An epitaph, or funerall inscription, vpon the godlie life and death of the right worshipfull Maister William Lambe Esquire founder of the new conduit in Holborne, &c. Deceased the one and twentith of April, and intumbed in S. Faiths Church vnder Povvles, the sixt of Maie next and immediatly follovving. Anno. 1580. Deuised by Abraham Fleming.

❧ An Epitaph , or funerall inscription , vpon the godlie life and death of the Right worshipfull Maister William Lambe Esquire , Founder of the new Conduit in Holborne , &c. Deceased the one and twentith of April , and intumbed in S. Faiths Church vnder Powles , the sixt of Maie next and immediatly following . Anno. 1580. Deuised by Abraham Fleming . ALl flesh is grasse , the * * 〈…〉 Scripture saith , and vadeth like a flowre , And nothing to be permanent , can vaunt it hath the powre . The fairest and the foulest thing , that any man can name , Hath but a time to liue and die , in honour or in shame . No artificiall workemanship , no notable deuise , No valiant act , no noble déede , no puissant enterprise , But as in time triumphantly , it challengeth renowne , Euen so in time from honours hight , at last it tumbleth downe . The doubtfull state of mortall man , an argument may bée , That nothing is perpetuall , which glansing eie doeth sée , But transitorie , fraile , and vaine , as time demandes his fée . The Sunne & Moone * * 〈…〉 shall haue their chaunge , though gloriously they shine , The glistering Starres in firmament , from brightnes shall decline , The scattered cloudes , like winding worme , or scortched parchment scroll , Shall shrinke together , as in skies they are constraind to roll . Then , sith eclestiall creatures state , so alterable is , That vaine we count each earthlie thing , I iudge it not amis . We see the seasons of the yeare , successiuely insue , First nipping Winters blustring blasts , with frosts as stiffe as glue , Then pleasant Spring with colours clad , of yellow , greene , and blue : Next which comes ripening Summer in , and then doth follow fast , Quicke Haruest for the husbandman , t'acquite his charges past , No time hath this prerogatiue , for euermore to last . Lo thus in circle runs the yeare , with compasse round about , And his appointed age the world , by portions weareth out . Count what we can most excellent , néedes must it haue an ende , Against decay there is no force , nor fortresse to defende . How * * 〈…〉 many Cities stately built , of timber , lime and stone , Are come to naught , and in their place a desert left alone ? Pompe maketh not perpetuall , although it beare a port , A Maigame I may name it well , a pastime and a sport , Whose glorie glides and slips away , whose pleasure is but short . Like Plaiers in an Enterlude , vpon a common stage , One representing lustie youth , another crooked age , One royall Principalitie , another Courtlie state , One like a Iudge doth sit on bench , another begges at gate , Thus counterfet they all degrées , vntill the play be donne : Euen so is man vpon the earth , since first his stocke begonne . For Adam , though he liued long , yet dead he was at last , The Patriarchs and Prophets olde , their pilgrimage haue past : Kings haue resigned vp their crownes , and titles of their thrones , And many a politike Gouernour in graue hath laid his bones , This proue the * * 〈…〉 sundrie writings set , on their Sepulchre stones . The wisdome of the wise is vaine , the strong mans strength a toy , If they by them as instruments , séeke length of life t' enioy : And as for wealth , it is but winde , for riches haue no holde , The monied man must thinke to die , if once he waxeth olde . Lo , lo , a present patterne here , all you that list to learne , By viewing of this corps corrupt , what you shall be discearne . Sometime he was , as others be , a quicke and liuing man , But wounded with the dart of death , reuiue him nothing can . His youthfull yeares , as others haue , this good Esquire hath had , And crooked age by créeping on , with weakenesse sicke and sad , In winding shéete at head and foote , fast knit his corps hath clad . Rich in his life , * * For I haue heard it credibly reported , that he left little or nothing vndistributed . poore at his death , a steward of the Lordes , His talent Christianly laide out , with Gods good will accordes . And as in th' Actes , Cornelius déedes , beare witnesse of his faith , ( For outwarde workes before the world , beléefe within bewraith : ) So this religious Gentleman , a Patrone to the poore , In allies and in lanes abrode , at home in th' entrie doore , In open stréete , in holie Church , in many a corners crooke , ( Where , for the poore and impotent , whom kith and kin forsooke , With charitable zeale inflamde , this lowelie Lambe did looke , ) His almes he hath distributed , and giuen as he sawe néede , Cloth for the backe , meate for the mouth , the hungrie soule to féede . As louing as a Lambe he liud , and verifide his name , He was an eie vnto the blind , a legge vnto the lame , A comfort to the comfortles , a succour to the sicke , A father to the fatherles , whome nipping néede did pricke , A husband to the desolate , and widowe left alone , A fauourer and a fréend to all , an enimie to none . Now * * Poore people shall sone feele the losse of this Lambe by the lacke of their relief . such as had his wooll to weare , lament of him the lacke , His flesh did fill their bellies full , his fléese kept warme their backe , His pence and pounds preserued them , from many a wringing wracke . No misse of mercie was in him , for iointly hart and hand , Were pliant to supplie the wantes , of many in this land . For this he knew , by giuing them , he lent vnto the Lord : His humblenes no homelines , of sicklie soule abhord . So that I may conclude of him , as néedes conclude I must , If workes may simply of themselues , make righteous men and iust , ( Which I denie , for vnto faith this office is assinde : ) Then is he sanctifide from sinne , and cleansd in hart and minde . The fruites of faith which flourished , in him whiles he did liue , His diuerse distributions , and giftes which he did giue , The monuments which he hath left , behind him being ded , Are signes that * * For Christ will repay y● a thousand fold , which is giuen to the succourles . Christ our Shepherd hath , vnto his shéepfold led , This louing Lambe , who like a Lambe dide méekely in his bed : His bodie buried in the ground , there to consume to dust , His soule in Abrahams bosome restes , in quietnesse I trust : A place allotted vnto Lamb● , there to possesse in peace , Such blessings as this Lambe enioyes , whose like the Lord increase , For Jesus sake the spotlesse Lambe . And here my penne shall cease .

SACRIFIZIO AGNELLO SALVAZIONE MVNDO

As Euening shadowe slides , And Seas do varie tides , So all the pranking prides , Of worldlie glorie glides : Gods worde , the guide of guides , For euermore abides .