his eyes or feete or hands or wealth wee may say of such an one hee loseth something but He who loseth his Heart and Reason loseth all for in the wombe of our Mother the first thing that is engendred or participates forme is the Heart and the last which dieth is the â—…ame Heart and the gift which God craueth of Man is his heart But we haue too farre digressed let vs now returne to those zealous Professors of true Mortification those who laboured in the Spirituall Uineyard and fainted not were persecuted yet failed not were put to Death yet desistâ—…d not from glorifying their Master in their Death All which may appeare by those pregnant places of Scripture I desire to be d ssolued saith Paul and to be with Christ Phil. 1. 23. 24. Neuâ—…rthelesse for me to abide in the flesh were better for yo Neither doth He desire to bee dissolued as weary of suffering vnder the Crâ—…sse of Christ but â—…or the feruent desire he hath to see God in his glorie Againe the faithfull crie euer for the approach of Gods Kinâ—…dome the reward of immortality which with assurance in Gods mercies and his Sonnes passion they vndoubtedly hope to obtain with vehemency of spirit inuoking and inuiting their Mediatour Come Lord Iesus come quickely Reuel 22. 20. Nor doe they ground on a weake Foâ—…ndation Knowing how they that die in the Lord shall rest from their Labour Iohn 5. 24. Reâ—…el 14. 15. O that Man would consider sâ—…ith a religious Father what a sinner loseth to wit Heauen what he getteth to wit Hell whom he offendeth Gods Iustice what he incurreth his vengeance for vengeance is his and heâ—… will repay it Briefly Magna est
death more excite men to die willingly then their expectance after death For this all the Romaine Emperours would haue their Tombcs erected in their life time with all externall osten◅ation and popularitie to intimate a kind of Empire euen in death which may appeare by that which Suctonius speakes in the life of Augustus that before his death the statue which was erected and set vp in his memorie being strucken with Thunder◅ lost the first letter of his Name to wit C. which signified as the Augurs diuined that within a hundred daies immediatelie following he should depart the world Cato in dede who tooke it nobile lethum to die for his countrie and the preseruation of her libertie would haue no shrinc statue nor inscriptiō set vp in his memory supposing his vertues to be sufficient annals and records to eternise his name Of this minde was Phocion the Athenian both Stoicks for their discipline seeming vnwilling to imitate the popular in exterior rites being as they deemed able to expresse their owne liues by their deaths their deaths by their li◅es Which may be the cause that moued Flaccus to contemne all monuments with this resolued security Vnde mihi lapidem c. What auailes it to haue Monuments Stones Shrines or Statues to memorise Vs what skils it to haue labels hung vpon our Sepulchers as those siluer swords of Greece ouer the Sepulcher of Philip those golden Archers of Persia ouer the memorab◅e tombe of Artaxerxes as the same Poet saith N◅n datur em◅sso reditus ◅ibi It is true yet so respectiue should man be of the demerited praise-worthy acts of his Ancestors ◅o ceremoniously careful that their monuments be not in obliuion smothered as no time should be omitted wherein we may as the Orator saith defunctorum memori◅ seruire but with all instance to perfect accōplish the same We reade that the Pagans haue been so respectiue hereof that the monumēts of their parents kinsfolkes haue been no lesse deare to them then their own houses their owne habitations and dwellings Esteeming their reputation to be purchased by the purchase of their Auncestors glory and augmented by the preseruation of their memory Agathocles Prince of Syracuse willing to erect a Monument or Statue in his owne memory to expresse humane frailtie commanded that the head and vpper parts should be made of solid gold but the feete of earth with this Impresse Sic omnia firma An excellent obseruation and caution to put Man in minde of his substance and subsistence constitution and dissolution that standing on no firmer feete then earth no stronger arches then staies of mortality he should euer feare lest so proud a building shou◅d fall being supported by so vnstable and vnable props But for Antiquitie as shee is said to be the warrant of things done the confirmer of things present and president of things to come so oft-times vi◅es haue beene bolstered by her impieties authorized by her and a direction to greater laid open by her I will descend therefore briefely to particularize such Epitaphs vsed by the Ancients which remained for caueats or obseruations in succeeding times As others likewise that moued and excited men to vndertake valiant and couragious exploits in hand We reade that Augustus when he died at Nola being a Towne s◅ated in the middle part of Campani◅ his souldiers to expresse and manifest their loue to him dying as they had done their allegeance to him liuing burst out in seuerall passions of sorrow griefe and pensiue distractions with these speeches O God that he had either neuer beene borne or that he had neu◅r died For th◅ one is an occasion of our misery the other a president of his glory For so great was his loue towards the Citizens that by his owne care and diligence he commanded great abundance of graine to be brought out of Aegypt to sustaine his people welnie consumed with famine Few of the twelue Romane Emperors reade we so excellent and exquisite commendations of saue Titus who receiued this Impresse euen vpon his hearse to be Amor deliciae generis humani Mans darling the Worlds mirror and the flower of all Romane Emperors either before or since being directed and enlightned no further then with the beameling of nature For to recapitulate the natures of all those Princes twixt Augustus the first of the twelue saue one to Titus the last of the twelue saue one we shall see their dispositions variable inconstant dissolute and generally vicious Tiberius taxed for his subtiltie Caligula for his insolencie Claudus for his effeminacie N◅ro for his cruelty Galba for his intemperancie Otho for his inhumanitie Vitellius for his prodigalitie Uespasian for his misery These haue wee charactred which the Romane Annals haue expressed to l◅e such as either merited eternall infamie by their vicious gouernment or due commendation for their many morall vertues wherewith they were endued and inuested Vita mortuorum est in memoria viuentium saith one very well for it renues and reuiues the memory of the dead and makes him liue in name honour and reputation when the sithe of Fate hath pruned him For this all the Romane Emperors haue laboured desiring to become memorable after death Curtius throwing himselfe into the lake Vtican purchasing his liberty by voluntary death Horatius C◅cles throwing himselfe violently into Tyber to preserue his Countries libertie Genitius Cippus subiecting himselfe to death to propagate his Countries glory P. Decius who rushed into the fore-front of the enemies encountring a whole Armie to make his owne memory more famous and illustrious The like of Scipio Affricane who to extinguish that menacing fire of H◅nnibal deuoted himselfe to death for the safegard of his Country These and many more who illustrated their Names by atchieuements done liuing expected without question no little celebration of their name and memory dying and though their opinion reached not to the soules immortality yet they could extend their imaginations thus farre as a famous and memorable death surpassed an infamous and ignominious life wishing rather to die in fame then liue in eternall obscu◅ity Which caused some of disposition vnequall to the former to perpetrate some hainous and en◅rmious crime whereby they might purchase fame euen by infamie Such was Herostratus who burned the Temple of Diana at Ephesus to purchase himselfe a name Such was Turulius who hewed downe the groue that was consecrate to the Temple of Aesculapius to erect him a ship that once Religion as he himselfe auowed might ride on the water And such was Q. Fuluius who to enrich himselfe by sinister meanes tooke from the Temple dedicated to Iuno Lucinia tegulas quasd◅m marmoreas for which he sustained condigne punishment amongst which we may insert that sacrilegious Prince or Tyrant rather for his Empire of Syracuse as it came vnto him by an vsurped succession so it was gouerned by as cruell and tyrannicall a disposition bearding the Gods and
afterwards robbing the Altars and Temples of their sacred ornaments For coming one day to the Temple of Iupiter Olympius and seeing his Image gloriously beautified with a vestment of gold of an exceeding weight and inestimable price commanded it to be taken from him and a woollen garment to be giuen him in the stead of it saying A coaâ—…e of gold was too heauy for him in Summer too cold 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but a woollen garment was fitter for both 〈◊〉 Many oâ—… these haue we recorded by Historians whose liues were no lesse prophane then their ends miserable Vpon all which if we might insist vpon this argument Epitaphs very answerable to their infamous and despicable liues might be produced But we must proceed because this summarie discourse which I haue heere placed and prefixed as a preamble or fore-runner to our Epitaphs following is but intended onely to demonstrate the vse and effect of Epitaphs with their first institution their distinct kinds arising from their primarie vses It is true that there is no necessitie in Sepulchers or specious monuments for coelo tegitur qui non habet vrnam which moued Diogenes the Cynick to bid his friends cast his body vnto the dogges when he was dead and being answered by them that the dogges would teare and rent it Set a staffe by me quoth he and I will beate them from it Yet in this seeming contempt of buriall we shall reade in most of the liues of the Pagans that they were respectiue where they should be interred erecting as in part hath beene mentioned very goodly and glorious Sepulchers in their life times to eternise their memory after death with whom it fared many times as it fared once with Shebna who made himselfe a Sepulcher in one Countrie but was buried in another Hercules we reade to be the first that euer buried such as fell in warre Many ancient Epitaphs we haue by transcriptâ—…on engrauen vpon the monuments of the deceased as in the Northerne parts especially where in the very ruines of time we may see some monumentall inscription inserted to reuiue the memory of the dead As in the warres of the Saxons Picts and Danes no coast being moâ—…e frequent then the North to expresse the memorable acts done in former time as also to set out the very places and circumstances of things atchieued with the manuscripts traduced from former occurrents euen to these present times many curious and serious Antiquaries hauing viewed and particularly set downe the especiallest records heereof with diuers memorable inscriptions happily occurring to their surueigh I will ouerpasse the same lest I should seeme to trifle out my time with an impâ—…ent discourse It is true that a Souldiers resolution eueâ—… fixed on braue attempts and the inlarging of his Countries gloâ—…y should rather aime at fame after death then to erect for himselfe a curious monument in his death which moued Caesar in the plaine of Pharsalie to sâ—…y Capit omnia tellus Quae genuit coelo tegitur qui non habet vrnam And againe that martiall straine of valour Nil agis hac ira tabesne cadauera soluat An rogus haud spectat placido 〈◊〉 receptat cuncta sinu And so concludes the Declamour in Seneca Nature gâ—…es euery man a graue seccnded by old Anthises resolution Nec tumulum curo sepelit natura relictos Yet humanitie requires these finall obsequies not onely in remembrance of our dead friends but euen to manifest the sinceritie of our loues in erecting monuments ouer them dead which might preserue their memory and confirme our affections in their deaths The friends of Cleombrotus surnamed Ambrociat seeing his much lamented end desired much to expresse their loue vnto their dead friend yet withall to conceale the infamie and reproach of his death yet Callimâ—…chus plaied the Epigrammatist vpon his graue whilest his deare friends deplored his vntimely end The Epigram inscribed after the forme of an Epitaph being fixed on his Tombe whence all Epitaphs haue their denomination was this Vita vale muro praeceps delapsus ab alto Dixisti moriens Ambrociata puâ—…r NulluÌ„ in morte maluÌ„ credeÌ„s sed scripta Platonis Non ita erant aâ—…imo percipienda tuo In English thus The yong Ambrociat whilst himselfe he threw From off the wall bad to his life adew Deeming as Plato wrote in death's no woe But he mistooke it Plato meant not soe This booke which mooued Ambrociat to this precipitate attempt is imagined to be Platoes Phâ—…do of the immortalitie of the soule which also by a misconstruction Cato Vâ—…ican apprehending laid violent hand vpon himselfe to free himselfe from the tyrannie and illimited soueraignty of the vsurping Câ—…sar But to our argument propounded We haue shadowed briefely the first branch or kinde which we proposed in the beginning to wit morall Epitaphs being such as conduce to instruction either publike or priuate wherein by the very inscriptions or titles engrauen vpon the Tombes of the deceased some haue beene moued to imitate their memorable liues in actions and attempts of like nature as Caesar in the surueigh of Mithridates Augustus in the surueigh of Câ—…sar Alexander by the monument of Achilles Achilles by the fame-engrauen monument of Patroclus Aenaeas by the renowned Tombe of the matchlesse Hector and Hector by the eternized memorie of Antenor These were morall inducing or exciting Impresses drawing the mindes of the beholders to the management of the like approued and redoubted acts We will now proceede to Epitaphs comming neerer a 〈◊〉 composition excellent for their graue and diuinely mouing sentences pithy for their effect and profitable for their vse That is an excellent one of Scaligers Scaligeri quod reliquum est and that no lesse diuine of Caâ—…us Fui Caiâ—…s Epitaphs of this kinde seeme little affectiue yet include so exquisite a straine as they may rightly be termed diuine surpassing moralitie in description of our mortality they delineate the state of man extenuate his pompe and shew to what end man was created not to be onely but to liue there being an essentiall difference twixt being and liuing as I haue before specified We haue some of these which set out vanity in her naturall colours and imply diuinely what they propound morally Diuers we reade of that fearefull it seemes to commend the writing of their Epitaphs to posteritie would euer be prouided of one in their owne time which to expresse their worth better did not shew or character their worth but in a modest silence describe their owne frailtie shutting vp their fame and memory with a farewell to Earth and Vanitie These be soueraigne cordials to cheere the drouping and deiected spirit such as liue iniuried by time oppressed by greatnesse of enmity and slaued to penurie Such I say as liue obscurely in the eye of the World neither noted nor reputed When the rich-man seeth nothing vpon Croesus graue but a Fui Croesus nor the poore-man vpon Irus then Fui Irus what difference