The lives of the most famous English poets, or, The honour of Parnassus in a brief essay of the works and writings of above two hundred of them, from the time of K. William the Conqueror to the reign of His present Majesty, King James II / written by William Winstanley, author of The English worthies ...

HENRY KING Bishop of Chichester.

THis Reverend Prelate, a great lover of Mu∣sick, Poetry, and other ingenious Arts; amongst his other graver Studies, had some Ex∣cursions into those pleasing Delights of Poetry; and as he was of an Obliging Conversation for his Wit and Fancy; so was he also very Grave and Pious in his Writings; Witness his Printed Sermons on the Lords Prayer, and others which he Preached on several Occasions. His Father was John King, Bishop of London; one full fraught with all Episcopal Qualities; who died Anno 1618. and was Buried in the Quire of St. Paul's, with the plain Epitaph of Resurgam: But since a prime Wit did enlarge thereon, which for the Elegancy of it, I cannot but commit it to Posterity.

Sad Relique of a blessed Soul, whose Trust We Sealed up in this religious Dust. O do not thy low Exequies suspect, As the cheap Arguments of our neglect. 'Twas a commanded Duty that thy Grave As little Pride as thou thy self should have. Therefore thy Covering is an humble Stone, And but a Word* 1.1 for thy Inscription. When those that in the same Earth Neighbour thee, Have each his Chronicle and Pedigree.

They have their waving Penons, and their Flags, Of Matches and Alliance formal Brags. When thou (although from Ancestors thou came, Old as the Heptarchy, great as thy Name;) Sleepest there inshrin'd in thy admired Parts, And hast no Heraldry but thy Deserts. Yet let not them their prouder Marbles boast, For they rest with less Honour though more Cost. Go search the World, and with your Mattock wound, The groaning Bosom of the patient Ground: Dig from the hidden Veins of her dark Womb, All that is rare and precious for a Tomb. Yet when much Treasure, and more time is spent, You must grant his the Nobler Monument; Whose Faith stands o're him for a Hearse, and hath The Resurrection for his Epitaph.

This worthy Prelate was born in the same Coun∣ty, Town, House, and Chamber with his Fa∣ther; Namely, at Warn-hall nigh Tame in Bucking∣ham-shire, and was Bred up at Christ-Church in Oxford. in Anno 1641. when Episcopacy was beheld by many in a deep Consumption, and ho∣ped by others that it would prove Mortal. To cure this, if was conceived the most probable Cordial to prefer Persons into that Order, not only unblameable for their Life, and eminent for their Learning; but also generally, beloved, by all disegaged People; and amongst these, King

Charles advanced this our Doctor, Bishop of Chi∣chester.

But all would not do, their Innocency was so far from stopping the Mouth of Malice; that Malice had almost swallowed them down her Throat. Yet did he live to see the Restitution of his Order, live a most religious Life, and at lei∣sure times Composed his generally admired and ap∣proved Version of Davids Psalms into English Meetre.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Resurgam