A Funeral Poem. UPON THE DEATH OF THE MOST WORTHY AND TRUE SOLDIER; Sir Francis Vere, Knight. Captain of Portsmouth, etc. L. Governor of his majesties Cautionary Town of Briell in HOLLAND, etc.  
LONDON Printed for Eleazar Edgar. 1609.   

DEDICATED TO HIS LIVING MEMORY; WHICH ASCENDS TO THE INHERENT HONOUR OF THE HEROYQVE HOPE OF NOBILITY, THE EARL OF OXFORD, etc. FROM WHOSE NOBLE FAMILY, THIS IMMORTAL WORTHY, HATH THE HONOUR TO BE Descended.   

A Funeral Poem. UPON THE DEATH O● THE MOST WORTHY AND TRUE SOLDIER; SIR FRANCIS VERH, Knight; Captain of Portsmouth, etc. Lord Governor of his majesties Cautionary Town of Briell in HOLLAND, etc.  
THy Earth's returns to Earth, from whence it came;  
But from thy Spirit rise thy worthy Fame,  
Immortal Vere; and that shall never die;  
But with it live to all Posterity.  
How can the Memory of such a Spirit,  
Whose Actions e'en of Envy got his Merit  
Acknowledgement, Subscription, Approbation;  
And made it clearly shine through Emulation,  
Which with Contracted Clouds did interpose,  
Between the world and him, to darken those  
●lustr●ous honours of his noble worth,  
Which his eff●ntiall Soldiership brought forth;  
●e ever ruined? Nor can Death or Fate,  
Confine his Fame to an expiring date;  
●ince all they can do, is to kill his Earth;  
Whose Dust wiped of his Soul, a second Birth  
Regenerates the honour of his Acts  
●nto Eternity. He that detracts  
The dead Man's good, defames his own intent;  
●nd makes obscured virtues, eminent.  
●ut (Noble Vere) this Monument I raise,  
With uncorrupted purpose to thy praise.  
●ll that I speak, is unexacted, true and free;  
●rawne clearly from unaltered certainty.  
For here I do ingenuously profess,  
●he nature of this Subject would oppress  
●nd trouble my reposed state of Soul,  
With contemplating that which should contruleo  
Our Licences of Conscience, if the due  
Of this I attribute thee, were untrue.  
And you the worthies of our present days,  
●hose ludgements and experience knew his ways;  
●nuersed with his Actions and Intents,  
〈◊〉 private and in public managements;  
●o your true understandings it is known,  
●hat he might claim ●ese honours for his own.  
His Mind was like an Empire, rich and strong,  
In all defensive power against the wrong,  
That civil tumult or invasive Hate  
Might raise against the peace of her estate.  
It was a plentiful and fertile ground,  
Wherein all needful riches did abound.  
Labour increased what natively was bred;  
No part was bairen, or ill husbanded.  
And with the pains of Industry and wit,  
In little time, He made such Benefit  
Of Conversation (the Commerce of Minds;)  
That what his able observation finds  
In other knowledges of use, and good,  
Which in his own was yet not understood;  
Through this rich trade (whereby all good is known)  
Converts them home, and plants them in his own.  
Which was so sweet and temperate a seat,  
Without th'extremities of cold or heat;  
That it could easily itself apply  
To every useful Nature, properly.  
And so did yield such prosperous increase  
Of virtues qualified for warreand peace;  
That not a Mind wherewith He did confer,  
Could utter speech of that particular,  
Though in the ways which other men professed;  
Where with his understanding was not blessed.  
And whatsoever He delivered forth,  
Inserious things, was of a solid worth;  
Commodiously material; Full of use;  
And free from ostentation and abuse.  
And as that Empire of his mind was good;  
So was her state as strong wherein she stood.  
Her situation most entirely lay  
Within itself; admitting not a way,  
Nor any open place, infirm or weak,  
By which offensive purposes might break  
Into her government; or have access  
Through the most familiar passages  
That led upon him, under fair pretence,  
Without discovering they meant offence,  
Before it was too late to give retreat  
To their proceedings. Nor could any heat  
Or violence of such invasion, make  
His passions mutin '; or his powers forsake  
Their proper places. Nothing could disband  
The strength and order of his minds command.  
For never mind her nature better knew;  
Or could observe a discipline more due  
To such a Nature; or was fortified  
With works were more ingentously applied,  
To answer all attempts and injuries,  
In their own kind and several qualities.  
And in that scope, (offences to avoid)  
The use of all those forces was employ'de.  
Within his Nature's lines it might be read;  
He was a Soldier borne, aswell as bred.  
And out of his own moral Character,  
He might have learned his Mystery of War.  
War was the Sphere wherein his life did move;  
And in that course, his actions did approve,  
How well his worth did his employment fit;  
Th'united provinces can witness it;  
And will acknowledge gratefully, that Fate  
Was graciously propitious to their state;  
When their most happy Genius gavetheir voic  
And did direct their wisdoms to make choice  
Of one so able and so fit in in all,  
To be that worthy Nations General;  
On the sufficiency of whose command,  
The chiefest hopes of their Success did stand.  
And Noble Willough by, thy ludgement knew,  
And he hath really confirmed it true;  
That in his life, thy memory should live,  
For the judicious favours thou didst give  
To his beginnings. Which did still produce  
Some Action, promising of what high use  
His generous courage, wit, and Industry,  
Pract●z'd with judgement and dexterity,  
Should be unto that State. In whose brave War,  
When he had brought his services so'farre,  
That they deserved the chiefest English charge;  
His spirit with his fortune did enlarge  
Itself, according to his place. For as  
His former carriages did duly pass  
Through those right ways by which he should obey;  
Now, he did prove he knew as right a way  
How to command. And suited all his Course,  
With correspondent order; life, and force.  
He put not on those popular aspects,  
Which Greatness oft obsequiously affects,  
To win the vulgar fancy. For he knew,  
That bum our would distract him from the true  
And faithful Course wherein he should attend  
The public service; to a private end.  
And with too easy and familiar sense  
Make Favour apprehended. And dispense  
With such neglect of duty as proceeds  
From that presumption which remissness breeds.  
But gave himself unto the public cause;  
And in the due performance of her Laws,  
His favours had their constant residence;  
To th'end he might attract men's diligence  
Directly to their duties; and advance  
The Army's service. For his Countenance  
Respected men with a Reservedness  
Referred to that where with he did express  
His exemplary actions. So that none  
Could gather from him any Sign whereon  
To raise themselves a promise or a hope  
Of their preferment, but within the scope  
Of their peeuliar merits. And the ways  
And manner by the which he used to raise  
Deserving men, and did his favours spread;  
Were with as much discretion managed:  
And nourished industry no less. For when  
He did bestow preferment on a man;  
The gift descended from no second hand,  
That might divide a general command;  
But from himself, as a propriety  
Reserved unto his own authority.  
And often (unrequested) singled forth  
Some private men, whom for desert and worth,  
He did advance to some employment fit,  
Before they sought it, or expected it.  
Hence, did his troops not only understand  
Their hopes to rise depended on his hand;  
But that he carried an observing eye  
That would inform him how deservingly  
They bore themselves: which did aswell produce  
Endeavour to do well, as curb abuse.  
And made example, Emulation breed;  
Which (leading unto generous ends) doth feed  
The active disposition of the spirit,  
With a desire to go beyond in Merit.  
In which pursuit, his Action still was wont  
To lead the way to honour. And i'th'front  
Of danger, where he did his deeds advance;  
In all his gestures and his Countenance,  
He did so pleasing a consent express  
Of Noble Courage, and free Cheerfulness;  
That his assurance had the power to raise  
The most dejected spirit into praise  
And imitation of his worth. And thus,  
By means Heroic and judicious,  
He did incline his armies generous part  
With love unto the practice of Desert.  
And in that moving Orb of active war;  
His high command was the transcendent Star,  
Whose influence, for production of men's worths,  
Did govern at their military Births;  
And made them fit for Arms. Witness the merits,  
e'en of the Chiefest ranks of warlike Spirits,  
Who for our Prince's Service do survive;  
Which from his virtues did their worths derive.  
Then; to reduce th'affections of the rude  
And ill dispo'sd licentious Multitude;  
His wisdom like wise did as amply show.  
Tradition and experience made him know,  
That men in Armies, are more apt t'offend;  
And faults to greater danger do extend  
There, then in civil governments; and are  
More difficult to be suppressed in war  
Then peace; and that there's nothing can restrain  
Their dissolute affections, but the rain  
Of strict and exemplary punishment.  
Since of necessity, such government  
Must be; his entrance (therefore) was severe:  
Which did possess them with a timely Fear.  
For when a Chief comes first into his place;  
Then all men's eyes are bend upon the Face  
Of his Behaviour, with a fixed regard.  
In which Attention, they are best prepared  
To take impression what they ought to do,  
That he would have them be accustomed too.  
For as his manners, then, report him; So  
The reputation of his Name will go.  
And thus his name grew able to suppress  
The strongest Commotions of licentiousness,  
Even in their first conceptions. Or if some  
Were still so bold to undergo his Doom;  
Yet in the terror of his very name  
They were so long projecting how to frame  
And execute their practice safe and free,  
Without the danger of severity;  
That if their doubtfulness did not divert  
And utterly disanimate the heart  
O their proceedings; yet their coldness brought  
The Act so impotently from the thought;  
And made their strongest performances so lame,  
That they were overtaken ere they came  
To prejudice the public cause. And now;  
When as the few complaints reported how  
Effectually his labours prospered; and  
His men grew well conformed to his command;  
With their obedience, he did slack the bent  
Of his severity in punishment.  
Yet with so wise a moderation, that  
His fame to be severe, continued at  
The full opinion. For the pardons gained,  
Seemed always difficult to be obtained;  
As if they rather came through intercession,  
Then from the purpose of his own remission.  
And lenity, (which commonly incites  
A boldness in disordered Appetites,  
To more offence,) thus wisely managed;  
Offensive minds were more discouraged  
By Mercy, then by justice. For when they  
That stood to die, by some unlooked for way  
Were pardoned, when they did despair to live;  
Th'observing Soldiers, instantly, did give  
Themselves persuasion, that undoubtedly  
The next offender should be sure to die.  
And that opinion, like a Sentinel  
Held watch upon their Actions; did repel  
Th'extravagant eruptions of offence;  
Enlarged the scope of care and diligence;  
And did not only hold a regular  
And orderly obedience to the war;  
But likewise did as happily prevent  
The just necessity of punishment  
On many lives, which under a milder course  
Presumption would incur; and law (of force,  
To cut off ways to dangerous consequence)  
Must execute. Thus, that which in the sense  
Of vulgar apprehension, seemed to be  
A disposition unto cruelty;  
Appeared a work that wisdom did project  
With purpose to a contrary effect.  
That which malignant Censure would suggest  
To be a humour cruelly expressed;  
That did men's lives regardlessly deprive;  
Was of men's lives the best preservative.  
But to disprove that idle imputation,  
(that made it seem a vicious inclination,  
Inherent with his nature) and augment  
The source of his true honour's Argument;  
Offences done against his own estate,  
(Which always doth more strongly aggravate  
The weight of injury to private sense,  
Then public apprehension of offence;  
And stirs men's passions more;) have oftentimes  
Subduced the Malefactors for those crimes,  
Into the hands of justice: where he might  
With approbation and consent of right,  
Have satisfied that Nature to the full;  
Aswell in punishments that justly pull  
On Death, as other grievous penalties.  
And yet his hurt that from those faults did rise,  
And nearly touched him, never did incense  
Or move his mind, (Since with no reference  
They did engage him to the public cause;)  
To prosecute the rigour of the laws.  
But held himself sufficiently content,  
To learn by one, another to prevent.  
Nor need I from his martial scope, digress;  
T'approove that, by his moral cari'ges:  
Since if we do proceed to note his course,  
We shall observe; where Mildness was of force  
To propagate the Army's service, more  
Than sternness; with conformity he bore  
Himself. As in the exercise of Arms;  
(Where terror always generally harms;  
And dulls the apprehension and conceit;)  
He hated roughness, violence and heat;  
And with a most unwearied patientnes,  
Would labour to insinuate and impress  
His demonstrations. Hence it might appear;  
He had a mind so temperately clear  
And free from passion, that he could apply  
His Method to his subjects property.  
And both approve, that his severity  
Was dedicated to utility.  
Wherein his Nature did itself express,  
Adapted unto public businesses;  
That had the strength of patience to despise  
The bitter censures of malignancies,  
In managements so subject to construction;  
And fix himself upon the right conduction  
Of his affairs, to public use designed;  
Nor given, nor forced, to any other end.  
He was not of that soft and servile mould,  
That all impressions takes, and none doth hold;  
But his own Reason in himself did reign;  
What she inspired, he firmly did retain.  
He could not flatter Greatness; Zany humours;  
Or be obsequious to assuage the tumors  
That in corrupted minds did rise and swell  
Against him: But did residently dwell  
Upon the purpose of a true intent;  
In whose successes he was confident.  
And as his word was, all his deeds were so;  
— Veritate, non obsequio.  
Thus did his Army in obedience stand,  
Under the Countenance of a brave Command.  
Which from the force his wisdom did apply,  
Received more strength then from's Authority.  
And as the disposition of the Mind,  
Was by his government well disciplined;  
So was the Body by his exercise:  
Practised, and perfect in th'activities  
And postures, on the which consist the right  
Ways of Agility and skill to fight  
In Arms, and Armies. Where, his hand did show  
As much as Reason and Experience know,  
How they should Marshal them. How to compose,  
Divide, transpose, convert, open or close;  
Parts, bodies, figures, aspects, distances;  
●n quarter, march, attempts, resistances;  
According as the grounds capacity,  
Or the condition of an enemy  
Requireth or admits the fittest course  
Of form or change; with order, speed, and force;  
And best assurance from defensive art,  
To'th most advantage in th'offensive part.  
And all those other parts, whereof consist  
The general worth of such a Martialist;  
In him united their abilities;  
And made him complete. All his industries,  
(aswell in actives, as contemplatives;)  
Were such as those whence providence derives  
Apt instruments to stand in present stead,  
According to th'occasion offered;  
Which either on the principal design,  
Or some adherent interests that entwine  
And sway the principal; may fasten on  
An answerable disposition:  
And so work way to prosperous events;  
Aswell in unexpected accidents,  
As things projected and premeditate.  
In Council; he was of so temperate  
And free a Mind, that Reason in his Soul,  
Like an imperial presence, did control  
And silence all those passions that have force  
To interrupt the passage of discourse.  
While to the clear and uneclipsed eye,  
Of his strong intellectual faculty,  
His well informed knowledge did present  
The state and Nature of the Argument:  
The parts; th'entire; and every circumstance  
That was contingent, or had reference  
Material to the thing consulted on.  
Which when his free discourse had passed upon;  
His judgement in conclusion, did lay open  
The ways, the means, the reasons, and the scope,  
What, how, whereby, and when, and where to do;  
And every due respect annexed unto,  
With such demonstrative and pregnant force;  
That, practise without speculative discourse;  
Nor speculation without practice tried;  
Nor both, without great prudence amplified,  
To know their uses and apply them well;  
To his advise, could make a Parallel.  
Nor did his knowledge and experience stand  
Upon that only limit of command,  
That Marshalleth an army fit to fight;  
But had as perfect and profound a sight  
Into the judgement how it should be led,  
And with the most advantage managed,  
Aswell through all the Body of a war;  
As in performance of particular  
Dependent services. As They may note,  
Who have perused how his Pen did quote  
The margin of our Ages great designs,  
With his observing and judicious lines.  
And in those objects of the judgements eye,  
(As if he kept a key of Mystery,)  
His understanding had so deep a sight,  
That in designs which were without the light  
Of practice or example, he hath found  
(Oft times) a way, which when he did propound,  
Was of so difficult and high a strain,  
That e'en experienced sense could hardl'attaine  
To find it probable or fit; unless  
Approved by demonstration and success.  
Yet (of true judgement constant in pursuit,)  
When Action did his Counsel execute,  
The progress and event subscribed in Act,  
His way for largest use, was most exact.  
Nor was his judgement, only so mature  
In purposes, whose distance could endure  
Deliberate advise; but did express  
Itself, as fully ripe, with readiness  
And order, where the cause would not admit  
The Action any time to study it.  
And had so present a conce●pt, (that did  
Attend occasion as it offered;)  
That when the thunder of a hot Alarm  
Hath called him suddenly from sleep to arm;  
Upon the instant of his waking, he  
Did with such life, and quick dexterity,  
His troops direct; the service execute;  
As practised Printers, Set and Distribute  
Their Letters: And more perfectly effected;  
For what he did, was not to be corrected.  
And as his Counsels show'd his judgements merit;  
So did his deeds as infinite a Spirit.  
In Action, both (contracted) did embrace;  
What one performed, was to the others grace.  
There, wisdom did his Fortitude direct;  
And Fortitude his wisdom did protect.  
For in the Heart of active services,  
Where sudden dangers with a fierce access,  
Have made surprise upon him; unremoved  
His judgement stood; and there,, was most approved  
His understandings greatness did appear  
In perturbations, lest disturbed, most clear;  
And then gave amplest witness of her worth.  
All the directions he delivered forth,  
Were then, most orderly, assured and sound.  
The sense of terror never could confound  
His judgement. Reason did such freedom find,  
Within the generous greatness of his Mind;  
And was so guarded by his Fortitude  
From every violence that would intrude.  
Which, in such dangers, doth precisely try  
The true and native Magnanimity.  
For nothing doth the judgement more torment  
With rude confusion and astonishment,  
Then Fear; which by contraction of the heart,  
Doth force the power's of soul from every part,  
Out of their proper seats and offices,  
Into a narrow lymitt; where the press  
And undistinguished crowd of faculties,  
Doth interrupt the passage of advise.  
Hence, not improperly, the word might rise,  
That terms them little minds, which Cowardice  
Possesseth. Where, when fear of death doth start  
The spirits, and makes them fly unto the heart,  
They want that competent required space,  
For every power in a distinguished place,  
To work in order. Consequently thence,  
It may be taken in as apt a sense;  
Courage is termed greatness of the mind,  
Where Reason with her faculties doth find  
Sufficient room, wherein she may dilate  
Their several properties, with ordinate  
Distinction; (when invasive terrors rise  
Upon th'exterior senses, to surprise  
Those passages;) by making good their grounds,  
Unto the largeness of their proper bounds.  
Yet may we not deservedly repute  
That nature worthy this great attribute,  
Where boundless Choler doth predominate.  
For that extention's rather vast, then great;  
And by extreamnes in another kind,  
As dangerously disturbs the powers of mind.  
As Fear contrudes; so choler doth disperse.  
But Fortitude, nor violently fierce;  
Nor coldly dull; as prudence doth require,  
Holds them distinguished, mutual, and entire,  
For that which is a virtue, will admit  
All virtue free society with it.  
And this was that true valour which the spirit  
Of this Heroic Worthy did inherit.  
Now if malignant Censure quarrels it,  
And say it was a Habit, he did get  
By custom with such danger; rather than  
The native virtue of a valiant Man:  
Let envy ' please to turn her clearer eye  
On his Beginnings. They will satisfy;  
Or prove her false. For when he first bore Arms;  
Among the first that pressed to front Alarms;  
His Sword thrust foremost. And his chief desire  
From the beginning, laboured to aspire  
Through enterprise and danger. When the face  
Of bloody handed war, in its own place  
Did first encounter him; and did appear  
In shapes of terror to impress a Fear:  
He met it smiling. And did make it yield,  
That he brought Courage with him to the field.  
And when but in a private ranque he served;  
That virtue made him publicly observed.  
And was th' effectual Cause that did advance  
His fortunes to a higher countenance.  
The first examples of his worth in Act;  
Were like to that whose valour did attract  
Th'impartial Eye of valiant Williams; And  
In honour of him published with his hand,  
In a discourse now extant, then put forth;  
Where he to his effect, reports his worth.  
Brave Vere was by his Scarlet Cassock known;  
Who at th' assaults both of the Fort and Town,  
Stood always in the Head of th' Armed Men.  
Where, having twice been hurt and wounded, when  
Myself (with other of his friends desire)  
Requested him that then he would retire;  
His answer was, that He had rather die  
Ten times upon a breach; then once to lie  
Under the hand of death within a House. etc.  
Thus at the first, his undertaking shows  
Itself; and no occasion doth omit,  
That might give witness of his worth in it.  
And as his Courage, then, was true to'●h ways  
Through which he did's deserved fortunes raise;  
To his particular and private good:  
So for the public service when he stood,  
It ever was so faithful to the laws  
Of that integrity he ought the cause  
He served; that when occasion did present  
His observation with some accident  
Within the enemy, that did invite  
The side he served in, to attempt a fight;  
With promise of good service to the state;  
Though dangers might make it infortunate  
To his particular; and did object  
Their terrors to disanimate th'effect.  
And though the presence of superior place,  
Did show no disposition to embrace  
The enterprise. When nothing did enforce  
His Courage, but his voluntary course;  
If promise of good sernice did invite;  
Through dangers he exposed himself to fight,  
Against all difficulties that withstood;  
And won his honour, with his loss of blood.  
And what his sword could not directly hit;  
He circumvented by the power of wit.  
Using that licence (only) which in war  
Hath just allowance, though irregular.  
Where he show'd all wherewith wit can assist  
The workings of a Stratagematist;  
Without conducting them to their success,  
Through any passage of perfidiousness.  
And th'undertakings of his industry  
Were carried with such dexterous secrecy;  
That while the Breath of his divulged pretence,  
Suited with fit ostentiall instruments,  
Transported expectation to that face;  
And made him looked for in another place;  
His expedition ere it was suspected,  
Set forth, arrived, attempted, and effected.  
And where his purposes required no name;  
His Actions euermarched before their fame.  
And (for a close) to crown his worth; Blessed Fate  
Did render all his Actions fortunate.  
Witness the best performances of war;  
Whereby th'united Netherlanders, are  
Entirely of their own provinces possessed:  
With advantageous footing on the rest.  
'mongst which achievements, Nieuport and Ostend  
(those famous services) do comprehend  
Large interest in the deserts, whereby  
They have attained to that prosperity.  
And of those Actions, (They themselves confess)  
He was an instrument to the success;  
Elected by Heavens high Omnipotence,  
To manifest his gracious providence,  
In favour of their cause. Nor did he less,  
In any of his other services.  
And when the GLORY of the War did cease;  
Retired with Honour. And expired in peace.  
Leaving his deathless memory and Fame,  
To be an honour to that Noble Name  
And family, from whence he had descent:  
Which by his lustre's made more eminent.  
And now, Great Britain, though thou dost possess  
The SOVEREIGN joy of Peace and happiness;  
And feelest no Reason why thou shouldst disperse  
Or spend a tear upon a soldiers Hearse;  
Yet for the sake e'en of thy blessed Peace,  
Thou mayst lament this worthy Man's decease.  
For war's a subject, that may comprehend  
The greatest wisdom, Nature can extend  
Unto; to manage it. Whose Noblest ways,  
Proved Him a Worthy; Heroë of his days.  
His praise may justly (then) extend thus far;  
He was a Man, fit both for Peace and War.  
Whose Monument, while History doth last;  
Shall never be forgotten or defaced.  
Cyril Tourneur.