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To the Right Worshipful, Sir Richard Strode, Knight.
Anagr.
Rid Christs order.
Vers.
Stop those who strive to stray from Iustice border,
Hereby thou shalt gal•• Fame, and Rid Christs order▪
Epigr.
STay yet my Muse, for as the case doth stand,
Thou art too rash, and tak'st too much in hand,
Dost thou intend of active Strode to write?
Though thou indeed wilt prove most imperfit▪
To pen his praise, when Plato might come short,
If he were living, and would labour for't.
His noble birth is equall with the best.
His other Ʋertues cannot be exprest;
Hath he not lost, and left his state behind;
And hath endeavor'd, with a faithful mind,
To make this Kingdome, stand engag'd, and grant
My skill is scarce; though I no matter want
To write upon, in penning of his praise,
And me approve, to crown his head with Bayes.
Who was so forward, for to serve the State
He did not stand, as others to debate,
What place was best, according to his Birth,
Or fit for gain, or equall to his worth,
But put himself, for Devons good to be,
Upon imployment, night, nor day was free▪
Nor did he cease, thus with his Sword to stand
But with his Pen, hath pleaded for this Land;
Nor rests he there, but sets himself at odds,
Against all Persons, wbo by practice plods
As he perceives; by self-conceited skill,
To do the Kingdoms Priviledges ill,
Then in a word, let Strode be still renown'd,
In whom those vertues so much do abound.