A funerall elegye in memory of the late vertuous Maister VVilliam Peter of Whipton neere Excester. By W.S.

A Funerall Elegie . SInce Time , and his predestinated end , Abridg'd the circuit of his hope-full dayes ; Whiles both his Youth and Vertue did intend , The good indeuor's , of deseruing praise : What memorable monument can last , Whereon to build his neuer blemisht name ? But his owne worth , wherein his life was grac't ? Sith as it euer hee maintain'd the same . Obliuion in the darkest day to come , When sinne shall tread on merit in the dust ; Cannot rase out the lamentable tombe Of his Short-liu'd desert's : but still they must Euen in the hearts and memories of men , Claime fit Respect ; that they , in euery lim , Remembring what he was , with comfort then May patterne out , One truly good by him . For hee was truly good ; if honest care , Of harmlesse conuersation , may commend A life free from such staines , as follyes are ; Ill recompenced onely in his end . Nor can the toung of him who lou'd him least , ( If there can bee minority of loue , To one superlatiue aboue the rest , Of many men in steddy faith ) reproue His constant temper , in the equall weight Of thankfulnesse , and kindnesse : Truth doth leaue Sufficient proofe , he was in euery right , As kinde to giue , as thankfull to receaue . The curious eye , of a quick brain'd suruey , Could scantly find a mote amidst the fun , Of his too-shortned dayes : or make a prey Of any faulty error he had done . Not that he was aboue the spleenfull sence And spight of mallice ; but for that he had Warrant enough in his owne innocence , Against the sting of some in nature bad . Yet who is hee so absolutely blest , That liues incompast in a mortall frame ? Some-time in reputation not opprest ? By some in nothing famous but defame ? Such in the By-path and the Ridg-way lurke That leades to ruine ; in a smooth pretence Of what they doe , to be a speciall worke , Of singlenesse , not tending to offence . Whose very vertues are not to detract , Whiles hope remaines of gaine ( base fee of slaues ) Despising chiefly , men in fortunes wrackt , But death to such giues vnremembred graues . Now therein liu'd he happy , if to bee Free from detraction , happinesse it bee , His yonger yeares , gaue comfortable hope To hope for comfort , in his riper youth ; Which ( haruest-like ) did yeeld againe the crop Of Education ; betterd , in his truth : Those noble twins of heauen infused races , Learning and Wit , refined in their kind : Did ioyntly both , in their peculiar graces , Enrich the curious temple of his mind . Indeed a temple , in whose precious white , Sot Reason by Religion ouer swayd : Teaching his other senses , with delight , How Piety and Zeale should bee obey'd . Not fruitlesly in prodigall expence , Wasting his best of time : but so content With Reasons golden Meane to make defence , Against the assault of youth's incouragement : As not the tide of this surrounding age , ( When now his Fathers death had freed his will ) Could make him subiect to the drunken rage , Of such whose onely glory is their ill . Hee from the happy knowledge of the wise , Drawes vertue to reprooue secured fooles ; And shuns the glad sleights of insnaring vice , To spend his spring of dayes in sacred schooles . Heere gaue hee dyet to the sick desires , That day by day , assault the weaker man ; And with fit moderation still retires , From what doth batter Vertue now and than . But that I not intend in full discourse , To progresse out his life ; I could display , A Good man in each part exact ; and force The common voyce to warrant what I say . For it his fate and heauen had decreed , That full of dayes hee might haue liu'd to see The graue in peace ; the times that should succeed Had been best-speaking witnesses with mee . Whose conuersation so vntoucht , did moue Respect most in it selfe , as who would scan His Honesty and Worth , by them might prooue , Hee was a kind , true , perfect , gentleman . Not in the out-side of disgracefull folly Courting Opinion , with vnfit disguise ; Affecting fashions ; nor addicted wholy To vnbeseeming blushlesse vanities : " But suting so his habit and desire , " As that his Vertue was his best Attire . Not in the wast of many idle words Car'd hee to be heard talke ; nor in the flote Of fond conceit ( such as this age affordes ) By vaine discourse vpon himselfe to dote . For his becomming silence , gaue such grace To his iudicious parts ; as what hee spake Seem'd rather answers ( which the wise imbrace ) Then busie questions , such as talkers make . And though his qualities might well deserue Iust commendation , yet his furnisht mind Such harmony of goodnesse did preserue , As Nature neuer built in better kind . Knowing the best , and therefore not presuming In knowing , but for that it was the best : Euer within himselfe free choyce resuming Of true perfection , in a perfect brest . So that his Minde and Body made an In , The one to lodge the other , both like fram'd For faire conditions ; guests that soonest win Applause , in generality well-fam'd , If trim behauiour , gestures mild , discreet Endeuors ; modest speech ; beseeming mirth ; True friendship ; actiue grace ; perswasion sweete ; Delightfull loue , innated from his birth ; Acquaintance vnfamiliar ; carriage iust ; Offencelesse resolution ; wisht sobriety ; Cleane-temper'd Moderation ; steddy Trust ; Vnburthen'd conscience ; vnfain'd Piety ; If these , or all of these , knit fast in one Can merit praise : then iustly may wee say , Not any from this frailer stage is gon , Whose name is like to liue a longer day . Though not in eminent courts , or places great , For popular concourse ; yet in that soile Where hee inioy'd his birth , life , death , and seat , Which now sits mourning his vntimely spoile . And as much glory is it to be good ; For priuate persons , in their priuate home ; As those descended from illustrious bloud , In publick view of greatnesse : whence they come . Though I rewarded with some sadder taste , Of knowing shame ; by feeling it haue prou'd My countries thanklessse misconstruction ; cast Vpon my name and credit , both vnlou'd By some , whose fortunes sunck into the wane Of Plenty and Desert , haue stroue to win Iustice by wrong ; and sifted to imbane My reputation , with a witlesse sinne , Yet Time , the Father of vnblushing Truth , May one day lay ope malice which hath crost it : And right the hopes of my indangered youth , Purchasing credit in the place I lost it . Euen in which place , the subject of the verse ( Vnhappy matter of a mourning stile ) Which now that subjects merits doth rehearse , Had education , and new beeing : while By faire demeanor , he had wonne repute Amongst the All of all that liued there : For that his actions did so wholy sute With worthynesse , still memorable here . The many houres till the day of doome , Will not consume his life and haplesse end : For should he lye obscur'd without a toombe , Time would to time his honesty commend . Whiles Parents to their children will make known , And they to their posterity impart , How such a man was sadly ouerthrowne , By a hand guided by a cruell heart . " Whereof as many as shall heare that sadnesse , " Wil blame the or es hard fate , the others madnesse . Whiles such as doe recount that tale of woe , Told by remembrance of the wisest heades , Will in the end conclude the matter so , As they will all goe weeping to their bedds . For when the world lies winterd in the stormes Of fearefull consummation ; and layes downe , Th' vnsteddie change of his fantastick formes , Expecting euer to be ouer-throwne : When the proud height of much affected sinne Shall ripen to a head , and in that pride , End in the miseries it did begin , And fall amidst the glory of his tide : Then in a booke where euery worke is writ , Shall this man's actions bee reueal'd ; to shew The gainfull fruit of well-imployed wit , Which payed to heauen the debt that it did owe : Heere shall be reckoned vp the constant faith , Neuer vntrue , where once he loue profest ; Which is a miracle in men ( one faith ) Long sought , though rarely found : and he is best " who can mak freindship , in those times of change , " Admired more , for being firme then strange . When those weake houses of our brittle flesh , Shall ruin'd bee by death ; our grace , and strength , Youth , memory and shape , that made vs fresh , Cast downe , and vtterly decay'd at length : When all shall turne to dust from whence we came , And we low leueld in a narrow graue , What can we leaue behind vs but a name ? Which by a life well led may honour haue ? Such honor , ô thou youth vntimely lost , Thou didst deserue and hast ; for though thy soule Hath tooke her flight to a diuiner coast , Yet here on earth thy fame liues euer whole . In euery heart seald vp , in euery toung Fit matter to discourse ; no day preuented , That pitties not thy sad and suddaine wrong , Of all alike beloued and lamented . And I here to thy memorable worth , In this last act of friendship , sacrifice My loue to Thee ; which I could not set forth In any other habit of disguise . Although I could not learne ( whiles yet thou wert ) To speake the language of a seruile breath : My truth stole from my toung into my hart , Which shall not thence be sundred , but in death . And I confesse my loue was too remisle , That had not made thee know , how much I pris'd thee : But that mine error was , as yet it is , To thinke loue best in silence : for I siz'd thee By what I would haue been ; not onely ready In telling I was thine ; but beeing so , By some effect to shew it : Hee is steddy Who seems lesse then hee is , in open shew . Since then I stil reseru'd to trye the worst , Which hardest sate and time thus can lay on mee . Tinlarge my thoughts , was hindered at first , While thou hadst life : I tooke this taske vpon me , To register with mine vnhappy Pen , Such duties as it owes to thy desert ; And set thee as a President to Men , And Limne thee to the world but as thou wert . Not hir'd , as heauen can witnesse in my soule , By vaine conceit , to please such ones as know it ; Nor seruile to be lik't ; free from controule ; Which paine to many men I doe not owe it . But here I trust , I haue discharged now ( Faire louely branch too soone cut off ) to Thee , My constant and irrefragable vow , As had it chanc't thou might'st haue done to mee . But that no merit strong enough of mine , Had yeelded store to thy well-abled quill : Whereby t'enrole my name , as this of thine , How s'ere inritched by thy plenteous skil . Heere then I offer vp to Memory , The value of my tallent ( precious man ) Whereby if thou liue to Posterity , Though 't be not as I would , t is as I can : " In minds from whence endeauor doth proceed , " A ready will is taken for the deed . Yet ere I take my longest last farewell , From thee , faire marke of sorrow ; let me frame Some ampler work of thanke , wherein to tel What more thou didst deserue , then in thy name , And free thee from the scandall of such senses , As in the rancour of vnhappy spleene , Measure thy course of life ( with false pretences ) Comparing by thy death , what thou hast beene . " So in his mischiefes is the world accurst , " It picks out matter to informe the worst . The wilfull blindnesse that hood-winkes the eyes Of men in-wrapped in an earthy vayle , Makes them most ignorantly exercise , And yeeld to humor , when it doth assaile ; Whereby the candle , and the bodies light Darken's the inward eye-sight of the mind : Presuming still it sees , euen in the night Of that same ignorance which makes them blind . Hence conster they with corrupt Commentaries , Proceeding from a nature as corrupt , The text of malice ; which so often varies , As 't is by seeming reason vnder-propt . O! whether tends the lamentable spight Of this worlds teen-full apprehension ? Which vnderstands all things amisse ; whose light Shines not amidst the darke of their dissention ? True 't is , this man ( whiles yet he was a man ) Sooth'd not the current of besotted fashion : Nor could disgest as some loose Mimicks can , An empty sound of ouer-weening passion : So much to bee made seruant to the base , And sensuall aptnesse of dis-vnion'd vices : To purchase commendation by disgrace , Whereto the world and heate of sinne intices . But in a safer contemplation , Secure in what he knew , he euer chose The ready way to commendation , By shunning all inuitemens strang , of those Whose illnesse is the necessary praise , Must waite vpon their actions : onely rare In beeing rare in shame , which striues to raise Their name by dooing what they do not care . As if the free commission of their ill , Were euen as boundlesse as their prompt desires : Only like Lords , like subiects to their will , Which their fond dotage euer-more admires . Hee was not so ; but in a serious awe , Ruling the little ordered common-wealth , Of his owne selfe with honour to the law , That gaue peace to his bread , bread to his health . Which euer hee maintaind in sweet content , And pleasurable rest ; wherein he ioyd A Monarchy of comforts gouernment , Neuer vntill his last to bee destroyd . For in the Vineyard of heauen-fauoured learning , ( Where hee was double honor'd in degree ) His obseruation and discreet discerning , Had taught him in both fortunes to bee free . Whence now retir'd home ; to a home indeed ; The home of his condition and estate ; Hee well prouided gainst the hand of need , Whence yong-men some time grow vnfortunate . His disposition , by the bonds of vnity , So fastned to his reason ; that it stroue , With vnderstandings graue immunity , To purchase from all hearts a steddy loue . Wherein not any one thing comprehends , Proportionable note of what hee was , Then that hee was so constant to his friends , As hee would no occasion ouer-passe , Which might make knowne his vnaffected care , In all respects of triall , to vnlock His bosome and his store which did declare , That Christ was his , and he was Frendships Rock : A Rock of Frendship figured in his name , Fore-shewing what he was , and what should be , Most true presage , and he dischargd the same , In euery act of perfect amitye : Though in the complementall phrase of words , He neuer was addicted to the vaine Of boast , such as the common breath affoords , He was in vse most fast in tongue most plaine , Nor amongst all those virtues , that for euer , Adorn'd his reputation , will be found One greater then his Faith : which did perseuer , Where once it was protested alway sound . Hence sprung the deadly fuell that reuiu'd The rage which wrought his end ; for had he been Slacker in loue , he had beene longer liu'd , And not opprest by wraths vnhappy sinne . By wrathes vnhappy sinne , which vnaduis'd Gaue death for free good wil and wounds for loue Pitty it was that blood had not beene pris'd At higher rate , and reason set aboue Most vniust choller , which vntimely Drew Destruction on it selfe : and most vniunst , Robd virtue of a follower so trew , As time can boast of both for loue and trust , " So henceforth all ( great glory to his blood ) " Shall be but Seconds to him being good . " The wicked end their honor with their sinne , " In death , which only then the good begin . Loe heere a lesson by experience taught , For men whose pure simplicity hath drawne , Their trust to bee betrayd by beeing caught Within the snares of making truth a pawne . Whiles it not doubting whereinto it enters , Without true proofe and knowledge of a friend , Sincere in singlenesse of heart , aduenters To giue fit cause , ere loue begin , to end . " His vnfain'd frienship where it least was sought , " Him to a fatall time-lesse ruine brought . Whereby the life that purity adorn'd With reall merit , by this sudaine end , Is in the mouth of some in manners scorn'd , Made questionable , for they doe intend , ( According to the tenour of the Saw Mistooke , if not obseru'd , writ long agoe ) When men were onely led by Reasons law , That such as is the end , the life prooues so . Thus Hee , who to the vniuersall lapse Gaue sweete redemption , offring vp his bloud , To conquer death by death ; and loose the traps Of Hell , euen in the triumph that it stood : Hee thus , for that his guiltlesse life was spilt By death , which was made subiect to the curse ; Might in like manner bee reprou'd of guilt , In his pure life , for that his end was worse . But ô farre bee it , our vnholy lips Should so prophane the Deity aboue : As theerby to ordaine reuenging whips , Against the day of Iudgment and of Loue : The hand that lends vs honour in our dayes , May shorten when it please ; and iustly take Our honour from vs , many sundry wayes , As best becomes that wisedome did vs make . The second brother who was next begot , Of all that euer were begotten yet ; Was by a hand in vengeance rude and hot , Sent innocent to be in heauen set . Whose fame the Angels in melodious quiers , Still witnesse to the world ; then why should hee , Well-profited in excellent desires , Bee more rebuk'd , who had like destiny ? Those Saints before the euer-lasting throne , Who sit with crownes of glory on their heads , Washt white in bloud , from earth hence haue not gone , All to their ioyes , in quiet on their beds ; But tasted of the sower-bitter scourge , Of torture and affliction , ere they gained , Those blessings which their sufferance did vrge . Whereby the grace fore-promis'd they attained . Let then the false suggestions of the froward Building large Castles in the empty ayre , By suppositions fond and thoughts vntoward , ( Issues of discontent and sick despaire ) Rebound grosse arguments , vpon their heart ; That may disproue their malice : and confound Vnciuill loose opinions , which insert Their soules into the roule , that doth vnsound Betraying pollicies : and shew their braines Vnto their shame ridiculous : whose scope Is enuie , whose indeuors fruitlesse paines , In nothing surely prosperous , but hope . And that same hope , so lame , so vnpreuailing , It buries selfe conceit in weake opinion ; Which beeing crost , giues matter of bewayling Their vain designes , on whom want hath dominion . Such , and of such condition may deuise , Which way to wound with defamations spirit , ( Close lurking whispers hidden forgeries ) His taintlesse goodnesse , his desertfull merit . But whiles the minds of men can iudge sincerely , Vpon assured knowledge : his repute And estimation , shall be rumor cleerly , In equall worth , Time shall to time renew't . The Graue , that in his euer empty wombe , For euer closes vp the vnrespected , Who when they dye , dye all ; shall not intombe His pleading best perfections as neglected . They to his notice in succeeding yeeres ▪ Shall speake for him , when Hee shall lye below ; When nothing but his memory appeares , Of what hee was ; then shall his vertues grow . His beeing but a priuate man in ranke , ( And yet not rank't beneath a Gentleman ) Shall not abridge the commendable thanke , Which wise posteritie shall giue him than : For Nature , and his therein happy Fate , Ordain'd that by his quality of minde , Tennoble that best part , although his state Were to a lower blessednesse confin'd , Blood , pompe , state , honour , glory and command , Without fit ornaments of disposition , Are in themselues but heathnish and prophane , And much more peacefull is a meane condition , Which vnderneath the roofe of sa●e content , Feeds on the bread of rest : and takes delight , To looke vpon the labours it hath spent , For it 's owne sustenance , both day and night . Whiles others plotting which way to bee great , How to augment their portion and ambition , Doe toile their giddie braines , and euer sweat , For popular applause , and power 's commission . But one in honour's like a seeled Doue , Whose inward eyes are dim'd with dignity ; Do's thinke most safety doth remaine aboue . And seekes to be secure , by mounting high : " Whence when he falz , who did ere while aspire , " Fal's deeper downe , for that he climed higher . Now men who in a lower region liue , Exempt from danger of authority , Haue fittest times in Reasons rules to thriue , Not vext with enuy of prioritie . " And those are much more noble in the mind , " Then many that haue noblenesse by kind . Birth , blood , and ancesters , are none of ours , Nor can we make a proper challenge to them : But vertues and perfections in our powers , Proceed most truly from vs , if we doe them . Respectiue titles or a gracious stile , With all what men in eminence possesse , Are , without ornaments to praise them , vile : The beauty of the mind , is noblenesse . And such as haue that beauty , well deserue Eternall characters , that after death Remembrance of their worth , we may preserue , So that their glory die not with their breath . Else what availes it in a goodly strife , Vpon this face of earth heere to contend , The goood t' exceed the wicked in their life , Should both be like obscured in their end ? Vntill which end , there is none rightly can Bee termed happy , since the happinesse Depends vpon the goodnesse of the man , Which afterwards his praises will expresse . Looke hither then , you that inioy the youth Of your best dayes ; and see how vnexpected Death can betray your iollity to ruth ? When death you thinke is least to be respected ? The person of this modell here set out , Had all that youth & happy dayes could giue him : Yet could not all encompasse him about , Against th' assault of death , who to relieue him Strooke home but to the fraile and mortall parts , Of his humanity : but could not touch His flourishing and faire long-liu'd deserts , Aboue fates reach , his singlenesse was such . So that he dyes but once , but doubly liues , Once in his proper selfe , then in his name : Predestinated Time , who all depriues , Could neuer yet depriue him of the same . And had the Genius which attended on him , Beene possibilited to keepe him safe , Against the rigour that hath ouer-gone him , He had beene to the publick vse a staffe : Leading by his example in the path , Which guides to doing well , wherein so few The pronesse of this age , to error hath Informed rightly in the courses trew . As then the losse of one , whose inclination Stroue to win loue in generall , is sad , So specially his friends , in soft compassion Do feele the greatest losse they could haue had . Amongst them all she who those nine of yeares Liu'd fellow to his counsailes , and his bed ; Hath the most share in losse : for I in hers , Feele what distemperature this chance hath bred . The chast imbracements of coniugall loue , Who in a mutuall harmony consent ; Are so impatient of a strange remoue , As meager Death it selfe seemes to lament . And weep vpon those cheeks , which nature fram'd To be delightfull orbes , in whom the force Of liuely sweetnesse playes , so that asham'd Death often pitties his vnkind diuorce . Such was the separation here constraind , ( Well-worthy to be termed a rudenesse rather ) For in his life his loue was so vnfain'd , As hee was both an husband and a father . The one in firme affection , and the other In carefull prouidence , which euer stroue With ioynt assistance to grace one another , With euery helpfull furtherance of loue . But since the summe of all that can be said Can bee but said that Hee was good : which wholy Includes all excellence can be displaide , In praise of Vertue and reproach of Folly : His due deserts , this sentence on him giues , Hee dy'de in life , yet in his death hee liues : Now run's the method of this dolefull song , In accents breefe to thee , O thou deceast ! To whom those paines do onely all belong , As witnesles I did not loue thee least . For could my worthlesse braine find out but how , To raise thee from the Sepulcher of dust ; Vndoubtedly thou shouldst haue partage now , Of life with mee ; and heauen bee counted iust : If to a supplicating soule , it would Giue life a new , by giuing life againe Where life is mist : whereby discomfort should Right his old griefes , and former ioyes retaine . Which now with thee are leapt into thy toombe , And buried in that hollow vault of woe : Expecting yet a more seuerer doome , Then times strickt slinty hand will let 'm know . And now if I leuel'd mine account , And reckon'd vp in a true measured score , Those perfect graces which were euer wont To wait on thee aliue , I aske no more . But shall heereafter in a poore content , Immure those imputations I sustaine , Learning my dayes of youth so to preuent , As not to be cast downe by them againe : Only those hopes , which fate denies to grant , In full possession to a captiue hart : Who if it were in plenty , still would want , Before it may inioy his better part : From which detain'd , and banisht in th' exile Of dimme misfortune , ha's none other prop , Whereon to leane and rest it selfe the while , But the weake comfort of the haplesse Hope . And Hope must in despight of fearfull change , Play in the strongest closet of my brest : Although perhaps I ignorantly range , And court opinion in my deep'st vnrest . But whether doth the streame of my mischance Driue me beyond my selfe : fast friend , soone lost , Long may thy worthinesse thy name aduance , Amongst the vertuous , and deseruing most . Who herein hast for euer happy prou'd , In life thou liu'dst , in death thou dyed'st belou'd . FINIS .