❧ An epitaph upon the worthy and Honourable Lady, the Lady knowles.  

DEath with his Dart hath us bereft,  
a Gem of worthy fame,  
A Pearl of price, an Ouche of praise,  
the Lady Knowles by name.   

A mirror pure of womanhood,  
a Bootresse and and a stay,  
To all that honest were, she was  
I say both lock and kaye.   

Among the Troops of Ladies all,  
and Dames of noble race,  
She counted was, (and was in deed)  
in Lady Fortune's grace.   

In favour with our noble Queen,  
above the common sort,  
With whom she was in credit great,  
and bore a comely port.   

There seemed between our Queen & Death,  
Contention for to be,  
Which of them both more entire love,  
to her could testify.   

The one in state did her advance,  
and place in dignity,  
That men thereby might know, to do,  
what princes able be.   

Death made her free from worldly cark,  
from sickness, pain and strife.  
And hath been as a gate, to bring  
her to eternal life.   

By Death therefore she hath received,  
a greater boon I know:  
For she hath made a change, whose bliss,  
no mortal wight can show.   

She here hath lost the company,  
of Lords and Ladies brave,  
Of husband, Children, friends and kin,  
and Courtly states full grave.   

In Lieu whereof, she gained hath  
the blessed company  
Of Saints, Archangels, patriarchs,  
and Angels in degree.   

With all the Troops Seraphical,  
which in the heavenly Bower,  
Melodiously with one accord,  
Ebuccinate God's power.   

Thus are we sure: for in this world  
she led a life so right,  
That ill report could not distain,  
nor blemish her with spite.   

She traced had so cunningly,  
the hath of virtues lore,  
Prefixing God omnipotent,  
her godly eyes before:   

And all her deeds precisely were,  
so ruled by reason's Squire,  
That all and some might her behold,  
from vice still to retire.   

The virtues all, the Muses nine,  
and Graces three agreed,  
To lodge within her noble breast,  
while she in Earth did feed.   

A head so freight and beautified,  
with wit and counsel sound,  
A mind so clean devoid of guile,  
is uneath to be found.   

But gone she is, and left the Stage  
of this most wretched life,  
Wherein she played a stately part,  
till cruel Fates with knife:   

Did cut the line of life in twain,  
who shall not after go?  
When time doth come, we must all hence,  
Experience teacheth so.   

Examples daily manifold,  
before our eyes we see,  
Which put us in remembrance,  
of our fragility.   

And bid us watch at every tide,  
for Death our lurking foe,  
Sith die we must, most certainly,  
but when, we do not know.   

Some which to day are lusty Brutes,  
of age and courage ripe,  
To morrow may be laid full low,  
by Death his grievous gripe.   

Respect and partiality  
of persons is there none,  
For King, or Kaiser, rich or poor,  
wise, foolish, all is one.   

God grant that we here left behind,  
this Lady's steps may tread,  
To live so well, to die no worse,  
Amen, as I have said.   

Then maugre Death, we shall be sure,  
when corpse in earth is closed,  
Among the joys celestial,  
our Soul shallbe reposed.   
FINIS.  
Tho. Newton.   

Imprinted at London in Fleetstreet, by William How, for Richard johnes: and are to be sold at his Shop under the Lottery house.