TO
THE
VERIE
NOBLE
,
&
ILLVSTRIOVS
LORD
,
IOHN
EARLE
OF
MARRE
,
LORD
ERSKEINE
,
GARIOCH
,
AND
ALLOWAY
,
&c.
HIGH
THESAVRER
OF
SCOTLAND
.
Knight
of
the
most
noble
order
of
the
Garter
,
and
one
of
his
M.
most
honorable
,
privie
Counsell
in
both
Kingdomes
.
MY
LORD
,
IN
this
common
calamitie
of
our
late
Soverainges
death
,
(
of
whom
it
standes
in
doubt
,
whether
his
Life
was
more
laudable
and
admired
,
or
his
Death
more
deplorable
and
regrated
)
out
of
a
respectfull
and
reverent
duetie
to
his
Majesties
blest
memorie
,
in
this
time
of
vniversall
mourning
,
I
haue
drawne
vp
,
in
a
measured
and
footed
stile
,
some
Elegies
,
and
Panegyrick
verses
;
to
rouze
and
stirre
vp
,
by
an
examplarie
Imitation
,
some
more
refyned
wits
,
(
which
owe
their
abilities
and
best
endevours
to
this
Princelie
,
and
lamentable
subject
)
to
goe
forward
with
mee
in
the
course
of
publicke
sorrow
;
and
to
devote
their
Hearts
and
Arte
,
to
the
serious
condoling
this
vniuersall
losse
;
the
griefe
whereof
,
is
not
bounded
by
the
Sea-bordering
limits
of
his
M.
dominions
,
but
is
streatched
out
and
spred
abroad
,
as
farre
as
the
trumpet
of
Fame
,
(
which
hath
borrowed
all
mens
mouthes
to
sound
the
Heroick
vertues
most
perspicuouslie
eminent
in
our
late
Soveraigne
)
is
heard
:
and
chieslie
,
his
M.
vnparalelled
Pietie
,
and
Goodnesse
.
And
for
the
first
,
was
it
not
cleere
by
the
whole
progresse
of
his
blessed
Life
,
that
Hee
was
ever
most
anxious
,
and
carefull
to
maintaine
the
Profèssion
,
(
whereof
Himselfe
was
a
Princelie
,
and
practicall
example
)
of
the
true
and
catholick
Religion
.
The
vse
and
practise
whereof
,
Grace
from
aboue
,
and
industrious
Learning
had
so
refyned
in
him
,
&
turned
to
so
excellent
a
temper
;
that
all
the
good
Kings
of
the
World
,
(
of
whom
it
is
said
Omnes
bonos
Principes
in
vno
annulo
posse
perscribi
,
)
were
but
as
small
starres
compared
to
this
raying
Planet
.
And
all
those
properties
,
which
Holy
write
doth
attribute
to
the
few
good
Kings
of
Israell
,
&
Iuda
;
and
dispersed
among
them
,
did
all
concurre
(
as
Propheticall
epithets
)
in
one
symbolizing
harmonie
,
to
make
vp
the
perfite
patterne
and
modell
of
a
most
excellent
King
in
the
person
of
his
Majestie
.
And
to
his
Goodnesse
(
a
vertue
answerable
to
Theologicall
charitie
)
it
was
of
a
splendour
so
transparent
in
his
M.
as
the
forgetfull
silence
of
future
times
should
never
haue
the
power
to
smoother
,
or
extinguish
.
And
therefore
should
Hee
not
justlie
be
called
〈◊〉
〈◊〉
〈◊〉
〈◊〉
〈◊〉
,
who
alwayes
affected
the
weale
,
and
good
of
his
subjects
;
yea
,
of
all
men
;
His
Iustice
was
ever
mixed
with
mercie
;
and
His
wrath
,
though
justlie
conceived
,
was
tempred
,
and
mitigated
with
the
smooth
oyle
of
his
naturall
clemencie
;
so
that
the
Poets
speach
may
bee
turned
ouer
to
Him
;
Hee
did
but
hate
the
fault
,
and
not
the
faultie
one
.
Compare
him
also
with
Ethnicke
,
and
Paynim
Princes
,
whose
radiant
and
splendide
vices
were
busked
vp
with
the
false
ornaments
of
vertue
;
and
you
shall
find
that
there
the
best
of
them
,
as
their
Titus
,
their
Trajane
,
&c.
were
but
obscure
glimpses
,
&
as
it
were
a
twilight
,
in
respect
of
that
All-refreshing
Sunne
,
which
is
risen
in
our
age
to
this
Northerne
World
:
For
their
supposed
morall
vertues
were
but
enforced
sparkes
,
and
flashes
of
fire
,
glancing
from
the
recounter
of
pride
,
and
naturall
magnanimitie
;
and
in
this
kinde
a
Beast
tamed
by
industrie
,
as
they
were
by
precepts
and
imitation
,
may
bee
called
generous
.
But
our
SOVERAIGNES
morall
parts
,
were
true
flames
of
sacred
fire
,
(
still
burning
vpon
the
altar
of
Faith
,
offering
vp
the
sweet
smelling
sacrifice
of
prayers
,
and
contrition
;
(
nature
and
grace
concluding
and
consummating
in
Him
,
what
is
most
excellent
both
in
practicall
Theologie
,
and
morall
Philosophie
.
It
is
said
by
a
learned
Man
,
Pulchra
haec
laudatio
,
O
virum
doctum
!
sed
illa
melior
,
O
virum
sapientem
!
&
ista
optima
,
O
virum
bonum
!
But
all
the
three
haue
met
together
in
this
Wonder
of
Time
,
not
a
Man
only
,
but
a
King
;
so
that
we
are
obliged
with
admiration
to
cry
out
;
O
Regem
doctum
,
sapientem
,
bonum
!
and
that
by
excellence
;
and
in
a
superlative
degree
.
To
explain
by
induction
these
His
M.
heroick
parts
deserveth
whole
Volumes
,
long
tract
of
time
,
pennes
of
the
most
approved
,
and
tongues
of
the
most
admired
Spirits
,
wherein
to
bee
summar
and
by
an
vmbragious
vaile
to
lessen
the
native
splendour
of
so
excellent
a
Light
,
were
impietie
,
and
a
crime
almost
of
La
ese-Majestie
;
Therefore
being
of
a
meane
stature
,
for
feare
of
drowning
,
I
will
not
wade
too
farre
in
this
Ocean
.
But
knowing
that
as
your
L.
by
nature
and
education
,
by
common
duetie
of
a
subject
,
and
many
speciall
obligements
;
was
tyed
in
the
most
strict
and
forcible
bond
of
sincere
love
,
to
your
deceased
Prince
:
and
that
the
threnes
,
and
grips
of
sorrow
at
this
time
possesseth
your
Heart
;
So
I
am
sure
,
that
these
doleances
,
and
complaints
(
abruptlie
bursted
foorth
when
first
mine
cares
suckt
in
the
never-enough
deplored
newes
of
His
M.
decease
,
as
Symboles
and
tokens
of
my
love
,
and
allegeance
)
will
bee
favoourablie
accepted
,
and
gratiouslie
protected
by
Your
authoritie
.
That
fountaine
of
Your
L.
excellent
and
eminent
qualities
,
apparent
to
all
,
hath
streamed
to
mee
some
effects
of
Your
gratious
favour
,
which
in
Will
,
wishes
and
performance
of
all
dueties
,
and
service
that
may
fall
vnder
the
compasse
of
my
power
,
and
abilitie
,
I
shall
endevour
to
acquyte
,
Remaining
Your
L.
most
duetifull
,
and
addicted
servitour
Mr.
D.
PRYMEROSE
.