An epytaphe, or a lamentable discourse wherein is bewayled the death of the right worshipfull knight, Sir William Garrat: one of the Queens Maiesties commissioners, and chiefe alderman of the honourable citie of London. Who deceased the. 27. of September. 1571.

✚ An Epytaphe , or a lamentable Discourse : wherein is bewayled the death of the Right worshipfull Knight , Sir William GARRAT : One of the Queens Maiesties Commissioners , and chiefe Alderman of the honourable Citie of London . Who deceased the .27 . of SEPTEMBER . 1571. s WHo can refraine from sorwing plaints , and brinish blubbring teares ? What hart wyll now refuse to grone ? and tourne from Ioy his eares . Ne high , ne low , ne Rich , ne poore , in London that remayne , But haue iust cause for GARRATS losse , to languish and complayne : Helpe me therefore ye powers deuine : that in the heauens doo dwell , The losse of this moste worthy wight ▪ in mourninge Uerse to tell . Come now CALLIOPE I pray , and CLIO Goulden Dame : with Sisters thine from HELYCON , aide mee frssh plaints to frame . Stay not on Mownt PERNASO now , cast on your mournyng weede , conuert your Hymnes and Songs of Ioy , to wailyng woes with speede . Send foorth with mee your sighing sobbes , the sacred Skies to pearce : that vnto Goddes and mortall men , our plaints we may dispearse . And fayle mee not O PALLAS now , amidst my griefe and woe : But graunt with skyl to guide my Quil , these heauy Newes to shoe . Sith I with teares do craue your aide , let mee your fauour finde : The losse of GARRAT worthie Wight , help now to print in mind . What ? flie ye thus from mee ? alas : why go ye backe againe ? wyll none of you to further mee , vouchsafe to take the payne ? Alas , ( vnskilfull wretche : ) Disdaine doth thee betide : For MEDVCE and PIERIDES , with thee in place abyde : These Dames , as hard as Steele or Flint , are fixed in thy sight : and thou hast nought but black and white , thy meanyng to endight . Leaue off therfore , sith CLIOS Spring , of Rhethorique is fled : thy wyll is good , but powers thyne , with Ignorance are fed . I wept to see my Fortune suche , my woes did then abounde : But Hoape at last to comfort mee , a present meane foorth fownd : Feare not ( quoth she ) dispaire thou not , set drowpyng dread aside , take Pen and wriie : to comfort thee , ( I Hoape ) a meane prouide . Lift vp thyne eies , behold and see , Dame Trueth is in thy sight : with that I rendred humble thankes , and tooke my Pen to wright . And now , awaye ye doubtfull lettes , that clogde my hart with feares : By force to geue you ouerthrow , Dame Trueth in place appeares . Should GARRATS losse vnminded bee ? such Friend to Common weale , Though he be gone , should we not way , his true and godly zeale ? Should we forget his curtesie , so plainlie knowen and seene ? Then most vnkind we should remayne , sith he our frend hath ben . Ye Consuls wise , ye Senatours , that Londons wealth prouide , Lament and wayle , for vnto you , no small losse is betide . Ye all haue lost a faithfull Frend , for Counsell sage and wise : In thynges of weight , ye fayled not , to folow his aduise . But now that sacred IOVE , by wisdome his decreed ▪ That LACHESIS & CLOTHO both , their toyle shuld leaue in deede : Coms PARCHAS shee , with Sickle sharp , & shreads the thred in twaine That three score yeares & vii . to weaue : they had imployd their payne . She cutteth downe this Olyue greene , whose Branches fayre did shoe , His dayes are ron to CHAMPIAN now , and BE●CHER he wyll goe . Of HAYWARD wise ▪ Pretorian hee , now GARRAT leaue doth take Good OFFLEY olde , and gentle WHITE : by Death he must forsake . The DRAPER wise , and ALLEN hee , whose wisdome doth excell . with all the Troupe of Aldermen , thus GARRAT byds , Farewell . Therfore in Senate when you sit ▪ and want hym in your trayne : For wisdome his , in Memorie , let Image his remayne . In ●ule , he was your equall sure : for Counsayle SOLON hee , Then meete with teares his Absence should , of you lamented bee . No Rule ▪ but he hath borne ▪ that doth to LONDON longe , A man vpright in Iustice sure , that knew the right from wronge . Most apt was GARRAT to doo good , to all and euerie wight , Both riche and poore ▪ may wayle the losse , of suche a gentell Knight . In Iustice , single was he sure , in Iudgement alwaye sownd : To cease contendyng ▪ prone and prest , this worthie man was fownd . To needie poore a perfite frende , to tender all their griefe , And suche a one , as spared not , to them to geue reliefe . Unto the Prysoners poore , that did in captiue plight remaine : From bandes to free all that he could , he did imploy his payne . But who hath lost the greatest losse ? I knowe not one , but all : But to his Spouse and Ladie deare , the greatest losse doth fall . She wants her louyng Make , her Friend and Turtle true : whose death with sighes & sorowyng sobbes , she ceaseth not to rew . His Children deare their Father want , they lacke their Staffe & stay . His Seruantes they , their Master misse , alas and well away . But that they lost , the Lorde hath sownd , the mightie God on hie : For as his lyfe was vertuous , so godly he did die . Amidst his bytter panges of death , that were both sharpe and strong : To see his Christ and heauenly Ioyes , he vehemently did longe . And now his wish he hath obtaind , for Death hath done his wyll : His Corps deuoide of breath doth rest , yet shall his Fame lyue styll . His Soule by faith the Heauens hath won , his Body shrowdes in Clay This finall farewell GARRAT take : I haue no more to say . I. PHILLIP . FINIS .