THRENODIA IN OBITUM D. EDOVARDI LEWKENOR Equitis, & D. SUSANNAE Coniugis charissimae.  
FUNERAL VERSES Upon the death of the right Worshipful Sir EDWARD LEWKENOR Knight, and Madam SUSAN his Lady.  
With DEATH'S APOLOGY, and a Rejoinder to the same.  PROV. 10.8. 
Memoria justi benedicta.  
LONDON Printed by Arnold Hatfield for Samuel Macham and Matthew Cook, and are to be sold in Paul's Churchyard at the sign of the Tiger's head. 1606   

 blazon or coat of arms HONORI AC MEMORIAE CHARISSIMORVM CONIUGUM EDOVARDI ET SUSANNAE LEWKENORUM.  
QVORUM ILLE NOBILI FAMILIA IN AGRO HARTFORDIENSI NATUS, A PVERITIA OPTIMIS DISCIPLINIS INNUTRITUS, ADOLESCENS SOCIVS COLLEGII D. JOHANNIS IN ACADEMIA CANTABRIGIENSI, POSTQVAM EVASIT IN VIRUM S. PRINCIPIS ELIZABETHAE DOMESTICVS PRIMUM, EXINDE IN AGRO SUFFOLCIENSI EIRENARCHA, POST IN AMPLISSIMUM ORDINEM SVPREMAE CURIAE PARLIAMENTI NOVIES CONSCRIPTUS, POST REMUM A JACOBO MAGNO FOELICE BRITANNIARUM MONARCHA EQVESTRI DIGNITATE ORNATUS, CVI uno ORE OMNES CONSENTIUNT, CIVEM FVISSE BONUM, MELIOREM MAGISTRATUM, VIRUM OPTIMUM; CLIMACTERICO SVO AD SUPEROS CONCESSIT.  
FOUR NONAS OCTOBREIS.  
HAEC ILLUSTRIS HEIGH AMORUM FAMILIA CUM SORORE COHAERES, FOEMINA RARI EXEMPLI, PIETATE AC MODESTIA SINGULARI, ANNO AETATIS SVAE LVI, VIRUM CVI SE NUNQVAM IN VIVIS ANTEFERRE SUSTINVIT, MORIENS uno DIE PRAECESSIT.  
VIXERE CONIUGES SINE QVERELA, AN. XXXVI. VNIS EXEQVIIS SUNT ELATI, AN. M.DC v. V. ID. JAN. FILIOS SUPERSTITES RELIQVERUNT TWO, FILIAS VI  
PARENTIBUS OPTIMIS AC DULCISSIMIS B. M. P. E. LEWKENOR F.   


YE learned Sisters, which mount Helicon  
And high Parnassus crags uneath to scale,  
Your best beloved seats in times begun  
Have interchanged, for that lowly dale  
Amidst the which sweet CAME doth softly slide;  
Willing may seem longer with you to bide;  
And with his BRIDGE doth couple what his streams divide:   

So may you never of your change repent,  
Or think to change again for other place:  
So may the rigour of the Heavens relent,  
Which on your mansions fair with frowning face  
Hath looked too long, and this contagious ill  
Be soon removed, and far kept from them still;  
So may your numbrous nurselings all your houses fill:   

So lastly may our PHOEBUS deign to see  
And with his gracious sight those Temples bless,  
And consecrate them with his Majesty;  
The highest pitch of all their happiness:  
No less than those your other dear delight  
Which by the FORD of OUSE are stately pight,  
And since that day do rise and threaten heavens height:   

As ye vouchsafe to lend your willing ear  
And condescend to Shepherd swains request:  
If yet the same but equal shall appear,  
And to yourselves may work no great unrest:  
Scarce may though needs it must his suit be told,  
O grief who seeks the cause of grief t'vnfolde!  
And double grief which doth from remedy withhold!   

Lewknor alas is dead, that worthy Knight:  
And followed his good Lady dead before:  
And both within a day. Help us to dight  
Their hearses with your plaints, and if no more  
Help with your tears our common loss bewail.  
Your tears are left if other power do fail;  
And fellowship is ease though grief do nought avail.   

If of this pair one from his tender years  
Was wholly yours denoted heart and will;  
Nor that alone but of his equal peers  
Few might in all your arts surpass his skill:  
If in your Court he did sometimes defend  
No vulgar place: O you that wont to lend  
Your tears to others loss, some on your own exspend.   

You shall not mourn alone; the State hath lost  
A Senator of many Parliaments:  
The Church may well account her loss is most  
Of such a son. The Country sad laments  
A wise and upright justicer: The poor  
A worthy house keeper. O if no more  
Ye feel your own, yet others damage help deplore.   

And if how much he in your gifts surpassed,  
So much the Graces sweet his Lady graced:  
A right Susanna, virtuous, fair, and chaste,  
A lily bright though now by death effaced:  
If both in every part of virtue were  
A matchless match, a pair without compare:  
For virtues sake weep while ye may not weep a tear.   

Whereto serves all your skill if not for this  
To blazon far and wide well purchased praise;  
And register to all posterities  
In honours just records; what might upraise  
A caitiff courage unto fair pretence;  
And teach a gentle Spirit fly from hence  
To highest heaven? Lo here your arts chief excellence.   

Living and dead your faculty is debt  
To good desert: which paid in life may have  
Malignity perhaps thereat to fret;  
Not so in death: No envy lets the grave  
Discharge this debt with safety every deal,  
And let eternal Fame the acquittance seal,  
The world be witness unto whom ye may appeal.   

Besides, O let me tell you otherwise  
Ye own this duty to that worthy pair:  
Sith first from you the danger did arise  
Which wrought their death. That harm ye ought repair,  
So might it be repaired. O that it might!  
Butah for life the recompense is light  
To wail the dead, or verses in their praise indite.   

Pardon my grief if ought my tongue have strayed  
Dread Ladies: well I wots unguilty all  
Ye been of blame herein. It was mis-said:  
No greater sorrow mought yourselves befall.  
But this is true, from that unhappy place  
Whose late infection did your nurselings chase  
To divers parts; this mischief came. Thus was the case.   

Two sons they had (Ah now no longer they)  
This worthy pair were hanging on your breast;  
Their chiefest joy and care: when they heard say  
Contagious Agues did begin t'infest  
The place whereas ye dwell: Not feared in vain  
As since the sad event hath show'd it plain;  
And such before the Pestilence are wont to reign.   

Nature and Reason bade them seek to shend  
From danger those their hopes: They send straightway  
To fetch them home. Their Father had a friend  
Of well-approved faith full many a day  
Whose son in equal danger with his own  
He could not leave, but sent all unbeknowen  
His Father for him to. Hence hath this sorrow grown.   

O weak and feeble wit of mortal wight!  
Which worest not what to take and what refuse,  
Choosing the worst, thou ween'st to hit the right;  
And leavest the best which wisdom were to choose!  
As now this worthy knight, he would set free  
His own from harm, and save from jeopardy  
His friends also: but all his care turns contrary.   

Not many days but sick began to fall  
This youth I told in kindness brought away:  
Before I should have told you first of all,  
His fearless Father which misliked his stay  
From you as loss of time; had thought again  
Have sent him back. The knight needs would retain  
Him with his sons; which turned himself and them to pain.   

But now his father 'gan most instantly  
Request he might remove him home from thence:  
(It was within a mile or two thereby)  
Scarce might he speak so much without offence;  
But heard strait way. And set you then so light  
Your only son, as that regardless quite  
Even of his life you would remove him in this plight?   

Except you fear that aught should lack him here.  
Ah nay, quoth he: But this; your household's great  
And what a grief and trouble both it were  
Besides the danger if this sickness seat  
Itself therein, (they feared the pocks) Alas!  
I would it not for all that is or was:  
So said, full little hoped he what would come to pass.   

To whom the knight. Th' eternal Wisdom hie  
Which rules this world knows what he hath to done:  
And what is best for us: who seeks to fly  
With wind and sail from him is all as soon  
Atached, as he that ever frames him still  
To suffer what he must. Is death such ill  
As is default in duty? No: God work his will:   

So said, yet as he could did fair provide  
Both for his guest and all their safeties.  
But who can shun the ill that must betide?  
Him lightly touched the deadly mischief flies;  
Ceased on his hosts that had him entertained,  
And show'd this goodly part of love unfeigned.  
Ay me that cruel death should rage's thus unrestrained.   

Ah good Tisander who can half express  
What raging sorrow tore thy heart in twain,  
When thou beheldst them brought to this distress?  
How dolefully thy hap thou didst complain,  
And praydst the heavens upon thyself might light  
Or on thy son, or both, their utmost spite;  
To 'scuse this gentle Lady and this courteous Knight.   

Nor were we silly shepherds ought behind,  
To send our plaints and prayers to the skies;  
Too well was now our griefe-deiected mind  
Suited unto our pluncket liveries.  
This comfort have we; if that felon Death,  
If Destinies sad, or if the grave beneath  
Had not been deaf; these had not lost their vital breath.   

How shall I that sad household's grief relate  
Their Masters fastened both to sickly bed?  
How shall I tell alas! your woeful state  
Twice Orphans now? the vows, the tears ye shed,  
Now for one Parent: Then th'other: Again for both?  
But all in vain. Lo first your Mother goeth;  
Your Father follows fast, how ever ye be loath.   

To whom when first the heavy word was brought  
Of greatest loss that ever he might hear,  
(O would to God it could have been forethought  
That message sad would touch his heart so near)  
And is she gone? (said he) Are ills so rife?  
Well may I say I had as good a wife  
As lives: Dearest I come; what boots me longer life?   

But who had seen how Grace performed her part,  
To teach the patiented mind her cross to bear:  
And how the gentle Knight with manly heart  
Swallowed his grief: And when the trickling tear  
Fell from his eye that still on heaven did feed,  
Albe his countenance gave his heart did bleed,  
Would say; I held my peace because it was thy deed.   

Ay me! for sobs I cannot tell the rest.  
He's dead! o death! for virtuous enterprise.  
Ah gentle Sisters beat your pensive breast,  
And choose the mournful'st notes you can devise,  
To accent your sad verses ruthfullest:  
And when you have a while your grief expressed  
Recomfort ours. Ye Muses ye can do it best.   

The power of words is subject to your skill:  
And words well placed can charm the wounded heart,  
Up than ye Muses. And if so ye will,  
We shepherds swains will help to bear a part.  
Up thou first mournfullest Melpomene,  
And Erato with thee: Terpsichore  
Shall with Thaleia sing, when PHOEBUS shall you see.    

THRENODIAE In funere Clarissimorum Coniugum D. EDWARDI & SUSANNAE LEWKNORUM.  

Pars prior: Quae ut plurimùm fletus habet & querelas.  

CUR per vos, Elegi, Lasciva poemata famam  
Quaerunt, cur proprium destituistis opus?  
Munera vestra vocant, passis prodite capillis,  
Pullae sint vestes, funera vestra vocant.  
Occidit, heu, Lewknor Musarum gloria, tantum  
Lugeat amissum virque puerque virum.  
Credibile est, nimium iam saevas, 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, benigna  
Parcas nascenti fila dedisse nanu.  
Tantus erat morum candor, tanta arte politum  
Ingenium foelix, tantus ubique favour:  
, quanuis stirpem clara de gente referret,  
Dotibus his claros nobilitaret avos.  
Nec tamen ingentes fortuna maligna negavit  
Illi, quas doctis saepe negavit, opes.  
Huic cumulo accedit pietas insignis in illos,  
In quos caelestis lex jubet esse pios.  
Cura Dei, & prolis vitam laudavit, at alter  
Coniugis, & vita, & morte patebat amor.  
Cuius ut aspexit morientia lumina, dixit,  
Aut vive, aut comitem me quoque mortis habe.  
Vota valent. Quos fidus amor, dum vita manebat,  
junxit, disiunctos noluit esse rogus.  
In terra ossa jacent, animae super astra volarunt,  
Vtrunque, & meritò fama loquetur anus.  
THO. SOTHEBY Coll. S. joan.   

In Coniunctum EDOVARDI LEWKNORIS Militis dignissimi, & SUSANNAE uxoris eiusdem eximiae obitum.  
ERgò Caballinos laticas mihi Musa propinat  
Torpentem revocans ad sua pensa? sequor;  
Par est ut celebrem Par hoc tàm nobile, vinctus  
Sermo, vinxêrunt quos ita fata, decet:  
Par est ut metro Par includatur in uno,  
Cui fuit in seros unio tracta dies.  
undique par video, nec par tamen undique; dispar  
Gaudet inaequali tendere Musa gradu;  
Eccè palàm numeris subsidit clauda secundis,  
Nunc laxum fundit, nunc breve cogit iter;  
Ecquid inamoenis Elegëia Consona bustis?  
Ecquid & ad moestos ire parata rogo?  
An quia Par sexu constabat dispare, carmen  
jure suum vir habet, foemina iure suum?  
Praecedit passu subl mior ille virili,  
Foemineos comitans contrahit illa pedes;  
Fortunati ambo, fatis aequalibus ambo;  
Vita pares vidit, vidit & urna pares;  
Sic quos cepir amor vitae, dum vivere fas est,  
Hos uno cepit tempore mortis amor.  
E Coll. Regis.   

In obitum clarissimi viri Edwardi Lewknêri, Equitis illustriss. & Susannae coniugis, Feminae lectissimae.  
QVî fit (inaequali, vos quae sine lege sorores,  
Ducitis instabili stamina nostra manu)  
Quî fit, ut indigni superâ, qua v●scimur, aura,  
Annis tot vestra saepè fruantur ope?  
Cùm tamen intereá, si quis virtute, vel unus  
Prae reliquis clarus, protinus ille perit.  
Ah! quid non potiùs vestras convertitis iras?  
Ah! quid non illos (mors homicida) petis?  
Abstulit una dies, & funere mersit acerbo,  
Nobile par, restant vix pietate pares;  
Scilicet eximium clarâ cum coniuge, morti  
Lewknêrum; nobis funera bina dedit.  
Funera bina? quid? an non tristis funere luctus  
Vel satis est uno, plus satis, idque Viri?  
At si Nobilitas quicquam si stemma valeret,  
Priscum aliquid potuit stemma valere tuum.  
Si quid relligio, virtus, pietasque fidesque  
Relligione, fide, quis pietate prior?  
Sed neque relligio, pietasue avertere mortem,  
Nec virtus quicquam flectere tanta potest.  
Crudelis, tantâ nondum satiabere praedâ,  
Sanguine nec tanti es exsaturata viri?  
Quin dulcem thalami consortem sauciet unà  
Falx tua? quin pereant foemina, virque simul?  
Numquid non satis est clarum extinxisse maritum,  
Posset ut in vivis haec superesse tamen?  
Digna quidem vita hac, dignissima pluribus annis,  
Et tàmpraeclaro foemina digna viro;  
Quae facilè primum meruit, virtute, pudicis  
Moribus, & verâ relligione, locum.  
Non satis, hanc comitem, fuit, extinxisse iugalem,  
Posset ut in vivis hic superesse tamen?  
Sed quos una dies pariter iwenilibus annis  
Coniunxit sancto condiditi inque toro;  
Ecce uno paritèr nunc condidit urna sepulchro,  
Et penè una dies funera bina dedit.  
Nobile virtutis, vitae, morumque dederunt  
Exemplum; haud post se nomen inane ferent.  
Scilicet exemplo tandem hoc ediscite vivi,  
Ex horum vita, vivere, morte, mori.  
G. H. T. C. C.   

In obitum clarissimi & pientissimi viri, Domini EDOVARDI LEUKENER Militis, quà generis splendore, quà omni virtutum genere ornatissimi, necnon lectissimae foeminae, eiusdem coniugis, Dom. SUSANNAE LEUKNER, 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉.  
HEu miseranda lues! audax corrodere sanctum  
Divinâ pectus nobilitate viri,  
Foedere qui sacro nulli pietate secundus,  
Hanc sibi coniunxit relligione parem.  
Nam prudens & doctus erat, decus atque piorum;  
Virtutis cultrix nec minùs illa fuit:  
Maecenas, columen, spes, deliciaeque bonorum;  
Solamen miseris nec minùs illa fuit.  
Christicolae pariterque fuerunt Coelicolaeque:  
Semper luce pares, nunc quoque morte pares.  
Sed cùm nomen habet de CANDESCENTE LUCERNA:  
Hoc iam perge tuis pandere Musa modis.  

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Heu miseranda lues! hac non splendente lucerna,  
Hinc tot pullati syrmate longo gemunt.  
Quin si non cunctis gratissima vita fuisset,  
Nunc tua tam multis funera moesta forent?  
G.E. C. Eman.   

In Edovardum Lewkenor Militem, viri tum pietate, tum doctrinâ summè spectabilem; & Susannam ipsius coniugem, foeminam lectissimam, simul mortuos, eodemque tumulo conditos, Epicedium.  
ERgóne iam extinctus gelidi sub mole sepulchri  
Ille jacet verae relligionis honos?  
Ergóne & illa simul lectissima foemina coniux  
Morte perempta gravi contumulata jacet?  
Hei mihi, quis poterit lachrymas retinere cadentes?  
Hei, perijt nostri gloria magna soli!  
Heu, jacet Eduardus, niveus cui pectore candor,  
unum cui coelum cura laborque fuit.  
Cui pietas, doctrina, genus, prudentia constans,  
Canaque honorandâ cum probitate fides.  
Heu Susanna jacet, coeli germana propago.  
Verae foeminei deliciae generis;  
In miseros cui larga manus, pia cura suorum,  
Virtutis studium, & relligionis amor.  
Sic uno quos vita thoro coniunxerat, una  
Mors tulit, & uno condidit hoc tumulo.  
Ergo ambos flete ô vates, totumque iubete  
Parnassum alternos ingeminare sonos.  
Hasque illis lachrymas isthaec monimenta sacrate,  
Et funus luctu concelebrate gravi.  
At vos ô manes, quorum nec longa vetustas,  
Nobile nec delet nomen avara dies,  
Vos juuat interea meliores quaerere sedes,  
Queîs datur aeternâ cum jove pace frui.  
G.S. C. Eman.   

In obitum praeclarissimi viri Dom. EDVARDI LEWKENORIS Militis, & eius charissimae coniugis, Dominae SVSANNAE LEWKENORIS.  
MIlitis egregij meditaberis 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 miram?  
Proh dolor extinctum conspice Lewkenorem,  
Non modò divitijs & avito stemmate clarum,  
Sed musa, ingenio, sed pietate virum.  
Clerus, eques, populus pullata vest Britannus  
Hunc cassum lugent lumine Lewkenorem.  
Te quoque (quâ sociâ plures foeliciter annos  
Lewkenor exegit) chara Susanna, tuum  
Lewkenorem moestae properantem ad limina mortis  
Et pudor & pietas deseruisse vetant.  
Vos simul extinctos crudeli funere mecum  
Defleturo puto pectora mill pia:  
Vos & longa dies & vita novissima iunxit,  
Nec nostro licuit dissociare metro.  
C.O.   

In obitum viri nobilissimi iuxtà ac doctissimi Edouardi Leukenor & Susannae suae.  

EXtincta ut nuper petijt pia foemina coelos  
plausaque supernos vidit aditque locos  
Nos o noster adi: quid enim disiungimur, inquit,  
tam nos quid separat terra minuta duos?  
Dixit & in pennas cessit visura penates  
pennas quas pietas struxit & egit amor.  
Quae te dulce caput divis divortia nostris  
disiungunt, cur pars tu mihi pacis abes?  
Astra inter iuncti carpamus gaudia, dixit,  
tenuat & in nihilum cessit imago suum:  
Ille nihil notam effigiem sed prendere captans  
excussit terras induiturque polos.   

Eurydicen quaestus Lewknor, ut nulla superstes  
comparuit terris aequoreisue fretis:  
Nequicquam sperent coniux te tartara dixit,  
emicat & coeli coerula scandit ovans.  
G.H. T.C.    

In obitum religiosissimi Militis Edouardi Leukneri.  
DIcitur Ismarius chara pro coniuge vates  
Per vada Cocyti, per Phlegetontij aquas  
Transmisisse viam, nigrique ad limina Ditis  
Sistens, Threijciae succinuisse lyrae:  
Vmbrarumque deum neruisque & carmine mulcens  
Eurydicen proprio restituisse Lari.  
Heu nunc aut alter nigrantia tecta Tyrannus  
Possidet, aut peior quam solet esse Dea est.  
Nuper Leuknerus funesta morte perempta  
Coniuge, sponte sua livida stagna petit:  
Per tenebrasque iter emensus, manesque silentes,  
Constitit ad furui limina caeca dei:  
Plangens orabat miseram sibi reddere sponsam,  
Moturus verbis marmora dura suis.  
Cumque diu frustra tot singultantia verba  
Misisset, (tantus est fervour amoris) ait;  
 potero lucem aut coeli connexa tueri  
Cùm mihi surrepta est lux mea vita mea?  
Vel mihi reddatur coniux aut ipse maritae,  
Vel seruato duos, vel mage perde duos!  
Dixerat, assensit diri inclementia Regis  
Atque ambos contra iusque piumque tenet.  
Hoc ego non agitem? dic o saevissime custos  
Tartarei claustri, quid velit iste furor?  
Quid? tibi commissa est nigri custodia regni  
Imperium in manes est tibi sort datum,  
Imperium in manes miseros tibi cessit & umbras!  
Diceris in sanctos juris habere nihil;  
Foelices sanctorum animae sunt cura Tonantis.  
Sed quid ego haec frustra: vindicis ira venit.  
Nam quoniam invitis rapuisti hos invide nobis,  
invito rapiat qui colit astratibi.   

In obitum viri verè Mecoenatis Eduardi Leuknori, & Susannae eius coniugis pientissimae, Epicedium.  
SIc turtur moritur, suumque plorat  
Solas flebiliter virum inter ulmos:  
Sic fretus cytharâ maritus audax  
Tristeis ingreditur domos profundi:  
Ereptam sequitur suam ut Susannam  
Leuknorus reducem suam ut Susannam  
Concinnet, (pietas!) opesque spernit:  
It virtus comes, ut chorus sororum  
Et quicquid Charitum, Cupidinumque est:  
Si fas est tumulo tegi ipsum Amorem  
Hoc vellet tumulo tegi ipsius ipso.   

Anagr. in nomen: LEUCENORUS, Luce nos vre.  
At tua quando dedit virtus iam vivere coelis  
Seu diws epulis unà cum coniuge Diuûm  
Accumbis, sive orb sedes pars dignior orbis  
Respice NOS, ac LUCE tuâ foeliciter VRE.  
H.G. T.C.   

unde mihi insolito stupuerunt corda dolore?  
Quidue gravis versat tantum mea pectora luctus?  
Mens equidem praesaga mali, quid triste minetur  
Nescio, sic caeco turbantur corda tumultu;  
An mihi dilectus nimiùm decessit amicus?  
An mihi chara parens? An multùm frater amatus?  
Hei mihi quòd multo merser gravioribus undis:  
Occidit (heu pietas!) pietatis amantior alter  
Quo nusquam in terris vixit, nec mortuus usquam est:  
Quandoquidem nobis nec mortuus ille putandus;  
Semper enim vivet nato dum vita supersit,  
Felicem ô natum donat qui vivere patri.  
T.B. Clar.   

In obitum illustrissimi Equitis Eduardi Leukenor: uxorisque clarissimae, Carmen lugubre.  
HEu, quanti gemitus? infoelix ales ab ulmo  
Quos memorat casus? volucres in damna trahuntur.  
An amor extinctae moliri tanta palumbae  
Impulit, ut sociam sibi mortem quaereret ultrò?  
Impulit unus amor. nec enim sine coniuge coniux  
Ibit adastra. Duos eadem lux perdat amantes  
Optavit toties, sed cui nil fata negare  
Ausint; aut poterant superi; pia vota secundant,  
una dies inter tantùm fluit, ambo feruntur.  
R. Theol. C.T.   

In obitum verè illustrissimi viri, & tam gratiae, quàm naturae & artium praesidijs instructissimi, D. Eduardi Leukenor Militis, nec non in Susannam uxorem charissimam foeminam lectissimam 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉.  
HEi mihi quàm subitò passim tua funera flere  
Cogimur inviti Lewkenori, diemque supremum  
Condecorare tuum lachrymis rorantibus ora?  
Quem pietas celebrem, patriae prudentia charum,  
Integritas vitae illustrem gravitasque senilis,  
Natales clarum, mundo quem fecerat ardens  
Conspicuum Zelus de relligione tuenda.  
Dotibus ingenij ac artis quem docta Minerva  
Ornârat mirè, cuius suadela sedebat  
In labijs; nunc te miseri deflemus ademptum,  
Quem Deus e coelo virtutibus auxerat istis.  
Sed nec divini satis est heu stamina vitae  
Abrupisse viri Parcis, nisi coniugis alma  
uno eodemque ictu filum fatale rescindant.  
Quam pietas, quam castus Amor, Prudentiae, forma  
Grataque quam comitas, sanctoque modestia vultu  
Foeminei ornabant vera ornamenta pudoris.  
Vos studiosa cohors, Respublica, Curia, Templa,  
Vos rus deplorat. lachrymas Academia fundit.  
Vnicè vos deflent proles generosa superstes,  
Et famuli famulaeque omnes vos unicè deflent.  
Non tamen in medio hoc luctu solatia desunt.  
Nam quos iunxit amor & connubialia iura,  
Non mors disiunxit, non funera, neuè sepulchrum:  
Ambo sed aethereis volitant super aethera pennis,  
Limen & augusti simul ingrediuntur Olympi,  
Et coelo regnant cum Christo rege, supremo.  
S.W.C. Eman.   

Ad viri clarissimi nomen qui nuper migravit ad caelites, allusio.  
SInescis (Hospes) iste Lewkenor cui  
Plebes, Patresque, paruulis misti senes,  
Moesti, dolentes, lacrymas impendimus;  
Quis qualis olim: Sic habe; Lychnus fuit.  
Ellychnium hoc mortale cui corpusculum,  
Nunc ecce pulvis tenuis & cinisculus:  
Diviniori accensa mens spiramine  
Depasta corpus, flammula huic lychno fuit:  
Oleum, charisma sanctioris Spiritus:  
jam dignitatis gradus iste celsior,  
Qui quemque solus indicat quanti siet,  
Lychnuchus; unde latius puro nitens  
Radiata virtus emicabat lumine.  
O quanta noctis insecuta est illico  
Caligo; quanta in hoc quidem coenaculo  
Obscuritatis umbra communis domus,  
Extinctus hinc ut iste Lychaus ignibus  
Suam rem sit flammulam coelestibus!  
G.B. C.E.   

In obitum D. EDOVARDI LEWKENOR pietatis, simul ac eruditionis exemplaris, natalium splendore illustris, & doctorum patroni benignissimi, carmen funebre.  

E Effugit fatum miseros; ferendum:  
D Ducit invitos alios; sequendum:  
V unicum nostri decus (ah dolendum)  
A Abstulit aevi.  
R Regijs aequant humiles tabernas,  
D Dum ferae cunctos rapiunt sorores.  
V Vive, fata instant, animaeque gaudent  
S solvere claustra.   

L Lugeat quisquis, te, Edouarde, novit,  
E Et tuum corpus tumulo repostum  
V Vidit indignum perijsse, longum  
V Vivere dignum.  
C Charior Divis pietate nemo,  
N Nemo, quem Musae magis approbarent,  
O Omnibus gratus, patriae paterque  
R Rite vocandus.  
T. SOTHEBY. Coll. S.I.    

Ad Lectorem.  
CArmina qui tristes quae dictavere Camoena  
Culta parum; verùm qualiacunque legis,  
Da veniam: decuit sic indulgere dolori,  
Materiae cultus convenit iste suae.  
Perlege non ficto quas fundimus ore querelas:  
Sollicitâ verus non eget arte dolor.  
Dumque legis luge, tristique adscribere turbae,  
Nec pudeat socijs ingemuisse malis.  
Forsitan & duro tibi ni de robore pectus'st  
Decurrit moestis guttula fusa genis;  
Sic sine: Neué pium tibi mascula forte doloris  
Officium virtus impedijsse velit.  
O bene si multis fuerit signata lituris,  
Pagina si lacrimas quas petit omnis habet!  
His quoque (quos omnis iam deficit humor) ocellis  
Qui prope iam tantis diriguêre malis,  
Dum mihi quae cernis scribuntur carmina, Lector  
Si qua fides, calidam defluit imber aquae.  
Sed lacrimis modus esto. Alias iam tangere chordas  
Incipe vel Cleîo vel magis Vranie.    

THRENODIAE In funere Clarissimorum Coniugum D. EDOVARDI & SUSANNAE LEWKENORUM. Pars altera. In qua potissimùm encomia mortuorum, vivorum alloquia.  

In obitum sanctissimi & literatissimi viri Domini Edwardi Leuknor, carmen funebre.  
ESse quid hoc dicam monstri? quod nostra vocatas  
invito quae saepe mihi quasi gurgite manant  
Extorquent nullas iam cornea lumina guttas;  
Quique genas largo rorantes imbre rigavit,  
Accersitus abest, & ocellis deficit humor.  
Sustulit (ah quanto cogor memmisse dolore!)  
Mors scelerata virum grandaevi Nestoris annos  
Commeritum, si sancta fides, pietasque valerent  
Parcarum cohibere manus; venerandaque virtus  
Tempòra mercedem vitae spatiosa referret.  
Quem genus atque domus titulis ornabat avitis  
Natiwsque decor generoso corpore fulsit  
Cui largo defudit opes bona copia cornu  
Quemque ensign tulit, sublimen, nomen in astra,  
Et quodcunque viris accedat pulchrius extra.  
Sed partem laudis vix ullam ponimus istis  
Haec inculpatae radijs, languentia fundunt  
Deflwia & fuscum vitae subiecta colorem:  
Semper eum pietas teneris decoravit ab annis,  
Prima aetas dulcem musarum fecit alumnum,  
Saepe puer tulerat sapientis signa Mineruae  
Et redijt victor pallenti vinctus oliva,  
Virque viris palmam si quid prudentia jussit  
Si probitas qúid agi, facile abstulit omibus unus.  
Caetera quae restant quid nunc memorare necesse est?  
Qua manifesta manent, vitae, semperque manebunt  
Argumenta piae, quae postera me reticente  
Secula narrabunt; seri dicentque nepotes?  
Quae neque, si vellem, breviter decurrere possem.  
Quare agite o docti & mecum, studiosa caterua  
Atque, superuacuo gemitu lachrymisque remotis  
Condignum tanto celebremus nomine funus;  
Illi marmorea aeternum de laud sepulchrum,  
Inscriptum titulo sacro statuamus & aurum;  
 tanto succedat avo sua sera propago,  
Et memor, & meritae, fiat simul aemula laudis.  
G.W.   

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I.C. Trin. Coll. Cantab.   

In obitum EDWARDI LEWKNERI Equitis clarissimi, & SUSANNAE coniugis feminae lectissimae.  
ABstulit una dies cara cum coniuge clarum  
Leuknerum, atque uno condidit in tumulo.  
Insignes pietate ambos; natalibus ambos  
Insignes, omni denique laud pares.  

〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, Candidus.  Candorem praeferre vides ipsum tibi nomen,  
quip inerat candor moribus ingenuis.  
Vir Musas coluit, Musae coluere vicissim  
Artibus ingenuis, egregijsque virum.  
Hunc ubi iam durae rapit inclementia mortis,  
Lecta parùm coniux occupat antè mori.  
Non tulit aspectum morientis; praeripuitque  
Femina fatalem fortior ire viam.  
Id luctum geminare, quibusdam fortè videtur,  
Non geminat, minuit tantus amor gemitus.  
junxerat una dies feliciter: abstulit una,  
Nec mors coniunctos dividit atra duos.   

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A. DOWNES Graecus Professor Regius Cantabrigiae.   

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I.B. C.S.I.   

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In obitum praestantissimi viri Domini Edouardi Leukenor, Militis, charissimaeque uxoris Dominae Susannae Leukenor foeminae lectissimae, Carmen funebre.  
QVId memorem claram stirpem? quid munera mentis?  
Quid doctrinarum pectora plena penu?  
Quidué tuam dicam linguarum cognitionem?  
Quàm doctis doctus faveris ipse viris?  
Quid referam, tua simplicitas, prudentia quanta?  
Quâ patriam promptus iweris usque tuam.  
Quid mores suaues, candorem carmine pingam?  
Non minùs ipsâ re; nomine 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 eras.  
Te Leuknore magis pietas celebravit, & ardens  
Saluificae Christi relligionis amor.  
Qui Christum coluere pio es complexus amore,  
Praeconum Christi maxima cura tibi.  
Tu moreris, nostrae noxae meritae sapientis  
Exemplo orbari consilioque viri.  
Quin moritur tecum pia foemina & optima coniux,  
unà dulce fuit vivere, dulce mori.  
Felices animas! quas nos gaudere sinamus  
Coelesti in regno, te, bone Christ, frui.  
THOMAS HARRISON C.T.   

In obitum viri pietatis & eruditionis nomine clarissimi Edouardi Leuknor Suffolciensis Equitis aurati, & lectissimae foeminae Susannae coniugis eius.  
VErè 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 eras 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉; verè ergo vocari  
〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 poteras, fuit omen nomine in isto:  
Verè sanctus eras vitâ, sermone benignus,  
Ingenio lenis, sic ut non mitior alter,  
Pacis amans, litisque expers, fautorque bonorum,  
Musarum summus verbis factisque patronus,  
justitiae exemplar, sine fuco & fraud, sequenti  
Praesentique aevo, causarumque arbiter aequus:  
Denique totus eras niveus: niveo ergo lapillo  
Dignus; te propter candorem pectoris omnes  
Laudârunt passim, celebrantes funera fletu.  
Ingens ad tumulum confluxit turba virorum,  
Accurrunt tristes, pueri, iwenésque, senéque,  
Et properant matres simul innuptaeque puellae,  
Plebeij, procerum necnon generosa propago.  
Auxit & hunc populi luctum charissima coniux,  
Quae tibi per multos annos sociata cubili,  
Horis ante obitum paucis disiuncta recessit.  
At quos iunxit amor vivos, disiungere nunquam  
Mors poterit, manet haec tecum, aeternúmque manebit;  
Disiunctos terrâ, coelum coniunxit in aewm,  
Haec in utrumque meum testentur carmina amorem.  
I. A. Coll. S. joan.   

In coniunctum Edouardi Lewkenoris Militis dignissimi, & Susannae uxoris eiusdem eximiae, obitum.  
TEmpore si nostro vixisset Naso, quid ille  
De modò defunctis diceret? unus erant;  
unus erant verè tam vir, quàm nobilis uxor;  
unus corporibus, cordibus unus erant;  
una domus dominis, thalamus fuit unus amicis;  
Devotis unum numen, & una fides;  
An non ergò fuit divinis nexa Catenis  
Copula, tàm multis copula nexa modis?  
An non ut pariter nexa est, pariterque soluta  
Divina simul hoc contigit esse manu?  
Se potuit non illa queri, non ille relictum,  
Terrigenas unà deposuêre domos;  
Sic finire dies decuit, sic ducere; primis  
Vltima, mors vitae sic fuit apta suae.  
Vivite foelices, alijs sponsalibus instat  
Praefinita dies, instat & alter hymen;  
Intereà tellus laudes aequabit Olympo,  
Siuè Edouarde tuas, siuè Susanna tuas;  
Quas benè religio meruit, quas munera Musis,  
Quas benè mors meruit, quas benè vita prior.  
E Coll. Regio.   

In coniunctum EDOVARDI LEWKENORIS Militis dignissimi & SUSANNAE uxoris eiusdem eximiae, obitum.  
VIrque uxorque diù paritèr vixêre, quid inde?  
Et pariter vitam deseruêre suam;  
Quàm benè conveniunt? quàm justis consona votis?  
Quàm benè respexit summus utrumque Deus?  
Qui sic imposuit vitae, sinemque labori  
Sic ut utrique suus possit abbess dolor;  
O vos foelices dicam, queis corpore iunctis  
Aequali semper vivere sort datum;  
At ter foelices animas, queis carne solutis  
jam datur in clara luce videre Deum.  
E Coll. Regio   

Amplissimi viri EDVARDI LEWKNOR militis, 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, eruditorum patroni singularis, & coniugis SUSANNAE, foeminae lectissimae memoriae, Carmen.  
HInc abit Eduardus Lewknor, quis sanctior ille?  
Aut quis Apollineo doctior ore fuit?  
Ille fuit morum 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, nubecula nulla,  
Eclepsis radijs nec fuit ulla suis.  
Instar Crystalli 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, nec naews in ipso,  
Sed sine nube nitens, sed sine fraud virens.  
Verius es Magnes, quid enim non attrahis? olim  
Laudem, nunc lachrimas urbis & orbis habes.   

Aliud.  
LEwknor abis? nobis magnos abeundo laturus  
Luctus, aetherijs gaudia magna polis.  
Ridet adesse hymnis; elegis iam deflet abbess;  
Te tuus aether habens; te tua terra carens.  
Miles abit, sequiturque suam bene fidus amantem  
Susannam uxorem dulce decusque suum.  
unà voxerunt ambo, simul ambo abierunt,  
Et simul Elysijs, exspatiantur agris.  
DA. DOLBEN. Coll. S. joan.   

Epitaphium.  
SI nescis, Lector, tumulo conduntur in isto  
Digni nominibus foemina virque suis.  
H●nc eten●m fecere viro Leucanera nomen  
Candida mens, purae relligionis amor.  
Su●●●●●m uxori nomen dedit una matronis  
G●mma colenda, Fides intemerata thori.  
O male! cur ambos simul invida fata tulere?  
Quàm vellem vl●erius viveret is vel ea:  
O bene! viventes quos vis sociavit amoris,  
Vita cedentes hos sociavit humus.   

Epitaphium.  
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In egregium Equitem.  
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〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉.   

Aliud.  
QVae bene conveniunt, genus, ars, opulentia, virtus,  
Raro conveniunt, sunt tamen ista tibi.  
Mortemque hoc superas, quod tantum corpus ademit,  
Non tibi virtutes, nec tua parta tuis.   

Aliud.  
QVid septem errantes numerantur in aethere stellae,  
Quando artes uno tot nituere viro?  
juncta quòd his pieta, dici sphaera ultima possis,  
Teque mori, mea non, sed tua Musa vetat.  
RO. THEOBALD Coll. Trin.   

〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉.  

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〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉.  
〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉  
〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉.  
〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉,  
〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉.   

Within this monument enclosed of twice two couples been  
The bodies twain. Aread who can what might this riddle mean.    

The Explication.  
The bodies whose they be we know too well:  
Four couples thus. In wedlock's happy bands  
First were they joined: And next, one Death did quell  
Them both at once: For third, this Tomb so stands  
Their common sepulture: And last of all,  
Coupled they been in joys celestial.  
W. B.   

In Lewknorum nobis ereptum coelo additum.  

MAgnus honos magnum, praeclaro stemmate nasci,  
At maior stirpem vincere mente suam;  
Dispeream ni Leuknerus generosior ortu●…  
Et genus & formam vicerit ingenio.  
Vicerit ingenio tali, quale haud periturum  
Credidimus, sed mox mors inopina rapit.  
Nec mirum: tales citiùs sibi Rector Olympi  
Vendicat, & nostros non sinit esse diu.  
Ergo mihi salue aeternùm, aeternumque valeto  
Sancte vir, aeternum nomen ab orb feres.   

QVos vivos thorus unus, amor coniunxerat unus,  
Vnaque defunctos nunc habet urna duos.  
Et quos October modò nobis abstulit unus,  
Si non coniungat pagina nostra, nefas.  
Vivite foelices animae simul, unus Olympus  
Vos habeat, Phoebe haec, tu (bone) Phoebus eris.    

In obitum viri nobiliss. juxta ac doctiss. D. Eduardi Lewkenor & Susannae suae.  

Ad uxorem.  VSque adeone tibi charus (lectissima) coniux  
 prae te possit nullus adire n●cem?  

Ad virum.  Tu quoque sic properas gratas periture sub umbras,  
Foemina quòd potuit te sine obire necem?  

Ad uxorem.  Siste monent Musae gradieris sera sub umbras,  
Vir tuus ut praeeat, foemina siste monent.  

Vxor.  Mallem mill pati mortes; concedite Musae  
Me sine quàm pereat pars prior ille mei.  

Ad virum.  At tu cui melior finxit praecordia Phoebus  
Per si quid nostri sit tibi dulce mane.  

Vir.  Te, te, mitte preces; sequar o sequar umbra per umbras  
Chara animae coniux; Pieri mitte preces.  

Ad utrumque.  Foelices animae, virtus quas acrior egit  
Vivere nec solas nec potuisse mori.  
Gu. Hu. T. C.   

In obitum viri illustrissimi quâ virtute & pietate, quâ natalibus & doctrina, Dom. EDOVARDI LEWKENOR cum lectissima coniuge D. SUSANNA unius diei interuallo erepti, Epicedium.  
NVper ut extinctum vidit LEWKENORA VIRTUS  
Et comitem SANCTAE CONIUGIS ire suae,  
Prospiciens alijs dum certa pericula temnit  
Officij & ne pars desiet ulla cavet:  
Flevit. Et hanc meritis mercedem talibus inquit  
sum DEUS? sic heû, sic datur esse PIIS?  
Cui PIETAS. Miserae Mors ultima linea vitae,  
Atque eadem aeternae est ianua certa PIIS.  
Quid miserare HOMINES? Nempe his occumbere FATVM est.  
Quidue PIOS? LUCRUM est. Hoc quoque quod CITIUS.  
Quod PARITER rapti caussa haec super una querelae est:  
Atqui erat EX VOTO hoc. Sic voluêre mori.  
G.B. C.E.   

The same in English, verse for verse.  
WHen Virtue lately did behold Sir Edward Lewkenor die,  
And hence depart in his religious Ladies company;  
Others from danger whiles to save, his own he doth neglect,  
That only shuns in virtuous deed to show the least defect:  
She wept, And ah for such deserts this recompense (quoth she)  
O highest God? Thus thus alas! rewardest thou piety?  
To whom Religion thus. Death is this wretched life's last date,  
And to the godly Death the same is life-eternals gate.  
Why wailest thou men? To whom to die once it is destiny;  
Or why the godly? 'Tis their gain. And more if speedily  
That one cause of complaint remains; together these be gone:  
But this was evermore their wish; neither would live alone.   

Vere nobilis & pius D. Edovardus Lewkenor serò sepultus, lugendus semper.  
POst cita fata tibi funus serum obtigit. At quàm  
Post tua sera dolor funera longus erit.  
Vita brevis, funus serum tumulusque perennis;  
At dolor est vitâ longior & tumulo.  
I Leuknere, anima haec astris est dignior: istic  
Laeta superuiuet & tumulo, & lachrymis.   

In Coniuges coniunctissimos.  
DVxêre vitam nec diuturnam satis  
Simitu beatam amore dulci coniuges;  
Clausere demum, at citius, extremum diem  
Simitu beati morte sanctâ coniuges,  
Quin & supremi compotes ambo poli  
Hausere puri poculum unum nectaris;  
Et nunc eâdem vestiuntur gloriâ  
Beati amore, morte, coelo coniuges.  
IOS. HALL.. Coll. Eman.   

In obitum religiosissimi Militis Edoardi Leukneri.  

LEuknerus iste, quem sepultum in marmore  
Plangunt amici, (turba moesta & languida)  
In fornicato coelitum palatio,  
Inter micantes syderum globos sedet.   

Vbi praemiorum justus arbiter Deus,  
Stellis tot ornat fulgidis celsum caput  
Quot ante gessit cord virtutes suo.   

Illic beato conditoris in sinu  
Lustratur illa, quae per obscurum vident  
Quicunque carnis non soluti vinculis  
Caliginosum hoc incolunt tentorium.   

Nos turba tristis interim fata incessimus,  
Et saxa tanquam fixa terrae, quaerimus  
Illum in sepulchro: cui tamen virtus sua  
Etiam ante mortem fecit in coelo locum.   

Humana spes aeternitatis inclytae,  
Nivis instar esset, quam procellosi furor  
Percussit Austri, visque flammantis Dei:  
Si mors triumphum consequatur alterum,  
Animamque tumulus idem, & ossa contegat.   

Sed non vigorem saeva mors tantum tenet;  
Condi sepulchro corpus haud anima potest,  
Emergit illa, mensque magnorum virûm  
Aeternitatis arduam calcat viam.   

Habe ergo (gurges corporum) corpus tibi:  
Quondam beati spiritus habitaculum  
Vanum trophaeum sit licet tantùm viri  
Corpus, thesaurus maior quam ut cedat tibi.    

Ode, in qua D. D. Edouardi & Susannae Leukenorum coniugum & invicem amantissimorum & cum caeteroqui multifariam tum brevi mortis interuallo nobilium, apotheosis.  

PAr invidendum, nec lachrymabili  
Vexanda versu funera, funera  
Auctura stellas, & sub axes  
Conspicuam meritura sortem,   

Seu vos repostas imperio juuat  
Vrgere terras, seu dare splendida  
Inter paternos iura cives,  
Seu liquido radiare ponto.   

Nam nec superbas Naxia flectere  
Edocta tigres dignior asseri,  
Nec saews Orion minaci  
Vel iaculo violens vel ense.   

Foecunda coelo copia fortium  
Nec insolenti sydera pellice  
Gravantur olim, RARA castis  
Conqueritur plaga sub maritis.   

Hoc fine vestras fas mihi tollere  
Laudes & amplo dicere carmine  
Divisa vix ullâ duorum  
Fata morâ, parilesque cursus.   

Simul profecti non simul ad locum  
Venistis ambo: nam prior optima  
Dignata Nympharum coronâ est  
Et volucres agitavit alas,   

Vel illa sexûs munere libera  
Palmae appropinquans, & melior pede,  
Vel faecis expers, humidaque  
Mole carens, propiorque Divis.   

Proh quanti amare est? non tulit hanc vicem  
Lato relictus sponsus in aequore  
jam solus, haerentemque gliscit  
Quâlibet expedijsse metam?   

Non ille vitae parcus & omnium  
Contemptor, atras quò redimat moras,  
Sed nulla cunctantem sub arcto  
Vota iwant, spacioque languet.   

Fertur Cupido purpureas sibi  
Dempsisse pennas protinùs & viro  
Aptasse prudens his perito  
Remigijs sapienter uti.   

Tum copulantur. Nunc quoque (si fides)  
Caelo receptos ludere sic juuat,  
Nymphamque porrectam marito  
Praetimidas glomerare plantas.  
SAMVEL COLLINAEUS C. Regal.    


TEn thousand thanks ye Muses for your pain.  
How may poor shepherd ever hope requite  
Your courtesy, but debtor still remain?  
Unless you take this recompense though light,  
T' admire your skill; and wish your Poesy  
May give, or from your subject take eternity.   

But mought it not offend your learned ears,  
The ruder song of simple country swains  
Uncunning all, be joined to your tears?  
Small cunning needs him that indeed complains.  
Ah well I wots our rhymes be base and poor;  
But if they shall express our grief, we wish no more.      


FUNERAL VERSES Upon the death of the religious, famous and virtuous knight Sir Edward Leuknor and Dame Susan his wife.  

IF ever Country, cause had to complain,  
For loss of one who did her state uphold  
By justice due, the right for to maintain,  
And beat down wrong with courage good and bold:  
Then Suffolk mourn, for thou hast lost that wight  
This worthy man Sir Edward Lewkenor Knight.   

If ever children yet had cause to say,  
We are deprived of loving Parents dear,  
Who trained us up in fear of God alway,  
Whose virtues true, did in their life appear;  
Then children mourn, more cause have you than other,  
Deprived at once of father and of mother.   

If Shepherd true had ever cause to weep  
For loss of such, who loved him as their life,  
For tender lambs, for faithful loving sheep,  
Who loved his peace, and loathed all jar and strife:  
Mourn gentle shepherd now great cause you have,  
For those two friends that covered lie in grave.   

Amongst the rest who take the mourning parts,  
Do we their servants join our willing hands:  
In outward black and with true sabled hearts  
Do we all mourn, who tied in duties bands,  
Did late enjoy masters so dear and kind,  
Too good for us, upright in heart and mind.   

Farewell my light, saith doleful Denham town,  
My joy, my stay, my comfort in distress:  
My living life is now by death pulled down,  
And for my joy I mourn in heaviness:  
But cheer thyself, let hope thy grief assuage,  
Of God supply in this succeeding age.   

The poorer sort may sing their songs of grief,  
With tuning woe, with sad and moistened tears,  
For loss of these, who fed them with relief,  
And to their cry did open both their ears.  
The poors complaint did never come in vain,  
For which on earth their lasting fame shall reign.   

O Traitorous death, the stays of public State  
Which pluck'st away! Cruel, which Parents dear  
From children! Impious, which dost separate  
Pastors from sheep! Unjust, with heavy cheer,  
Which bid'st us servants seek worse services!  
Which robbest the poor! Hard hearted, merciless!   

But welcome Death, for thou art sent of God  
To them for joy, to us for smarting rod.  
S.P.    

Upon the death of the most religious Knight Sir EDWARD LEWKENOR.  
LEt others lend their tears, others their verse;  
I'll stand a dumb admirer at thy hearse.  
These be the things which may adorn thy death  
And give thy name an ever living breath.  
Yet shall my tongue-tied admiration tell  
As much as others tears and verses will.  
That grief which can express itself is small,  
That's great which makes men in amazement fall.   

Upon the death of the most virtuous and religious Lady Madam SUSAN LEWKENOR, in allusion to her name signifying a Lilly.  

Fair Lily flower thou bearest thy name aright:  
Amongst the Dames thou wast for woman head,  
As is among the flowers the Lily bright:  
Like flower thou hast not left us in thy stead,  
For beauty and sweetness, bounty, modesty,  
And lily love, and purest chastity,  
And chief for thy sweetest sweetness piety.   

Thou wast. A woeful word alas to say:  
Now like a Lily which unkindly frost,  
Or soultering heat through Phoebus' piersant ray  
Hath smitten; right anon soon hath it lost  
That goodly state became it erst so well,  
And that pure white wherein it did excel,  
Yet of the former sweetness doth retain some smell:   

Or as the Lily rauncht with cruel hand,  
From tender stalk to dight some garland gay,  
Hath reaved the garden where it want to stand  
Of that fair sight which there it did display.  
So thou, o cruel Death! whose fell despite  
Of fairest flower hath robbed our garden quite,  
Fair Lily, thou in heavens garland shinest more bright.   

O! as the Lily cropped doth yet retain  
Within her root some part of living power,  
Which may with Springs return put forth again,  
And many stalks adorn each with his flower:  
So mought it o fair Lily far with thee,  
Many like flowers for one God let us see;  
O goodly sight! And so it is, or so shall be.  
W.B.    

On the death of Sir EDWARD LEUKNOR and his Lady.  
DEath came to him: she willing he should live,  
Called pale Death unto her weary bed,  
And wished her dearest husband mought survive,  
And that she might be strooken in his stead:  
He heard her suit; and death importuned  
To cease on him, and suffer her alive;  
So each would feign their life for other give.  
Death with the choice amazed; at last thus said,  
'Tis pity that a pair of souls so dear  
Should by my fatal stroke be severed:  
One would be loath to live without his fere,  
One shall not be without the other dead.  
Ah Death; I witted not erst thou wert so witty,  
But call'st thou Pity this? 'twas cruel pity.   

Upon the death of the worthy Knight Sir Edward Lewkenor and his virtuous Lady.  

SHould I invoke your aid (you luklesse nine)  
Or pray you help my sorrow-burthened verse?  
Sits not with mournful plaintiffs to be fine,  
Or stately strow fresh flowers on fading hearse:  
Suffice me that my sorrows self may be  
Both Muse and matter to mine Eligee.   

Nor need I now those howling hirelings aid  
That help affection with their mourning art:  
Tribute of tears is easy to be paid;  
Soon weep the eyes when wounded is the heart:  
Let feigned love shed tears enforcedly,  
Unfeigned mine will weep unfeignedly.   

Had not the headlong fates with ruthless spite  
Bereaved these Worthies of beloved breath,  
My sullen words had not my thoughts indite;  
Nor had I worn a sable Cypress wreath:  
But now (unhappy now!) th' heavens so ordain.  
What heavens decree, we spurn thereat in vain.   

If heavens fate-binding doom be such and such,  
Why do I fill the air with bootless plaints?  
Let not my wailful verses hapless touch  
Disturb the arches of these quiet saints.  
But o let passions tongue have leave to speak,  
Lest passions fury make his prison break.   

Ah never let me so respectless part,  
But rather let these sorrow-drenched eyes  
Stream out whole fountains from my sobbing heart;  
And let my plain echo to the skies:  
So may the everturning heavens proclaim  
Our homebred sorrows to another main.   

Let not those days be marked except with tears,  
Or wiped out of the Calendar of Time:  
Nor hang in file on Genius silver hears  
Guilty of so inexpiable crime.  
As wont the guilty conscience fly the light,  
Let them be covered all with pitchy night.   

Let not, o let not aftertimes record,  
The fatal sisters lawless power of death  
Was such. O why should these sad days afford  
Matter for backbite Momus brood to breathe  
Their joyful Iöes to a higher strain,  
Or frame triumphals to their bitter vain?   

As if (o madness!) any would be glad  
Or please their moody fancies at this sight?  
When Envies self at this event is sad;  
And black-mouthed venomous unhallowed spite  
Dares not profane those sacred altars Fame,  
Erects and justly to their virtuous name.   

And o what madness hath my wit distraught,  
Unkindly to envy their high estate?  
I saw their happy souls with pleasures fraught  
Triumphant enter in Elisium's gate.  
Eliza's spirit with the blessed rest  
Did flock to welcome so desired guest.   

Live long in bliss you heaven-beloved souls  
For us; since we your dearest presence lost,  
Since what we most desire great God controls:  
Yet shall our comfort in this one be most,  
That what your happy breath whilst you did live,  
The same your blessed memory shall give.  
W. Firmage.     

DEATH'S APOLOGY, and a Rejoinder to the same.  

STay, Stay good men: Run not so fast away.  
My word I will not harm you: once trust Death.  
Lo here my dreadful dart aside I lay.  
See, see these fearful fools; As if full each  
I could not soon at take ye if me list.  
Was never man could yet outrun me that I witted.   

But hearken Sirs the whiles I here defend  
Mine innocence against your harmless spite:  
Ye talk and write your list, as if ye wend  
That Death were deaf, or had no sense of sight  
In these large eye-holes: Rest persuaded thus  
I hear ye all, and read I trow, ut Clericus.   

In every leaf before (lo here the proof)  
Ye rail on me, and at your pleasure call  
False, cruel, cursed; Traitor, felon, thief.  
Once shall I be avenged on ye all.  
Nay stay: I'll keep my word now; though not long  
But this I say, be judge yourselves, ye do me wrong.   

For first I plead I am an officer  
Of highest God, whom ye have all agilt:  
Was never Hangman counted Murderer,  
Or once arraigned for the blood he spilled.  
Nor am I Traitor false, that warn before,  
Let no man trust me; Thus I counsel evermore.   

I am no Thief, for nought I take away:  
The soul and body both I leave behind:  
But this is true, that from the base clay  
I separate the purer spirit the mind.  
Multiplication or Alchemy  
You mought me thinks more truly call my mastery.   

Yet not (which laws forbidden) of heaped gold;  
This world's good I reck not all a bean;  
And whatsoe'er I be I dare be bold  
Of covetise to justify me clean:  
Of bribery and partiality  
No officer I trow is in this world so free.   

But to be faultless I account but small:  
Except I well deserve I nought excuse,  
What ever crime that I am charged withal:  
O then ungrateful men which thus abuse  
Your chiefest friend! and rage as ye were wood  
At him that is the only worker of your good.   

From wretched world the confines of your life,  
To blissful Paradise from whence ye fell,  
By one offence occasioning the strife  
Twixt God and you, which did you all expel,  
Two ways there lie; one kept with brandished flame  
Of Angel's sword, no mortal wight may pass the same.   

But I am Porter to that other gate,  
Strait is the wicket, nor without my leave  
May force or skill win entrance thereat:  
O foolish men! what madness doth bereave  
Your better wits, which ought of Death to crave,  
That through that happy gate you might free passage have.   

As wandering Pilgrim from his native soil  
With many weary steps which long hath strayed,  
And in his journey found but pain and toil,  
And dangers darn that have him oft dismayed;  
How gladly doth he climb the welcome raft,  
That to his country soon and safely shall him waft?   

O men your life is but a Pilgrimage,  
Heaven is your native seat of blessedness:  
This world here yields you sorry herbigage,  
Sweat, Sorrow, sickness, Pain, all wretchedness:  
Mine is that only Barge, that through God's grace  
Shall fair and well transport you to your dwelling place.   

Were it not well done to leave you here behind,  
That love your exile, like your misery,  
And cast your country's care all out of mind?  
(But for the Sovereign majesties decree,  
Which bids me bring your lives all to one end,  
And send to Hell such as to Heaven will not wend.)   

O if unwieldy Age with stealing pace  
Approaching fast should cast upon your back  
His heavy burden: when your riue'ld face  
The former beauty's painted pride should lack,  
When every sense wax dull, ears deaf, eyes dim,  
Taste all unsavoury, stark and stiff each joint and limb.   

How would ye then bewail each weary day,  
And wish ye rid at once out of your pain?  
Why is this loathed light (Thus would ye say)  
On wretched wights alas bestowed in vain?  
And life on such as no life's joy can have  
Which long for Death; which glad & feign would find the grave?   

As when the painful labourer hath spent  
Some longer light of swelting Phoebus' ray,  
And faithfully hath paid the common rent  
Of sweeting brow unto this earthly clay,  
To win his bread: how sweet a thing is sleep,  
That his forwearied limbs in dreamelesse rest doth steep?   

Such Sleep is Death; such Day this life of your;  
The longer still more painful than at first:  
All is but toil full waist of troublous hours,  
Yet of declining Age the last are worst.  
But how would ye complain of tedious day,  
If neither Sun would go, nor sleep would come away?   

Besides from these complaints, what shall I tell  
That greater mischief whence I set you free?  
No pain or torment were it that of Hell  
Is half such ill as sins base slavery;  
Satan's by sin.. O ever wretched men,  
Till from this Death, which only can Death rid you clean!   

This knew right well, the pair you so lament,  
With other Saints whose memories ye praise;  
To whom the ioiful'st message could be sent  
From heaven, was grant of what they wished always;  
Soon to be loosed from these bonds of Sin,  
To be with Christ; and soon eternal glory win.   

But you o servile kind rest well apaid  
With this your Bridewell: nor that worthy name  
Ye all unworthy bear which should upbraid  
Your recreant thoughts, doth aught up lift the same  
To where your Saviour lo aduan'ct on high  
Doth glorious sit, at God's right hand in Majesty.   

There crowned with him these two and all the rest  
Which while they lived prepared and wished to die,  
Are now secure of all that might infest  
Their blessed state; of Sin, of misery.  
You wail their Death, they pity this your pain,  
And would not be for all this world undead again.   

Is this enough to clear mine innocence,  
And prove my good desert? or have ye ought  
Which here against may make the least pretence?  
Say hardly what you can. But well bethought  
With Tragic terms ye cursed my cruelty  
Which both at once this virtuous pair have done to die.   

Thereto (said some) it was a sinful deed  
So virtuous part thus ill to recompense.  
But this it proves me thinks that greatest meed  
It is to virtue soon to go from hence.  
If God be just (as sure he is) the best  
Amongst rewards he gives unto the worthiest.   

Nor was that least reward, (which you complain)  
To pay with Courteous duty Nature's debt:  
Was never any man that could maintain  
To longer term a point of virtue yet.  
O goodly praise and even to be envied!  
These virtuously did when they lived, and whiles they died.   

And if such gain it be to leave this light,  
And loss to live though you account it gain:  
If fellowship in you increase delight,  
In sorrow somewhat mitigate the pain:  
For them it was the best (say what ye will)  
To go together; whether Death be good or ill.   

Besides, in truth these two by just account,  
In life but one both Flesh and Spirit were:  
And as in laws esteem they did amount  
But to one person; so they seemed to bear  
One mind. And was't not fit one Dust one Grave;  
One Soul one Entrance into heavenly joys should have?   

far be from Death such cruelty, to part  
So one a pair? to break so even a yoke:  
Hear to themselves were wont to wish you dare  
Might never fail to hit them at one stroke.  
Go blessed Spirits yfere, which lovely late  
Were in your life; nor in your death be separate.   

But O base Earthwormes! whether shall I call  
Boldness or madness rather this of your?  
Dare you presume t' emplead the Lord of all,  
Or ask a reason of that Sovereign power,  
Why this he doth or thus? Because he will:  
His pleasure 's just; and that shallbe performed still.   

That will of his I do but execute,  
As now to take this Lady and her Knight  
At once away: His pleasure absolute  
Was such. O cease this un-approached light  
With feeble eyes to view; nigh not this flame  
Poor flies, for fear your wings be sienged with the same.   

And yet for Providence this let me say  
(If that high Wisdom need defence of me)  
Why should ripe corn in field for harvest stay;  
Or mellow Apple hang upon the tree?  
These two were ripe for heaven, or never none;  
The bough but touched with gentle hand, they fell alone.   

What need more words? If ought be done amiss  
Blame not the servant for the Masters will:  
I did mine office. If such villainies  
As Murder, Theft, and Treason, I have still  
Detested: If base Gain hath not infect  
These guilty hands: if of no crime I be detect:   

O if I show you Christ in glorious throne;  
With him the Court of heaven, where be my friends  
The Patriarches and Prophets every one;  
Apostles, Martyrs; all which at their ends  
Long wished for before fair welcomed me:  
If through my means this pair with these now joined be.   

O men I crave no favour; do me right:  
Condemn not thus a guiltless innocent.  
Or if ye think to spend your hateful'st spite  
On him that you least harm yet never meant,  
O let me die (lo here when all is said  
The surest proof to die not ill, Death would be dead.)   

I know I must. And well I am content  
To leave this thankless office. what you men  
Account worst ill, let be my punishment,  
Soon let me die. Cry louder yet Amen.  
But Sirs you must go first no remedy  
Whilst any one of you's alive Death cannot die.   

Come then: Who shall be first, which to dispatch  
That Hangman Death; through his own noble heart  
To stab the Traitor; will this dagger snatch?  
Or with this halter, less to feel the smart;  
Will help to hang the Felon speedily?  
Or with himself empoison him more cunningly?   

Thou hast deserved to die. Take here this knife:  
Do some just thing alive, with edge or point.  
And thou in this disgrace; what boots thee life?  
From yonder Tower thou mayst thy neck disjoint.  
Thou knowst not how to live: why drawest thou breath?  
Needs must thou die: choose while thou mayst some fairer death.   

Thy dearest friend, thy love, thy life is gone:  
Unfaithful, senseless block! why stayest behind?  
Thy goods be lost, why makest thou bootless moan,  
Till beggary or famine do thee find?  
O Coward! wilt thou take this injury  
Without revenge? Or die or kill: And kill and die.   

Old man, I know thou hast of life thy fill,  
Die. Die poor babe; thy life gins with tears.  
Die wretched men, you call upon me still.  
You happy; die whilst yet no ill appears.  
Die all: that once the fear of Death were passed:  
't's but a minute's while. As good at first as last.    

A REJOINDER TO Death.  

O Subtle Death that wouldst enmove my mind  
To loathe this life, and from my pensive breast  
Dislodge itself: The stronger law of kind  
(A secret bond which can not be expressed)  
Enchains that with this body still to dwell.  
I hate thee Death; suppose that why I can not tell.   

Yet if from God from whom none ill may be  
This life do come, 'tis good: if that be ill  
Which good deprives; for all thy Sophistry  
I know thee well, The work of Satan's will,  
The wrack of Nature, The first borne of Sin,  
God's curse, The wretchedness we men be wrapped in.   

Thou plead'st thou art an Officer. No less  
Is Satan's self the cruel fiend of Hell.  
Thy wicked words thy murdering mind express,  
That wouldst persuade weak men themselves to quell.  
Traitor, thou givest no warning, that we know:  
Not thou, that none thee trust; but wisdom warneth so.   

A threefold thief thou are, which takest away  
Soul from the body, body from the soul,  
Both from the world. And that which thou dost say  
To 'scuse thy coveteise, I can control  
By text of holy writ: Three other more  
To thee there been, whose greediness never saith ho.   

Art thou not partial which alike dost take  
Vnequals all? why stays thy fatal blow  
From traitorous wretches? first why dost thou make  
The best thy mark? God mercy would it so;  
The best be fit for heaven the worst may mend.  
So would his justice all our lives came to one end.   

No thank to thee. well yet thou freest our life  
From many miseries. So greater ill  
Secures the less: As where the Plague is rise,  
It ceaseth other sickness. wilt thou still  
Vaunt from sins bondage how thou settest us free?  
That honour Christ's (vain boaster) 'tis no thank to thee.   

What? Do the damned Ghosts from sin surcease?  
Or see they Christ? or rest in heavenly bliss?  
As true it is that these which now in peace  
Have left this world, which knew they should not miss  
Of better-changed life were friends to thee:  
O no they wished and longed for eternity.   

And darest thou mention Christ with caitiff tongue  
Thine enemy, thy conqueror, thy death?  
Or promise Paradise? o filth and dung!  
Which nigh infectest with thy noisome breath  
Those heavenly joys. So vaunted once the Fly  
She raised the dust, whilst on the wain she parched on high.   

Thou lik'st Death well. No wonder that at all:  
Fools love themselves though rivals be away.  
That passeth yet, where thou dost sadly call  
To help dispatch thee, men themselves to slay.  
Thy worth's not such. Nor we such fools to die  
(O subtle folly!) soon the fear of death to fly.   

I can a better way than that, I trow:  
I will despise and scorn thy hurtless hiss,  
Alas poor worm thy sting is gone I know,  
Do then thy worst: Thy worst shallbe my bliss  
I have deserved to die; And so I shall.  
I must; when God is pleased I am content withal.   

Yet shall it not be vengeance for my sin:  
Christ is my boot that never made offence.  
His death or rather life shall entrance win  
For me to Heaven, when thou debarred from thence  
Shalt headlong into lowest Hell be cast.  
Go now and vaunt to give the thing thou never hast!   

As to the rest; if in disgrace I be;  
The more I'll scorn thee. If my state be base;  
I'll live in spite of Death, more bold, more free,  
Let them fear Death that stand in Fortune's grace.  
Needs must I die? what skills it when or how?  
One life I have, let Tyrants take of that enough.   

My friends are gone. Their happiness is more.  
I'll love them in their issue left alive.  
O might I lead them their high steps t' adore  
Though far before, and to their Fame survive,  
My faith should well appear though left behind:  
If not; their Death with grief shall oftener come to mind.   

My goods are lost. No goods; or else not mine.  
I had not lost them had they been mine own:  
Ill moat I thrive if for such loss I pine,  
My patience left, my state's not overthrown.  
If I be wronged, I'll wreak me at my will:  
I'll take a noble vengeance, and do good for ill.   

What sayest thou Death? Put on thy dreadfulst face:  
And arm thy murdering hand with bloody dart.  
From virtues path I will not step a pace,  
(With God to friend) all should it stick my heart.  
Thus lived this pair whose bodies dead here lie  
Thus died. O Christ so let me live, so let me die.   

Lo here I meek me to thy governance  
Lord of my life and death; welcome thy will.  
Thy sovereign wisdoms gracious purveyance  
Shall be my wish, please thee to spare or spill.  
If thy offence as greatest ill I fly,  
That while I neither care nor fear, to live or die.   
FINIS.   

ERRATA.  
Pag. 1. lin. 2. uneath to p. 3. l. 4. bites the grave. p. 12. l. 10. defletura p. 12. l. 17. supremos p. 13. l. 18. tantu'st p. 14. l. 11. it chorus. p. 14. l. 18. mensis p. 15. l. 13. R. Theob. p. 16. l. 3. undique vos p. 16. l. 4. undique deflent.