Svffolks tears, or, Elegies on the renowned knight Sir Nathaniel Barnardiston a gentleman eminent for piety to God, love to the Church, and fidelity to his country, and therefore highly honored by them all : he was five times chosen Knight of the Shire, for the county of Suffolk, and once burgess of Sudbury, in the discharge of which trust, he always approved himself faithful, as by his great sufferings for the freedoms and liberties of his countrey, abundantly appear : a zealous promoter of the preaching of the Gospel, manifested by his great care, in presenting men, able, learned, and pious, to the places whereof he had the patronage, and also by his large and extraordinary bounty towards the advancing of religion and learning, both at home, and in forreign plantations among the heathen.

An Epicedium upon the death of that thrice worthy Knight, Sir Nathaniel Barnardiston, eminent for Piety to God, love to the Church, and fidelity to his Country.

IT's easie for to write an Elegie On common fates, great sorrows stupifie; A toe or finger lost, we can complain, But wounds receiv'd in liver, heart, or brain, (The parts that be architectonical) Oppress the sence, we should complain withall. A cask that nought, but the light air doth hold, Sounds far more shrilly, then one fil'd with gold; Fleet streams are clamorous, the deepest joyes And sorrows, their own depth do keep from noyse. Our losse so vast, as would a country breake, We want both help to bear, and strength to speak. What is't to hear a wife, or children cry, Should such a father, such a husband dye? Or a few mournful Schollars make this moan, Our-dear Mecaenas, our best friend is gone; Th' expences of a sorrow that's thus large, Should be borne out at a whole Nations charge; A publick taxe of grief, whole subsidies Of tears, and freely given, wil scarce suffice. Where are you all, who while he was alive Own'd none but him, your representative? Resound a Barm'stons name, cannot that breath Which silenc'd other Rivals, silence Death? Shal the graves prison your free choyse prevent, And break a priviledge of Parliament?

Tell him, he hath your suffrages, least we Judge you have lost your voyce, as wel as he; But since your tongues avail not, let your eyes Discharge their last debt to his obsequies. Tears have a strong (though silent) eloquence; You cannot speake, yet sigh thus out your sence, Our Patriot is dead, who oft was known, Saving our freedoms, to have lost his own. From right who would not swerve, or conscious wrest, To please a side, or serve an interest; Who liv'd by rule Divine, and human Laws, And did not dread the power, nor court th' applause Of the wilde multitude, but firmly stood To his first principles, and those were good; And as his Tenents, so we may be bold To say, his honours and estate were old. H'was born to both, had no need to desire To warm his hands, by's neighbours house on fire. His plentiful revenues did not rise To higher rates, since taxes and excise; Fames trump sound's forth his ancestours renown, When th' Henries, and the Edwards wore the crown; Mushrooms of Gentry can streight from a blew Be dipt in scarlet, which is honours hue, Yet in his birth and bloud he found a staine, Till 'twas innobled, and he born again. You reverend Divines go on to tell His following story, whom he lov'd so wel. You are Gods Heraulds, and by place design'd, T' emblazon his most noble heav'n-born mind; His faith most vigorous, though crost by sence, Could grasp a promise, eye omnipotence; Through the black clouds, that 'fore the Church were drawn, He could fore-see her day was near to dawn.

The rage of enemies now grown so stout, He judg'd a blaze, before their light went out; His zeal tow'ring aloft to heavenly things, Yet was discreet, had eyes, as wel as wings; Humble in height of place, troubles he knew, Though great, yet just; by bearing, to subdue. His love to Christ, the Church, shone bright as day, Ireland can witnesse, yea America: In all these he enjoy'd the name, and stile Of a true Israelite, and free from guile, Though not from sin, yet in a Gospel sence, Sincerity is counted innocence. This, at his death, caus'd him such peace within, For death scares none, but where it meets with sin. His Noble Lady now disconsolate, Like a true Turtle, which hath lost her Mate, And sad posterity known by their eyes, We do not here invite to simpathize; 'Twere cruelty to straine a bleeding sore, Instead of stanching to provoke it more. Oh, dry your tears up, whilst you stil complain; You only mind your loss, but not his gain; Were't not more love for to rejoyce, as he Doth there, then to wish him our misery? Repine not at his change, would you again Hear him complaining under sin, and pain? We in retired corners melt our eyes In tears, and breath our spirits out in sighs, Whilst he in glory is triumphant; where He never hears a groan, nor sees a tear. Our Muse sings nought but Elegies, his tongue Is now a chanting forth a marriage song. Grieve not at his new honour lately sent, To sit ith' upper house of Parliament,

where all three States agree, and none doth strive For Priviledges, or Prerogative; Before whose bar other great Courts shal come, To give up their accounts, and hear their doom: In this the worlds supream just Council, none Can cause; or fear a dissolution.

Ergo triumphatis inferni finibus, ipsâ Morte exarmatâ, regna superna petis. Quid non fata regunt? senio monumenta fatiscunt; Ipsa{que} cernuntur posse sepulchra mori: Sed pietas & rara sides patriae{que} cupido Fervida vicerunt jura superba necis. Dignum hunc laude virum, lex, plebs, ecclesia, cleru••, Catera si taceas, vivere musa jubet. Cistula diffringi potuit, sed gemma superstes Us{que} nitens, nullo est interitura die. Non is vana fuit ingentis nominis umbra, Praemia sed meritis fama minora dedit. Quem non prava jubens irati principis ardor, Non populi rabies mente quatit solida. Perstitit ut rupes variis vexata procellis, Fixa basi firma, quae tamen us{que} stetit. Heu! vereor ne haec magna domus suffulta columnis, Tam validis, ruptis hisce, misella cadat.

Joh. Owen. Rect. Wrat. par.