Remaines concerning Britain their languages, names, surnames, allusions, anagrammes, armories, monies, empreses, apparell, artillarie, wise speeches, proverbs, poesies, epitaphs / written by William Camden ...

CERTAINE Proverbs, Poems, or Posies, Epi∣grams, Rythms, and Epitaphs of the English Nation in former times, and some of this present age.

A

• A Bow long bent at last waxeth weake.
• A high building a low foundation.
• A broken sleeve holdeth the arme back.
• A Cat may look upon a King.
• A Carrion Kyte will never be a good Hawke.
• A close mouth catches no flyes.
• As good lost as found.
• A curre will bite before he barke.
• A dog hath a day.
• A friend will help at a dead lift.
• A dog will barke ere he bite.
• Agree, for the law is costly.
• A fools bolt is soon shot.
• A fool and his money is soon parted.
• After meat mustard.
• A friend is not so soon gotten as lost.
• A friend in Court is worth a penny in purse.
• A friend is never known till a man have need.
• A good man can no more harme, than a sheep.
• A goold tale ill told, in the telling is marred.
• A good Jack, maketh a good Gill.
• A good neighbour, a good morrow.

• A grunting horse and a groaning wife never fails their Ma∣ster.
• Age and wedlock tames man and beast.
• All is well that ends well.
• A hard beginning hath a good ending.
• A hard fought field where no man scapeth unkild.
• A hastie man never wants woe.
• A hony tongue a heart of gall.
• All is not gold that glisters.
• A leg of a lark is better than the body of a kyte.
• A little pot is soone hot.
• A shrew profitable, may serve a man reasonable.
• As long liveth a merry man, as a sad.
• As the old cock croweth, so the young followeth.
• A long harvest of a little corn.
• A low hedg is easily leaped over.
• A man is not so soone healed as hurt,
• A man far from his good, is nigh his harm.
• A man may buy gold too dear.
• A curst dog must be tyed short.
• A flye hath a spleen.
• A man may love his house well, though he ride not on the ridg.
• A man will not lose a hog for a half penniworth of tarre.
• A man will be a man though he hath but a hose on his head.
• As welcome as water into a ship.
• A mussled Cat was never good mouser.
• A light burthen far heavy.
• An old ape hath an old eye,
• A proud mind and a beggers purse goeth together.
• A rouling stone gathers no mosse.
• A young Serving-man, an old beggar.
• A word enough to the wise.
• A young Saint, an old divell.
• All is well that ends well.
• A man may well bring a horse to the water, but he cannot
• A make him drink without he will.

• An ill weed growes a pace.
• An old Cat laps as much milk as a young.
• A mouse in time may bite a two a cable.
• A piece of a Kid is worth two of a cat.
• A penniworth of ease is worth a penny in a mans purse.
• A poore dog that is not worth the whistling.
• As proud comes behind as goes before.
• A proud horse that will not bear his own provender.
• A pound of care will not pay an ounce of debt.
• A scald head is soone broken.
• A false knave needs no broker.
• A scald horse is good enough for a scab'd squire.
• A short horse is soone curried.
• A swine over-fat is cause of his own bane.
• A traveller may lye with authority.
• A wonder lasteth but nine dayes.
• After black clouds clear weather.
• After a storme comes a calme.
• All is fish that comes to net.
• After dinner sit a while, after supper walk a mile.
• All covet, all loose.
• As fit as a pudding for a Friers mouth.
• All shall be well, and Jack shall have Gill.
• All is not gold that glisters.
• All is well that ends well.
• An ill cooke cannot lick his own fingers.
• An inch breaketh no square.
• An inch in a miss is as good as an ell.
• An old dog biteth sore.
• An old sack asketh much patching.
• An unbidden guest knoweth not where to sit.
• As a man is friended, so the law is ended.
• As deep drinketh the goose, as the gander.
• As good to play for nought as work for nought.
• Aske my companion whether I be a thief.
• As I brew, so must I needs drink.
• A white wall is a fooles paper.

• As good sit still as rise up and fall.
• As soone goeth the young Lamb-skin to the market, as the old yewes.
• All the proofe of a pudding is in the eating.

B

• BAtchelers wives, and maids children be well taught.
• Backare quoth Mortimer unto his Sow.
• Bate me an ace of that, quoth Bolton.
• Be it better be it worse, do you after him that beareth the purse.
• The black Oxe hath not trod on his foot.
• Bare walles makes giddy huswives.
• Better fill a gluttons belly than his eye.
• Beggers should be no choosers.
• Believe well, and have well.
• Better be envied than pittied.
• Better children weep, than old men.
• Better eye out, than alway ake.
• Better fed than taught.
• Be as be may is no banning.
• Better half a loafe than no bread.
• Better late than never.
• Better leave than lack.
• Better one bird in the hand, than ten in the wood.
• Better sit still, than rise and fall.
• Better a louse in the pot than no flesh at all.
• Better spare at brim, than at bottome.
• Better to be happy than wise.
• Better coming to the latter end of a feast, than the begin∣ning of a fray.
• Better to bow, than break.
• Better to rule, than be ruled by the rout.
• Better unborn, than untaught.
• Better be an old mans darling, than a young mans warling.
• Better a bad excuse than none at all.
• Between two stooles the tayle goeth to the ground.
• Beware of had I wist.

• Beware the geese when the Fox preaches.
• Birds of a feather will flock together.
• Black will take no other hew.
• Brags a good dog.
• Blind men should judg no colours.
• Bought wit is best.
• By wisdome peace, by peace plenty.
• Burnt child fire dreads.
• By scratching and biting, cats and dogs come together.

C

• CAt after kind.
• Cunning is no burthen.
• Change of women makes bald knaves.
• Change of pasture maketh fat calves.
• Children and fools cannot lye.
• Children and chickens are alwaies feeding.
• Children learn to creepe, ere they can goe.
• Christmas cometh but once a year.
• Claw a churle by the arse, and he shiteth in thy hand.
• Close sitteth my shirt, but closer my skin.
• Cloudy mornings turn to clear evenings.
• Cut your coat after your cloath.
• Cu st Cowes have short hornes.
• Courting and wooing bring dallying & doing.
• Can Iack an Ape be merry when his clog is at his heele.

D

• DEare bought, and farre fet are dainties for Ladies.
• Dinners cannot be long where dainties want.
• Doe well, and have well.
• Draffe was his errand, but drink he would.
• Dogs barking aloofe, bite not at hand.

E

• ENough is as good as a feast.
• Eaten bread is forgot.
• Early pricks that will be a thorne.
• Ever drunke, ever dry.
• Even reckoning maketh long friends.

• Every Cock is proud on his own dunghill.
• Every man as he loveth, quoth the good man when he kist his Cow.
• Essex stiles, Kentish miles, Norfolk wiles, many men be∣guiles.
• Every man basteth the fat hog.
• Every man cannot hit the nail on the head.
• Every man can rule a shrew save he that hath her.
• Every man for himself, and God for us all.
• Every one after his fashion.
• Ever spare, and ever bare.
• Evill gotten goods never proveth well.
• Evill gotten, evill spent.
• Evill will never said well.
• Every thing helps quoth the Wren when she pist in the Sea.

F

• FAint heart never wonne fair Lady.
• Fare on softly goes far.
• Few Lawyers dye well.
• Few Physicians live well.
• Fast binde, fast finde.
• Fair words, make fools fain.
• Fair words hurt not the mouth.
• Few words to the wise suffice.
• Fish is cast away that is cast into dry pools.
• First come, first served.
• First deserve and then desire.
• Folly it is to spurne against a prick.
• Foul water as soon as fair will quench hot fire.
• Foul in the cradle, proveth fair in the saddle.
• Fools with fair words are pleased.
• Frost and fraud have alwai••s f ul ends.
• Friends fail flyers.
• Forsake not the market for the Tolle.
• Fools set stools for wi••e folks to stumble at.
• Fools lade the water, and wise men catch the fish.

G

• GIve an inch, and you will take an ell.
• Give a dog rost, and beat him with the spit.
• God never sendeth mouth, but be sendeth meat.
• God sendeth cold after cloaths.
• God sendeth fortune to fools.
• God sends meat, the divell sends Cooks.
• Good wine needs no Bush.
• God sendeth the shrew'd cow short horns.
• Good words cost nought.
• Goes much water by the Mill, the Miller knows not.
• Good riding at two ankers, men have told: for if the one fail, the other may hold,
• Give gave is a good fellow.
• Good to be mery and wise.
• Great boast small rost.
• Great barkers are no biters.

H

• HE that will live in peace and rest, must hear and see and say the best.
• Half a loaf is better than no bread at all.
• Half warm'd, half arm'd,
• Happy man be his dole.
• Hast maketh wast.
• He can ill pipe that lacketh his upper lip.
• Hang the bell about the Cats neck.
• He dances well to whom fortune pipes.
• He mends as sowre ale mends in Summer.
• He that will have a Hare to breakfast, must hunt over night.
• He that hath time, and looks for time, looseth time.
• He that is affraid of every grass, must not piss in a medow.
• He that hopes for dead mens shooes, may go long bare∣foot.
• He spent Michaelmas Rent in Midsummer Moon.
• He knowes on which side his bread is buttered
• Hold with the Hare and run with the Hound.
• Hungry dogs will eat durty puddings.

• He loseth the market for the tolle.
• Hunger breaks stone walls.
• He that kisses his wife in the market place shall have ma∣ny teachers.
• He will play small game, before he will sit out.
• He that goes to sleep with dogs, must rise with fleas.
• He that is man'd with boyes, and horst with col s, shall have his meat eaten, and his work undone.
• He loveth well sheeps flesh, that wetteth his bread in the wool.
• He laugheth that winneth.
• He may ill runne that cannot goe.
• He must needs goe that the divell drives.
• He must needs swim that is held up by the chin.
• He runneth far that never turneth again.
• He that commeth last makes all fast.
• He that commeth last to the pot, soonest wroth.
• He that hath an ill name is half hanged.
• He that hath plenty of good shall have more.
• He that goeth a borrowing, goeth a sorrowing.
• He that reckons without his Host must reckon twice.
• He that hath but a little, he shall have less and he that hath right nought, right nought shall possess.
• He that is borne to be hanged, shall never be drowned.
• He that killeth a man when he is drunk, shall be hanged when he is sober.
• He hath need of a long spoone that eateth with the divell.
• He that striketh with the sword shall be beaten with the scabberd.
• He that buyes a house ready wrought, hath many a pin and nayl for nought.
• He that will not when he may, when he would he shall have nay.
• He that worst may, must hold the candle.
• He that winketh with the one eye, and looketh with the o∣ther, I will not trust him though he were my brother.

• He that playes more then he sees, forfeist his eyes to the King.
• He that mischief hatcheth, mischief catcheth.
• He that makes himself a sheep, the wolf will catch him.
• He is proper that hath proper conditions.
• Hold fast when you have i.
• Honours shou••d change manners.
• Home is homely.
• Hope well and have well.
• Hot love soon cold.
• He that will not be ruled by his own dame, must be ruled by his step-dame.
• He casts beyond the Moon, that hath pist on a nettle.
• How can the fole amble when the horse and mare trot?
• Hunger maketh hard beans sweet.
• Hunger pierceth stone walls.
• Hunger is the best sauce.
• He is happy can beware by others harmes.
• He who hath a good neighbour, hath a good morrow.
• He that sees his neighbour's house a fire, must take heed to his own.

I.

• IAck would be a gentleman if he could speak French.
• If you eate a pudding at home, the dogge shall have the skin.
• If every man mend one, all shall be mended.
• Ill gotten ill spent.
• Ill egging make, ill begging.
• Ill putting a naked sword in a mad mans hand.
• Ill weeds grow fast.
• It is ill to set spurs to a flying horse.
• In love is no lack.
• It is good to hold a candle before the divell.
• It is bet er be spited then pittied.
• It is better to see a clout then a hole out.
• In space commeth grace.
• In trust is treason.

• It chanceth in an houre that happeneth not in seven year.
• It cometh by kind, it cost them nothing.
• It is bad cloath that will take no colour.
• It is a fou e bird that defileth his own nest.
• It is an ill wind that bloweth no man good.
• It is a good horse that never stumbleth.
• It is better kiss a knave than to be troubled with him.
• Ill newes comes too soone.
• It is better to be unborne than untaught.
• I scratch where it itches not.
• It is not good jesting with edge tooles.
• It is better to be a shrew than a sheepe.
• It is easier to descend than to ascend.
• It is evill waking of a sleeping dog.
• It is good fishing in troubled water.
• It is good to beware by other mens harmes.
• It is good to be merry and wise.
• It is good sleeping in a whole skin.
• It is better late than never.
• It is true that all men say.
• It is good to have a hatch before the dore.
• It is hard halting before a criple.
• It is hard to wive and thrive both in a year.
• It is hard striving against a streame.
• It is ill coming to the end of a feast & beginning of a fray.
• It is too late to grieve when the chance is past.
• It is an easy thing to find a staffe to beat a dog.
• It is ill fishing before the net.
• It is ill healing of an old sore.
• It is merry in hall when beards wagge all.
• It is merry when knaves meet.
• It is not all butter that the cow shites.
• It must needs be true that every man saith.
• It is shaven against the wooll.
• It is hard to teach an old dog tricks.
• Ill luck is good for something.
• It is an ill dog not worth whisteling.

• If the Lions skin cannot do it, the Foxes shall.
• It is better to give the fleece than the wooll.
• If wishes were Thrushes, then beggers would eat birds.
• It pricketh betimes that will be a good thorne.
• It is not good to have an ••are in every mans boate.
• It will not out of the flesh ••hats bred in the bone.
• It is good to strike while the iron is hot.
• I will not buy a pigge in a poke.

K.

• KIck not against a prick.
• Kissing goes by favour.
• Keep the Wolf from the dore.
• Ka, me, ka thee.
• Kindness will creep where it cannot goe.
• Keep bayard in the stable.
• King Harry lov'd a man.

L.

• LAy no pearle before swine.
• Leave is light.
• Light gains makes a heavy purse.
• Like will to like,
• Little said soon amended.
• Look ear you leap.
• Little good soon spent.
• Like the Founder out of the frying pan into the fire.
• Little knoweth the fat sow what the leane doth meane.
• Look not too high, lest 〈…〉〈…〉 in thine eye.
• Love commeth in at the window & goeth out at the dore.
• Lightly come, lightly goe.
• Love is blinde.
• Love me little, love me long.
• Love me, love my dog.
• Lovers live by love as Larks by leeks.
• Like master like man.
• Leane not to a broken staffe.
• Look not a given horse in the mouth.

• Light a candle before the divell.
• Longs more to marriage then four bare legs in a bed.

M.

• MAny a good Cow hath an ill Calf.
• Many hands make light work.
• Many cannot see wood for trees.
• Make hay while Sun shines.
• Make not a balk of good ground.
• Much water goes by the Mill that the Miller knows not of.
• Malice never spake well.
• Make a pipe of a pigges tail.
• Many kinsfolk, few friends.
• Many kiss the child for the nurses sake,
• Many a little makes a mickle.
• Many small make a great.
• Most master wears the breeches.
• Many speak of Robbin Hood that never shot in his bow.
• Many stumble at a straw and leap over a block.
• Many a man talks of little Iohn that never did him know.
• Misreckoning is no payment.
• Measure is a merry meane.
• Might overcommeth right.
• More afraid than hurt.
• My Kill of malt is on fire.
• Much would have more.
• Much cry and little wool.
• More haste worst speed.

N.

• NO longer pipe no longer dance.
• Need hath no law.
• Need maketh the old wife trot.
• Never pleasure without repentance.
• No dearth but breeds in the horse manger.
• No man loveth his fetters, be they made of gold.
• No man ought to look a given horse in the mouth.
• No woman seeks another in the oven which hath not be∣fore been there.

• Neer is my petticote, but neerer my smock.
• No smoake without fire.
• No penny no Pater-noster.
• Nothing ha h no savour.
• Nothing is impossible to a willing heart.
• Nothing v••n u••e, nothing have.
• No butter will stick on his bread.
• No fence for all fortune

O.

• OF a good beginning cometh a good end.
• One may see day at a little hole.
• Ou•• n ttle in dock.
• Opportunity mak••s the theef.
• Opportunity is whoredoms bawd.
• Of a ragg••d colt commeth a good horse.
• Of lit le medling commeth great ease
• Of sufferance c mmeth ease.
• One ill weed marreth a whole pot of pottage.
• One ill word asketh another.
• One good turn asketh another.
• One shrewd turn followeth another.
• One Swallow maketh not Summer;
• Nor one Woodcock a Winter.
• Out of sight, out of minde.
• One begger is woe that another by the dore should goe.
• One bird in hand is better than two in the bush.
• One beateth the bush another catcheth the birds.
• One scabbed sheep will marre a whole flock.
• Old men and far travailers may lye by authority.
• Once an use and ever a custome.
• Out of debt out of deadly sinne.
• Old birds are not caught with chaffe.

P.

• POor and proud, ly lye.
• Pain is forgotten where gain follows.
• Penny wise and pound foolish.
• Pride goeth before, and shame commeth after.

• Pride vvill have a fall.
• Proffered service stinketh.
• Prove thy friend ere thou have need.
• Puffe not against the vvind.
• Peevish pitty marres a Citie.
• Praise a faire day at night.
• Pouring oyle into the fire is not the vvay to quench it.

R

• REckoners without their host must reckon twice.
• Rome was not built in one day.
• Rowling stones gather no moss••.
• Remove an old tree and it will dye.
• Rob Peter to pay Paul.

S

• SAve a thief from the gallowes, & hee'l cut your throat.
• Saying and doing are two things.
• Seldome cometh the better.
• Seldome seene is soone forgotten.
• Self doe, self have.
• Shame in a kindred cannot be avoyded.
• Shame take him that shame thinketh.
• Shamefull craving must have shamefull nay.
• Set a begger a horseback, and he will gallop.
• Small pitchers have wide eares.
• Short shooting looseth the game.
• So many heads, so many wits.
• Soft fire maketh sweet malt.
• Somewhat is better than nothing.
• Stumble at a straw, and leape over a block.
• Soone gotten, soone spent.
• Soone hot, soone cold.
• Soone crooks the tree that good Camerill will be.
• Soone ripe, soone rotten.
• Soone it pricks that will be a thorne.
• So long goes the pot to the water, that at length it comes home broken.
• Spare to speak, spare to speed.

• Speak fair and think what you will.
• Spend, and God will send.
• Store is no sore.
• Struggle not against the stream.
• Such a Father such a Son.
• Such beginning, such end.
• Such lips, such lettice.
• Such welcome, such farewell.
• Such Carpenters, such chips.
• Sweet meat will have sowre sauce.
• Stop two gaps with one bush.
• Spare at the brim rather than at the bottome.
• Spare and ever bare.
• Still Sow eats all the draffe.
• Such a one hath a good wit if a wise man had the keeping it.

T

• TAke time when time cometh, least time steale away.
• Take heed is a good reede.
• Three hungry meales makes the fourth a glutton.
• Threatned folkes live long.
• There is no woe to want.
• Tales of Robbin, Hood are good for fooles.
• That one will not, another will.
• The burnt child dreads the fire.
• That the eye seeth not, the heart rueth not.
• That penny is well spent, that saveth a groat.
• The begger may sing before the thief.
• The eye of the Master makes the horse fat.
• The best cart may overthrow.
• The best is best cheap.
• The belly thinks the throat is cut.
• The blind eats many a flye.
• The blind lead the blind, and both fall into the ditch.
• The Cat knoweth whose lips she licketh well enough.
• The Cat would eat fish, and would not wet her feet.
• The Crow thinketh her own birds fairest.
• The fewer the better fare.

• The Foxe fareth well when he is cursed.
• The greatest talkers are the least doers.
• The greatest Clarkes be not the wisest men.
• The greatest Crabs be not all the best.
• That groat is ill say'd that shames the master.
• There is craft in dawbing.
• Takes pepper in the nose.
• The weakest goes to the walles.
• The pot goes so oft to the water, at last comes broken home.
• The wife and the sword may be shewed, but not lent.
• The Cokold is the last that knowes of it.
• The end makes all equall.
• The greatest Calfe is not the sweetest veale.
• Thoughts be free from toll.
• Trust is the Mother of deceit.
• The gray Mare is the better horse.
• The lame tongue gets nothing.
• The early bird catcheth the worme.
• There longs more to wedding than four bare legs in a bed.
• The K. of good fellowes is appointed for the Q. of beggers.
• To have a stomack and lack meat, to have meat and lack a stomack, to lye in bed and cannot rest, are great mise∣••••••s.
• The proofe of a pudding is in the eating.
• The more knave the better luck.
• Two hands in a dish and one in a purse.
• The envious man shall never want woe.
• The sluggard must be clad in rags.
• The fairest rose in the end is withered.
• The highest tree hath the greatest fall.
• The young cock croweth as the old heareth.
• The keyes hang not all at one mans girdle.
• The longer East, the shorter Well.
• The longest day hath his end.
• The low stake stande in long.
• The more haft the lesse speed.

• The more the merrier.
• The more thy years, the higher thy graves.
• The more ye stir a turd the worse it will stink.
• The nearer the Church the farther from God.
• The new broome svveepeth cleane.
• The parish Priest forgetteth that ever he hath been holy vvater Clarke.
• The rough net is not the best catcher of birds.
• The shoe vvill hold vvith the sole.
• The still sovv eateth up all the draffe.
• The tide stayeth for no man.
• There be more vvaies to the vvood than one.
• There is difference betvveen staring and starke blind.
• They must hunger in frost that vvill not vvorke in heate.
• They that be in hell vveen there is no other heaven.
• There is falshood in fellovvship.
• There is no foole to the old foole.
• They that are bound must obey.
• Three may keepe counsell if tvvo be avvay.
• Time lost vve cannot vvinne.
• Time stayeth for no man.
• Touch a gald horse on the back, and he vvill kick.
• Too much of one thing is good for nothing.
• Tread a worme on the taile, and it must turne again.
• Truth shameth the divell.
• Two eyes can see more than one.
• The sea hath fish for every man.
• There is no fishing to the sea, nor service to the King.
• 'Tis better to sit still, than rise to fall.
• Theres more waies to the wood than one.
• Theres more Maids than Maukins.
• Theres no fence for ill fortune.
• Theres no weather ill, when the wind is still.
• The Fayre lasts all the year.
• The posterne dore makes thief and whore.
• They hardly can run that cannot goe.
• Two anons and a by and by, is an houre and a halfe.

• That's bred in the bone will never out of the flesh.
• The horse that is next the Mill, carries all the grist.
• Two false knaves needs no broker.
• Two heads are better than one.
• The counsell thou wouldest have another keepe, first keepe it thy self.

W

• WE can have no more of the cat but her skinne.
• What is a workman without his tooles?
• What the heart thinketh the tongue speaketh.
• When the belly is full the bones would be at rest.
• When the head aketh all the body is the worse.
• What some win in the Hundred, they loose in the Shire.
• When the Iron is hot strike.
• When the pig is proffered, hold up the poke.
• When the skye falleth we shall have larkes.
• When the steed is stolne shut the stable dore.
• When the Sun shineth make hay.
• Where shall a man have a vvorse friend than he brings from home.
• When thy neighbours house doth burne, be carefull of thine ovvne.
• When thieves fall out, true men come to their goods.
• Where nothing is, a little doth ease.
• Where nothing is, the King must lose his right.
• Where saddles lack, better ride on a pad, than on the horse bare back.
• Where be no receivers there be no thieves.
• Where nought is to vvend vvith vvise men flee the clog.
• Where the hedge is lovvest, men may soonest over.
• Where vvine is not common, Commons must be sent.
• While the grasse grovveth, the horse starveth.
• Without hope the heart vvould breake.
• Who is vvorse shod than the shooemakers vvife.
• Who lacketh a stock, his gain is not vvorth a chip.
• Who medleth in all things, may shoe the goslings.
• Whom weale pricks, sorrow comes after and licks.

• Who so bold as blind Bayard.
• Who so deafe as he that will not heare?
• We sometimes scratch where it itches not.
• Who is so blind as he that will not see?
• Who so that knew what would be deare, should need be a Merchant but one yeare.
• Who weddeth ere he be wise, shall dye ere he thrive.
• Wille will have wilt, though will woe winne.
• Winne Gold and weare Gold.
• Wishers and woulders be no good housholders.
• Wit is never good till it be bought.
• Who that may not as they would, will as they may.
• Winters thunder makes summers wonder.

Y

• YLl gotten ill spent.
• Ynough is as good as a feast.
• Young Saint old divell.
• You are as seasonable as snow in summer.
• You could not see the wood for trees.
• Young men may dye, but old men must dye.
• Young Cocks love no coopes.
• Ye had as liefe goe to mille as to Masse.
• You cannot fare well but you must cry rost meat.

POEMS.

OF the dignity of Poetry much hath been said by the worthy Sir Philip Sidney, & by the Gentleman vvhich proved that Poets vvere the first Polititians, the first Philosophers, the first Historiographers. I vvill onely adde out of Philo, that they vvere Gods ovvn creatures; vvho in his Book de Plantatione Noe, reporteth, that when he had made the whole Worlds Mass; he created Poets to cele∣brate and set out the Creator himself, and all the Creatures: you Poets reade the place and you will like it. Howsoever it pleaseth the Italian to censure us, yet neither doth the Sun so far retire his chariot from our Climate, neither are there less favourable aspects betweene Mercury, Jupiter, and the Moone, in our inclination of Heaven, if Poets are Fato, as it pleased Socrates, neither are our Poets destitute of Arte prescribed by reason, and grounded upon experi∣ence, but they are as pregnant both in witty conceits and devices, and also in imitation, as any of them. Yea, and according to the Argument excell in grandity and gravity, in smoothness and propriety, in quickness and briefness. So that for skill, variety, efficacie and sweetness, the four materiall points required in a Poet, they can both teach and delight perfectly.

This would easily appear if any lines were extant of that worthy British Lady Claudia Rufina, so commended by Martial; or of Gildas which Lilius Giraldus saw in the libraries of Italie, or of old Chedmon who by divine inspi∣ration about the yeare 680. became so divine a Poet in our

English tongue, that with his sweet verses full of compun∣ction, he withdrew many from vice to vertue, and a religi∣ous feare of God: or of our Claudius Clemens one of the first founders of the University of Paris: and doth most clearely appear to all that can judge by many learned Po∣ems published in this our learned age. But whereas these latter are in every mans hand, and the former are irreco∣verable, I will only give you a taste of some of middle age, which was so overcast with darke clouds, or rather thick fogges of ignorance, that every little sparke of liberall lear∣ning seemed wonderfull: so that if sometime you happen of an uncouth word, let the time entreate pardon for it, when as all words have their times, and as he saith:

—licuit semperque licebit, Signatum praesente nota procudere nomen.

We will begin with Ioseph of Excester, who followed our K. Richard the first, in his warres, in the holy land, cele∣brated his acts in a book called Antiocheidos, & turn'd Dares Phrigius so happily into verse, that it hath been Printed not long since in Germ. under the name of Cornelius Nepos.

The passing of the pleasant river Simois by Troy, and the encounter between the waves of the sea, and it, at the dis∣emboging, or inlet thereof, he lively setteth forth thus:

Proxima rura rigans, alio peregrinus ab orbe Visurus Troiam Simois, longoque meatu Emeruisse velit, ut per tot regna, tot urbes Exeat aequoreas tandem Troianus in undas. Dumque indefesso miratur Pergama visu Lapsurum suspendit iter, fluviumque moratur, Tardior & totam complecti destinat urbem: Suspensis infensus aquis violentior instat Nereus, atque amnem cogens proculire minorem. Proximus accedit urbi, contendere credas Quis propior, sic alternis concurritur undis, Sic crebras iterant voces, sic iurgiamiscent.

You may at one view behold mount Ida with his trees & the country adjacent to Troy in these few lines, as in a most

pleasant prospect presented unto you thus, by the said Ioseph:

Haud procul incumbens intercurrentibus arvis Idaeus consurgit apex, vetus incola montis Silva viret, vernat abies procera, cupressus Flebilis, interpres laurus, vaga pinus, oliva Concilians, cornus venatrix, fraxinus audax, Stat comitis patiens ulmus, numquam que senescens Cantatrix buxus: paulo proclivius arvum Ebria vitis habet non dedignata latere Canericolam poscit Phoebum, vicinus ar••stas Praegnantes faecundat ager, non plura Falernus Vina bibit, non tot pascit Campania messis.

A right woman and Lady-like disdain may be observed in the same Author where he bringeth in Pallas, mating dame Juno with modest disdainfullness before Paris in the action of beauty, a matter of greatest importance in that sex, after this manner of reply.

Magna parens superum, nec enim nego; magna Tonantis Nupta, nec invideo; meritum, Paris inclyte, nostrum Si quod erat carpsit: testor freta, testor Olympum, Testor humum, non armatas in praelia linguae Credideram venisse deas; hac parte loquacem Erubeo sexum, minus hic quam faemina possum; Martem alium didici, victoria faeda ubi victus Plus laudis victore feret, nostrisque trophaeis Hic haud notus honos. Sed quo regina dearum Effatu tendit, Dea sit, cedo imo Dearum Maxima non dextrae sortiri sceptra potentis, Partirive Iovem certatim venimus, illa, Illa habeat, quae se ostentat.

In the commendation of Britain, for breeding martiall men, and praise of the famous King Arthur, he sung in his Antiocheidos these which only remain out of that work:

Inclyta fulsit Posteritas ducibus tantis, tot dives alumnis, Tot faecunda viris, premerent qui viribus orbem, Et fama vetores. Hinc Constantinus adeptus

Imperium, Romam tenuit, Byzantion auxit. Hinc Senonum ductor captiva Brennius urbe. Romuleas domuit flammis victricibus arces Hinc & Scaevasatus, pars non obscura tumultus Civilis, Magnum solus qui mole soluta Obsedit, meliorque stetit pro Caesare murus. Hinc celebri fato falici floruit ortu Flos regum Arthurus, cujus tamen acta stupori Non micuere minus, totus quod in aure voluptas Et populo plaudente favus. Qu aecunque priorum Inspice, Pellaeum commendat fama Tyrannum, Pagina Caesareos loquitur. Romara triumphos, Alciden domitis attoll••t gloria monstris. Sed nec pinetum coryli, nec sydera solem Aequant, Annales Graios, Latiosque revolve, Prisca parem nescit, aequalem postera nullum Exhibitura dies. Reges supereminet omnes: Solus praeteritis melior, majorq••e futuris.

If a painter would portraite d••vells, let him paint them in his colours, as Foelix the old Monke of Crowland depain∣ted the bugges of Crowland in his verses, and they will seeme right hel-hounds.

Sunt aliqui quibus est crinis rigidus, caput amplum, Frons cornuta, gena distorta, pupilla coruscans. Os patulum, labra turgentia, dens praeacutus, Et quibus est crinis quasi seta, caput quasi truncus, Frons quasi cera, gena quasi pix, oculus quasi carbo, Os quasi sporta, labra quasi plumbum, dens quasi buxus. Sunt alii quibus est vultus gibbosus & acer, Nasus curvatus & foedus, & auris acuta, Et grandis cervix dependens & macilenta; Caesaries & barbarigens, frons & gena pallens, Nasus & auris olens, vertex & sinciput horrens, Et sunt perplures qui crine videntur adusto, Fronte truci, naso praegrandi, lumine torvo, Faucibus horrendis, labris pendentibus, ore Ignivomo, vultu squamoso, vertice grosso,

Dente fero, mento peracuto, gulture rauco, Pelle nigra, scapulis contractis, ventre rapaci, Costis mobilibus, Lumbis ardentibus, anis Caudatis, genibus nodatis, cruribus uncis, Plant is aversis, talisque tumentibus: & sunt Nonnulli, quibus est non horrida forma, sed ipse Horror, cum non sint scelerati, sed scelus ipsum.

He did seeme also a good Poet in his age, which described a great battaile between the Danes & the English; thus:

Eminus in primis hiberni grandinis instar, Tela volant, sylvas hastarum fragmina frangunt; Mox ruitur propius, praescinditur ensis ab ense, Conculcatur equus ab equo, ruit host is in hostem, Hic effossa trahit hostili viscera ferro, Hic jacet exanimis fusa cum sanguine vita. Hic pedis, ille manus, hic pectoris, ille l certi Vulnere damnatus reditum proponit inanem.

If he which scraped together the fragments of ancient Poets, had hapned on the verses following, written to a Bishop of Norwich, haply he would have inserted them.

Magnus Alexander bellorum saepe procellas Jmmixtus fregit studiis, Socratesque stūdendi Continuum solitus interrupisse laborem, Thre••cias tremulo numeravit pollice chordas. Cedit Atlas oneri, civili scriptor ab ense Iulius abstinuit, invictus saepe quievit Alcides, rigidum mollis lyra flexit Achillem, Tu quoque lugenti patriae graviter que diuque Expectate parens, sibi quem viduata maritum Jam Pastoralis Norwici regia poscit, &c.

Iohn Hauvill a Monk of S. Albans made this good and godly invocation before his poem, comparable with ma∣ny of the later brood.

Tu Cyrrhae latices nostrae Deus implue menti, Eloquti rorem slee is infunde labellis, Distillaque favos, quos necdum pallidus auris Seit Tagus, aut sitiens admotis Tantalus undus.

Dirige quae timide suscep••t dextera, dextram Audacem pavidamqve juva, tu mentis habenas Fervoremque rege, quicquid dictaverit ori Spiritus aridior, olenm suffunde favoris. Tu patris es verbum, tu mens, tu dextera, Verbum Expediat verbum, mens mentem, dextera dextram.

Lasie and superficiall schollers which thrust the day forward with their shoulders in the Vniversity, and re∣turn as wise as they came thither, he describeth in this sort

Hi sunt qui statuae veniunt, statuaeque recedunt, Et Bac••hi sapiunt, non Phoebi pecula. Nysa Agmina, non Cirrhae, Phoebo Bacchoque ministrant, Hoc pleni, illo vacu••.

The old Ale-knights of England were well depainted out of him, in the Ale-house colours of that time, in this manner.

Iamque vagante scypho, discincto gutture was heil Ingeminant was heil; labor est plus perdere vini Quam sitis, exhaurire mecum vehementius ardent, Quam exhaurire sitim.

The same Iohn Hauvill when he would signifie whatso∣ever envy had wrought against Troy, the Romane vertue had repaired, sung briefly.

Si quid de culmine Troje Diminuit livor, virtus reparavit, ut orbi Hic urbem rapuit, haec orbem re ddidit urbi.

Passionate are these verses upon the death of K. Richard the first penned by one Gaulfrid.

Neustria sub clypeo Regis defensa Richardi Indefersa modo gestu testare dolorem. Exundent oculi lachrymas, exterminet ora Pallor, connodet digitos tortura, cruentet Interiora dolor, & verberet aera clamor: Tota peris ex morte sua, mors non fuit e••us Sed tua, non una, sed publica mortis imago. O Veneris lachrymosa dies, o sidus amarum.

And after a few verses: he speaking to Death, addeth in commendation of that Prince.

—, Nihil addere noverat ultra; Jpse fuit quicquid potuit natura, sed istud Causa fuit quare rapulstires pretiosas, Eligis, & v••les quasi ded••gnata relinquis.

These former verses were mentioned by Chaucer our Eng∣lish Homer in the description of the sodaine stirre and Panicall feare, when Chanteclere the Cock was carried a∣way by Reynold the Fox with a relation to the said Galfride.

The silly widow and her daughters two Herd the bennes cry and make ado. And out at the dore stert they anon And saw the Fox toward the woodygon, And bare upon his back the Cock away, And cryed out harow and well away, Aha the fox, and after him they ran, And eke with staves many other man. Ran Coll our dogge, Talbot and eke Garland, And Malkin with her distaffe in her hand, Ran Cow and calfe and eke the very hogges▪ For they so sore affraid were of the dogges, And shouting of men and of women eake, They ran so her hert thought to breake. They yellen as fends do in hell, The Duckes cried as men would them quell, The Geese for feare flew over the trees, Out of the hives came swarmes of Bees. So hideous was the noise, ah benedicite, Comes I acke Straw, ne h••s meiney Ne made never shoutes halfe so shrill When that they would any Fleming kill: As that day was made upon the Fox, Of brasse they blew the trumpes and of box; Of horne, and box, ī which they blew and pouped, And therewith they shriked and shouted, It seemed as though heaven should fall.

O Gaulfride dere master soveraigne, That when the worthy King Richard was slaine With shot, complainedst his death so sore, Why no had I now thy science and thy lore? Thy Friday for to chide as did ye, For on a Friday shortly slaine was he, Then would I shew you how that I could plaine, For Chaun••ecle••res dred and for his paine. Certes such 〈◊〉〈◊〉, no l••mentation, Was never of Ladies m••de when that Illion Was won, and Pi rhus with his b••ight sword, When he hen•• K••ng Pri m by the ••eard, And slough him (as sa••th Aeneido••) As made all the hennes in the cloos, When they lost of Chantecleere the sight: But soveraignly dame Portelot shright, Well louder than did Hasd••ubals wife, When that her husband hath lost his life, And that the Roman had brent Carthage, She was so full of torment and of rage, That wilfully into the fire she stert, And brent her self with a stedfast hert. O wofull Hennes right so cried ye, As when that Nero brent the city Of Rome, cryed the Senatours wives. For that her husbands should lose her lives,

These may suffice for some Poeticall descriptions of our ancient Poets; if I would come to our time, what a world could I present to you out of Sir Philip Sidney, Ed. Spen∣cer, Iohn Owen, Samu••l Daniel, Hugh Holland, Ben. Iohn∣son, Thomas Champion, Mich. Drayton, George Chapman, Iohn Marston, William Shakespeare, and other most preg∣nant wits of these our times, whom succeeding ages may justly admire.

Epigrammes.

IN short and sweet Poems framed to praise or dispraise, or some other sharpe conceit which are called E∣pigrammes, as our countrey-men now surpass other Nations, so in for∣mer times they were not inferiour, if you consider ages, as the indifferent Reader may judg by these.

In the darke mist of all good learning, about 800. years since, in commendation of the godly King Saint Osuuald, was made this.

Quis fuit Alcides? quis Caesar Julius? aut quis Magnus Alexander? Alcides se superasse Fertur, Alexander mundum; sed Julius hostem, Se simul Osuualdus, & mundum vicit, & hostem.

To the honour of Elsted a noble Lady, which repaired Darby, Chester, Warwick, &c. I have found this.

O Elfleda potens, o terror virgo virorum, Victrix naturae nomine digna viri; Te quo splendidior fieres, natura puellam, Te probitas fecit nomen habere viri. Te mutare decet, sed solum nomina sexus: Tu Regina potens, Rexque trophaa parans. Iam nec Caesarei tantum meruere triumphi, Caesare spendidior virgo, virago viges.

This also may here have place, which William Conqueror: Poet made to him when he had obtained this Realme.

Caesariem Caesar tibi si natura negavit, Hanc Willielme tibi stella oomata dedit.

It may seeme he alluded to the baldness of Julius Caesar, who for that cause used a Lawrell Garland, to the Comete appearing before his conquest of this Kingdome, porten∣ding the same as it was thought, and to the manner of the French in that time: among whom long bushie haire was the signal marke of Majesty, as Agathias noteth, when as all subjects were rounded, and the Kings only long haired. Which custome continued among the French Kings, untill Peter Lombard, Bishop of Paris, disswaded them from it, and among ours, as appeareth by their seales untill King Henry the fifth.

The happy success of English and Normans, with the cowardly flight of the French, at Nugent 1109. in the time of King Henry the first, was thus expressed:

Henricus regum rex & decus, abstulit altos Francigenis animos, Ludovicum namque Nugenti Rex regem campo magnum major superavit: Praepofuere fugam bellis, calcaria telis Galli praecipites: fama spoliisque potitos Laurea Normanos, & laus aeterna coronat, Sic decus iste ducum, sic corda tumentia pressit, Oraque Francorum superba mutire coegit.

Maude, daughter to Malcolm King of Scots, a woman of rare piety, buried at Westminster, to which Church she would come daily barefooot, while the Court lay there, had an excellent Epigramme made to her commendation, whereof these four verses only remain.

Prospera non laetam fecere, nec aspera tristem, Aspera risus erant, prospera terror erant. Non decor effecit fragilem, non sceptra superbam, Sola potens humilis, sola pudica decens.

No bad Poet was he which wrote to the honour of Adeliza, second wife to King Henry the first, who was daughter to the Duke of Brabant and sister to Lord Josc••lin of Lovain, from whom the Percies Earls of Northumberland descended.

Anglorum Regina tuos Adeliza decores Ipsa referre parans Musa stupore riget.

Quid Diadema tibi pulcherrima? quid iibi gemma? Pallet gemma tibi, nec Diadema nitet. Deme tibi cultus, cultum natura ministrap, Non exornari forma beata potest. Ornamenta cave, nec quicquam luminis indu Accipis, illa micant lumine clara tuo; Non puduit modicas de magnis dicere laudes, Nec pudeat dominam te precor esse meam.

Maude daughter to King Henry the first, and mother to King Henry the second, happened on as good a Poet, who honoured or flattered her with these Epigrammes.

* Augustis Patribus augustior orta Mathildis, Quaelibet in landes or a diserta vocas. Sed frustra, quia nemo tibi praeconia solvet Quae genus, & mores, formaque digna petunt, Vna loqui te lingua potest? qua laudis opimae Materiam linguis omnibus una paras?

* Filia praeteriti, praesentis nupta, futuri Mater regis, habes hoc speciale tibi. Aut vix aut nunquam reperitur foemina quae sit, Hec eadem regum-filia, nupta, parens. Nec tua nobilitas est à te coetpa, nec in te Definit, & post te vivet, ut ante fuit. Nec tu degeneras revera filia matris: Talem te genuit, qualis & ipsa fuit, Casta pudicam, provida cautam, pulchra decoram; Larga tulit largam, religiosa piam. Es rosa de radice rosae, de religione Religio, pietas de pietate fluit.

* Sic mores Regina tuos componis, & actus, Vt sit in his justo plusve, minusve nihil. Quippe nocere potes, non vis: Offenderis, ultro Condonas; Cernis tristia, compateris. Vis dare, non differs: Vis parce vivere, nescis. Si loqueris, multum sermo nitoris habet.

Si taccas, rigor est; si rides, risus honestus; Oras, orantis fletibus ora madent. Intus simplicitas mentem, foris ornat honestas Vultum, grata quidem singula, plusque simul.

But among all our old Epigrammatists all commenda∣tion is carried away by old Godfery Prior of Winchester, who lived Anno 1100. which Citie hath brought forth so many excelling in Poeticall facultie, not only in former ages, but also in latter, out of the worthy Colledge there, that the very Genius loci doth seeme Poeticall. Out of his Epigrammes first imparted to me by the right learned Master Tho. Allen of Oxford, I will here impart a few un∣to you.

To one that would know how long he should learne, he writeth thus.

Discendi, Damiane, modum te quaerere dicunt, Discas dum nescis, sit modus iste tibi.

That the contempt of fooles is not to be respected.

Contemptum stulti contemnere, Dindime, lans est, Contemni a stulto dedecui esso nego.

Against pride in prosperity.

Extolli noli quum te fortuna beavit, Pompone, haec eadem quae levat, ipsa premit.

Against such as teach well, and live not accordingly.

Multa Solon, sed plura Cato me verba docetis, At nemo vestrum quanta docetis, agit.

To one which had eaten stinking meat.

Druse, comedisti quem misit Silvius hircum, Vel tibi non nasus, vel tibi nasus olet.

He teacheth us to relye upon firme and sure supports, lest we fall to the ground with them in this.

Non est securus super titubantia fultus: Iungere labenti, labitur ille, ruis.

That we must look for like measure, if we do not as we would be done unto, he admonisheth all under the name of Albius.

Juriga, clamores tibi gloria, gloria lites, Et facis & dicis omnibus, unde noces. Expectes eadem quae nobis feceris, Albi, Nam quem tu ladis, te ferit ille libens.

Youth which in their haughty heate, reject the advise of old men, he adviseth thus.

Pannorum veterum facile contemnitur usus, Non sic concilium, Posthumiane, senum.

The vanity of them which ••••unt of their ancient no∣bility, and have no nobility in themselves, he thus taketh.

Stemmata continuas recitas ex ordine patres, Queis nisi tu similis, Rufule, quid recitas?

That there was no contending with him who with mis∣sive bribes can prevail against Justice.

Missilibus, Daciane, ••uis Astraa recessit, Vincis missilibus lus, Daciane, tuis

The common proverb, Love me, love mine, he thus ad∣vised us to observe:

Me tanquam socium te dicis amare, Trebati, Et quos totus amo dente furente teris: Sed nisi sis socius sociis, & amicus amicis, Non potero nostrum dicere te socium.

Against hooked gifts which draw others.

Multa mihi donas, vereor ne multa requiras, Nolo mihi dones, Aulice, si repetas.

Against one that sought a benefice, and would teach be∣fore he could teach.

Qua doceat sedem quaerit Plotinus & aedem, Quaerit qua doceat, non ea quae doceat.

Against a covetous wretch.

Nasidiane d••u vixi•••• semper avarus, Oro tibi vivas Nasidiane d u.

Against one that would exact of others, and do nothing himself.

Exigis a nobis quem nulli solvis amorem, Quam nulli praestes exigis, Aule, fidem:

Ex••gis à nobis quem non merearis honorem, Mirum est quod non das, id tibi velle dari.

Against an Abbot that would defend his Monkes from others, but worry them himself.

Toll••t ovem de fauce lup•• pensaepe molossus, E••eptamque lupo ventre recondit ovem. Tu qùoque Sceva tuos praedone tueris ab omni, Vnus praedo tamen perdis ub que tuos.

One amidst the warres between King Stephen and Henry the second, commended the same Henry in these verses.

Praelia quanta movet Stephanus, moveat volo, namque Gloria nulla foret si praelia nulla moveret: Tu contra Stephanum, cui copia multa virorum, Duxisti paucos, cur paucos? gloria major Est, multos paucis, quam paucos vincere multis.

At the same troublesome time, and as it were desolation of England, were written to the same Henry as it were in a Pro∣sopopeia of England.

Dux Henrice nepes Henrici maxime magni; A••glia tota ruo, nec jam ruo tota ru••na, &c.

Vpon two fearefull ••lights of the French, one at Vermil, the other at Vendosme in the time of King Henry the second, one made this:

Gallia fug sti bis, & hoc sub rege Philippo. Nec sunt sub modio facta pudenda duo. Vernolium sumit testem fuga prima, secunda Vindocinum, noctem prima, secunda diem. Nocte fugam primam celerásti, mane secundam, Prima pavore fuit, vique secunda fuit.

When one had flattered William Longchampe Bishop of Ely, the onely powerfull man of England in his time, with this blandation:

Tam benè, tam facilè tu magna negotia tractas, Vt dubium reddas sis homo, sive deus.

Giraldus Cambrensis, a man well born, and better lette∣red, of that house from whence the Giraldines of Ireland are descended, and secretary to King Iohn, played upon these

verses, and that Bishop after he was apprehended in womans attire flying out of the Realme.

Tam malè, tam temerè, tam turpiter omnia tractas, Vt dubium reddas bellua sis, vèl homo. Sic cum sis minimus, tentas majoribus uti, Vt dubium reddas simia sis, vel homo.

He that made the verse following (some ascribe it to that Giraldus) could adore both the sun rising and the sun setting, when he could so cleanly honour King Henry the second then departed, and King Richard succeeding.

Mira cano, Sol occubuit, nox nulla sequuta.

Great was the commendation of Maecenas, who when he could do all with Augustus, yet never harmed any, wher∣upon in an Elegie upon his death, Pedo Alb••novanus wri∣teth.

Omnia cum posses, tanto tam carus amico, Te sensit nemo posse nocere tamen.

Which commendation King Henry the eighth gave to that worthy Duke of Suffolke, Charles Brandon, who never used the Kings favour to the hurt of any. And the same Giraldus testified the like of King Henry the second, in this verse, very effectually:

Glori••r hoc uno, quòd nunquam vidimus unum, Nec potuisse magis, nec nocuisse minus.

These also following are referred unto him.

Vive Deo, tibi mors requies, tibi vita labori, Vive Deo, mors est vivere, vita mori.

These following were likewise written by him against lewd love.

Noc laus, nec probitas, nec honor superare puellam, Sed Veneris vitium vincere landis opus. Vis melius sapiens, melius vis strenuus esse, Si Venerem superes, istud & istuderis: Noli castra sequi Veneris, sed castra Minervae, Haec docet, illa furit; haec juvat, illa nocet.

Cum sit amor vetitus, vetiti malus actus amoris, Si malus, ergo nocet, si nocet, ergo fuge: Cujus coepta timor, med••um scelus, exitus ignis, Tu fuge, tu reproba, tu metuendo cave.

Why the Sun appeareth ruddy and as it were blusheth at his first rising. Alexander Necham, sometime Prior of Ciren∣cester rendreth the cause thus.

Sol vultu roseo rubicundo fulget in ortu, Incestae noctis fact a pudore notans. Nempè rubore suo tot damnat damna pudoris, Cernere tot Phoebum gesta pudenda pudet: Tot blandos nexus, tot suavia pressa labellis, Tot miserae Veneris monstra novella videt, Frig••da quòd nimium caleat lasc••va senectus, Ignis quòd gelido ferveat amne, stupet.

Of the fiery colour of the planet Mars, and the spots in the Moon he giveth this reason,

Mars Venerem secum deprensam fraude mariti Erubuit, superest flammeus ille rubor. Sed cur Lunaris facies fuscata videtur? Qaae vultu damnat, furta videre solet. Adde quòd Ecclesiam Phoebe, maculae nota culpam Signat, habet maculas utraque Luna suas.

If you will read carping Epigrammaticall verses of a Dur∣ham Poet against Ralfe the Prior, here you may have them.

De sene, de calvo, de delirante Radulpho Omnia monstracano, nil nisi vera tamen: Imputat errores aliis semper, sib•• nunquam, Est aliis Argus, Tyresiasque sib••. Non vult esse bonus, sed vult bonus esse videri; Est ovis exteriùs, interiúsque lupus. Sus vità, canis officio vulpecula fraude, Mente lepus, passer renibus, ore lupus,

Talis qui daemon nunquam poterit nisi morte Esse bonus, postquam desinat esse malus.

The same Author plaid also pretily upon William and Alan Arch-deacons of Northumberland and Durham.

Archilevitas in sorte Northumbria largos, Dunelmum cupidos semper habere solet. Nunc è converso sedem dotavit utramque Willelmi prob••tas, crimen Alane tuune. Vos nunc degeneres patribus succeditis ambo, Hic bonus, antè malus, hic malus, antè bonus.

Answerable to these, were these verses of the said Durham Poet, upon the fate of a Potte and a Pipkin, when the potte was all broken, and the pipkin lost but the handle, by the fall of a window.

Lapsa fenestra ruit, luit urna sciphusque propinquus, Definit haec esse prorsus, hic esse bene. Alias. Lapsa fenestra ruit, sciphus urna luunt, nihil illa Quo teneat, nihil hic quo teneatur, habet.

When King Richard the first was detained prisoner with the Emperour, one did write this supplicant verse to the Emperour in a sharpe close.

Magnus es, & genibus flexis tibi supplicat orbis, Cum possis, noli saevire, memento Neronis.

A huswife which had encreased her family in her husbands absence with a new bratte, assured her husband at his return, that she conceived it of a Snow-ball cast at her. But he con∣veying it away, selling it to a begger, assured her with the like lye; that as it was conceived by Snow, so it was melted away by the Sun, which a Poet in the time of King Iohn expressed thus very briefly, and for that age pretily

Rebus in augendis longè remorante marito, Vxor moecha parit puerum; post multa reverso, De nive conceptum singit: fraus mutua, cautè Sustulit, asportat, vendit, matrique reportans Ridiculum simile, liquefactum sole refingit.

But two others comprised the same matter more fuccinct∣ly in this manner.

De nive conceptum quem mater adultera fingit, Sponsus cum vendens, liquefactum sole refinxit.

Vir quia quem reperit genitum nive foemina fingit, Vendit; & a simili liquefactum sole refinxit.

That Scholler also could play at even and odde, that could keepe the figure Compar so precisely in these two verses up∣on the spring.

Turba colorum, vis violarum, pompa rosarum; Induit hortos, purpurat agros, pascit ocellos.

A futer wearied with delaies in the Emperours court, did at the length frame this distich, and coaled it on a wall.

Si neque•• placidas affari Caesaris aures, Saltem aliquis veniat, qui mihi dicat, Abi.

So a poore English man fed with vain hope by many, in the time of King Henry the third, did write this distich.

Spem mihi dont alii magnam, rem tu cito parvam, Res me parva juvet, spes mihi magna nocet.

Against a carping companion was this made about that time by John Havill.

Zoile, tu laudum cuneus, tu serra bonorum, Magna doles, majora not as, in maxima saevis.

Such as can speake feelingly of Church livings, will not dis∣semble that these were the four entrances into the Church, which a countriman of ours long since in this manner Epi∣grammatically opened.

Ecclesias portis his quatuor itur in omnes, Principis, & Simonis, sanguinis atque Dei. Prima patet magnis, nummatis altera, charis Tertia, sed raris janua quarta patet.

Good also is that under S. Peter in the Cathedrall Church of Norwich, (were it not for the fault which is in the for∣mer,) but therein you have S. Peters Ship, Sea, Nets, & Fish

Ecclesiam pro Nave rego, mihi climata mundi Sunt mare, scripturae, retia, piscis, homo.

When Eustathius was elected Bishop of London, one con∣gratulated his advancement thus.

Omnes hic digni, tu dignior omnibus, omnes Hic plene sapiunt, plenius ipse sapis.

Of a bragging braule between two well met, was framed this by Henry of Winchester, but the beginning is lost.

Hic ait, ille negat, hic asserit, ille refellit, Hic proavos multum praedicat, ille premit. Fisus uterque sibi se venditat, iste decorem Jactitat, ille decus, hic opus, alter opes. Hic bonus, ille beatus, hic multis differit, ille Multiplicata refert: hic levis, ille loquax.

When Adrian our countryman had converted some people of Norway, and was made Pope, this was composed to his honour.

Conferet hic Romae plus laudis quam sibi Roma Plus dabit hic orbi, quam dabit orbis ei.

But this would not easily be matched in our age, which was written in the time of King Henry the 6. over the entrance into the Receipt at Westminster, to admonish accomptants to be circumspect in entring, as Janus with his two heads; and as vigilant in ending Exchecquer accounts, as Argus with his hundred eyes.

Ingrediens lani, rediture sis aemulus Argi.

* These are all of former times, and with the quaint and most excellent ones of this our Polite age, which every where present themselves to your view, I will only recover from oblivion these made upon the p••ctures of the two most potent, and prudent Princes Queene Elizabeth of England, Queene Mary of Scotland.

IN ELIZABETHAM Angliae Reginam.

CVIVS imago Deae, facie cui lucet in una, Temperie mixta, Iuno, Minerva, Venus? Est dea: quid dubitem? cui sic conspirat amice Mascula vis, hilaris gratia, celsus honos: Aut Dea si non est, Diva est que praesidet Anglis, Ingenio, vultu, moribus aequa Deis.

In Eandem.

* Quae manus artificis tria sic confundit, ut uno Gratia, majestas, & decor ore micent? Non pictoris opus fuit hoc, sed pectoris, unde Divinae in tabulam mentis imago fluit.

MARIA REGINA SCOTIAE.

*VT Mariam finxit natura, ars pinxit: utrumque Rarum & solertis summum opus artificis Ipse animum sibi dum pingit, sic vicit utrumque, Vt natura rudis, ars videatur iners.

* En tibi magnanimae spirantia Principis ora, Omnia quam mundi merantur regna, venustae Non decus ob formae tantùm, prolemque decoram, Innumerasque animi dotes, quas divite dextra Infudit natura potens: sed mascula virtus, Religionis amor, fidei constantia mentes Plus rapit attonitas hominum, quam forma vel oris Gratia rara sui.

* She sending to Queen Elizabeth a Diamond fashioned in the figure of an heart, accompanied it with these verses.

Quod te jampridem fruitur, videt ac amat absens, Haec pignus cordis gemma, & imago mei est. Non est candidior, non est haec purior illo: Quamvis dura magis, non mage firma tamen.

Rythmes.

RIming verses, which are called Versus Leo∣nini, I know not wherefore (for a lyons taile doth not answere to the middle parts as these verses do) began in the time of Carolus Magnus, and were only in request then, and in many ages following, which delighted in nothing more than in this minstrelsie of meeters. I could present you with many of them, but few shall suffice, when as there are but few now which delight in them.

In the praise of Miles Earle of Hereford in the time of King Stephen, was this penned, in respect he was both mar∣tiall and lettered.

Vatum & ducum gloria Milo, cujus in pectore Certant vires & stud••a, Certat Hector cum Nestore. Virtutum privilegia, Mente geris & corpore, Te{que} coronat arbore Mars Phoebi, Phoebus propria.

Walter de Mapes Archdeacon of Oxford, who in the time of King Henry the second filled England with his merriments, confessed his love to good liquor, with the causes, in this manner.

Mihi est propositum in taberna mori, Vinum sit appositum morientis ori: Vt dicant, cùm venerint, Angelorum chori, Deus sit propitius huic potatori.

Poculis accenditur animi lucerna, Cor imbutum nectare volat ad supernae. Mihi sapit dulc••us vinum in taberna; Quàm quod aqua miscuit praesulis pincerna.

Suum eui{que} proprium dat natura munus, Ego nunquam potui scribero jejunus: Me jejunum vincere posset puer unus. Sitim & jejunium, odi tanquam funus.

Vnicui{que} proprium dat natura donum, Ego versus faciens, vinum bibo bonum, Et quod habent melius dolia cauponum, Tale vinum generat copiam sermonum.

Tales versus facio, quale vinum bibo, Nihil possum scribere, nisi sumpto cibo, Nihil valet penitus, quod jejunus scribo, Nasonem post caelices carmine praeibo.

Mihi nunquam spiritus prophetiae datur, Nisi tunc cum fuerit venter bene satur; Cum in arce cerebri Bacchus dominatur, In me Phoebus irruit, ac miranda fatur.

The infirmitie and corruption of our nature prone to sen∣suality he acknowledgeth thus.

Via lata gradior more juventutis, Implico me vitiis, immemor v••rtutis, Voluptatis avidus, magis quam salutis, Mortuus in anima, curam gero cutis.

Mihi cordis gravitas, res videtur gravis, Jocus est amabilis, dulciorque favis; Quicquid Venus imperat, labor hec est suavis, Quae nunquam in mentibus habitat ignavis.

Quis in igne positus igni non uratur? Quis in mundo demorans castus habeatur? Vbi Venus digito juvenes venatur, Oculis illaqueat, facie praedatur.

This lusty Priest when the Pope forbade the Clergy their wives, became Proctor for himself and them, with these verses: desiring only for his fee, that every Priest with his sweet heart would say a Pater noster for him.

Prisciani regula penitus cassatur, Sacerdos per Hic & Haec olim declinatur.

Sed per Hic solum modo, nunc articulatur, Cum per nostrū prasul••m Haec ••movcatur▪

Ita quidem presbyter, coepit alleg••re. Peccat criminaliter, qui vult separare, Quod Deus injuvxerat, famiram amare. Tales dignum duximus, fures appellare,

O quam dolor anocius, quam tormentum grave▪ Nobis est dimittore quoniam suave! O Romane pontifex, stataisti pravè, Ne in tanto crimine mortaris, cave,

Non est Innocenti••s, immo nocens vere, Qui quod facto dev••rit, studes abulere: Et quod olim invenit voluit habere, Modo vetus pontifex studet prohibere.

Gignere nos praecipit vetus Testamentum▪ Vbi novum prohibet, nusquam est inventum. Praesul qui contrarium donas docu••••ntum, Nullum necessarium his dat argumentum,

D••dit enim Dominus ••aledictionem Viro qui non fec••rit generationem. Ergo tibi consulo, per hunc rationem, Gignere, ut hab••as benedictionem.

N••••ne de mi••••ibus milites procedum? Et reges a regibus qui sibi succedunt? Per ••••dum a simili, omnes jura l••dunt, Clericos qui gignere crimen esse crēdunt.

Zacharias habuit prolem & uxorem, Per virum quem genuit adeptus honorem: Baptizavit enim nostrum Salvatorem: Pereat, qui ten••at novum hunc err••r••m.

Paulus coelos rapitur ad superiores, Vbi multas didicit res secretiores, Ad nos tandem rediens, instruensque mores, Suas (inquit) habeat quilibet uxores.

Propter haec & alia dogmata doctorum, Reor esse melius, & magis decorum,

Quisque suam habeat & non proximorum, Ne inturrat odium & ••am ••oru••.

Proximorum faminas, fil as & neptes. Violare nefas est, quare nil disceptes. Vere tuam habeas, & in hac delectes, Diem ut sic ultimum tutius expectos.

Et c••jam pro clericis multum allegavi, Nec non pro presbyteris plura comprobavi, Pater noster nunc pro me quoniam peccavi, Dicat quisque presbyter, cum sua suavi.

Merry Michael the Cornish Poet, whose rymes for merry England you may read in the 7 page, begged his exhibition of King Henry the third with this distich.

Regie rector, miles ut Hector, dux ut Achilles, Te quia sector, mellee vector, mel mihi stilles.

The same Michael highly offended with Henry of Aurench the Kings Poet for disgracing Cor••wall, thought to draw bloud of him with these bobbing rimes.

Est tibi gamba capri, crus passoris, & latus apri, Os leporis, catuli nasus, dens & g••na muli, Frous vetulae, tauri caput, & color undi{que} Mauri: His argumentis quaenam est argutia mentis? Quod non à monstro differs: satis hic tibi monstro.

If you please to heare a solemne plea at Reasons barre be∣tweene the Eye and the Heart, run over this, which a countryman of ours made in the time of King Henry the third.

Quisquis cordis & oculi Non sentit in se jurgia, Non novit qui sunt stimuli, Quae culpa seminaria.

Causam nescit pericali, Cur alternant conv••tia, Cur procaces & amuli Replicent in se vitia.

Cor sic affatur o••ulum Te peccati principium, Te fontem, te stimulum, Te mortis voco nuntiu••.

Tu domus meae janitor, Hosti non claudis ostium, Familiaris proditor Admittis adversarium.

Nonné fenestra diceris Quod mors intrat ad animam Nonne quod vides sequeris Vt bos ductus ad victima••?

Saltem sordes quas ingeris; Cur non lavas per lachymam? Aut quare non erueris Mentem fermentans azymam?

Cordi respondet oculus, Injuste de me quereris, Servus sum tibi sedulu••, Exequor quicquid jusseris.

Nonne tu mihi praecipis, Sicut & membris caeteris? Non ego, tu te decipis, Nuntius sum quò in miseris.

Cur damnatur apertio, Corpori necessaria, Sine cujus obsequio, Cuncta languent officia?

Quo si fiat ereptio, Cum sim fenastra pervia, Si quod recepi nuntio, Quae putatur injuria?

Addo quod nullo pulver•• Quem immitto pollueris, Nullum malum te laeder•• Potest, nisi consenseris:

De corde mala prodeunt,

Nihil invitum pateris, Virtutes non intereunt, Nisi culpam commise••is.

Dum sic uterque dispict•••• Soluto pacis esculo: Ratio litem amputa•• Definitivo calculo.

Vtrumque reum reputar, Sed non pari periculo, Nam cord causum imputat, Occasionem oculo.

Dan Elingham, a Monk of Lincon of Saint Benedict•• order, comming to the White-fryers in Nortingham, found there Iohn Baptist painted in a white Fryers weed, wher•••• mer∣vailing, he coaled out these tymes upon the wall 〈◊〉〈◊〉 to the picture.

Christi Baptista, vestis non ••e dicet ista, Qui te vestivit fratrem, maledictur ab 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Nunquam Messias frater fuer••••, nec Helias, Non stat plebs laeta, dum s••p••o fratre prophet•• Si fratrem Ionam fingis, Geez ••••••i ••onam: Ac Iebusaeum, ne ••ungas his H••lisan••••.

But a white Frier there answered Elingham, with these fol∣lowing in the person of John Baptist.

Elingham mentiris, metris fatu•••• q••oque mixis, Arque ea quae nescis sic astruis ut ea quascis, Nam Deus est testis, decet haec me candida vostis, Plusquam te vestis pulla, si••e nigra cuculla, Sum Carmelita merito, sed tu Geezita. Ac frater fi••tus Benedicti, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 benedictus.

He which made this when King Edward the first and the Pope concurred in exacting a payment from the Clergie should have smarted, had he been known.

Ecclesiae navis titubat, regn•• qu••act•••• Errat, Rex, Papa facti sunt ••••reae cap••••, Hoc faciunt do, des, Pilatus hic alt••r Herodes.

Salomon a Iew fell into a 〈◊〉〈◊〉 at Tewasbury upon a Sa∣turday,

a Christian offered to pull him one but he refused, be∣cause it was the Sabbath 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of the Iewes whereupon the Christian would not suffer him to be dr••w•• ••ut upon the Sun∣day being the Sabbath of the Christians, and there he lay. This was then briefly expressed Dialogue-wise between the Christian and him in these riming vers••••.

Tende manus Salomon, ego te de ster••ore ••ollam•• Sabbata nostra colo, de stercora surgere nolo Sabbata ••••st•••• quidem Salomon ••elebr••••is ibidem.

A merry learned lawyer which had received Wine for a re∣ward, or remembrance, from the Abbot of Merton who had entertained him in a cause, sent these two verses, as standing upon his integrity against bribes, and requiring rather good evidence, than good Wine.

Vinum transmissum nunc me facit esse remissum, Convivis vina, causis tua jura propina.

The Abbot, which perswaded himself what would move the Lawyer, when Wine could not, ••eturned 〈◊〉〈◊〉 three distiches.

Tentavi temerè vinc te posse movere, Non movi verè, sad fortè me ••••ber is 〈◊〉〈◊〉

Vinum non quaeris, sed tin•••• si sou•• aeris, Et spe duceris, for si••n alter eris.

Vt mihi sis mitis, tibi misi po••ul•• ••••tis, Nec tamen illa sitis des••••••, u••de sitis.

King Edward the third when he first quar••ared the Armes of France with England, declared his cha•••••• in this kind of verse, thus.

Rex sum regnorum bina ratione duorum, Anglorum regno sum Rex ego jure paterno, Matris jure quidem Francorum ••••ncupor idem Hinc est Armorum variatio fact••m••u••um.

These following were made by his Poet, when Phil'p de Valoys the French King lurked in Cambray, and so well

liked of him, that he sware by Saint George they were vali∣ant verses; and commanded them to be shot upon an arrow into the Citie, as a cattell of challenge.

Sivaltas, venias Vaeloys, depelle timorom, Non lateas, pateas, maneas, ostende vigorem.

In the Chapiter house of Yorke Minister is written this in commendation thereof:

Vt rosa flos florum, sic est domus ista domorum.

The Exchequer officers were extortours in the time of King Henry the 4. otherwise Henry Bell Collectour of the Custome, (as he stiled himself at that time,) would never have written a riming long Satyre against them, which be∣ginneth thus.

O Scacci Camera, locus est mirabilis ille. Vt referam vera, tortores sunt ibi mille. Si contingat ibi temet quid habere patrandum, Certe dic••tibi coetum reperire nefandum.

And concludeth in this manner.

O sic vexate tortoribus & cruciate, Non dices vere propter tales Miserere.

But this is good advise, which he giveth to such as have to deal with the officers of the Receipt.

Qui tallas scribunt, cum murmure saepè loguuntur. Summas quique solent in magnà scribere pelle. Scriber•• valdè dolent, dùm non sit solvere bellè. Escas manè datas propter jentacula pones, Côstas assatas, pisces, pinguesque capones, Illos conforta pariter per fortia vina, Westminster porta, pro talibus est medicina.

Now for the Fleet then, he writeth thus.

Cum sis in Fleta, patieris mille molesta, Jllic dona dabis, si sanus vis fore puncto; Nam custos Fleta bona de prisonibus unit, Nisolvant laete mox hos per vinculae punit: Illis qui baculos portant, ostendere debes, Valde pios loculos, & ludere prabeo, praebes:

In the time of King Henry the 4. when in leavying of a

Subsidie, the rich would not, and the poor could not pay, so they of the meaner sort bare the burthen: a skilfull dicer, and no un••kilfull rime wrot these verse▪

Dews Ace non possunt, & Sice Sinke solvere nolunt: Est igitur notum, Cater Tre solvere totum.

Of the decay of gentry one made these times:

Ex quo nobilitas servilia coepit amare, Nobilitas coepit cum servis degenerare:

Many more and of great variety of metres in this kind I could present you withall, for these rimers have as curious ob∣servations in their Arte R••thmizardi, as the Italian makers, in their Stanzas, Quartetts, Tercetts, Octaves: but now they are counted long eared which delight in them.

Beside these, our Poets have their knacks as young Schol∣lers call them, as Echos, Achrostiches, Serpen••ine, verses, Recurrents, Numeralls, &c. yea and our prose Authors could use Achrostiches, for Ranulph of Chester began the first Chapter of his Polychronicon with P. the a•• with R. the 3•• with E: the 4. with S. the fift with N. and so forth as if you would spell the first Chapters of his Book, you shall find, Praesentem Chronicam compilavit Ranulphus Monachus Cestrensis. And why not as well as Agapetus the Greek, who did the like in his admonitions to Iustinian the Emperour.

But I will end with this of Odo, holding Master Doctors Mule, and Anne with her table-cloth: which cost the maker much foolish labour, for it is a perfect verse, and every word is the very same, both backward and forward.

Odo tenet mulum, madidam mappam tenet Anna. Anna tenet mappam madidam, mulum tenet Odo:

Impreses.

AN Impress (as the Italians call it) is a device in picture with his Mot∣to, or Word, borne by noble and learned parsonages, to notifie some particular conceit of their own: as Emblemes (that we may omit other differences) do propund some gene∣rall instruction to all: as for exam∣ple: Whereas Cosmi Medici Duke of Florence had in the ascendent at his nativity the signe Cae∣pricorne, under which also Augustus and Charles the fift, two great and good Princes were born: he used the cele∣stiall signe Capricorne, with this Motto; FIDEM FATI VIRTVTE SEQVE MVR for his Impress, particular∣ly concerning his good hope to prove like unto them. But a faire woman pictured with an Olive crowne representing Peace, carrying in one hand the horne of Plenty, lea••ing a little golden boy for Plutus in the other, with, EXPA∣••E RERUM O••VLENTIA, is an embleme, and a generall document to all, that Peace bringeth Plenty.

There is required in an Impress (that we may reduce, them to few heads) a correspondency of the picture which is as the body; and the Motte, which as the soul gi∣veth it life. That is, the body must be of faire representati∣on, and the word in some different language, witty, short, and answerable thereunto; neither too obscure, nor too plain, and most commended, when it is an Hemistich, or parcell of a verse.

According to these prescrip••s neither the stars with the Moon in Tideus shield in Aeschilus; neither Amphiaraus Dragon in Pindar; neither the stem of a ship used for a seale by Pompey, can have here place: Much less the re∣verses in Roman Coynes, which were onely historicall memorials of their acts as that of Claud••us, with a plow∣man at plow, and this COL. CAMALODUN was to signifie that he made Maldon in Essex a Colony, and that of Hadrian with an Emperour, three souldiers, and EXERC. BRITANNICUS, was in memory of some good service by the three Legions resiant in this Isle at York, Chester, and Car-leon upon Uske. That also of Severus with a woman sitting upon Cliffes, holding an en∣sign in one hand, and as it were writing upon a shield, with VICTORIA BRITANNICA, was onely to shew his victories here.

Such also as are set down in Notitia Provinciarum, as a Boor se••ant for Jovi••; a circle party per Saltier for Bri∣tanniciani; a carbuncle (as B azoners terme it) for Britan∣nici, &c. cannot be admitted into the number of Impreses, for they were the severall ensigns of severall militarie Companies, whereof the two last seemed to be leavied out of this Isle.

Childish it is to refer hither the shields of King Ar∣thurs round-table Knights, when they were devised, as it is probable, for no other end, but to teach yong men the termes of Blazon.

Neither are Arms to be referred hither, which we•••• devised to distinguish Families, and were most usuall a∣mong the nobility in warres, tilts and tornaments in their Coats called Coat-armours, Shields, Standards, Ban∣ners, Pennors, Guyd••ns, untill about some hundred years since, when the French and Italian in the expedition of Naples, under Charles the eight began to leave Arms, haply for that many of them had none, and to hear the Curtains of their Mistresses Beds, their Mistresses Co∣lours, or these Impreses in their banners, shields and ca∣parisons:

in which the English have imitated them: And albeit a few have borrowed somewhat from them, yet ma∣ny have matched them, and no few surpassed them in wit∣tie conceit, as you shall perceive hereafter, if you will first give me leave to remember some imperfect Devises in this kinde of some former Kings of England, which you may well say to be liveless bodies, for that they have no word adjoyned.

Of King William Conquerour I have heard none, neither dare (as Jovius taketh the Sphinx Augustus signet for an Imprese) to set down our Conquerours Seal, which had his own picture on horse-back, with these verses to noti∣fie his Dominions.

Hoc Normannorum Willelmum nosce patronum:

On the other side;

Hoc Anglis Regem signo fatearis eundem.

As a King of Sicile had, about that time, this;

Apulus, & Calaber, Siculus mihi servit & Afer.

Stephen of Bloys the Usurper took the sign Sagittari∣us, for that he obtained this Kingdom when the Sun was in the said sign.

King Henry the second, grievously molested by the dis∣obedience of his four sons, who entred into actuall re∣bellion against him, caused to be painted in his great Chamber at his palace in Winchester, an Eagle with four young Chickens, whereof three pecked and scratched him, the fourth picked at his eyes. This his device had no life, because it had no Motte: but his answer gave it life, when he said to one demanding his meaning, That they were his sons which did so peck him, and that John the yongest, whom he loved best, practised his death more busily than the rest. [Giraldus Cambrensis distinct.]

King Henry the third, as liking well of Remuneration, commanded to be written in his Chamber at Woodstock, as it appeareth in the Records in the Tower,

Qui non dat quod amat, non accipit ille quod optat.

Edmund Crouch-backe his second son, first Earl of

Lancaster, used a red Rose, wherewith his Tombe at West∣minster is adorned.

Edward the third bare for his device, the rayes of the Sun dispersing themselves out of a cloud, and in other places a golden trunk of a tree.

The victorious Black Prince, his son, used sometimes one Feather, sometime three, in token, as some say, of his speedy execution in all his services, as the Posts in the Ro∣man times were Pterophori, and wore feathers to signifie their flying post-haste. But the truth is, that he wonne them at the battell of Cressy, from Iohn King of Bohemia, who he there slew: whereunto he adjoyned this old English word IC DIEN, that is, I serve, according to that of the Apostle. The heir while he is a childe, differeth nothing from a servant: These feathers were an antient or∣nament of military men, and used for Creasts, as it is evi∣dent by that of Virgil:

Cujus olorinae surgunt de vertice pennae:

And were used by this Prince before the time of Cauoy Chan the Tartarian, who because his life vvas saved by an Owl, who would have his people vvear their feathers: from vvhom Haithon fableth, that the people of Europe received first the use of feathers.

John of Gaunt Duke of Lancaster, brother to this Prince, took a red Rose to his device (as it were by right of his first wife, the heir of Lancaster, as Edmund of Langley, Duke of Yorke, took the vvhite Rose. Before these two brethren took these tvvo Roses, vvhich the fautors and follovvers of their heirs after, bare in that pittifull distraction of Eng∣land, between the families of Lancaster and York, a white Rose-tree at Longleete bare upon one branch a fair white rose on the one side, and as fair a red rose on the other; which might as well have bin a fore-token of that division, as the vvhite Hen vvith the bay sprīg lighting in the lap of Livia Augusta, betokened the Empire to her posteri∣ty, vvhich ended in Nero, vvhen both the brood of that

hen failed, and the bayes of that sprig withered.

The said Edmund of Langley, bare also for an Impress a Faulcon in a fetter-lock, implying that he was locked up from all hope and possibility of the Kingdom, when his bre∣thren began to aspire thereunto. Whereupon he asked on a time his sons when he saw them, beholding this device set up in a window, what was Latin for a fetter lock: whereat when the young gentlemen studied, the father said, well, if you cannot tell me, I will tell you, Hic, haec, hoc, taceatis, as advising them to be silent and quiet, and therewithall said, Yet God knoweth what may come to pass hereafter. This his great Grandchild, King Edward the fourth reported, when he commanded that his younger son Richard Duke of York, should use this device with the fetter-lock opened, as Roger Wall an Herald of that time reporteth.

King Richard the second, whose untrained youth and yeelding lenitie hastned his fall used commonly a white Hart couchant with a crown, and chain about his neck. For wear∣ing the which, some after his deposition, lost their lives. He also used a pescod branch with the cods open, but the pease out, as it is upon his Robe in his Monument at West∣minster.

His wife Anne, sister to Winceslaus the Emperour, bare an Ostrich, with a nail in his beak.

King Henry the fourth (as it is in Master Garters book) used a Fox tail dependent, following Lysanders advice, if the Lyons skin were too short, to piece it out with a Foxes case.

His half brethren surnamed Beaufort of Beaufort in France (which came to the house of Lancaster, by Blanch of Artois, wife to Edmund, first Earl of Lancaster) and who after were Dukes of Sommerset, &c. bare a Portcullis gold; whereunto not long afterward was added this word AL∣TERA SECURITAS. And not long since by the Earls of Worcester issued from them, MUTARE AUT TI MERE SPERNO.

His younger son Humfrey, Duke of Glocester, a noble

fautor of good letters, bare in that respect a Laurell branch in a golden cup.

That most martiall Prince King Henry the fift, carried a burning Cresset sometime a Beacon: and for his word, (but not appropriate thereunto,) UNE SANS PLUS. One and no more.

King Henry the sixth had two feathers in saltier.

King Edward the fourth, bare his white Rose, the fetter-lock before specified, and the Sun after the battell of Mortimers cross, where three Suns were seen immediately conjoyning in one.

King Richard the third bare a white Boar, which gave occasion to the time that cost the maker his life.

The Cat, the Rat, and Lovell the Dog, Rule all England under a Hog.

King Henry the seventh, in respect of his descent from the house of Somerset, used the Portcullis before mentioned; and in respect of the union of the two houses of Lancaster and York by his marriage, the white Rose united with the red, sometime placed in the Sun. And in respect he was crowned in the field with King Richards crown, found in an hawthorn bush, he bare the hawthorn bush with the crown in it; and with this he filled the windowes at Richmond, and his chap∣pell at Westminster.

His wife Queen, Elizabeth had a white and red rose knit together.

His mother Lady Margaret, Countess of Richmond, had three white Dasies growing upon a turf.

When King Henry the eighth began his raign, the English wits b••gan to imitate the French and Italian in these devises, adding the Mots. First King Henry himself at the interview between him and King Francis the first, whereat also Charles the fift was present, used for his Impress, an English Archer in a green coat, drawing his arrow to the head, with this in∣scription, CUI ADHAEREO, PRAEEST: when as at that time those mighty, Princes binding one a∣gainst the other, wrought him for their own particular.

His second wife Queen Anne, a happy mother of Englands happiness by her most happy daughter, bare a white crowned Faulcon, holding a Scepter in her right talon, standing upon a golden trunk, out of the which sprowted both white and red roses, with MIHI, ET MEAE.

To the honour of Queen Jane, who dyed willingly to save her child King E••ward, bare a Phoenix in his funeral fire, with this Motto, NAS CATUR UT AL∣TER.

King Edward the sixth bare (as the black Prince) three feathers in a crow while his Father survived, as Prince of Wales, with IC DIEN. Albeit he was never created.

Queen Mary when she wa•• Princess, used both a red and white Rose, and a Pomgranate knit together to shew her de∣scent from Lancaster, York, and Spain. When she came to the Kingdom, by perswasion of her Cleargie she bare winged Time drawing Truth out of a pit, with VERITAS TEM∣PORIS FILIA.

Her Successor (of blessed memory) Queen Elizabeth, upon occasions, used so many heroicall devises, as would re∣quire a volume; but most commonly a Sive without a Mot, for her words, VIDEO, TACEO, and SEMPER EADEM, which she as truly and constantly perfor∣med.

Cardinall Poole shewed the terrestriall globe incompassed with a Serpent adding this out of St. Matthew, ESTOTE PRUDENTES.

NOw I will descend from the bloud Royall and former time, and present unto you a few Impreses used by noble, and gentlemen of our nation, in our age, without commen∣ting upon them, as the Italians use. For the persons names I am to be pardoned, as knowing them not, when I observed them at Tilts and elsewhere: But such as adjoyned after the old and most laudable Italian manner, their Arms withall.

He signified his constancie in adversity, which painted a man swimming and striving against the stream in a tempestu∣ous sea, with this, ANIMUS TAMEN IDEM.

Desirous was he to rise, but found counter blasts, who fi∣gured a man ascending a Mountain, but repelled with contra∣ry winds, with this Mot, NITENS AD SUMMA, REPELLOR.

Henry Howard Earl of Survey, son and heir to Thomas Duke of Norfolk, devised for himself I know not upon what consideration a broken pillar with this word, SAT SUPER∣EST. But I read he was charged at his arraignment with that device, the impaling of his Armes with the Armes of Saint Edward, and erecting three banquetting houses, as Ba∣stilions in his garden neere Norwich; as matters of great con∣sequence and high treason, to the loss of his life. This is that noble Earl of Surrey, who first among the nobility of Eng∣land, conjoyned the honour of learning to the honour of high Parentage. Of whom the learned Hadrianus Junius giveth this testimony in Latin, which I cannot so well express in English. Heroicum corpor••s filum, ingen••um velox, & ex∣promptum, memoria inexhausta, plane{que} Mythridatica, sermo ab ipsis Gratiis effictus, linguarum multiplex cogni∣t••o, &c.

He would either find a way or make a way to his prefer∣ment, which caused to be portrayed, a hand working out a way in a craggie hill with a pickaxe, and this word, INVE∣NIT, AUT FACIT.

Sir Philip Sidney, to note that he persisted alwaies one, depainted out the Caspian sea surrounded with his shoares, which neither ebbeth nor floweth, and over it: SINE RE∣FLUXV.

He acknowledged his essence to be in his gratious Sovereign, which bare a Sun-diall, and the Sun setting, adding OCCA∣SU DESINES ESSE.

He might seeme to bear a vindicative mind, but I think it was for some amorous affection, which bare a flye upon an

eye, with SIC ULTUS PEREAM.

Upon his Princes favour he wholly relyed, which devised the Sun-shining-upon a bush, subscribing SI DESERIS PEREO.

As he which in like sense bare the Sun reflecting his rayse from him, with QUOUSQUE ALER∣TES?

His devote mind to his Lady he devoutly, though not religiously shewed, which under Venus in a cloud changed the usuall prayer into SALVA ME DOMI∣NA.

He shewed his affectionate good will in height of cou∣rage, that shewed in his shield, Atlas bearing, Heaven with a roule inscribed in Italian, INTENDAM CHJ PUO.

The force of love was well figured by him that gave an Unicorn (haply the badg of his family) reposing his head in a ladies lap, with this word, O QUANTA PO∣TENTIA.

Excellent was that of the late Earl of Essex, who when he was cast down with sorrow, and yet to be employed in Armes, bare a black mourning sh••eld without any figure, but inscribed, PARNVLLA FIGVRADOLO∣RI.

A stedfast setled mind was in that gentleman, that devised for h mself a Pyramis open to wind and weather, with NEC FLATV, NEC ••LVCTV.

He noted our peaceable times, which having a Martiall mind shewed an armed Knight soundly sleeping in a cock∣boat upon a calm Sea, with, AEQVORA TVTA SI∣LENT.

He played with the name, and hoped remedy to his Love, which devised a Rose, with that of Ov••d, leaving out the negative) AMOR EST MEDICABILIS HERBIS.

A Gentleman committed, and after with his great com∣mendation enlarged, took to him for an Impress, a Ball

upon a Racket, superscribing, PERCUSSA RE∣SURGO.

The Sunne declining to the West, vvith Occidens, Occidens, I being short in the first vvord, and long in the second, shevved that the safety and life both of the bearer and of others did depend on the light and life of the Sove∣raign.

A studious lover of good letters framed to himself one∣ly the figure of I, with this philosophicall principle, OM∣NIA EX UNO.

Out of Philosophie likewise another, to notifie his greatest impeachment, drew this principle, EX NIHI∣LO NIHIL: and inscribed it bend-vvise, vvith his Arms in a bare shield.

One vveighed dovvn vvith some adverse happe, and yet not altogether hopeless, painted an heavy stone fast∣ned to a mans arme with, SPES MIHI MAGNA TAMEN.

Neither seemed he void of all hope for his pains after long service, which painted a fallow field vvith, AT QUAN∣DO MESSIS?

The Needle in the Sea-Compasse still moving but to the North point onely with MOVEOR IMMOTUS, notified the respective constancie of the Gentleman to one onely.

The ornament of our land vvas meant by him vvhich pla∣ced onely the Moon in Heaven in full light with, QUID SINETE COELUM?

Far vvas he from Venus service vvhich bare Ʋenus por∣trayed in a cloud vvith NIHIL MINUS.

But vvholly devoted vvas he to that goddess, vvhich con∣trariwise bare the Astronomical character of Venus, vvith NIHIL MAGIS.

The successive variety of vvorldly affairs, or his ovvn favours, a studious Gentleman well noted, which painted in an Hemisphere some Stars rising, some setting, with, SURGUNTQUE CADUNTQUE VICISSIM.

His whole trust reposed that good Divine in God, which after some adversities set upon a Rock beaten with winde and weather, to express his state yet standing, with DEO JUVANTE, DEO CONSERVANTE.

Heavenly cogitations were in him, who onely figured a man kneeling, with his hands lifted up to the Heavens, with this inscribed, SUPREMA OPTIMA MUNDI.

A very good invention was that to shew his stay and support by a virgin Prince, who presented in his shield, the Zodiack with the Characters onely of Leo and Virgo, and this word, HIS EGO PRAESIDIIS.

It may be thought that he noted deserts to be every vvhere excluded, and meer hap to raise most men, vvho inscribed within a Laurell Garland, FATO NON MERITO.

A lavish tongue might seem to have damnified the Gentleman, vvhich took for his device a Landskip, as they call it, and solitary Mountains, with TUTI MONTES, TUTUM SILENTIUM.

He had no great care to express his conceit in an Im∣prese, vvhich nevertheless he did express, which bare a white shield inscribed, NEC CURA NEC CHA∣RACTER.

No Knight of Venus was he, who as triumphing over her force, bare her Son (winged Cupid) in a net, with QUI CAPIT CAPITƲR.

The Star called Spica Virginis, one of the fifteen which are accompted to be of the first magnitude among the A∣stronomers, with a scrole inwritten, MIHI VITA SPI∣CA VIRGINIS, declared thereby haply, thad he had that Star in the ascendent at his Nativity, or rather, that he lived by the gracious favour of a virgin Prince.

One in our sea-faring age adventuring himself and all he had to the Seas, proposing no certain arrivall to him∣self, made a Ship with full sail in the Sea, and superscri∣bed, PONTUS IN IGNOTO.

His minde mounted above the meane, vvhich devised

for himself, one that had clambred much more than half the way of a steep Mountain, adding this word neer him, DIXERUNT FATUI, omitting the other part of the verse, Medium tenuere beati.

Likewise he hoped to attain the height of his desire, which made one climing to the middle of a Piramis, with HVCSPE, by him, and ILLIC SPES above him.

Another also which climed in his conceit, but as it see∣meth fearing a fall, made a man upon the upper degrees of a Ladder, with this Mot adjoyned, NON QUO SED UNDE CADO.

He referred Fate, Fortune and all to his Soveraigne, which drevv for himself the twelve houses of Heaven, in the forme which Astrologians use, setting down neither Sign, nor Planet therein, but onely placing over it this word, DISPONE.

The like reference had he which onely used a vvhite Shield, and therein written, FATUM INSCRIBAT ELIZA.

It may be doubtfull vvhether he affected his Soveraign, or Justice more zealously, which made a man hovering in the ayr, with FEROR AD ASTREAM,

You may easily conjecture what he conceived, vvho in his shield reared an Oare with a sail fastened thereunto, adding, FORSET VIRTUS MISCENTUR IN UNUM.

Full of loving affection was he to his Lady, which bare a Rose upon his pricking branch, with ABIGITQUE TRAHITQUE.

With many a blustering blast he seemed to have been tossed, vvhich painted an Horizon, vvith all the Cardinall and collaterall winds blowing, and in the middest RA∣PIUNT QUE FERUNTQUE.

As to the honour of Magellanus (vvhose ship first passed round about the world, though he miscarried) was devised the terrestriall Globe, with TU PRIMUS CIRCUM∣DEDISTI ME. So our Sir Francis Drake, who for∣tunately

effected the same, had devised for him a Globe terrestriall, upon the height whereof is a ship under sayl, trayned about the Globe with two golden halsers, by di∣rection of an hand out of a cloud, and a dragon volant upon the hatches, regarding the direction with these words, AUXILO DIVINO.

An Imprese too perplexed & unfitting for so worthy a man, who as one said to him most excellently in this Dissich. PLUS ULTRA, Hercule is inscribas, Drake, columnis,

Et magno dic as Hercule major ego.

A man verily worthy to be eternized by some good pen, as also his servant John Oxenham, who arriving with 70. men in the straight of Dariena in America, drew a land his ship, and hiding it with boughs, marched over the land vvith his company, guided by Negros, untill he came to a River vvhere he cut vvood, made him a Pinnass, entred the South Sea, went to the Island of Pearls, lay there ten days, inter∣cepted in tvvo Spanish ships 60. thousand weight of gold, and one hundred thousand in Bars of silver, returned safely to the main land: but through the mutinie of his souldiers he miscarried, and as the Poet saith Magnis ex∣cidit ausis, in an adventure never attempted by any, and therefore not to be forgotten, when as the Lopez a Spani∣ard hath recorded it not vvithout admiration, as you may see in the Discoveries of the learned and industrious M. Rich. Hackluit: But pardon this digression occasioned by the memory of sir Fr. Drake.

It seemed a difficultie unto him to live rightly either in liberty or bondage, which painted one Greyhound, cour∣sing, with, IN LIBERTATE LABOR, and ano∣ther tied to a tree gazing on the game, with, INSER∣VITUTE DOLOR.

I cannot imagine what he meant, which took for his devise a small brook passing along the lands mildly, till it came to a damme, and there rising and raging overflowed the lands, with, MAGIS MAGISQUE, written in the place overflowed: unless he would give us to understand

that the more his affections were stopped, the more they were stirred.

He which took a man armed at all points, with, ME ET MEUM, while he shewed a resolution in his own behalf, forgat God; and that of King Henry the eighth, DIEU ET MONDROIT, God and my right.

In the Impreses of Ruscelli I finde that sir Richard Shel∣ley, Knight of S. Johns, used a white Faulcon with this Spa∣nish Motto, FEYFID ALGULA, Id est, Faith and gentleness, which Falcon he quartered in his Arms by the name of Michelgrove, as they say.

Whereas the Laurell sacred to learning is never hurt by lightning, and therefore the Cock resorteth thereunto in tempests, as natural Historians testifie: He seemed studious of good learning, and fearfull of danger, which caused to be painted for him a Cock under a Laurell, with SIC EVITABILE FULMEN.

An amorous affection was onely noted in him vvhich set down an eye in an heare, with VULNUS ALO.

He also held one course, and levelled at one marke, which made a River in a long tract disgorging himself into the Sea, with SEMPER AD MARE.

He doubted not to finde the right course by indirect means, which did set down a sphericall crooked pair of Compasses, with PER OBLIQUA RECTA.

He proposed to himself honour in Martiall service, which made a Trophee, or trunk of a tree with harness and abillements of War, and a Sepulchr•• not far off, ad∣ding underneath, AUT SPOLIIS LAETEMUR OPIMIS. Omitting that which followeth in Virgill, Aut let ho insigni.

A warie man would he seem, and carefull for his own, which shewed a village on fire, with JAM PROXI∣MUS ARDET.

Tyred might he seem with Law-delays, or such like suites, which devised for himself a tottering ship with torn sayle driven up and down, with JAM SEPTIMA

PORTAT. You know what followeth, Omnibus erran∣rantem terris & fluctibus aesta••.

In the beginning of her late Majesties raign, one upon happy hope conceived, made an half of the Zodiake, with Virgo rising, adding JAM REDIT ET VIR∣GO: Suppressing the words following, Redeunt Satur∣nia regna,

Variety, and vicissitude of humane things he seemed to shew, which parted his shield, Per Pale, Argent & Sables, and counterchangeably writ in the Argent, ATER, and in the sables, ALBUS.

He elegantly shewed by whom he was drawn, which depainted the Nauticall compass, with, AUT MAG∣NES, AVT MAGNA.

Another ascribing his life and all to his Lady, pictured a tree neer a spring, and at the root thereof, QVOD VIVAM, TUUM.

He shewed himself to be a Martiall, and a Mercuriall man, which bare a sword in one hand, and a Bay in the o∣ther, with ARTI ET MARTI.

It might seem a craving Imprese, which set nothing but Ciphers downe in a roule, with ADDE VEL UNUM.

Likewise he vvhich set dovvn the nine numerall figures, vvith ADDE, VEL ADIME.

His meaning might be perceived out of the last Eglogue of Virgill, containing Gallus loving lamentations, vvhich portraied a tree, and in the barke engraved E, adding this vvord, CRESCETIS.

Studious in Alchymy might he seem, or in some ab∣struse Art vvhich he could not finde out, vvhich shevved for his devise onely a golden branch, vvith LATET AR∣BORE OPACA.

He seemed not to respect hopefull tokens vvithout good effects, vvhich made a ship sinking, and the Rainebovv ap∣pearing with QVID TV, SI PEREO.

I know one vvhich overcome with a predominant hu∣mour

was so troubled with a fancifull vain cogitation, so that no counsell or company could withdraw him from it, figured a man with a shadow projected before him, with this word IT COMES.

A Gentleman Scholler drawn from the Universitie where he was well liked, to the Court, for which in respect of his bashfull modesty, he was not fit; painted a red corall branch, which while it grevv in the Sea vvas green, vvith this, NUNC RUBEO, ANTE ƲIRE∣BAM.

Master Richard Carew of Anthony, vvhen he vvas in his tender years, devised for himself an Adamant upon an anvile, vvith a hand holding an hammer thereover, and this Italian Motto, CHEVERACE DURERA: vvhich also conteined his name Anagrammatically.

He seemed not to be sufficiently vvarmed, living in the Sun-shine of the Court, vvhich framed for his devise a glass of Parabolical concavatie, or burning glass, as some call it, vvith the Sun shining over it, and a combustible matter kindled under it, vvith NEC DUM CALES∣CO.

He doubted not but continual suit vvould mollifie his Mistriss heart, vvhich made an eye dropping tears upon an heart, vvith SAEPE CADENDO.

He lacked but some gratious hand to effect some mat∣ter vvell forvvard, vvhich made more than half a circle vvith a pair of compasses, the one foot fixed in the centre, the other in the circumference, placing thereby, ADDE MANUM.

His conceit vvas godly and correspondent to his name, vvho made an Hart in his race to a fountain, and over it, UT CERVUS FONTEM, and under it, SIC ABRA∣HAMUS CHRISTUM, The meaning is plain to all vvhich knovv Scriptures, and I take the Gentlemans name to be Abraham Hartwell. The same Impress vvas used by Boromeo the best Cardinal vvhich I have heard of, but vvith this vvord, UNA SALUS.

When the Spaniards purposed the invasion 1558. and their Navy was scattered to their confusion, by a ship fired and carried among them by direction from her late Majesty; A Gentleman depainted that Navie in confu∣sion with a fiered ship approaching, adding to her ho∣nour out of Virgill: DUX FAEMINA FA∣CTI.

This calls another to my remembrance, which I have seen cast in silver, as concerning that matter, A great Na∣vy upon the Sea neer the South coast of England, with VENIT, VIDIT, FUGIT: As that of Julius Caesar, when he had overcome Pharnaces, VENI, VIDI, VICI.

About that time, when some dislikes grew between the English and the States of the united Provinces, they fearing that it might tend to the hurt of both, caused to be imprinted two pitchers floating on the water upon a Medalia, with SI COLLIDIMVR, FRANGI∣MVR.

In the like sense, there were coyned pieces with two Oxen drawing the plough, the one marked with a Rose for England, the other with a Lyon on the shoulder for Holland, and written thereby, TRAHITE AEQVO JƲGO.

He measured himself with a mean, and seemed to rest content, which made a Tortois in his shell, with MECVM HABITO.

His conceit was obscure to me which painted a sa∣vadge of America pointing toward the Sun, with TIBI ACCESSV, MIHI DEC ESSV.

Sir Phillip Sidney, who was a long time heir apparent to the Earl of Leicester, after the said Earl had a Son born to him, used at the next Tilte-day following SPE∣RAVI dashed through, to shew his hope therein was dashed.

He signified himself to be revived with gracious favour which made the Sun-shining upon a withered tree,

but new blooming, with this, HIS RADIIS REDI∣VIVA VIRESCO.

The late Earl of Essex took a Diamond only amidst his shield, with this about it, DUM FORMAS MI∣NUIS. Diamonds, as all know, are impaired while they are fashioned and pointed.

Sir Henry Lea upon some Astrological consideration, used to her late Majesties Honour, the whole constella∣tion of Ariadnes crown, culminant in her nativity, with this word: COE LUMQUE SOLUMQUE BEA∣ƲIT.

A setled conscience did he shew, which made a Hal∣cyon hovering against the wind with, CONSTANS CONTRARIA SPERNIT. The Fishers do say, that when it is dead and hanged up, it turneth the belly al∣waies to the wind.

He might seem to be in some hard distress, which car∣ried a Viper upon his hand, with this word over-written. MORS, VEL MORSVS.

He might seem to reach at some of Vulcans order, which made a Buck casting his horns, with INERMIS DE∣FORMIS over him; and under him, CUR DOLENT HABENTES.

It was some loving conceit expressed by him, which bare tvvo Torches, the one light, the other out, vvith EX∣TINGƲOR ASIMILI.

Another presenting himself at the Tilt, to shevv himself to be but yong in these services, and resolving of no one Impress, took only a vvhite shield,, as all they did in old time, that had exploited nothing and in the base point thereof made a Painters pensil, and a little shell of colours vvith this Spanish vvord, HAZED MEQUE QUI∣RES, id est. Make of me vvhat you vvill.

At that time one bare a pair o•• scales, vvith fire in one ballance and smoke in the other, thereby vvritten, PON∣DERARE, ERRARE.

The same day vvas born by another, many flies about

a candle, with, SIC SPLENDIDIORA PETUNTUR.

In another shield, (if I am not deceived) droppes fell down into a fire and there-under was written, TA∣MEN NON EXTINGVENDA.

The Sun in another shield did seem to cast his rayes upon a Star, partly over-shadowed with a cloud, and thereby was set down, TANTUM QUANTUM.

A letter folded and sealed up, superscribed, LEGE ET RELEGE, was born by another, and this last I refer to the Readers consideration.

Confident was he in the goodness of his cause, and the Justice of our Land, who only pictured Justitia with her Ballance and Sword, and this, being an Anagram of his name, DUM ILLA, EVINCAM.

For whom also was devised by his learned friend, Pal∣las defensive Shield with Gorgons head thereon, in respect of his late Soveraigns most gracious patronage of him, with this Anagrammatical word, NIL MALUM CUI DEA.

Epitaphes.

GReat hath been the care of buriall even since the first times, as you may see by the examples of Abraham, Ja∣cob, Joseph, Josua, the old Prophet in Bethel, and Tobie; and also by that in holy Scriptures: Mortuo ne deneges gratiam. The Jews annointed the dead bodies, wrapped them in sindon, layed them in co∣vered sepulchres hewed out of stone: The Egyptians em∣balmed and filled them with odoriferous spices, reserving them in glass or coffins: the Assyrians in wax and honey, the Scythians carried about the cleansed carkases to the friends of the deceased for 40. daies with solemne ban∣quets. And that we may not particulate, the Romans so far exceed in funerall honours, and ceremonies, with ointments, images, bonfires of most precious woods, sa∣crifices, and banquets, burning their dead bodies untill about the time of Theodosius, that Laws were enacted to restrain the excess. Neither have any neglected buriall, but some savage Nations, as Bactrians, (which cast the dead to their dogs) some varlet Philosophers, as Diogenes which desired to be devoured of fishes; some dissolute Courtiers as Mecenas, vvho vvas vvont to say.

Non tumulum curo, sepelit natura relictos.

As another said.

De terra in terram, & quaevis terra sopulchrum.

Yea, some of especiall note amongst us neglecting the last duty either upon a sparing or a precise humor are content

to commit to the Earth their Parents, Wives & the nearest unto them in tenebris, with little better than S••pulchra asi∣norum. As for those which philosophically dislike monu∣ments and memorialls after their death, and these that af∣fect them; I think as Plinie did, speaking of Virginius, and Apronius: that both of them do ambitiously march with like paces towards glory, but by divers waies these open∣ly, in that they desire their due titles, those other covertly, in that they would seem carelesly to contemne them.

But among all funerall honours, Epitaphes have alwaies been most respective, for in them love was shewed to the deceased; memory was continued to posterity, friends were comforted, and the reader put in mind of human frai••ty.

The invention of them proceeded from the presage or forefeeling of immortality imp••anted in all men naturally, and is referred to the Schollers of Linus, who first bewai∣led their Master, when he was slain, in dolefull verses, then called of him Aelinum, afterward Epitaphiae, for that they were first sung at burials, after engraved upon the sepul∣chres.

It were needless to set down here the Laws of Plato, that an Epitaph should be comprised in four verses; or of the Lacedemonians, who reserved this honour only to Martiall men, and chast women or how the most ancient, (especially Greeke,) were written in Elegiac verse, after in prose.

How monuments were erected most usually along the high way side, to put passengers in mind that they are, as those were mortall.

How such as violated sepulchres were punished with death, banishment, condemnation to the mines, loss of members, according to circumstance of fact and person, and how sacred they were accounted.

In which r••gard I cannot but give you the words out of the Novellae ••eges Valentinians Augusti: De sepulchris, ti∣tulo 5. which are worth reading, Scimus, nec vana fides, &

solut••s membris animas habere sensum, & in originem suam spiritum redire coelestem, hoc libris veteris sapientiae, hoc re∣ligio••is, quam veneramur & colimus, declaratur arcanis. Et licet occafus necessitatem mens divina um sentiat, amaut ta∣then animae sedem corporum relictorum, & nescio qua sorte rationis occulia sepulchri honore latentur: cujus tanta per∣maneat cura temporibus, ut videamus in hos usus sumptu nimio pretiosam ut um metalla transferri, operosasque moles censu laborante componi. Quod prudentium cerie intelligen∣tiarecusaret, si nihil crederet esse past mortem. Nimis bar∣baraest & vesana crudelitas, munus extremum luce caren∣tibus invidere, & dirutis per inexpiabile crimen sepulchris, monstrare coelo corum reliquias humatorum. Against which I cannot without grief remember, how barbarously, and unchristianly some not long since have offended, yea, some Mingendo in patrios cineres, which yet we have seen strangely revenged.

I could here also call to your remembrance how the place of burial was called by S^t. Paul Seminatio, in the ••e∣spect of the assured hope of resurrection, of the Greekes Coemiterion, as a sleeping place untill the resurrection, and of the Hebrews The house of the living in the same re∣spect, as the Germanes call Church-yards untill this day Gods aker or Gods field. And in the like sence tombes were named Requ••etoria; Ossuaria, C••neraria, Domus ae∣ternae, &c. As you may see in old inscriptions at Rome, and elsewhere. Which Lucian scoffingly termed Campes and Cottages of Carkases.

Notorious it is to all, how the same Lucian bringeth in D••ogenes laughing and out-laughing King Mausolus, for that he was so pittifully pressed and crushed with an huge heap of stones under his stately monument Mausoleum, for the magnificence accounted among the worlds won∣ders: But monuments answerable to mens worth, states, and places have alwaies been allowed, yet stately sepul∣chres for base fellows have alwaies lien open to bitter jests, as that marble one of Licinus the Barber, which

one by way of comparison thus derided, with a doubt thereon, whether God regarded men of worth.

Marmoreo Licinus tumulo jacet, at Cato parvo. Pompeius nullo. Credimus esse Deos?

Whereunto another replyed with an assurance, that God doth regard worthy men.

Saxa premunt Licinum, vehit altum fama Catonem, Pompeium tituli. Credimus esse Deos.

As for such as bury themselves living, and say they live to themselves, when they live neither to themselves, nor to other, but to their belly, ease, and pleasure, well worthy are they to have while they live, that Epitaph which Sene∣ca devised for Vatia their fellow, to be inscribed upon his house, Hic situs est Vatia, and no memoriall at all when they are dead.

It is not impertinent to note in one word as the antient Romans began Epitaphs with D. M. for Diis Manibus. D. M. S. i. Diis manibus sacrum. Hic situs est Hospes, as speaking to the reader. So we and other Christians began them with Hic deponitur, Hic jacet, Hic requiescit, Hic tumulatur; in French Icy gist, Here lieth, and in latter time according to the doctrine of the time Ora pro. &c. Of your charity, &c. And now after the antient manner D. O. M. for Deo. Optimo. Maximo. Posteritati Sacrum. Memo∣riae Sacrum: Deo & Posteris Virtuti & Honori Sacrum &c:

Likewise as our Epitaphs were concluded with On whose soul God have mercy, Cujus animae propitietur Deus. God send him a joyfull resurrection, &c. ••o theirs with, Hoc Monumentum posuit vel fecit, in these letters: M. P. M. F. in the behalf of him that made the Monument. With Vale, Vale, & Salve anima, nos eo ordine, quo natura jusserit sequemur. With H. M. H. N. S. for Hoc monu∣mentum haeredes non sequitur. When they would not have their heirs entombed therein; with Rogo per Deos superos inferosque ossa nostra ne violes. And most commonly with Sit tibi terra levis, in these notes, S. T. T. L. And some∣time with Qui••tem posteri non invideant.

But omitting this discourse, I will offer unto your view a number of choise Epi••••phs of our nation for matter and conceit, some good, some bad, that you may see how lear∣ning ebbed and flowed: most of them recovered from the injurie of time by writers. And will begin with that at Rome as most ancient erected to the memory of a Bri∣taine; who after the manner of the time, took a Roman name.

M. VLPIOIV STO. O. SIG. AVG. MILITA∣VIT. AN. XXV. VIXIT. XLV. NATIONE BRITTO. FEC.

M. VLSIVS RESPECTVS VEH. AVG. AMICO OPTIMO DE SE BENE MERENTI.

Arthur the valorous upholder of the ruinous state of Britain against the Saxons about the year 500. was buri∣ed secretly at Glastenbury, lest the enemie should offer indignity to the dead body, and about 700. years after, when a grave was to be made in the Church-yard there, a stone was found between two Pyramides deep in the ground, with a cross of lead infixed into the lower part thereof, and inscribed in the inner side of the cross in rude Characters, which the Italians now call Gotish letters.

HIC JACET SEPVLTVS INCLYTVS REX AR∣TVRIVS IN INSULA AVALONIA,

Under which in a trough of Oke were found his bones which the Monkes translated into the Church, and honou∣red them with a tombe, but dishonoured him with these hornepipe verses.

Hic jacet Arturus flos regum, gloria regni, Quem morum probitas commendat lande perenni.

Augustine the first Arch-Bishop of Canterbury, who first preached Christ to the English nation converred the Kentishmen, and revived Christianity in this Isle, which flourished among the Britains, many years before his coming, was buried at Canterbury in St. Peters Porch, with this Epitaph.

Hic requiesci•• dominus Augustinus Dorobernenfis Archie∣piscopus

primus, qui olim huc a beato Gregorio Romanae urbis pontifice directus, & a Deo operati•••• miraeculorum suffultus, Aethelbertum regem, ac gentem ••••••m ab idolorum cultu ad Christi fidem perauxit, & complet is in pace diebus officii sui, defunctus est septimo Kalenda•• Junias, eodem rege regnante.

In the same place were interred the six succeeding Arch∣bishops, for whom and Augustine making the seaventh, were these verses, as comon to them all written on the wall with this title: as I finde them in Gervasius Dorobernensi•• Septem primae ecclesiae Anglorum columnae.

Augustinus, Laurentius, Mellitus, Justus, Honorius, Deus-dedit, Theodorus. Septem sunt Anglis primates & protopatres, Septem rectores, coelo septemque triones, Septem cist ernae vitae, septemque lucernae, Et septem p••lmae regni, septemque coronae, Septem sunt stellae quas haec t net area cellae.

But Theodore the last of the 7. which first taught Greek in England, and died in the year 713. had this severally inscribed upon his tombe.

Scandens alma novae faelix consortia vitae Civibus Angelicis junctus in arce poli.

Cedwall King of the West Saxons, went to Rome in the year 689. and there being baptized, renounced the world, en∣ded his life, and was buried with this Epitaph,

Culmen, opes, sobolem, pollentia regna, triumphos, Exuvias, proceres, maenia, castra, lures, Quaeque patrum virtus, & quae congesserat ipse, Cadwal armipotens liquit amore Dei.

With some more, which you may see in Paulus Diaconus, and Beda.

King Eadgar surnamed the Peaceable, the great patron

and favourer of Monks, deserved well, for his foundation of so many Abbies, this Epitaph:

Autor opum, vindex scelerum, largitor honorum, Sceptriger Eadgarus regna superna p••••it. Hic alter Salomon, legum pater, orbita pacis, Quod caruit bellis, claruit inde magis. Templa Deo, templis monachos, monachis dedit agros: Nequitiae lapsum, justitiaeque locum. Novit enim regno verum perquirere falso: Immensum modico, perpetuumque brevi.

To the honour of King Alfred, a godly, wise, and warlike Prince, & an especial advancer of learning was made this, better than that time commonly afforded:

Nobilitas innata tibi, probitatis honorem Armipotens Alfrede dedit, probitasque laborem, Perpetuumque labor nomen: cui mixta dolori Gaudia semper erant: spes semper mixta timori. Si modò victor eras, adcrastina bella pavebas; Si modò victus eras, incrastina bella parabas. Cui vestes sudore jugi, cui sica cr••ore Tincta jugi, quantum sit onus regnare probarunt. Non fuit immensi qu••sqnam per climata mundi, Cui tot in adversis vel respirare liceret: Nec tamen aut ferro contritus ponere ferrum, Aut gladio potuit vitae finisse labores. Jam post transactos vitae regnique labores, Christus ei sit vera quies, & vita perennis.

It is mervellous how immediatly after this time learning decayed in this Kingdom, for Iohn Erigena, alias Scotus, fa∣voured of Charls the Bald King of France, and the fore∣said King Alfred for his learning, when he was stabbed by his Schollers at Malmesbury, was buried with this rude, rough, and unlearned verse:

Clauditur in tumulo Sanctus Sophista Johannes, Qui ditatus erat, jam vivens dogmate miro. Martyrio tandem Christi conscendere regnum Quo meritis, regnant sancti per secula cuncti.

On the tombe of Saint Edward the Confessor in Westminster, is this epitaph.

Omnibus insignis virtutum landibus heros Sanctus Edwardus Confessor, Rex venerandus, Quinto die Iani moriens super aethera scandit. Sursum Corda. Moritur, 1065.

This religious and good King dyed at Westminster: the Chamber wherein he dyed yet remaineth, close to Sir Tho∣mas Cottons house he built a good••y house in Essex, which he called Have-he-ring, as much to say, as take the Ring (for he in the Saxon was, the, in our now English) in this place he took great delight, because it was woody and so∣li••ary, fit for his private devotions. I cannot justifie that report, how when he was hindred and troubled in his praying by the multitude of singing Nightingales, ear∣nestly desired of God their absence, since which time ne∣ver Nightingale was heard to sing in the Parke, but with∣out the pales many numbers, as ••n other places; yet this is reported for a truth by the inhabitants at this day.

Concerning that name of Havering, from taking the Ring, the History is commonly known, vvhich is, how King Edward having no other thing to give an aged Pil∣grim, who demanded an almes of him here in England, took off his Ring from his finger, and gave it him, which Ring the said Pilgrim from Hierusalem, or I wet not from whence, delivered to certain Englishmen, and willed them to deliver the same again unto their King, and to tell him it was Saint John the Evangelist that he gave it unto, and who now sent it again, withall to tell him upon such a day he should dye, which vvas the day above vvritten. The credit of this story I leave to the first Author, and the Legend; but if at any time you goe through Westminster Cloyster into the Deans yard, you shall see the King and Pilgrim cut in stone over the gate: but this by the vvay.

And from this time learning so low ebbed in England, that betvveen T••ames and Trent, there vvas scant one found vvhich could understand Latin, and that you may

perceive, vvhen as Hugolin Treasurer to King Edward the Confessor, had these most silly verses ingraven upon his monument, in the old Chapter-house of Westminster.

Qui ruis injuste capit hic Hugoline locus te, Lande pia clares, quia martyribus nece clares.

But shortly after the Conquest learning revived, as ap∣peareth by these that follovv, vvhich vvere cast in a more learned mould than the former.

King William surnamed the Conquerour, for his conquest of England, vvas buried at Caen in Normandy, vvith this Epitaph, discovered in the late civill Wars of France, but mentioned in Gemeticensis.

Qui rexit rigidos Normannos, at que Britannos Audacter vicit, fortiter obtinuit: Et Cenomanenses virtute contudit enses, Imperiique sui legibus applicuit: Rex magnus parvafacet hic Gulielmus in urna: Sufficit & magno parva domus domino. Ter septem gradibus se volverat atque duobus, Virginis in gremio Phoebus, & hic obiit.

Upon Stigand Archbishop of Canterbury degraded for his intrusion and corruption, I finde this most viperous Epitaph in an old Manuscript, vvhich seemed to proceed from the malice of the Normans against him.

Hic jacet Herodes Herode ferocior, hujus Inquinat infernum spiritus, ossa solum.

William the Valiant, Earl of Flanders, grandchilde to this King William the Conquerour, son to Robert, who unhappy in his state, losing the hope of his Kingdome of England, and dying of a wound in his hand, was not alto∣gether unhappy in his Poet, which made him this Epitaph.

Unicus ille ruit, cujus non terga sagittam, Cujus nosse pedes non potuere fugam. Nil nisi fulmen erat, quoties res ipsa movebat, Et si non fulmen, fulminis instar erat.

King Henry the first, for his learning surnamed Beauclere, had this flattering Epitaph, as Poets could flatter in all ages.

Rex Henrious obit, decus olim, nunc dolor orbis, Numina flent numen doperiisse suum. Mercurius minor eloquio, vi ment is Apollo, Jupiter imperio, Marsque vigore gemunt. Anglia quae curâ, quae sceptro Principis hujus, Ardua splenduerat, jam tenebrosa ruit. Haec cum rege suo, Normannia cum Duce merces, Nutriit haec puerum, perdidit illa virum.

Whereas this dead King was so divided, that his heart and brains were buried in Normandy, and his body in England, these verses were made by Arnulph of Lifieux.

Henrici, cujus celebrat vox publica nomen, Hoc pro parte jacent membra sepulta loco. Quem neque viventem capiebat terra, nec unus Defunctum potuit consepelire locus. Intria partitus, sua jura quibusque resignat Partibus, illustrans sic tria regna tribus. Spiritus coelum; cordi cerebroque dicata est Neustria: quod dederat Anglia, corpus habet.

Of him also another composed these in respect of his peaceable government, and the troubles which ensued un∣der King Stephen, both in England and Normandy.

Anglia lugeat hinc, Normannica gens fleat illinc, Occidit Henricus modo lux, nunc luctus utr••que.

Upon William sonne of King Henry the first, and heir apparant of this Realm, drowned upon the coast of Nor∣mandy, I have found this Epitaph.

Abstulit hunc terrae matri maris unda noverca, Proh dolor! occubuit Sol Anglicus, Anglia plora: Quaque prius fuer as geming radiata nitore, Extincto nato vivas contenta parente.

But well it was with England in that he was so preven∣ted, which threatned to make the English draw the Plough as Oxen. (Hypodigma.)

Mawd daughter to the foresaid King, wife to Henry the fourth Emperour, mother to King Henry the second, who intituled her self Empress and Augusta, for that she was

thrice solemnly crowned at Rome, as R. de Diceto testifieth, and Anglorum Domina, because she was heir apparent to the crowne of England, was very happy in her Poet, who in these two severall verses, contained her princely paren∣tage, match, and issue.

Magna ortu, majorque vire, sed maxima partu, Hic jacet Henrici filia, sponsa, parens.

Alberie Vere, grandfather to the first Earl of Oxford, and his son William were buried together, Anno 1088. with this Epitaph at Colne, where he was founder and afterward Monk, as it is in the Annales of Abingdon Abbey.

En puer, en senior, paeter alter, filius alter, Legeni, fortunam, terram venere sub unam:

Which is not unlike to that of Conrad the Emperour at Spires in Germany.

Filius hic, pater hic, avus hic, p••oavus ••acet istic.

Thomas Becket, Archbishop of Canterbury slain in Christs Church at Canterbury at Christmass, had these Epitaphs expressing the cause, the time, and place of his death, made by his especiall favourer.

Pro Chr••sti sponsa, Christi sub tempore, Christi In templo, Christi verus amator obit. Quinta dies natalis erat, flos orbis ab orbe Carpitur, & fructus inci pit esse poli. Qui•• moritur? praesul. cur? pro grege. qualiter? ense: Quando? natali. quis locus? ara Dei.

For Theobald of Bloys Earl of Champaine, nephew to King Henry the first, Giraldus Cambrensis Bishop of S. Da∣vids in Wales made this.

Ille comes, Comes ille pius Theobaldus eras, quem Gandet habere polus, terra carere dolet. Non hominem possum, non audeo dicere numen: Mors probat hunc hominem, vita suisse Deum. Trans hominem, citra{que} Deum: plus hoc, minus istud, Nescio quis, neuter, inter utrumque fuit:

V••talis Abbot of Westminster which died in the time of the Conquerour, had this Epitaph:

Qui nomen traxit a vita, morte vocante Abbas Vitalis transiit, hic que jacet:

And for Laurence Abbot of the same place which died 1176, was made this alluding to his name:

Pro meritis vitae dedit isti Laurea nomen, Detur ei vitae laurea pro meritis.

These two haply, may finde as much favour with some, if one word do not prejudice, as that ancient one of Flo∣ridus so highly commended.

Quod vixi flos est, servat lapis his mihi nomen, Nolo Deos manes, flos mihi pro titulo.

Gervays de Bloys base Son to King Stephen, and Abbot also of the same Church was buried with the foresaid in the Cloyster with this.

De Regum genere pater hic G••••vasius ecce Monstrat defunctus, mors rapit omne genus.

William de Albeney Earl of Arundel, and Butler to the King, was buried at Wimondham which he founded with this.

Hunc Pincerna locum fundavit, & hic jacet, illae Quae dedit huic domui, jam sine fine tenet.

That mighty Monarch King Henry the second, which by his own right adjoyned Anjoy, Maine and Tourain, by his wife, Aquitain, Poyctou, and by conquest Ireland to the Crown of England, and commanded from the Pyrene mountains to the Orcades. was honoured with this Di∣stich while he lived conteining his princely praises.

Nec laudem, nec munus amat, nec honore superbit, Noc laesus laedit nec dominando premit.

And after his death with this epitaph.

Rex Henricus eram, mihi plurima regna subegi, Multiplicique modo Duxque Comesque fui. Cui satis ad votum non essent omnia terrae Climata, terra modo sufficit octo pedu••••. Qui legis hac, pensa discrimina mortis, & in me Humanae speculum conditionis habe.

Sufficit hic tumulus, cui non suffecerat orbis, Res brevis amtla mihi, cui fuit ampla brevis.

Rosamond the fair his paramou••, daughter to Walter Lord Clifford, and mother to William Longspee the first Earl of Sarisbury eternized by Master Daniels Muse, had this, no∣thing answerable to her beauty:

Hac jacet in tumba rosa mundi non Rosamunda, Non redolet, sed olet, quae redo lere solet.

William Longspee Earl of Sarum, base son to King Hen∣ry the second by this Lady, had an Epitaph not unlike to that of his mother.

Flos comitum Willielmus cognomine Longus, Ensis vaginam coepit habere brevem.

For Rhees ap Gruffith ap Rhees ap Theodor, Prince of South-wales renowned in his time, these funerall verses were made amongst others:

Nobile Cambrensis cecidit diadema decoris, Hoc est, Rhesus obiit: Cambria tota gemit. Subtrahitur, sed non moritur, quia semper habetur Ipsius egregium nomen in orbe novum. Hic tegitur, sed detegitur, quia fama perennis Non sinit illustrem voce latere ducem: Excessit probitate modum, sensu prob••tatem, Eloquio sensum, moribus eloquium.

The glory of that magnanimous and Lion like Prince King Richard the first, renowned for his conquest of Cy∣prus: the King whereof he took and kept in fetters of silver, and for his great exployts in the holy land; stirred up the wits of the best Poets in that age, to honour him with these Epitaphs which follow, when he was slain in viewing the Castle of Chaluz in Limosin.

Hic Richarde jaces, sed mors si cederet armis Victa timore tui, cederet ipsa tuis.

Another also writ of him.

Istius in morte perimit formica leonem: Proh dolor! intanti funere, mundus obit.

An English Poet imitating the epitaph made of Pom∣pey

and his children, whose bodies were buried in divers Countries, made these following of the glory of this one King divided in three places by his funerall.

Viscera Cariolum, corpus fons servat Ebraudi, Et cor Rothomagum, magne Richarde, tuum. In tria dividitur unus, qui plus fuit uno: Non uno jaceat gloria tanta loco.

At Font-Everard where his body was enterred with a gilt image, were these six excellent verses written in gol∣den letters, containing his greatest and most glorious at∣chievements: as his victory against the Sicilians, his con∣quering of Cyprus, the sinking of the great Galeasse of the Saracens, the taking of their Convoy, which in the East parts is called a Carvana, and the defending of Joppe in the holy land against them:

Scribitur hoc tumulo, Rex auree, laus tua, tota Aurea, materiae conveniente nota. Laus tua prima fuit Siculi, Cyprus altera, Dromo Tertia, Carvana quarta, suprema Jope. Suppressi Siculi, Cyprus pessundata, Dromo Mersus, Carvana capta, retenta Jope.

But sharpe and satyrical was that one verse, which by al∣luding, noted his taking the Chalices from Churches for his ransom, & place of his death which was called Chaluz.

Christe tui calicis praedo, fit praeda Caluzis.

Savaricus Bishop of Bath and Wells a stirring prelate, which laboured most for the redeeming King Richard, when he was captive in Austria, and is famous in the de∣cretals (lib. 3. tit. 90. Novit ille) had this epitaph, for that he was alway•••• gadding up and dovvn the vvorld, and had little rest.

Hospes erat mundo per mundum semper eundo: Sic suprema dies, fit sibi prima quies.

And the like in late years was engraven upon the mo∣nument of Jacobus Triulcio a military man of the same metal, as Lodovic Guicciardin reporteth.

HIC MORTUUS REQUIESCIT SEMEL, QUI VIVUS REQUIEVIT NUNQUAM.

But Similis Captain of the guard to Adrian the Empe∣ror, when he had passed a most toylesome life, after he had retired himself from service, and lived privately 7. years in the Country, acknowledged that he had lived onely them 7. years, as he caused to be inscribed upon his mo∣nument thus.

Hic jacet Similis cujus aetas multorum annorum fuit, ipse septem ••untaxat annos vixit.

It may be doubted whether Wulgrine the Organist was so good a Musician, as Hugh Archdeacon of York was a Po∣et, which made this Epitaph for him.

Te, Wulgrine, cadente cadunt vox, organa, cantus, Et quicquid gratum gratia vocis habet. Voce, lyra, modulis, Syrenes, Orphea, Phoebum Unus tres poteras aquiparare tribus. Si tamen illorum non fallet fama locorum, Quod fueras nobis, hoc eris Elysiis. Cantor eris, qui cantur eras, hic charus & illic. Orpheus alter eras, Orpheus alter eris.

Vpon one Peter a religious man of this age I found this.

Petra capit Petri cineres, animam Petra Christus. Sic sibi divisit utraque petra Petrum.

Upon the death of Morgan base son of King Henry the 2. was made this epitaph, alluding to his name in that alluding age.

Larga, benigna, decens, jacet hic stirps regia, morum Organa Morgano fracta jacente, silent.

King John a great Prince, but unhappy, had these epi∣taphs bewraying the hatred of the Clergy toward him.

Hoc in sarcophago sepelitur Regis imago, Qui moriens multum sedavit in orbe tumultum, Et cui connexa dum vixit probra manebant. Hunc mala post mortem timor est ne fata sequantur.

Qui legis haec metuens dum cernis te moriturum Discito quid rerum pariat tibi meta dierum.

But this was most malicious, and proceeded from a vi∣perous minde.

Anglia siout adhuc sordet foetore Johannis, Sordida foedatur, faedante Johanne, gehenna.

In the time of King Henry the third they began to make Epitaphs, as they call it now out of Prop••ia quae maribus, as some do in our age; but among them this was short and good for William Earl of Pembroke, and Marshall of England, buried in the Temple Church.

Sum quem Saturnum sibi sensit Hibernia, Solem Anglia, Mercurium Normannia, Gallia Martem.

And this was not bad for Richard de Clare, Earl of Glo∣cester and Hertford which died, Anno 1602.

Hic pudor Hippoliti, Faridis gena, sonsus Ulyssis, Aeneae pietas, Hectoris ira jacet.

I doubt not but this rime of Simon Monfort Earl of Lei∣cester, slain at Evesham, found favour in that age, as the Earl himself who was so followed by the people, that he durst confront his soveraign King Henry the 3. and as the Epitaph doth imply, was the peerless man of that time, for valour, personage, and wisedome.

Nunc dantur fato, casuqe cadunt iterato, Simone sublato, M••rs, Paris, atque Cato.

Upon a Gentleman as some think named None, buried at Wimondham, who gave nothing to the religious there, was made this.

Hic situs est Nullus, quia n••llo ••ullior iste; Et quia nullus erat, de nullo ••••l 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Christe.

Excel••ent is this (which I found in he book of Wimond∣ham) for Pope Lucius born at Luca, Bishop of Ostia, Pope of Rome, and dying at V••••on••.

Luca dedit lucem tibi L••it••••, Po••tificatum Ostia, Papatum Roma, ••erona mori. Imo Verona dedit tibi ve••è vivere, Roma Exilium, curas Ostia, Luca mori.

If you will see an old Deane named Hamo Sol, resembled to the twelve sons of old father Annus, which had every one (as ••leobulus was wont to call them) thirty daugh∣ters, some fair some foul, all dying, and never dying, reade this Epitaph.

Participat mensis dotes cujustibet Hamo. Circumsp••ctus erat ut Janus, Crimina pugnans Ut Februus, veterana novans ut Martius ipse, Semina producens ut Aprilis, flore coruscans Ut Ma••us, facie plaudens ut Junius, intus Fervens ut Julius, frugis maturus adulta, Messor ut Augustus, foecundans horrea more Septembris, replens vino cellaria more Octobris pastor pecudum sed spiritualis, More Novembris; epulator dupsilis in star Omne Decembris habet, hiemali peste quiescens.

Another playing upon the name Hamon made this fo•• him.

Olim piscator hominum, quasi piscis ab hamo Mortis Captus hamo celebrat convivia vitae.

But witty was this, whereas he died in a Leap year upo•• the Leap day, accounted so unhappy a day of the Ro¦mans, that Valentinian the Emperour durst not peep or•• in that day:

Hamo Decane jaces, toto fugit exul ab anno Interitum Solis, ausa videre dies.

Verily he was a man of some good note in that time, fo•• I finde another of him alluding also to this Leape day.

Nulla dies anni nisi bissextilis, & anni J••dic••o damnata sui, nec subdita mensi. Sed noctis lux instar erat, lux nescia lucis, Et lux existens inter luces, quasi ••ubo Inter aves, hujus poterat concludere vitam Solis, & humanum genus hac privare lucerna.

Alexander Necham a great learned man of his age, appeareth by his Books De divina sapientiae laudibus; w•• buried in the Cloister at Worcester with this, but dese••¦ved a better.

Eclipsim patitur sapientia: Solsepolitur; Qui dum vivebat, studii genus omne vigebat: Solvitur in cineres Necham, cuisi foret hares In terris unus, minus esset flebile funn••.

A merry mad maker as they call Poets now, was he, which in the time of K. Henry the 3. made this for John Calfe.

O D••••s omnipotens Vituli miserere Joannis, Quem mors praeveniens noluit esse bovem.

Which in our time was that paraphrased by the translator.

All Christian men in my behalf. Pray for the soul of Sir John Calf. O cruell death, as subtle as a Fox, Who would not let this Calf live till he had been an Oxe That he might have eaten both brambles and thorns, A••d when he came to his fathers years might have worn horns.

Robert de Courtney was buried at Ford, as appeareth by the Regi••ter of that place 1••42. under a stately P••ramis; who whether he was descended from the Earle of Edessa, or from Peter the son of Lewis the Gross, King of France, had but this bad inscription, which I insert more for the honour of the name, than the worth of the verse.

Hic jacet ingenui de Courtney gleba Roberit, Militis egregii, virtutum laude referti. Quent genuit strenuus Reginaldus Courteniensis, Qui pro••er eximius fuerat tunc Devoniensis.

A Monk of Dures••e busied his brain in nicking out these nice verses upon the death of W. de La-march Chancellor of England under King John.

• ...Cul••ina qui cupitis.
• ...Est s••data sitis.
• ...Qui populos regitis.
• ...Quod mor simmitis.
• ...Vobis praepositis.
• ...Quod sum vos eritis.

• ...Laudes pompasque sititis.
• ...Si me pensare velitis.
• ...memores super omnia sitis.
• ...non pareit honore potitis.
• ...similis fueram benè scitis.
• ...ad me currendo venitis.

William de Valentia commonly called Valens, Earl of Pem∣broke, and half brother to King Henry the 3. from whom

the Earls of Shrowsbury, Kent and others are descended, is intombed at Westminster, with these rank rimes.

Anglia tota doles, moritur quia regia prolos, Qua florere soles, quam continet infima moles: Guilelusus nomen insigne Valentia praebet Celsum cognomen, nam tale dari sibi debet. Qui valnit validus, vincens virsut•• valore, Et placu••t placido sensu; morumque vigore.

Robert Grostest, commonly called Robin Groshead Bishop of Lincoln, a most learned Prelate, reported by Matthew Paris to be a severe reproover of the Pope, a favourer of learning, a searcher of Scriptures, a Preacher of the Word, and generally a man of great worth, commanded this onely to be engraven over his Tomb.

Quis si•• nosce cupis? care putridae, nil nisi vermis; Quisquis es, hoc de me sit tibi scite satis.

But upon his death this was written.

Rex dolet, ac regnum gemit, & flet Anglia tota, Plebs plangit, gemitus ingeminare juvat, Quippe Grostedus speculum v••rtutis, asylum Justitiae, Regis anchora morte jacat. Non poterit tamen ille mori, cui fama perorat, Laus lequitur, redolet fructus, abundat honor: Unde dolens tristatur homo, canit Angelus inde, Unde serenantur siderapallet humus.

King Henry the third, a Prince more pious than prudent, lyeth buried in VVestminster Church, which he newly re∣builded, in a fair monument erected by the Monks, and inscribed with these Monkish rimes:

Tertius Henricus jacet hic pietatis amicus, Ecclesiam istam stravit, quam post renovavit. Reddet ei manus qui regnat trinus & unus.

Upon the tomb of D. John Bekingale, sometime Bishop of Chichester this is engraven, which I set here for rare cor∣respondency of the rime.

Tu modo qualis eris? quid mundi quaeris honores? Crimina de plores, in me nunc te speculeris:

En mors ante sores, quae clamitat omnibus adsam In poenis passum, pro me te deprecor ores.

Which is the same in sence with that at Geneva.

VIXI UT VIVIS MORIERIS UT SUM MORTUUS SIC VITA TRUDITUR.

Lewes de Beaumont that learned Bishop of Duresme, who was preferred thereunto for his ashnity unto the Queen, although he could not with all his learning read this word Metropolitice at his consecration, but passed it over with Soit pour dict; swearing by S. Lewes, that they were dis∣courteous, which set down so many hard words in the or∣dering of Priests; had this upon his tombe in Duresme Church where he was buried 1333.

De Bello Monte jacet hic Lodovicus humatus, Nobilis ex fonte regum, Comitumque creatus, &c.

King Edward the first a most worthy, and mighty Prince, the first establisher of the Kingdome of England, had af∣fixed at the Altar of S. Edward, near his tombe at West∣minster, a large Epitaph in prose, whereof I have found on∣ly this fragment.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Abavus autem & triavus ejus dilatantes im∣peria, subjecerant sibi Ducatus & Comitatus. Edwardus vero paternarum magnificentiarum amplius amulator exi∣stens, Regaleque solium perornans in clypeo & in hasta. Principatum Walliae truncatis ••ju•• principibus, ••eolino & David potentissime adquisivit. Quinimo dominium Regni Scottae, primo magni industria consilii, de••nde virtute bel∣lorum victoriosissime est adeptus. Nihilomnius Comitati∣bus Cornubiae & Northfolke (disponente eo cujus est or∣bis terrae & plenitudo ejus) ad manus Edwardi mirabili∣ter devolutis, suis successoribus amplissimam reliquit mate∣riam gloriandi. Ubicunque igitur Christus habet nomen, in∣ter praecellentissimos reges fidelium habeat & Edwardus ho∣norem.

The famous King Edward the third, which had so great victories over the French, to the greater glory, than good of England, as so me say, is entomb••d at Westminster with this, when he had raigned fifty years:

Hic decus Anglorum, flos regum praeteritorum, Fama futurorum, rex clemens, pax populorum, Tertius Edvardus, regum complens Jubilaeum.

King Richard the second his grandchilde, and successor, who was deposed of his Kingdom by Henry the fourth, had for his Kingdom a tomb erected at W••stminster by King Henry the fifth, with this rude glosing Epitaph:

Prudens & mundus Richardus ure secundus, Per fatum victus, jacet hic jub marmore p ctus. Verax sermone fuit, & plenus ratione: Corpore procerus animo prudens ut Homerus. Ecclesiae favit, elatos supped••avit. Quemvis prostravit regalia qui violavit, Obruit haeretic••s, & eorum stravit amicos: O clemens Christe, tibi devotus fuit iste, Votis Baptistae salves quem protulit iste.

In his time Robert Hawley a valiant E quire, was murthe∣red in Westminster Church in service time, where he had taken sanctuary, and is there buried in the place, where he was first assaulted with these verses:

Me dolus, ira, furor, multorum militis atque. —. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . In hoc gla••io cel bri pietatis asylo, Dum Levita Dei sermones lepit ad••aram, Proh dolor, ipse meo Monachorum sanguine vultus Aspersi moriens, choru•• est mihi ••estis in a••um, Et me nunc ••etinct sacer ••••c••••cus Hawle Robertum, Hic quia p••stiferos male sensi p••imitus hostes.

Famous is L. S••c••nus Dertatus who served in an hundred and twenty battails. And glorious is Henry the fourth Em∣perour who fought 52. battails; and likewise honourable should the m••••••ry be of Sir Matthew Courney, our Coun∣••ryman, of whose house Sir H. Newton is descended, which

commanded in battails, and was buried at Stoke Hamden in Sommersetshire, with this French memoriall now de∣faced.

Icy gist le noble & valient Chevalir, Maheu de Gurnay iadis seneschall de landes & Capitayn du Chastell di A∣ques pour nostre Signior le Roy en la Duche de Guien qui en sa vie fu ala battaile de Be••••mazin, & ala apres a la siege de Algezir sur le Sarazines & a••xi a les bat∣tayles de Seleuse, de Cressy, de Ingenesse, de Poyters, de Nazara, &c. Oblit 96. etatis, 26 Septemb. 1406.

* King Henry the fifth, who as Thomas Walsingham testi∣fieth of him, was godly in heare, sober in speech, sparing of words, resolute in deeds, provident in counsell, prudent in judgement, modest in countenance, magnanimous in acti∣on, constant in undertaking, a great alms-giver, devout to God-ward, a renowned Souldier, fortunate in field, from whence he never returned without victory; was buried at Westminster, and his picture was covered with si ver plate, which was sacrilegiously stollen away, and his Epitaph de∣faced, which was but these two silly verses:

Dux Normanorum, verus Conquestor corum, Haeres Francorum decessit, & Hector corum.

* He that made this silly one for Sir John Woodcock Mer∣••er and Major of London, 1405. buried in St. Albans in Woodstreet, thought he observed both time and reason:

Hic jacet in requie Wodcock John Vir generosus, Major Londoniae, Mercerus valde morosus. Hic jacet Tom Shorthose Sine Tomb, sine Sheets, sine Riches, Qui vixit sine Gown, Sine Cloake, sine Shirt, sine Breeches.

Henry Chichely although he was founder of All Souls Colledge in Oxford, and an especiall furtherer of learning, was but little honoured, by this unlearned Epitaph, 1443.

Pauper eram natus, post Primas hic relevatus, Jam sum prostratus, & vermibus esca paratus, Ecce meum tumutum,

His next successour, one John Kempe, happened upon a better Poet, who in one verse comprehended all his dig∣nites which were great.

Johannes Kempe. Bis Primas, ter praesul erat, bis cardine functus.

For he was Bishop of Rochester, Chichester, and London, Archbishop of York, and then Canterbury, and Cardinall, first Deacon, then Priest.

This that followeth is engraven about a fair tombe in a goodly Chappell adjoyning to the Quite of Saint Ma∣ries Church in Warwick, being a worthy monument of so noble a person, since whose time, although but late, you may observe a great change both of the heirs of his house, and the use of words in this Epitaph.

Pray devoutly for the soul, whom God assoile, of one of the most worshipfull Knights in his daes of manhood and cunning, Richard Beauchamp late Earl of Warwick, Lord De∣spenser of Bergevenny, and of many other great Lordships, whose body resteth here under this tomb in a ful fair vault of stone, set in the bare roche. The which visited with long sickness, in the Castle of Rohan, therein deceased full Chri∣stianly the last day of April, in the year of our Lord God 1439. he being at that time Lievtenant general of France, and of the Dutchy of Normandie, by sufficient authority of our Soveraign Lord King Henry the sixt. The which body by great deliberation and worshipfull conduct, by Sea and by land, was brought to Warwick the fourth of Octo∣ber, the year above said, and was laid with full solemne exequies in a fair Chest made of stone; afore the West dore of this Chappell, according to his last Will and Testament, therein to rest, till this Chappell by him devised in his life were made, the which Chappell founded on the Roche, and all the m mbers thereof his executors did fully make, and apparail by the authority of his said last Will and Testa∣ment. And thereafter by the said authority, they did tran∣slate worshipfully the said body into the vault aforesaid: Ho∣noured be God therefore.

〈1 page duplicate〉〈1 page duplicate〉

〈1 page duplicate〉〈1 page duplicate〉

His daughter the Countess of Shrewsbury was buried in Saint Faiths under S. Pauls at London, with this:

Here before the image of Ihesu lyeth the Worshipful & right noble Lady, Margaret Countess of Shrewsbury, late wife of the true and victorious Knight, and redoubted Warriour John Talbot, Earl of Shrewsbury, which worshipfully dyed in Gien for the right of this land, the first daughter and one of the heirs of the right famous and renowned Knight Richard Beauchampe, late Earl of Warwick which died in Roane, and of dame Elizabeth his wife, the which Elizabeth was daughter and heir to Thomas late Lord Berkely, and on his side, and of her mothers side Lady Lisle, and Ties; which Countess passed from this world the xiiii. day of June, the year of our Lord, 1468. On whose soul the Lord have mercy.

For that valorous Earl her husband the terror of France, I have elsewhere noted his Epitaph, and now in stead thereof, I will give you to understand, that not long since his sword was found in the River of Dordon, and sold by a pesant to an Armourer of Burdeaux, with this inscripti∣on, but pardon the Latine, for it was not his, but his Cam∣ping Chaplain.

SVM TALBOTI M. IIII. C. XLIII. PRO VINCERE INIMICO MEO.

This inscription following is in the Cathedrall Church at Roan in Normandy, for Iohn Duke of Bedford, and Go∣vernour of Normandy, son to King Henry the fourth, bu∣ried in a fair plain monument; which when a F••ench Gen∣tleman advised Charls the eighth French King to deface, as being a monument of the English victories, he said: Let him rest in peace now he is dead, whom we feared while he lived.

Cy gist feu de noble memoire baut & puissant, prince I can en son vivant regent du Royanme de France, Duc de Beth∣fort,

pour lequel est fondè une Messe estre par chacun iour perpetuellement celebree en cest autel par le College des Clementins incontinent apres prime: & trespassa le 13. Sep∣tembre 1435. An quel 13. iour semblablement est fondè pour luy un obit en ceste eglise. Dieu face pardon à son ame.

Vpon an ancient Knight Sir Iernegan buried Cross∣leggd at Somerly in Suffolk, some hundred years since; is written:

Iesus Christ both God and man, Save thy servant Iernegan,

Happy and prudent King Henry the 7. who stopped the streams of civill bloud, which so long overflowed Eng∣land, and left a most peaceable state to his posterity, hath his magnificall monument at Westminster, inscribed thus:

Septimus hic situs est Henricus, gloria regum Cunctorum illius qui tempestate fuerunt, Ingenio atque opibus gestarum nomine rerum: Accessere quibus naturae dona benignae, Frontis honos, facies augusta, heroica forma: Junctaque ei suavis conjux perpulchra, pudica Et foecunda fuit, foelices prole parentes, Henricum quibus octavum terra Anglia debes. Hic jacet Nenricus, hujus nominis VII. Angliae quondam Rex, Edmundi Richmundiae Comitis filius qui die 22 Aug. Rex creatus, statim post apud Westmonasterium 30 Octob. coronatur, anno Dom. 1485. moritur deinde xxi. Aprilanno aetatis Liii Regnavit annos xxii menses viii minus uno die.

This following I will note out of Hackney Church, that you may see that the Clergie were not alwayes anticipa∣ting and griping many livings, by this worthy man, which relinquished great dignities, and refused greater.

Chistophorus Urswicus Regis Henrici Septimi Elemosynari∣us, vir sua aetate clarus, summatibus at{que} infimatibus juxta charus. Ad exteros reges undecies pro patria legatus. Deca∣natum Eboracensem, Arohidiaconatum Richmundiae, Deca∣natum Windsoriae habitos vivens reliquit. Episcopatum Nor∣wicensem oblatum recusavit. Magnos honores tota vita

sprevit, frugali vita contentus, hic vivere, hic mori voluit. Plenus annorum obiit, ab omnibus desideratus. Funeris pom∣pam etiam testamento vetuit. Hic sepultus carnis refurre∣ctionem in adventum Christi expectat:

Obiit anno Christi incarnati 1521. Die 23. Martii. Anno aetatis suae. 74.

This Testamentarie epitaph I have read in an old Manu∣script.

Terram terra tegit, Daemon peccata resumat: Res habeat Mundus, spiritus alta petat.

The name of this defunct as it were enigmatically expres∣sed in this old epitaph.

Bis fuit hic natus, puer & bis, bis juvenisque, Bis vir, bisque senex, bis doctor, bisque sacerdos.

In the Cathedrall Church of S. Pauls in London, a stone is inscribed thus without name.

Non hominem aspiciam ultra. OBLIVIO.

This man yet would not willingly have been forgotten, when he adjoyned his Arms to continue his memory, not unlike to Philosophers which prefixed their names be∣fore their Treatises of contemning glory.

Another likewise suppressing his name, for his Epitaph did set down this goodly admonition.

Look man before thee how thy death hasteth, Look man behinde thee, how thy life wasteth: Look on thy right side how death thee desireth, Look on thy left side how sin thee beguileth: Look man above thee, joys that ever shall last, Look man beneath thee, the pains without rest.

The Abbot of S. Albans which lyeth buried there in the high Quire, suppressed his name as modestly as any other, in this.

Hic quidem terra tegitur Peccato solvens debitum,

Cujus nomen non impositum, In libro vitae sit inscriptum:

In the Cloister on the North side of S. Pauls now ru∣inated, one had this inscription upon his Grave, without name.

VIXI, PECCAVI, PAENITUI, NATURAE CESSI.

Which is as Christian, as that was profane of the Ro∣mane:

AMICI. DUM VIVIMUS VIVAMUS

King Henry the 8. who subverted so many Churches, monuments and tombs, lyeth inglorious at Windsor, and never had the honour either of the tomb which he had prepared, or of any Epitaph that Inow remember.

But his Brother in law King James the fourth of Scot∣land slain at Flodden, though the place of his buriall is un∣known, yet had this honourable Epitaph.

Fama orbem replet, mortem sors occulit: at tu Desine scrutari quod tegat ossa solum: Si mihi dent animo non impar fata sepulchrum, Augusta est tumulo terra Britanna mec.

Queen Jane who died in Child-birth of King Edward the sixt, and used for her device a Phoenix, being her pa∣ternal Creast, had this thereunto alluding for her Epitaph.

Phoenix Jana jacet, nato Phoenice, dolendum Saecula Phoenices nulla tulisse duos.

The noble Henry Earl of Surrey, Father to Thomas late Duke of Norfolke, and the right honourable and nobly learned late Earl of Northampton, in the time of King Henry the eight, first refining our homely English Poesie, among many other, made this epitaph comparable with the best, for Thomas Cl••re Esquire, his friend and follower buried at Lambeth, 1545.

Norfolk sprang thee, Lambeth holds thee dead,

Clere of the County of Cleremont though high,

Within the womb of Ormonds race thou bred, And sawest thy cosin crowned in thy sight; Shelton for love, Surrey for Lord thou chase, Aye me, while life did last, that league was tender: Tracing whose steps thou sawest Kelsall blaze, Laundersey burnt, and battered Bullen render. At Muttrell gates hopelesse of all recure, Thine Earl half dead gave in thy hand his will: Which cause did thee this pining death procure, Ere summers seven times seven, thou couldst fulfill.

Ah, Clere, if love had booted, care, or cost; Heaven had not wonne, nor earth so timely lost.

The Duke of Suffolk and his brother, sons of Charles Brandon, which died of the sweat at Bugden, were buried together with this.

Una fides vivos conjunxit, religio una, Ardor & in studiis unus, & unus amor. Abstulit hos simul una dies: duo corpora jungit Una urna, ac mentes unus Olympus habet.

King Edward the sixt, although he had his fathers fate in having no sepulchre, yet he had the honour of a learned Elegie composed by Sir Iohn Cheek, too long to be here inserted, and this Distich.

Rex, Regis natus, regum decus, unica regni Spesque salusque sui, conditur hoc tumulo.

The Earl of Devonshire Edward Courtney, honourably descended from one of the daughters of King Edward the fourth, is buried at Saint A••thonies in Padua, with this, which I set down more for his honour, than the elegancy of the verse.

Anglia quem genuit, fuer atque habitura patronum, Corteneum celsa haec continet arca Ducem: Credita causa necis, regni affectata cupido, Reginae optatum nunc quoque connubium. Cui regni proceres non consensere, Philippo Reginam Regi jungere posse rati.

Europam unde fuit juveni peragrare necesse Ex quo mors misero contigit ante diem Anglia si plorat defuncto principe tanto, Nil mirum, Domino deficit illa pio. Sed jam Corteneus coelo fruitur que beat is, Cum doleant Angli, cum sine fine gemant: Cortenei probitas igitur, praestantia, nomen, Dum stabit hoc templum, vivida semper erunt. Angliaque hinc etiam stabit, stabuntque Britanni, Conjugii optati fama perennis erit. Improba naturae leges Libitina rescindens; Ex aequo juvenes praecipitatque senes.

Walter Milles, who died for the profession of his faith, as some say, made this Epitaph for himself.

Non prava impietas, aut actae crimina vitae Armarunt hostes in mea fata truces. Sola fides Christi sacris signata libellis, Quae vitae causa est, est mihi causa nec is.

This man was not so godly, as he was impious (as it seemeth, who was buried in the night without any cere∣mony under the name of Menalcas, with this.

Here lyeth Menalcas as dead as a logge, That lived like a divell and died like a dogge: Here doth he lye said I? then say I lye, For from this place, he parted by and by. But here he made his descent into hell, Without either book, candle, or bell.

This may seem too sharpe, but happily it proceeded from some exulcerated minde, as that of Don Perro of Toledo Viceroy of Naples, wickedly detorted out of the Scriptures.

Hic est, Qui propter nos & nostram salutem, descendit ad inferos.

A merry and wealthy Goldsmith of London in his life time prepared this for his Gravestone, which is seen at S. Leonards neer Foster-lane,

When the Bels be merrily rung, And the Mass devoutly sung, And the meat merrily eaten: Then is Robert Tr••ps, his wife and children quite forgotten, Wherefore Jhesu that of Mary sprong, Set their souls the Saints among; Though it be undeserved on their side, Let them evermore thy mercy abide.

Doctor Caius a learned Physitian of Cambridge, and a co∣founder of Gunwell and Caius Colledge, hath onely on his monument there.

FUI CAIUS.

Which is as good as that of that great learned man of his profession, Julius Scaliger.

SCALIGERI QUOD RELIQUUM.

But that which Cardinall Pool appointed for himself, is better than both, as savoring of Christian antiquity.

Depositum Poli Cardinalis.

This ensuing for Sir Nicholas Bacon Lord Keeper of the great Seal is worthy to be read, both for the honour of the person, who was a most wise Councellour, and the rare∣ness of Iambique verses in epitaphs (albeit this our ago doth delight 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉) But as he saith, Malos Iambus ene∣cat, beat bonos.

Hic Nicolaum ne Baconum conditum Ex••stima illum, tam diu Britannici Regni secundum columen; exitium malis,

Bonis asylum, caeca quem non extulit Ad hunc honorem sors; sed aequitas, fides, Doctrina, pietas, unica & prudentia.

Non morte raptum crede, qui unica Vita perennes emerit duas: agit Vitam secundam caelitus in••er animos.

Fama implet orbem, vita quae illi tertia est, Hac positum in arcaest corpus, olim animi domus: Ara dicata sempiterna memoriae.

The excellent Poet George Buchanan, who is thought to have made this, bestowed these 4. verses also upon Mr. Roger Ascham, sometime Reader to Queen Elizabeth, and her Secretary for the Latin tongue, one of the first refiners of the Latin purity amongst us.

Aschamum extinctum patriae, Graiaeque Camoenae, Et Latiae vera cum pietate dolent. Principibus vixit carus, jucundus amicis, Remodica, in mores dicere fama nequit.

He also composed this to the memory of that worthy Prelate, and Champion of our Church John Jewell Bishop of Sarisbury.

Juelle, mater quem tulit Devonia, Nutrixque fovit crudita Oxonia; Quam Maria ferro & igne patria expulit, Virtus reduxit, Praesulem fecit parens Elizabetha docta doctarum artium, Pulvis pusillus te sepulchri hic contegit. Quàm parva tellus nomen ingens occulit?

W. Lambe, a man which deserved well of the City of Lon∣don by divers charitable deeds, framed this for himself.

As I was so be ye, As I am ye shall bee: That I gave, that I have, That I spent, that I had: Thus I end all my cost, That I left, that I lost.

All which Claudius Secundus a Romane contained in these four words:

HIC MECUM HABEO OMNIA.

Short and yet a a sufficient commendation of M. Sandes was this.

Margareta Sandes, Digna hac luce diuturniore, Nisi quod luce meliore digna:

And answerable thereunto is this, for a Gentleman of the same name.

VVho would live in others breath? Fame deceives the dead mans trust: VVhen our names do change by death: S••nd•• I was, and now am dust.

Sir Philip Sidney (to whose honour I will say no more but that which Maro said of Marcellus nephew of Au∣gustus, Ostendunt terris hunc tantum fata, nec ultra esse si∣nunt; which also was answered by the Oracle to Claudius the 2 Emperour, of his brother Quintilius) hath this most happily imitated out of French of Mons. Bonivet, made by Joach du Bellay, as it was noted by Sir George Buc in his Poetica,

England, Netherland, the Heavens, and the Arts, The Souldiers, and the World hath made six parts Of noble Sidney; for who will suppose, That a small heape of stones, can Sidney enclose?

England had his body, for she it fed, Netherland his bloud in her defence shed: The Heavens have his soul, the Arts have his fame, The Souldiers the grief, the VVorld his good name.

Vpon the golden Lyon rampant in Gueles of the house of Albenye, which the late Earl H. Fi••z-Alan bare in his Armes, as receiving the Earldome of Arundell from the house of Albenye, one composed this Epitaph.

Aureus ille leo (reliqui trepidate leones) Non in sanguineo nunc stat ut ante solo. Nam leo de Juda vicit, victoque pepercit, Et secum patris duxit ad usque domos. Sic cadit ut surgat, sic victus vincit, & illum, Quem modo terra tulit, nunc Paradisus habet.

In the Cloyster of New Colledge in Oxford, this following is written with a coale, for one VVoodgate who bequea∣thed 200 pound to one, who would not bestow a plate for his memoriall:

Heus Peripatetice, Conde tibi tumulum, nec fide haeredis amori:

Epitaphiumque compara, Mortuus est, nec emit libris haec verba ducentis. WOODGATUS HIC SEPULTUS EST.

Therefore the counsaile of Diego de Ʋalles is good, who made his own tomb at Rome with this inscription.

Certa dies nulli est, mors certa, incerta sequentum Cura: locet tumulum qui sapit, ante sibi.

A Gentleman falling off his horse, brake his neck, which suddain hap gave occasion of much speech of his former life, and some in this judging world, judged the worst. In which respect a good friend made this good Epitaph, re∣membring that of Saint Augustine, Misericordia Domini inter pontem, & fontem.

My friend judge not me, Thou seest I judge not thee: Betwixt the stirrop and the ground, Mercy I askt, mercy I found.

To the honour of Sir Henry Goodyer of Polesworth, a Knight memorable for his vertues: an affectionate friend of his, framed this Tetrastich.

An ill year of a Goodyer us bereft, Who gone to God, much lack of him here left: Full of good gifts, of body and of minde, Wise, comely, learned, eloquent and kinde.

Short and sufficient is this of a most worthy Knight, who for his Epitaph hath a whole Colledge in Cambridge, and commanded no more to be inscribed than this:

Virtute non vi. Mors mihi lucrum. Hic jacet Gualterus Mildmay Miles, & uxor ejus. Ipse obiit ultimo die Maii, 1589. Ipsa decimo sexto Martii, 1576. Reliquerunt duos filios & tres filias. Fundavit Collegium Emanuelis Cantabrigiae. Moritur Cancellarius & subthesaurarius Scaccarii, & Regiae Majestati à consiliis.

Upon a young man of great hope, a student in Oxford was made this:

Short wa•• thy life, yet livest thou ever: Death hath his due, yet dyest thou never.

* Hitherto I have presented to you amongst others, all the Epitaphes of the Princes of this Realm which I have found; and justly blame-worthy might I be, if I should not do the same honour to the Princes of our time.

* Queen Elizabeth, a Prince admirable above her sexe for her princely vertues, happy government, and long con∣tinuance in the same, by which she yet surviveth, and so shall, indeared in the memory not onely of all that knew her, but also of succeeding posterities, ended this transito∣ry life at Richmond, the 24. of March, 1602. the 45. year of her Raign, and seventy of her age.

Vpon the remove of her body to the palace of White-hall by water, were written then these passionate dole∣full Lines:

* The Queen was brought by water to White hall, At every stroake the oars tears let fall: More clung about the Barge, fish under water VVept out their eys of pearl, and swome blinde after. I think the Barge-men might with easier thighs Have rowed her thither in her peoples eyes. For how so ere, thus much my thoughts have scand, Sha'd come by water, had she come by land.

*Another at that time honored her with this: H. Holland

Weep greatest Isle, and for thy mistress death Swim in a double Sea of brakish water: Weep little world for great Elizabeth, Daughter of war, for Mars himself begat her. Mother of peace; for she brought forth the later, She was and is, what can there more be said? On earth the chief, in heaven the second Maide.

* Another contrived this Distich of her:

Spa••ns rod, Romes ruine, Netherlands reliefe: Earths joy, Englands gem, worlds wonder, Natures chiefe.

Another on Queen Elizabeth.

Kings, Queens, mens judgements, eyes, See where your mirrour lyes; In whom, her friends hath seen, A Kings state, in a Queen; In whom, her foes survayd, A mans heart, in a Maid; Whom, least men, for her piety Should ••udge, to have been a Diety. Heaven since by death, did summon To show, she was a woman.

* But upon the stately Monument which King Iames ere∣cted to her memory, these inscriptions are affixed. At her feet.

MEMORIAE SACRUM.

* Religione ad primae vam sinceritatem restaurata, pace fun∣data, Moneta ad justum valorem reducta, rebellione domesti∣ca vindicata, Gallia malis intestinis praecip••ti sublevata, Bel∣gio sustentato, Hispanica classe prost gata, Hibernia pulsis Hispanis, & rebell••bus ad deditionē coactis, pacata; Reditibus utr••us{que} Academiae lege annonaria plurimùm adauctis, tota den••{que} Anglia d••tata, prudentissimé{que} Annos XLV, admini∣stratà Elizabetha Regina v••ctrix, triumphatrix, pietatis stu∣dio sissima, faelicissima, placida morte septuagenaria soluta, mor∣tales rel qu as dum Christo jubente refurgant immortales, in hac ecclesia celeberrima ab ipsa conservata, & denuo funda∣ta, deposuit.

At her head this:

MEMORIAE AETERNAE.

* Elizabetha Angl••ae, Franciae, & H••berniae Reginae, R. Hen∣rici VIII. filiae, R. Henrici VII. nepti, R. Edvardi IIII. pronepti, patriae parenti, Religionis & bonarunt artium altri∣ci; plur imarum linguarum peritia, praeclaris tùm animi, tum

coporis dotibus, Regiisque virtut••bus supra sexum Principi Incomparabili,

Iacobus Magnae Britanniae Franciae & Hiberniae Rex, virtutum, & Regnorum haeres, bene merenti p••e po suit.

* Her nearest cosin Mary Queen of Scots, Dowager of France, a Princess also incomparable for her princely endow∣ments, after her lamentable death was thus described:

Regibus orta, auxi Reges, Reginaque vixi: Ter••nupta, & tribus orba v••ris, tria regna reliqui. Gallus opes, Scotus cunas, habet Angla sepulchrum.

* But the magnificent monument which the King erected when he translated her body from Peterborough to West∣minster, is thus inscribed.

D. O. M. Bonae Memoriae & Spei aeternae,

Mariae Stuartae Scotorum Reginae, Franciae Dotar••ae, Iaco∣bi V. Scotorum Regis filiae & haeredis unicae, Henrici VII. Ang. Regis ex Margareta majori na••u filia (Iacobo IIII. Regi Scotorum matrimonio copulata) proneptis, Edw. IV. Angliae Regis ex Elizabetha filiarum natu maxima abneptis. Francisci II. Gallorum Regis conjugis, Coronae Angliae, dum vixit certae & indubitata haeredis, & Iacobi Magna Bri∣tanniae Monarchae potentissimi matris.

Stirpe verè reg••a & ant quiss••ma prognata erat, maximis totius Europae Principibus agnatione & cognatione conjun∣cta, & exquisitissimis animi & corporis dot••bus & ornamen∣tis cumulat••ss••ma: Verùm ut sunt variae rerum humanarum vices, postquam annos plus minus viginti in custodia detenta fortiter & strenuè (sed frustra) cum malevolorum obtrecta∣t••onibus, timidorum suspicionibus, & inimicorum capitalium insidiis confl••ctata esset, tandem inaudito & infesto Regibus exemplo securi percutitur.

Et contempto mundo, de victa morte, lassato carnifice, Chri∣sto servatori animae salutem, Iacobo filio spem regni & poste∣ritatis,

& universis caedis infanstae spectatoribus exemplum patientiae commendans piè, patienter, intrepide cervicem Re∣giam securi maledictae subjecit, & vitae caducae sortem cum coelest is regni perennitate commutavit.

VI. Idus Februarii. Anno Christi MDLXXXVII. Aetatis, XXXXVI.

Obruta frugifero sensim sic cespite surgunt Semina, per multos quae latuere dies. Sangnino sancivit foedus cum plebe Iehova, Sanguine placabant numina sancta patres: Sanguine conspersi quos praeterit ira Penates; Sa••guine signata est quae modo cedit humus. Parce Deus, satis est, infandos siste dolores, Inter funestos pervolet illa dies. S••t R••ges mactare nesas, ut sanguine posthac Purpu••eo nunquam terra Britanna fluat. Exemplum pereat caesae cum vulnere Christae; Inque malum praeceps author, & actor eat.

Si meliore sui post mortem parte triumphet, Carnifices sileant, tormina, claustra, c••uces. Quem dederant cursum superi Regina peregit: Tempora laeta Deus, tempora dura dedit. Edidit eximium fato properante Iacobum, Quem Pallas, Musae, Del••afata colunt. Magna v••ro, major natu, sed maxima partu Cond tur hic regum filia, sponsa, parens. ••et Deus ut nati & qui post nascentur ab illa, Aeternos videant hinc sine nube d••es.

H. N. gemens P.

* For Prince Henry her grandchild, of whose worth Eng∣land seemeth unworthy, many excellent Epitaphs were com∣posed every where extant, but this have I selected.

Reader, wonder think it none, Though I speak and am a stone,

Here is shrinde coelestiall dust, And I keep it but in trust. Should I not my Treasure tell, Wonder then you might as well, How this stone could choose but breake, If it had not learnt to speake. Hence amazd, and aske not me, Whose these sacred ashes be. Purposely it is conceald, For if that should be reveald, All that reade would by and by, Melt themselves to tears, and dy.

Within this marble casket lies A matchless jewell of rich prize, Whom Nature in the worlds disdaine, But shewd, and then put up againe.

On Queen Anne.

March with his winde hath struck a Cedar tall, And weeping Aprill, mourns the Cedars fall, And May intends no flowers her month shall bring, Since she must loose the Flower of all the spring. Thus Marches winde hath caused Aprill showers, And yet sad May must loose her flower of flowers.

Another on Queen Anne.

Thee to invite, the great God sent a star, Whose nearest friend and kinne, good Princes are: Who, though they run their race of men, and dye, Death serves but to refine their Majestie. So did our Queen her Court from hence remove, And left this earth, to be enthron'd above. Then she is chang'd, not dead, no good Prince dyes, But like the Sun, doth onely set to rise.

On King Iames.

He that hath eyes, now wake and weep; He whose waking was our sleep.

Is fallen asleep himself, and never Shall wake more; till wake for ever: Deaths iron hand, hath clos'd those eyes That were at once, three kingdoms spies, Both to foresee, and to prevent Dangers, so soon as they were meant. That head, whose working brain alone Thought all mens quiet, but his owne Is fallen at rest (Oh) let him have The peace he lent us, to his gr••••ve, If no Naboth, all his raigne Was for his fruitfull Vineyard sla••ne, If no Vriah ••ost his life, Because he had too fayr a wife. Then let no Shemies curses wound His honour, or prophane this ground: Let no black mouthed broath'd ranke curre, Peacefull Iames his ashes stur. Princes are Gods, (O) do not then Ra•••• in their graves to prove them men.

Another on King Iames.

For two and twenty years, long care, For provid••ng such an heir, Which to the Peace he had before, May adde tw••se, two and twenty more. For his days travels, and nights watches, For's cr••••••e sleep stollen by snatches, For two fierce kingdoms wound in one, For all he did, and ment to have done. Do this for him, write o're his dust, James the Peacefull, and the Iust.

On the King of Sweden.

Seek not Reader here to finde Entomb'd, the throne of such a minds, As did the brave ••ustavus fill, Whom neither time nor death can kill:

Go and reade all the Caesars acts, The rage of Scithian Cataracts. What Epire, Greece, and Rome hath done, What kingdoms Gothes and Vandals won. Reade all the worlds heroique story, And learn but half this Hero's glory. These conquered living, but life flying, Rev••v'd the foes, he conquer'd dying, And Mars hath offered at his fall An Hecatombe of Generals: The great Comparer could not tell Whence to draw out his Parallell, Then do not hope to finde him here, For whom earth was a narrow sphear. Nor by a search in this small marble roome, To finde a King so far above a Tombe.

Another.

Upon this place the great Gustavus dy'd, While victory lay weeping by his side.

Vpon the Tombe of the Heart of Henry the third, late King of France, slain by a Iacobine Fryer, 1589.

Whether thy choyce or chance, thee hither brings; Stay Passenger, and waile the hap of Kings. This little stone a great Kings heart doth hold, That rul'd the fickle French, and Polacks bold, VVhom with a mighty warlike host attended VVith trayter ••••s knife, a cowled monster ended. So frayl are even the highest earthly things, Go passenger, and wayl the fate of Kings.

Vpon the Duke of Richmond and Lenox.

Are all diseases dead, or will death say He might not kill this Prince the common way? It was even thus, and Time with death conspir'd, To make his death, as was his life admir'd. The Commons were not summond now I see, Meerly to make laws, but to mourne for thee:

No less than all the Bishops might suffice To wait upon so great a sacrifice: The Court the Altar was, the waiters Peers, The Mirrhe and Frankincense great Caesars tears. A funerall for greater pompe and state, Nor time, nor death, could ever celebrate.

Upon Sir Francis Vere.

VVhen Vere sought death, arm'd with his sword & shield, Death was afraid to meet him in the field: But when his weapons he had laid aside, Death like a coward strook him, and he dy'd.

Upon Master Edmund Spencer the famous Poet.

At Delphos shrine one did a doubt propound, VVhich by the Oracle must be released, Whether of Poets were the best renown'd, Those that survive, or those that be deceased. The God made answer by divine suggestion, VVhile Spencer is alive, it is no question.

Qui fide antiqua, & opera assidua Britannicam antiquitatem Indagav••t, Simplicitatem innatam honestis studiis excoluit, Animi solertiam candor sillustravit, Gulielmus Camdenus ab Eliz. R. ad Regis Armorum (Clarenti•• titulo) dignitatem evocatus.

Hic spe certa resurgendi in Christo S. E. Q. Obiit Anno Dom. 1623. 9 Novembris Aetatis suae 74.

Upon Mr. Michael Draitons Monument in Westminster.

Doe pious Marble, let thy Readers know What they and what their children owe To Draytons name, whose sacred dust I recommend unto thy trust. Protect his Mem'ry, and preserve his story, Remaine a lasting monument of his glory, And when thy ruine shall disclaime To be the treasurer of his name; His name that cannot dye shall be An everlasting Monument to thee.

Isaacus Causabonus.

(O Doctiorum quicquidest assurgite Huic tam colendo nomini.)

Quem Gallia reip. literaria bono Peperit, Henricus IV. Francorum Rex Invictissimus Lutetiam literis suis Evocatum, Bibliothecae suae praefecit, Charum{que} deinceps dum vixit habuit. Eoque terris erepto Iacobus Mag. Brit. Monarcha Regum doctissimus doctis Indulgentiss. in Angliam accivit. Munifice f••vit. Posteritasque ob Doctrinam aeternam mirabitur H. S. E. invidia major. Obiit aetern. in Christo vitam anhelans Kal. Iul. MDCXIV. Aetat. LV. Viro opt. immortalitate digniss. Th. Mortonus Ep. D••nelm. Iucundissimae quoad frui licuit consuetudinis Memor Pr. S.L.CV.MDCXXXIV. Qui nosse vult Causabonum, Non saxa sed chartas legat Superfuturas marmori; Et profuturas posteris.

But I fear now I have overcharged the Readers minde,

with ••olefull, dumpish and uncomfortable lines. I will therefore for his recomfort, end this part with a few concei∣ted, merry, and laughing Epitaphes, the most of them com∣posed by Master Iohn Hoskins when he was young, and will begin with the Bellows maker of Oxford.

Here lyeth John Cruker a maker of Bellows, His crafts-master and King of good fellows, Yet when he came to the hour of his death, He that made Bellows, could not make breath.

Thomas Elderton, who did arme himself with Ale (as old Father Ennius did with Wine) when he ballated, had this, in that respect made to his memory.

Hic situs est sitieni atque ebrius Eldertonus, Quid dico, hic situs est? hic potius sitis est.

Of him also was made this.

Here is Elderton lying in dust, Or lying Elderton, chuse which you lust. Here he lyes dead, I do him no wrong, For who knew him standing, all his life long?

Some wise man was he, and so reputed, for whom this was composed.

Here lyeth Thom. Nicks body Who lived a fool and dyed a nody: As for his soul aske them that can tell, Whether fools souls go to heaven, or to hell.

Neither may this offend any, For that of Durandus the old Priest is little better.

Hic est Durandus positus sub marmore duro, An sit salvandus ego nescis, nec ego curo.

* And this following of an usurer is of the same straine.

Here ly••ten in the hundred In the ground fast ramd: 'Tis an hundred to ten, But his soul is damnd:

Miserable was Hermon, who when he had onely drea∣med that he had disburse•• money, died for woe; likewise

Pheidon who wept not for that he should dye, but that his buriall wou d••cost four shillings. But most miserable was that pi••ch peny Hermocrates, that in his last will & testa∣ment made himself his own sole heir and executor of all he had, and yet refused to live when he might, because he would not be at charge of a purgation. And our Coun∣tryman old Sparges might seem to be of his tribe, for whom was made,

Here lyeth father Sparges, That dyed to save charges.

Master Wills Doctor of Physick who died lately at Vienna, would often say hee would have this verse onely for his Epitaph.

Here lyeth Willing Wills.

But a friend of his that knew him to be Caprichious, wished him to adde one verse more to make up rime after the manner; but when he said, he had nothing he might adde more, one extempore said, it might be well made up thus.

Here lyeth willing Wills With his head full of VVindmills.

For one that had continuall new encounters in his own minde, and crammed his head with contrary discontents, I have heard this.

Here lyeth he, VVhich with himself could never agree.

And for another contentious companion was made this.

Here lyes the man who in life VVith every man had law and strife. But now he is dead, and layd in grave, His bones no quiet rest can have. For lay your ear unto this stone, And you shall hear how every bone Doth knock and bear against each other, Pray for his souls health, gentle brother.

You shall have this out of the Cathedrall Church of Norwich, whatsoever you account of it.

Under this stone Lyes John Knapton, VVho dyed just The xxviii of August, M. D. XC. and one, Of this Church Peti-Canon.

Upon merry Tarlton, I have heard this.

Hic situs est cujus vox, vultus, actio possit Ex Heraclito reddere Democritum.

Here lyeth Richard a Preene, One thousand, five hundred, eighty nine, Of March the xx. day. And he that will dye after him may.

Here lyeth he, who was borne and cryed, Told threescore years, fell sick, and dyed

Here lyes the man whose horse did gaine The Bell in race on Salisbury plaine: Reader, I know not whether needs it, You or your horse rather to reade it.

Here lyes the man that madly slaine In earnest madness did complaine On nature, that she did not give, One life to loose, another to live.

Here lyes, the Lord have mercy upon her, One of her Majesties maids of Honour: She was both young, slender, and pretty, She dyed a maide, the more the pitty.

Here lyes a gallant, a gentleman of note, VVho living could never change a groat.

Here lyes Tom. Dashe that notable Raylour, That in his life nere paid Shoemaker, nor Taylour.

One stone sufficeth (l••e what death can do) Her that in life was not content with two.

Here lyeth C. under ground, As wise as L. thousand pound. He never refused the Wine of his friend, Drink was his life, and drink was his end.

Here lyeth N. a man of fame, The first of his house and last of his name.

At Farlam on the west marches toward Scotland, near Naworth Castle.

John Bell broken-brow Ligs under this stean: Four of mine een sons Laid it on my weam. I was a man of my meate, Master of my wife; I lived on mine own land Without mickle strife.

For old Th•• Churchyard the poor Court Poet this is now commonly current.

Come Alecto and lend me thy torch, To finde a Church-yard in the Church-porch. Poverty, and Poetry this tombe doth enclose, Therefore Gentlemen be merry in Prose.

With these memorials of the dead which give a little li∣ving breath to the dead (for as he saith, Mortuorum vita in memoria vivorum posita est) I conclude:

Et veniam pro laude peto, Iaudatus abunde Non fastiditus si tibi Lector ero.

In Saint Pauls was this.

Here lyes John Dod, a servant of God, to whom he is gone; Father, or Mother, Sister or Brother, he never knew none, A Headborough, and a Constable, a man of same, The first of his house, and last of his name.

Dyed, buried, and deceast the fifteenth of May, (munday. One thousand, five hundred, and fifteen, being Whitson.

On Master Burbidge the Tragedian.

Exit Burbidge.

On Master Weymarke, a constant walker in Pauls. Defessus sum ambulando.

Upon a Puritanicall Lock-Smith.

A zealous Lock-Smith dy'd of late, And did arrive at heaven gate, He stood without and would not knock, Because he meant to pick the lock.

In Saint Mary Saviours this.

Here lyes William Emerson, Who lived and dyed an honest man.

Upon a Gentlewoman, whose husbands love to her broke her heart, he writing himself this Epitaph.

These lines with golden letters I have fill'd, Here lys that wife, whose husbands kindness kild.

Upon the Mayrdome of Saint Alban painted in glass, this.

The image of our frailty, painted glass, Shews where S. Albans life and ending was: A Knight beheads the Martyr, but see soon His eys dropt out, seeing what he had done: And leaving their one head, seemd with a tear To wayl the other head, lay mangled there; Because his eyes before no tears would shed, His eyes like tears themselves fell from his head. O miracle, that when Saint Alban dyes, The murtherer himself weeps out his eyes.

Not of a much finer thred is this Epitaph written upon one Hubberton in the North Country.

Here ligs John Hubberton, And there ligs his wife, Here ligs his dagger, And there ligs his knife: Here ligs his daughter, And there ligs his sonne, He gh for brave Iohn Hubberton:

One to shew the good opinion he had of his wifes soule departed, who in her life time was a notorious shrew, writes upon her this Epitaph.

We lived one and twenty year As man and wife together: I could not stay her longer here, Shee's gone I know not whether. But did I know, I do protest, (I speak it not to flatter) Of all the women in the world, I swear I'de nere come at her. Her body is bestowed well, This handsome grave doth hide her, And sure her soul is not in hell, The divell could ne're abide her: But I suppose shee's soar'd aloft, For in the late great thunder, Me thought I heard her very voyce, Rending the clowds asunder.

Upon a couple who equally used to brawle one with the other, was written this Epitaph.

Hic jacet ille, qui centies & mille, Did scold with his wife: Cum illo jacet illa qua communis in villa Did quittance, his life:

His name was Nick, the which was sick, And that very male: Her name was Nan, which lov'd well a man, So Gentlemen, Vale.

Upon one Master Thomas Penistone, a Gentleman of an an∣cient family, and allyed to many more, who sometime was one of the Clerks of the Councell to Queen Elizabeth, upon a stone in a Piller of the Cathedrall Church of Rochester, is engraven this plain Epitaph.

Learning, Worship, Credit, Patrimony, Wit, Wealth, Alliance, Wife and Progeny, Servants and Friends: all this (alas) had he, Yet lyeth now in dust here, as you see, And so do thousands moe, and so shall ye. He did but follow those that went before, And you shall follow him, and others more Shall follow you; small difference in the matter, But that some go before, and some come after.

Upon one of a base condition, yet in respect of his name, would have claimed kindred of a most Noble Family, and being a notorious lyar, was this written.

Here lyes M. F. the sonne of a Beare-ward, Who would needs bear Arms in despight of the Herhaught: Which was a Lyon as black as a Ieat-stone, With a sword in his paws instead of a whetstone. Five sonnes had this lyer, 'tis worth the revealing, Two arrant lyers, and three hang'd for stealing. His daughters were nine, never free from sores. Three crooked Apostles, and six arrant whores.

Vpon a Dyer I find this written.

He that dyed so oft in sport, Dyed at last, no colour for't.

Not much unlike to the former is this written upon a Cobler named Cosier.

Come gentle Reader, gentle friend, And here behold poor Cosiers end,

Longer in length, his life had gone, But that he had no Last so long, O mighty Death! whose art can kill The man that made soles at his will.

On a child drowned catching of an Apple.

D••sce meo malo, posse carere malo.

Upon the untimely death of a childe.

As carefull Nurses to their bed do lay Their children, which too long would wantons play: So to prevent all my insuing crimes, Nature my Nurse laid me to bed betimes.

On a youth that dyed with grief.

Surpris'd by grief and sickness, here I lye, Stopt in my middle race, and soon made dead, Youth do not grutch at God, if soon thou dye, But know he trebles favour on thy head, Who for the mornings work, equals the pay With those that have indur'd the heat of day.

On rich Hewet.

Here lyes rich Hewet, a Gentleman of note, For why he gave three Owls in his coate, Ye see he is buried in the Church of Saint Paul, He was wise, because rich, and now you know all.

In Saint Martins in the fields.

Here lyes Richard Hobbs, Yeoman of the Roabes To our late Soveraign Queen Mary, And dyed on Ashwednesday being the 19. of Februa∣ry, One thousand five hundred, sixty and one, On whose soule Jesus have mercy, Amen.

Upon John Death.

Here lyes John Death, the very same, That went away with a cousin of his name.

Upon one that was blinde and deafe.

Here lyes Dicke Freeman That could not hear nor see man.

Vpon one that was bald.

Here lyes Iohn Baker inrolled in mould, That never gave a penny to have his head pould, Now the Plague and the Poxe light on such a device, That undid the Barber, and starv'd up the L••ce.

Vpon one Jarret a Grocer, buried in Saint Mary Saviours in Southwarke, 1626.

Some cal'd him Garret, but that was too high, His name was Iarret that here doth lye: Who in his life was tost on many a wave. And now he lyes anchored in his own grave. The Church he did frequent, while he had breath, He desired to lye therein after his death. To heaven he is gone, the way before, Whereof Grocers there is many more.

Vpon Simon Vadloe Vintner, dwelling in Fleet-street, at the sign of the Divell and Saint Dunstane.

Apollo & cohors Musarum Bacchus veni & uvarum Ceres pro pane & cer••••a Adeste omnes cum tristitia Diique Deaeque lamentate cuncti Simonis Vadloe funera defuncti. Sub signo malo bene vixit, mirabile Si ad coelos recessit, gratias Diabole.

We will now come nearer to our times, and shew you the fertility of our moderne wits in some few, but extraordinary pieces of various invention, upon severall subjects, some grave and serious, others witty ridiculous, as

Vpon a Butcher that married a Tanners daughter.

A fitter match hath never bin, The flesh is married to the skin.

I found this written upon the Doome Church in Utrecht, upon Cain and Abel.

Abel: Sacrum pingue dabo, non macrum sacrificabo, Cain: Non dabo pingue sacrum, sacrificabo macrum.

Vpon two beautifull children, a brother and sister, who wanted each of them an eye.

Lumine Acon dextro caruit, Leonilla sinistre, Et potuit forma vincere uterque Deos: Parve puer, lumen quod habes concede sorori, Sic tu cacus AMOR, sic erit illa VENUS.

Englished thus.

Thou one-eyd Boy, whose sister of one mother, Matchless in beauty are, save one to th' other: Lend her thine eye, sweet Lad, and she will prove The Queen of Beauty, thou the God of Love.

On a Gold-Smith that tipt a stone Jugge with silver.

He that did tip stone Jugges about the brimme, Met with a black pot, and that pot tip'd him.

Vpon two Lovers who being espoused, dyed both before they were married.

She first deceas'd, he for a little tryed To live without her, lik'd it not, then dyed.

Mans life.

Man is a glass, life is as water That's weakly wall'd about: Sinne brings in death, death breaks the glass, So runs the water out.

Upon a young Gentlewoman▪

Nature in this small volume was about To perfect what in woman was left out, But fearing lest a piece so well begunne Might want preservatives when she had done. Ere she could finish what she undertooke, Threw dust upon it, and shut up the booke.

Here lyes a woman, no man can deny it, That rests in peace although she liv'd unquiet. Her husband praies, if by her grave you walk, You'd gently tread, for if wak'••, shee'l talke.

Upon Master Parsons, Organist at Westminster.

Death passing by, and hearing Parsons play, Stood much amazed at his depth of skill, And said, this Artist must with me away, (For Death bereaves us of the better skill) But let the Quire while he keeps time, sing on, For Parson rests, his service being done.

Vpon Master Charles Wray, sonne to sir William Wray, who died at sixteen or seventeen years of age, and lyeth buried in Ashbie Church in Lincolnshire.

When I in Court had spent my tender prime, And done my best to please an earthly Prince, Even sick to see how I had lost my time, Death pittying mine estate, remov'd me thence, And sent me (mounted upon Angels wings) To serve my Saviour and the King of Kings.

Epitaphium Honoratissimae Heroinae IANAE Wintoniae Marchionissae aedibus suis Basingae defunctae.

Inclyta IANA jaces hoc Marchionissa Sepulchro, Cestrensis patri gloria sola soli. Quam non usque adeo tituli, non census honores, Stemmata magnorum sanguine ducta ducum. Non tua qua Triviae certabas form•• Dianae Dicere & Idaliam vel superasse Deam. Quam pietas tua grata Deo, quam pectore casto Religionis amor, v'taque labe carens! Quam roseo refiders generosa modestia vultae, Absque supercili•• nube benigna manus. Oh quam te memorem! superi nova civis Olympi, Diva anima aeternum consociata Deo;

Angelicis ubi mista choris agis alta triumphos, In patriam fragili carne soluta, redux.

Vpon a Collier.

Here lyes the Collier John of Nashes. By whom Death nothing gain'd he swore: For living he was dust and ashes, And being dead, he is no more.

A Gentleman who dwelt at Bermington in Holland, wrote this Distich in Latine upon his wife buried at Wester••∣keale in Lincolnshire.

Quae p••a, quae prudens, quae provida, pulchra fuisti, Uxor in eternum, chara MARIA, vale.

Vpon an Vsurer.

Here lyes he underneath this stone, That whilst he liv'd did good to none. And therefore at the point to dye, More cause had some to laugh then cry. His eldest sonne thought he had wrong, Because he lingred out so long, But now he's dead, how ere 〈◊〉〈◊〉 fares, There's none that knows, nor none that cares.

On a Miller.

Death without warning, was as bold as briefe, When he kil'd two in one, a Miller and a thiefe.

On a Wrestler.

Death to this wrestler gave a fine fall, That trip'd up his heels, and took no hold at all.

Vpon a rich Country Gentleman.

Of Woods, of Plains, of Hils and Dales, Of Fields, of Meades, of Parkes and Pales, Of all I had, this I posses••, I need no more, I have no less.

On the Proverb, Quot capita, tot sententiae So many heads, so many wits, fie, fie, Is't not a shame for Proverbs thus to lye: My selfe, though my acquintance be but small, Know many heads that have no wit at all.

If ye be melancholily disposed, peruse these heroique lines, penned surely by the Prince of Poets of his time in France,

Anthonius Areria, which Author I keep as a Iewell, de Bello Ronano.

O Deus omn••potens fortunam quando ••uabis, Quae fu••t in guerra tunc inimica m••hi, Perdere garsetas omnes fecit atque cavallos, In campo Romae quando batelha fu t, Atque ego pensabam personam perdere charam, Sed bene gardavit tunc mea membra deus. Nam Christum Dom••num de grando corde pregabam Et sanctam matrem fortiter atque suam, Omnes & sanctos & sanctas de paradiso, Devotus grandus atque fidelis eram. De tali guerra non escapare putabam, Et mihi de morte granda paora fuit. Pou Pou bombardae tota de parte putabant, Dixisses nigrus ille Diablus erat. Tiff taff tof & tif dum la homharda pisognat Garda las gambas nec tibi blesset eas, &c.

Impossibilities.

Embrace a Sun-beam, and on it The shadow of a man beget. Tell me who raignes in the Moon, Set the thunder to a tune, Cut the Axe!-tree that beares Heaven and earth, or stop the spheares With thy finger; or divide Beggery from lust and pride, Tell me what the Syrens sing. Or the secrets of a King,

Or his power, and where it ends, And how far his will extends. Go and finde the bolt that last Brake the clouds, or with like hast Fly to the East, and tell me why Aurora blushes: if to lie By an old man trouble her minde, Bid Cephalus be less unkinde. Canst thou by thine art uncase The mysteries of a Courtiers face. Canst thou tell me why the night Weeps out her eyes? If for the sight Of the lost Sunne, she puts on black, Post to his fall, and turn him back. If not for him, then go and finde A widdow, or all woman kinde, Like to their outward shew, and be More than a Delph an Deity.

Anagrammes.

Vpon Henry the fourth King of France, slain by Ravillac.

Henricus IV. Galliarum Rex, In herum exurgis Ravillac.

Upon Queen Anne.

Anna Britannorum Regina In Anna regnantium arbor. Elisabetha Stevarta Has Artes beata vel••e.

Upon a fair Lady, the Lady Anne Dudlei•• in Italian.

Anna Dudleia Ela nuda Diana.

Upon Master John D••wland the famous Lutanist.

Joannes Doulandus Annos ludendo hausi▪ Maria Mentas Tu a me amaris. Dame Elianor Davies,

Never so mad a Ladie.

Vpon a brave Lady living in Norfolke.

Amis Mordanus Tum more Dianam Me induat Amor Nuda O te miram.

Sir Thomas Ridgewaie being Treasurer of Ireland, gave for his crest a Camell kneeling under his burthen, where∣upon this Anagramme fortunately fell upon his name.

Thomas Ridgewaie. Mihi Gravato, Deus.

Palindromes are those where the syllables are the same backward and forward, these also are of fine invention: as.

A Noble Lady in Queen Elizabeths time being for a time forbidden the Court for being over-familiar with a great Lord in favour; gave this Embleme the Moon co∣vered with a cloud, and underneath.

Ablata, at alba.

A great Lawyer, as well this, the same also backward and forward:

Si nummi immunis.

Which may be englished,

Give me my fee, and I warrant you free.

A Scholler and a Gentleman living in a rude Countrey Town, where he had no respect, wrote this with a coale in the town Hall.

Subi dura a rudibus.

At Cadiz in Spaine is to be seen this mad Epitaph of one whose name was Jnsanus. Lector.

Hic insanus jaceo, & nisi tu me insanior fuisses, non huc ad ultimas orbis partes, me quasitum accessisses. Vale & sapi.

Those devices that express names by bodies are termed Rebus, in old times esteemed ingenuous devices, but in oure ridiculous.

Master Newburie the Stationer, devised for himself an E••tree with the Berries, and a great N. hanging upon a snag in the midst of the tree, which could not choose but make Newberie,

Notes

• Buchanan.
• Money my ••••ey.
• Britannia Camdeni.
• Th••gn.
• Macrobius.
• Queen Mawd.
• King John.
• King Henry the third,
• King Edward the first.
• King Edward the third.
• King Richard the second.
• King Henry the 7.
• K. Edward 6.