A reuyuing of the deade by verses that foloweth vvhich makes worthy men knowen, by the examples of King Henry the eight: King Edward the sixt: Sir Walter Mildmay: the last Erle of Warwick: and Sir Christofer Hatton, lately L. Chaunceller of England. VVith a declaration of the names of all the most honourable counsellers, that haue dyed since the beginning of the Queens Maiesties raigne

A reuyuing of the deade by Verses that foloweth : Which makes worthy men knowen , by the examples of King Henry the eight : King Edward the sixt : Sir Walter Mildmay : the last Erle of Warwick : and Sir Christofer Hatton , lately L. Chaunceller of England .

With a declaration of the names of all the most honourable Counsellers , that haue dyed since the beginning of the Queens Maiesties raigne .

AT LONDON Printed for Edward White , and are to be solde at his Shop neere the little north doore of Saint Paules Church , at the signe of the Gun . 1591.

TO THE RIGHT HONOWRABLE M. I. Wolley , Secretary for the latin tong and one of her Maiesties Priuie Councel Thomas Churchyard wisheth increase of honour , aboundance of knowledge & blessednes of life .

IN calling to minde right honourable , the continuance of your fauour and amiable countenance towards me : I found my selfe indetted and vnable ( but by affection or good will ) to deserue the least part of your curtesies , yet looking on your manie yeares spent in learning and knowledge ( for the which vertue , God hath called you to an honourable place ) I thought by some studie ( albeit my iudgement weake ) to lead on your good liking so farre into my labors , that you shold not only affect my writings : but also accept the poor present I offer . which although they be but papers stuffed full of verses , yet the plaiines of the matter and good meaning of the writer I hope shall purchase some small season ( as a passing of the time ) to make you beholde the willing paines I bestow . This first presumption penneth out the Epitaphs of 2. good Kings that gouerned this land of late , and sheweth by Epitaphs 3. other most honorable Counsellers that dyed not long agoe : vnto the which 5. great personages I was bound for benefits receiued , and so in the end of my dayes ( which cannot be long ) to be thankful for good turnes and discharging of dutie , I haue set foorth by the passage of those that are gone before , showes heer is no certain habitation or sure dwelling place for thos that are left hinde , placed heer below ( a little while ) to look for a better world aboue . The Tragedies in my next book called my Challenge ) shal make manifest at the full the effect of those passages : of which Tragedyes you shall haue a sufficient portion , that therby the world shall see what wrong I haue suffred to endure a deniall ( by busie tunges ) of mine owne workes : Shores wife shall speake in her kinde , to defend me and such as waites on her ( because her good fortunes were worthy waiting on ) shall tell the world I haue beene abused , and not iustly and rightly vnderstood : and in gods good giftes for his glories sake , my book of Chalenge shal chalenge all honest labours that euer I did in my daies , deny them who please . Now these bare verses and barren Epitaphes bringing no better frute but the death of some one or other , makes euery line vnwelcome that showes no cheerfull newes : but time that discouers all accidents ( and death in his fury ) brings pardon by the trueth that is found and such as in seasonable time do truly vtter that becomes them , are halfe excused though their boldnes be great : So neither fearing the open barker that makes a great bruite , nor the priuie byter that makes a great wound , to the mildnes of your sweet censure I offer these plaine Epitaphs that follow , partly to make you beleeue I am mindfull of my promise , and cheefely for that I know my L. Chancellers death was sorowfull vnto you , so knoweth God who encrease your honorable credite .

Yours in all humblenes at commaundment : Thomas Churchyard .

The Epitaph of the most Triumphant King , King Henry the eight . THe flower whose smell is past , lyes dead like withered weed : the blosom burnt with scorchig blast , yeelds nether senxt nor seed The Sunnie day declin'd , lookes like di●●e darksome night : Cleere clowds o're cast with blustring wind ; soon loseth former light . The tree that axe hewes downe , lies flat where bowes do fall : And greater things of more renown , are scarce thought of at all . When their decay drawes on , bid rotten frute a dew : When olde delights are dead and gone , world welcomes fancies new . Olde Kinges whose glory shone , as bright as Phoebus face : Lyes lowe in Windsor now alone , with no great-Princely grace . To write of Henryes raigne , a true discourse to tell : A world of wit it would containe , and please the readers well . For such a King as he , ( though heer bewail'd with pen ) Ought still of dutie honourd be , among all English men . His loue to Countryes soyle , ( like-Father to his sonne ) Kept all true subiects free from foile , how ere worlds course did run . His woord no sooner past , but at a becke obayd : He stood like Fort full firme and fast , and made his foes affraid . His bountie did abound , his largesse had no end : Gaue freely where desartes he found , yet had inough to spend . A flowing Fountaine head , that ran faire streames of golde : To euery place ( through pypes of lead ) and Conduits treble-folde . But cheefely to those men , whose seruice crau'de reward : There sprouting springs gusht now & then , great grace with great regard . A glorie great he took , in giuing golde as drosse : As one that still for fame did look , disdaining mucke and mosse . A Lyon in the feild , that made wilde tygers tame : And many a woorthie Towne to yeeld , so fearfull was his name . A King that made Kings stoop , and held them all in awe : When he him selfe did neuer droop , for any thing he saw . A King that took no wrong , of none in deed nor word : But would haue right ere it were long , or trye the same with sword . The Emperour Charles the fift , came here his loue to craue : The French King met our King at Guynes , his fauour for to haue . And when he was in Fraunce , as fortune flong the maine : At Flowdan feilde as was the chaunce , a noble King was slaine . Whose Lords at Sollo mosse , the olde Lord Wharton tooke : The fleet of Fraunce at Portsmouth to , durst not on Henry looke . His Shippes burnt Trayport than , and causd that Coast to quake : He went before to T●●wyn towne , and so Turney did take . Wonne Bulleigne after this , built neere it many a seat : All yeeldes where King in person is , his presence was so great . Whiles these things were in hand , as doutfull ballance stood : In Scotland many a warlike band , he had for causes good . He neuer carde for peace , nor how began the iarre : If he his Kingdome could increase , or honour winne by warre . Shall such a King now sleep , with crawling wormes below ? Nay rather we his losse should weep , that did defend vs so . Praise Caesar you that please , and lookes into a state : There was not borne beyond the seas , nor yet in England late So great a King in deed , for many speciall thinges : Turne ore your books , both look & reed , among your famous Kings And Henry th eight shall goe , amid the noblest sorte , When Trump of fame shall shrillie blowe , to sound his true reporte . A famous Soldiarlike King . FINIS .

The Epitaph of the most toward ympe of grace , King Edward the sixt . THe lamp is out , that lightned English hartes , Whose liuely showe , & beuty shone so bright And gaue such ioy , to all our inward smartes , That well was him , that had theron a sight , Edward I meane , that was our King by right . The golden torche and candle matutyne : Did burne and blaze amid his Christall eyen . But wel a way , those lookes their life hath lost : Full dimme and darke , is now the sparke , That whilom was the stay of Englands boast . Now death hath dried this pleasant princely plant And hent our hap , an high aboue the Skyes : who knows the losse , but they that feel the want Wherfore the teares distilleth from our eyes . But since this Lamb hath made his sacrifice , And offred vp his life and vytall breath : What can we blame but hastie cruell death ? which pluckt therose before his leaues wer spred yet shall his name , remaine with fame , And florish still although the floure be dead . A face so fraught , with fauour blooming still , A description of his Royal person . A cheere so chaste , subduing eche desire : A hed so ripe , with grace and cunning skill , A tongue so deckt , and clad in trothes attyre , A hart so meeke , and cleane deuoide of yre . An eare so pure to heare the poor mans cause , A wit to iudge , a zeale to make good lawes . A hand so cleer from blood , look well theron : was seldome seene , in youth so greene , Alas the while , our Lanterns light is gone . His wit wan praise , as by his waies appeeres , His inward giftes of grace . His vertuous steppes , wan fame among the wice : His tender youth , did teach the aged yeeres , His sober life rebuked euery vice , His woords & works did passe the pearle in price His iestures all , if they were grau'ne in golde , A mirror were to learne both young and olde . Wherfore vnmeete the earth is for his graue : His place of rest , is Abrahams brest , A worthy Tomb , for such a King to haue . FINIS .

The Epitaph of the right honourable Counseller , Sir Walter Mildmay Knight . IN thirtie yeres there dropt away , from mightye Caesars traine : Of cheef account that bore great sway , twice 10. twice 4. & twaine . That rul'd by course in Senate seate , whilst glasse of life did run : Whose fearfull frown ▪ and angry threat , good subiects sought to shun . Ech one found freends to waile below , their death with greife of brest When from this world these guides did goe , to place of greater rest . But few in Court , gaind more good will , than wise graue Mildmay did : In whose milde show and worthy skill , were heapes of vertues hid . In Court not only lou'd alone , but Country yeelds him fame : and boasts , that there his bounty shone , & burnd with quenchles flame Like blazing torche on mountaine top , that could all blasts abide : Yet seem'd but little twinckling Star , which is farre off espyed . But euery worde and sentence sweet , he did in world let fall : Exprest an hye and noble spirit , and knowledge great withall . His silence spake by stayed lookes , but when he moou'd his tongue : Like tinging bell of siluer sound , the Counsell chamber ronge . His inward man was arm'd and clad , with priuye coate of proofe : To vse and weare , for others weale , but not his owne behoofe . No malice , wrath , nor angry rage , nor sullen nature strange : Could mooue his minde in all his age , nor make his manner change . A Father that could rules set downe , of law and learned lore : Knit vp such pointes in sentence short , as few had heard before . To Princ and state a member fit , that Country could not spare : Right sharp of sence , profound of wit , of iudgement deep and rare . To suters all of nature good , but to the Princes men : A ready help from root of hart , with head , with hand and pen . Not sowre , but full of sugred speech , that quonched bitter gall : As hony dropped from his lippes , where liquour sweet should fall . Sir Walter Mildmay water brought , to nourish fountaine head : Yet gaue to those that water sought , and were with fountaine fed . His promise wrought performance straight , yet ware & wise to speak Not won with gifts or worldly sleight , that makes men promis break . But drawne by iudgement and desart , to showe his godly zeale : That lodg'd in louing harmles hart , that honord publique weale . His credit so through God began , whose grace was his defence : That dayly he great credit wan , and went with credit hence . When pangues of death approch't apace , & would haue closd his eyne He spake with milde and cheerfull face , glad words that were deuine . Of eche degree as though some Saint , were sent from God aboue : To showe how he should serued be , in faith , in feare and loue . Wherat the hearers all gan weep , that then their Iewell lost : Whiles Mildmay mildly fell a sleep , and so gaue vp the ghost . Not dead , death hath but broke the stamp , in Cambridg liues this knight Where he set vp so faire a lamp , that giues all England light . FINIS .

The Epitaph of the right honourable , Lord Ambrose Dudley Erle of Warwicke . LEaue off to write , spare speech a space , be mute O muse of mine : Let blubring teares bedeaw thy face , O waile with weeping eyne : The course of life that drawes but breth , in dollor all his dayes : Till hart stringes burst , till hower of death , til pilgrim goes his wayes . Vaine pomp is but a puffe or toy , so is both rule and raigne : For all that heere we do enioy , is nought but woe and paine : Hast thou not seene the highest tree , receiue his falling blowe ? Death hath respect to no degree , when life from hence must goe . Satte Leyster not in Senate seate , as hye as man might clime ? Was neuer heere , none halfe so great , nor happy in our time . Yet loe , a so daine leaue he tooke , and went where God assignd : His Brother that like Mars did looke , a man of noble minde . Who all good men did praise and loue , is packt from vs in poste : Thus when of force men must remooue , and world desires him most . His glasse is run , his date is doone , and he must bid farwell : to all the pleasures vnder Sunne , and all that heere do dwell . But Warwick that won great good will , too soone was hastned hence : For Warwick was most warlike still , to stand in rightes defence . To serue the Prince , his pursse , or power , was euer ready prest : Like Fortresse or like stately Tower , in armes among the best . To spread in feilde the ragged staffe , against all forraine foes : As wind that driues both dust & chaffe , in th' aire where tempest bloes So had he minde to thrust them downe , that fight with stayned troth To harme or touch our land , our Crowne , our Prince & country both . Glad was Erle Warwick euery way , to do the good he might : In Court and Towne the world doth say , he neuer harmed wight . He kept the euen ballance iust , that eche man had true weight : He was a man of speciall trust , cleane voyde of craft or sleight . Most plain of words , most plain of deeds , plain dealing led him throgh Amid these briers & scratching weeds , that wounds plain people now No storme nor change could make him turn , he stood like brasen wall Against fine world , proud mindes , false faith , vntruth , and treasons all At Norwich in King Edwards raygne , amid ranke rebelles rage : The horsse he rod on there was slaine , in prime of Ambrose age . Saint Quintins where Lord Harry dyed , sets yet his valure forth : At seige of Hawne was Warwick tryed , and found a man of woorth . New-hauen till the plague began , he held full safe and sound : Where many a valiant Englishman , made Ringraue giue them ground . No greefe , no tort , nor torment sore , could daunt his courage great : A Lyons hart in brest he bore , where hammers long did beat . Of one deuice or other still , and sounded like a bell To Gods great glory and his will , that conquered death and hell . To Heauen held he on his pace , for when his time he knew : He did but turne from freendes his face , and bad the world adew . FINIS .

The Epitaph of the moste honourable , Sir Christopher Hatton Knight , late Lord Chaunceller of England . LEt droppes of blood from wounded hart , bewaile our losse of late Teares are too base to show the smart , is felt for this great state . No mourners voice , nor yelling cries , nor sighes nor sobs may serue : Nor all the cunning vnder skies , from death can life preserue . No worldly pomp , nor Princes grace , can lengthen life an hower : All glory lasts but heer a space , it withers like a flower . A mightie man of great account , whose fate the clowds did clime : Whose fortune dayly did surmount , great numbers in his time . Tel●es that and much more matter showes , of honours tickle stay : That like a candle out it goes , and quickly steales away . Long is it ere a tree be growen , to answer our desire : But soone are mightie oakes ore throwne , and flong in flaming fire . No greefe so great , as see flow'rs bud , in gardens where we walk : And when their sent should do vs good , a storm striks down the stalk . O happy Hatton long in growth , now at thy cheefest yeeres : When Prince and Country lon'd thee both , as by their plaints apeers . An angry planet took thee hence , that by thy vertue rose : And stood like Fortresse of defence , against all forraine foes . The Lawyers ioy , the lands delight , the Countries comfort to : A ready head and hand to write , where help some good might do . To freend most fast , to foe most sterne , to poore full franke and free : A wit that could deep doutes dezerne , and troth from falshood see . Cald for good giftes to speciall place , and speciall fortune found : Durst show in world a hart and face , with conscience cleer and sound . That roome and credit he possest , requir'd a man of worth : Which he in substance so exprest , by setting iustice forth . That common people still salutes , his soule with blessings sweet : A tree that brings forth such good frutes , for common weal most meet . A chosen Chaunceller from aboue , to please the best below : Won open fame and secret loue , of those that wisedome know . Held house where bountie largesse cryed , & kept so great a traine : As argues now when that he dyed , good mind did glory gaine . Lou'd freends & seruants more then gold , and precious was the poore Sought help by sute or mildly would , craue almes at Hattons door . In sutes he held an euen hand , as ballance goes by weight : The worst to fall , the best to stand , and heare their iudgment streight . The Iudges of the law can tell , the iustice of his minde : And so the world can witnes well , what grace good men did find . The good he did shall neuer dye , and so O worthy Knight : Though lowe in earth thy body lye , and soule haue taken flight . A higher place we hope thou hast , and dost with Angelles dwell : For brunt of worldly broiles are past , as showes thy last farwell . FINIS .

Lenuoy . WHo mourneth more then he that made this Verse ? To whom good turnes , this Lord did often send : Come noble Guard , and kneele before his herse , Whose helping hand , your wages did amend . Come seruantes all , and do his fame defend ▪ That made you clime , vp the great Chamber stayres : And come 〈…〉 with me some teares . Come come away , 〈…〉 lyes , That cou●●ance ga●e to more then I will showe : Come euery one , in black sad mourning guise ; And wayte on him , that to the graue doth goe , Come fall in rank , that doth your Captain knowe . And trayle your s●●ues , along hard stony ground : And cry la mort , when dolefull drumme doth sound . This body must be buried all with shot , Because he once was in a Princely band : And of a Prince , such grace and fauour got , He bore the sway and Seale of all this land , Come Pencioners , that by your standard stand And bring to Church , in shining armour bright : In Marshall martch , this three folde happy Knight . FINIS Thomas Churchyard .

The names of all the most honorable Counsellers that haue dyed since the beginning of her Maiesties Raigne . Sir Thomas Cheyney . Treasor . The Erle of Shrewsbury . Sir Edmond Peckham . Thomas Parry , Treasorer . Francis Erle of Huntington . Doctor Wotton . Sir Iohn Mason . Sir Richard Sackuild . Sir Edward Rogers Comptro . The Erle of Pembrook . Duke of Norfolke Sir Ambrose Caue . Erle of Darby . M. of winchester , L. Treasorer . Marques of Northampton . Sir Iames a Croft . Contr. Sir F. Walsingham . Secret . Secretary Smith . Secretary Wilson . L. William Howard , L. Cham. Sir Nicholas Bacon L. Keeper . The Earle of Sussex L. Chan. The Earle of Bedforde . The Earle of Lincolne L. Ad. Sir Henry Sidney . Sir Ralphe Sadler . Sir Thomas Bromley L. Chan. Earle of Leicester . Sir Amyas Paulet Sir Water Mildemaie . Earle of Arundell . Sir William Peter Earle of Warwick . Last Earle of Shrosbury . Sir Christopher Hatton . L. Chauncel . FINIS .

Notes, typically marginal, from the original text

Notes for div A18762-e1040