4  
My Muse is bound, by service, zeal, and love,  
The spite of death, and fortune here to show:  
The Sire, & Son, whose souls are crowned above,  
With ethers corpse, possess the earth below,  
Until the day of Christ his glorious show.  
By nature's corpse the one bereft of breath,  
By fortune's spite, the other brought to death.   

5  
First of the first, that Earl of Bedford height.  
A gracious Lord, as ever luied on earth.  
A Counsellor, and of the Garter knight.  
Right honourable, in virtue, lore, and birth.  
Image of Grace, and goodness here on earth,  
Whose life may be a Mirror for the best,  
Whose death (nay life) proclaims his soul at rest.   

6  

The Order of the Roman funerals, to be attired▪ withal his honours.  His purple rohe doth show his honour sound,  
His armed sword, the metle of his heart:  
His forward leg, in S. George's Garter bound.  
A token is of courage and desert.  
His Counsellors place, to valour joineth Art.  
His loyal truth, above the rest doth shine,  
His Godly zeal, may well be called divine.   

7  

Ill men are not lamented being dead.  His mourners clothed, in hearts as sad as weeds,  
His virtues blazed, for few bad men bemoan.  
Among the rest, his charitable deeds,  
with his sweet soul, to Abrahms breast are flone.  

He was a liberal Comforter of the poor.  The poor dismayed cry out that he is gone,  
Whose sights and tears, their eyes do scald or blind,  
as men past hope, his like again to find.   

8  
But to describe, this gracious Lord at large,  
His birth, life, death, his gifts and godly fear:  
For Homer's pen, or Virgil's ware a charge,  
Whose virtues firm, beseems the noble peer,  
(As honours Grace) within his breast to bear.  
His perfect life, the best divines might teach,  
What works become, the holy words they preach.   

9  
First, 
His Ancestors were Lords of the manner of Barwick in Dorcetshire  of his birth (which in his acts appear)  
By oft decents, a Gentleman he was:  
Ten worthy Squires, the russel's Arms did bear.  
To Knights likewise, descended of the race.  
And through desert (which hath the highest place)  
His noble Sire, 
H. ●.  (in Henry's eye a pearl)  
Clim'de by degrees, until he was an Earl.   

10  
Eight Coats he bore, which hereditare were,  
The russel's first, of all men known his own.  
Delatowres the next, a Western heir,  
Muschamp the third, 
Dorcetsh.  a Northern Baron known.  
Herringham the fourth, a neighbour of his own.  
Frewxmer the fift, from Worcetshire, which came.  
Wise was the sixth, in Devonshire long of name.   

11  
Derived from Truth, and lawful Pedigrewe,  
These former six, his noble Father bare.  
The other too, were to his Mother dew.  
Sabcote she height, Inheritrix and heir.  
With Saint Mark joined, both in Northampton shire.  
Long thus he was (as I have said before)  
A Gentleman, and Caesar was no more.   

12  
And sith his house is built of Honer now,  
You well shall see, the ground work to be found:  
Advance (I grant, to weak desert may bow,  
And weaker Grace, the building may confound.  
But this strong fort, is raised on no, such ground,  
The noble Lord, first Earl of all his race,  
The groundwork laid, by Valour, lore, and Grace.   

13  

His noble father's virtues and dignities By H. 8.  He did not mount, as some men with a start:  
Valour him proud, a Scevola to be,  
Baronde he was, on trial for desert.  
Through wisdom then, he climbed by degree.  
King Henry's eyes, did judge, as well as see,  
Who with these rooms, and Garter did him stall  
Lord Preavy zeal, and eke Lord Admiral.   

14  

He was created Earl of Bedford by E. 6. His saying: Sans ●ayde de Dieu, le ne puis.  Edward the sixth, of Christendom the pearl,  
For service great, and loyalty unstainde:  
Created him, of Bedford then the Earl.  
Who still confessed, these guts, by God he gained,  
And blest of God, his virtues all remained.  
(as joined unto, the honour he begun)  
Unto this Lord, the noble Earl his son.   

15  
Gods wisdom oft, even from the jaws of death.  
Saves those whom he, to worthy charges call.  
Thrown in the deep, he gave to Moses' breath.  

He was in mortal peril of drowning, and yet preserved.  At Lycaonia stand, he did revive S. Paul.  
That there escapes, might comfort thraules, in thrall,  
To show his strength, and for a thousands good,  
The Lord (this Lord) preserved in the stood.   

16  
In tender years, where one Instruction might,  
Graft lore and grace, which make the noble shine:  
His virtues blazed, so clear in all men's sight.  
As by the same, 
His service in King Henry 8. days. His Father being a general, he had charged at Muttrill, when he was but 18 years of age. His most valiant service in suppressing the Western Rebels, in King Edward the▪ 6 days.  a number did divine.  
What fruits would grow upon those blooms in fine?  
At eighteen years, when youth would wander far,  
This Lord was stayed, & took a charged in war.   

17  
The West doth know, the valour of his heart,  
The Rebels strong, he nobly did dismay.  
The people since, have honoured his desert.  
His Sire (and he) did bring them to obey.  
And ever since, have kept them at that stay.  
His deeds were known, by justice, Truth, & zeal,  
To God, his Prince, and to the Common Weal▪   

18  
His holy zeal, he builded on God's word,  
In all his pomp the Pope he did defy. 
He was always a most godly Protestant. The bishops in Queen Mary's days narrowly searched him, Vide acts & monum.   
When Mary rain'de, and bishops ruled the sword.  
To cut him short, who all his Acts did eye.  
A godly fear, his loyal truth did try.  
His service then, and high regard therefore,  
Doth Papists teach, their Princes to adore.   

19  
Yet, ere I show his service vnconstrain'de,  
I need must show how hardly he was vide.  
A Prisoner with the Lord Rich he remained.  
Till papists had, 
He was Prisoner with the old ●. Rich 〈◊〉 Queen M●●nes days.  his actions all pervide.  
Which faultless were, but he revenge resusde.  
He laid his wrong, not to his Country's charged  
But heaping truth, did shield her with his tearge.   

20  

His service in Queen Mary's days at S. Quintes, at his own charge. Queen Mary made him Lieutenant of the West Countries.  Well armed with a stout and loyal heart,  
At S. Quintin's, he served with proper charge:  
There needs no trump, to sound his high desert.  
Truth bides the push, unarmed, with shield or targe  
Malgre his foes, his merits were so large,  
As that the Queen esteemed him with the best,  
And made him then, lieutenant of the We●t.   

21  
The trust was great, but far more great his truth,  
Yet he professed the faith he did before:  
When as he saw, the Clergy void of ruth:  

The tyranny of the papists in Queen Mary's days.  Wherein their rage, they seamde a Forest Bore.  
And Christians blood, they drunk up more & more.  
He grieved to live, where as such Tyrants rained:  
Yet loyally this bitter Cross sustained.   

22  
To travel then his noble mind was set.  

He was most honourably ●ntertained ●y foreign Princes.  (Which knowledge sought, to do his Country good)  
Abroad his port, such noble praise did get,  
As Princes when his fame they understood.  
They honoured him by all the means they could,  
God did him shield, in spite of all his foes,  
And yet he lived, under the Pope his nose.   

23  

Disposition of english fugitives.  Abroad he did not as our papists do,  
In practice join, their Country to confownde:  
Although his Queen, were to god's word a foe.  
He never wrought, that she should be uncrownd,  

Tyranny, no warrant to rebolt.  No, no, his faith, and honour both were sound.  
Who oft had read, and did regard it well,  
That Tyrants were, no warrants to rebel.   

24  
No: Tyrants are the scourges of God's Ire  
Sent from above, to chasten sin below:  
But as the Rod, the father throws in fire.  
If in his son, he sees that grace doth grow,  
The sovereign God, 
The short reigns of Tyrants.  with Tyrants dealeth so:  
Their rules are short, and long his mercy's reign,  
When as he sees that we our sins refrain.   

25  
England doth know, my censure to be just,  
When God from heaven, 
Example by England.  our patiented bondage eide:  
The Papists hope, he soon consumed to dust:  
Queen Mary died even in their hottest pride,  
Then down did fall their pomp of every side. 
Queen Elizabeth.   
The Image then of Plenty, Power, and Peace,  
His mercy sent, whose reign, the same increase.   

26  
This noble Lord, 
He was the first that was sworn of Queen elizabeth's Counsel.  upon this blessed chance,  
In Counsel sat among the gravest Wights.  
His care was set the Gospel to advance,  
His zeal out shined, the Papists taper lights.  
To do good deeds, were set his whole delights.  
His noble house of Conscience seemed a Court,  
Such heaps of men for succour did resort.   

27  
While fortune smiled, 
H●r great zeal to advance the Gospel.  he did not like the world.  
Buy, vild, serach, crave, & gape are gain could fall.  
Behind his back, these worldly joys he whurld.  
He fixed his eyes upon God's Church in thrall.  
Which he too free, 
He made high accou●● of good preachers.  set hand heart, purse and all.  
His boards were spread, his gates wide open stood,  
For Pastors pure, which ministered heavenly food.   

28  

He little passed of dumb Preachers.  The Idle Dronne, the form that only had,  
He thought unmeet, to take a holy charge:  
But some say, though the minister be bad,  
God's word is pure: which we must make our targe.  
I say no les, and yet they rove at large.  
A Diamond keeps his virtue set in bras,  
But set in Gold, it hath a perfect grace,   

29  
Gods word is pure, though preached by the Devil.  
The holy Ghost, yet seldom comes in hell:  
Without whose gift, man's nature is most evil.  
Much like a fool, that bites the bitter shell,  
And leaves the nut, the bark, not tasting well.  
The multitude, of perfect judgement bard.  
The Preachers words, so by his life regard.   

30  
This noble Lord, this grocenes did perceive,  
That simple men judge by the outward face:  
And therefore did his benefices give  
To such as had, both learning, gift and grace.  
Would God the like, ware seen in every place.  
The God of Heaven should be glorified then,  
Even, by the works, the lives, and lights of men.   

31  

 Although this Lord, was honoured by the sword.  
His wisdom judge, d that learning was divine.  
Which to advance, his bounty did afford.  
Allowance great, as if he had a mine.  
〈◊〉 Scholars poor, in whom good gifts did shine.  
In mournful Cries, he both his ears bestowed.  
His purse wide ope, a fruitful pity showed.   

32  
To show he bilt his acttions of the Lord, 
He's poesy applied to God's power over all actions.   
Not as the most, on fortunes smiling cheer:  
He chose Che sera, sera, for his word.  
God's will shall be, in heaven above and hear.  
The Thunder bolt, the strongest towers tear.  
The lightning flash consumes the house of reed,  
And plagues do reign, upon the wicked seed.   

33  
What did become, 
Antipater was driven by a subtle policy to get Alexander's body buried.  of Caesar's climbing head?  
Of Pompey's rule, and Alexander's reign?  
A light account, so soon as they were dead,  
Yea they whose minds, a world could not contain,  
With much a do: a seemly Tomb did gain.  
Their conquests great, returned and waxed less,  
For nought may stand, but what gods hand doth bless.   

34  
The Blow in vain, is set into the ground,  
Unless the seed, God blesseth with increase:  
The building of the wicked is unsound:  
Although of bras he frameth every peace.  
Yea sinketh oft, before his own disseace.  
This Proverb old, doth profecie his fall.  
Though man propose, yet God disposeth all.   

35  
This noble Lord, that hath both seen and read,  
The Rules and Reigns, that Time, did sink & shake.  
That even those men, that fortune most had feed.  
That lived like Gods, their leaves as men did take.  
And have no name, of whom ten thousands spoke.  
By his Poesy, in true construction then:  
God's power shows, o'er all the works of men.   

36  
And that the Lord, might all his labours bless,  
His chiefest works, his temple was to build,  
To comfort those, that languished in distress,  
Such to receive, as Tyranny exiled.  
To cloth, and feed, the widow and her child.  
On these good deeds, which holy men may name.  
This Godly Lord, did build his fort of fame.   

37  

the glory that Caesar esteemed.  Caesar oft said, he gloried most in this,  
Unto his friend, he never was unkind:  
And oft forgave, his foe that did amiss,  
Two worthy gifts beseeming Caesar's mind,  
Which in this lord, his virtues brightly shined:  

His bounty and mercy very great.  For to his friend, none could more favour show.  
Nor none that lived that more forgave his foe.   

38  
This grateful part, though many I could show,  
Among the rest, a good remembrance:  
Gods will this Lord into the Themes did throw,  
A waterman did rush among the waves,  
And by God's aid, his dangered life he saves.  
Whose aid this Lord, did nobly then reward,  
And afterward to multiply regard.   

39  

A grateful part.  The thriftless man, by some unhappy corpse,  
Offended in, a venial cause of death.  
The law did pass: This Lord than took remorse  
On him that once, his life did help to save.  
In lewe whereof his pardon he did crave.  
And afterward, that he might truly live.  
This man he did, a yearly pension give.   

40  
Ambition, wrath, envy, and disdain,  
Haunt Princes Courts, 
Passions which follows Princes Courts.  and do the most enthrall:  
But none of these his honour once could stain.  
Like to the snail, he never clymde to fall.  
No, wrathful mood his wisdom could appaule:  
On worldly pride, he fixed no envious eye,  
Nor scorned the poor, where he good gifts did spy.   

41  
Although he lived in favour of his prince,  
He never rose, 
An honourable disposition.  by any man's disgrace:  
His acts so just, as Envy did convince,  
To noble to crave, for to enrich his race:  
Ready to give, and gave in every place.  
On Honour he, and Virtue made his stay,  
And never faund, where fortune bore the sway.   

42  
His wisdom known, in many a cause before,  
Right meet, his prince, and Common weal to serve:  
Her majesty by him did set much store.  
And to say truth, 
Her Majesty sent him Ambassador into France.  no man could more deserve.  
Who with a charge, from which he did not swerver.  
In noble sort, as seemed so sad a chance,  
Went to Condole, the King his death of France.   

43  
His honour thus by noble actions grew,  
And all was grace, in which he was attired:  
At home, abroad, in peace, and war most true,  
Above his heart, his virtues far aspir'de.  
And crowned him with more praise than he desired  
The Scottish trains, did axe a trusty eye,  
Then through the North with speed this lord did high.   

44  

He was Governor of Berwick in her Mayest. Time.  Of Berwick he, the Governor was made.  
In which high charge, he ruled without suspect.  
The Soldiers old, he did refresh and aid.  
Who well deserved, he nobly did respect.  
Who did offend, he mildly, did correct:  
With justice he, did ever measure Grace,  
Which made him feared▪ through love in every place.   

45  

A revenge contrary to martial or politic justice.  The deadly food, that thirsteth after blood.  
His wisdom in those parts appeased much.  
The hollow Scots (that seldom wished us good)  
Would often say, there never governed such.  
Tride by his foes, his virtues bid the tuch.  
And truth to say, general was the song:  
Th'earl of Bedford, did never Person wrong.   

46  

He was her majesties deputy to christian the scottish king.  In Scotland, when that in our sovereigns' place,  
He christened the seemly Scottish King.  
He did the Rites, with such a royal Grace.  
As that his ●ame, the Scottish writers ring.  
envy there, Renown, he home did bring.  

Lord Darley, her Mayest▪ subject.  The Scottish Prince, our Sovereign's subject was,  
And so (this Lord, even there, by him did pass.   

47  
Returned home, where Laurel rules the lance:  
Where Peace doth shine, which plenty doth afford  
Where laws do Truth, and Equity advance.  

●e was Warden of the stanerie in the West.  In justice seat, though Girt with Mars his sword:  
Nothing but right was censured by this Lord:  
Of many he: was judge, and wrongs redressed.  
As Warden of the stanerie in the West.   

48  
An office great, which some would wrest to gain.  
Yet through his gain, 
The true commendation of the justice which he administered.  there was not one that lost:  
A multitude belong unto the train.  
In ruling (whom of this) he chief may boast.  
His justice gained, the favour of the most.  
And for the rest, upon a true account,  
His charge did near unto his gain amount.   

49  
Lieutenant he was of the Western Coast, 

He was Lieutenant of the Counties of Dorcet, Devon of Cornwaule at the time of his death, and oftentimes before.  
The Lawyers in the Western Circuts murmured that he ended so many matters  
Unkind suits unnatural in this peaceable Government.    
Where as he found, a number loved strife:  
What means he wrought (the Lawyers do not boast)  
For to appease, the discords that ware rife.  
He moved strong foes, to love like man and wife.  
That lack of work, made Lawyers to exclaim,  
But what of that? it was a godly blame.   

50  
And truth to say, where peace and plenty reigns.  
It is a fault, to see our papar war:  
They know God wet, that tasted have the pains.  
Where books do wound, as deep remains the scar.  
As brown bill strokes, which nothing reach so far.  
The reason is, the beast do not accord,  
Their neighbours jars, by sample of this Lord.   

51  
Though wholesome laws, do strengthen Common weals,  
Law is to strong for every trifleling cause:  
The fogging mate, 
The Petifogger, a dangerous neighbour.  is worse, than he that steals.  
Where suit is raised, for wind & wagging straws  
A fox is found, among a sort of daws.  
For you that sew, 
The best end of law.  put this in your belief,  
Law measures right, with toil, expense and grief▪   

52  

To appease small discords a special duty of justices of peace.  If like this Lord (whose fame cannot disseace,  
Make friends of Foes, the meaner justice would:  
To justices, might well be joined peace.  
This quit● reign, doth challenge that they should:  
Their blame, nay shame that will not if they could.  
If not be sure each where will light the lote,  
Which once upon a worldlings house was wrote.   

53  

Written upon a cruel worldlings house.  Thy Ground work bilt, on discord and debate,  
Thy front of brick, tempered with widows tears,  
The Orphans spoil, Thy windows and thy state.  
Good yeoman's falls, the beams that thee up bears.  
A wonder if, thou, stand in this repair,  
When built of wrongs, thy fairest beauties are.   

54  
Now to the Lord, of whom I lately spoke,  
The Proverb goes (although more true than just)  
The way is safe, 
A most honourable virtue in this Lord.  the strongest part to take:  
But sure ●●e weak, that to the wall was thrust:  
His noble mind, did aid in causes just.  
Which made mensing, in open streets this song.  
There rides the Lord, their strength that suffer wrong.   

56  
The Thralls which ●led for persecutions fear:  
When as they saw the Pope, 
He was a great comforter of persecuted strangers. He was highly regarded of foreign princes▪  and Papists frown.  
His purse and tongue, in banishment did cheer  
All foreign states, yea persons of renown.  
Whom Tyrants sought, to tumble headlong down.  
Upon his zeal: In England greatly stayed,  
Which Realm, they saw, god blessed for their aid.   

57  
Whose grieves he did, in all he might relieve.  
His care for them, 
which profess the gospel's. He greatly & in what he might, furthered the succour of Flaunders.  he showed to the end:  
The Holland States, his love did sound preave.  
Flaunders may say, that she hath lost a friend;  
To mend her state, much travel he did spend,  
His helping hand, her suitors did not lack,  
Which still appeared, till sickness kept him back.   

57  
The very bad, did reverence his name,  
And all the good, 
He was highly honoured of strangers.  with grief his lose deplore.  
The stranger's praise, doth blow abroad his fame,  
Loud of his prince, for Valour, Truth, and Lore.  
A happy man, whom all men did Adore,  
Happy and blessed, of God even in his birth.  
Who here possessed, the blessing of the earth.   

58  
Blessed he was, 
His wives were most gracious Ladies.  of God in marriage twice,  
His noble wives the samples were of Grace:  
His Children such, as that in all men's eyes,  
Their actions did, 
3 
Daughters of his, were all married to Earls.  
His sons were all Lords or Knights in his life time. Pharos, a wonderful light made by Ptolemy Philodelphus for the derection of seafaring men.   their father's virtues blaze,  
His Daughters matched, with Earls of noble race.  
His sons, himself, all Lords, or Knights did see,  
By virtue raised, as much as by degree.   

59  
What would you more, he was a Pharaoh's blaze,  
To pry into whose guilts, doth dim my eyes:  
Like him that long against the Son doth gaze.  
Of honour sound, in judgement grave and wise.  
In all good deeds, he ever was precise.  
Alive refuge▪ to those whom wrong did pain.  
Alive and dead, unbleamisht with a stain.   

60  

He was afflicted with a most violent sickness, one year and more past.  Long thus he lived, even blessed from above.  
And tried in fine, as gold is in the fire.  
God chastiseth (quoth he) whom he doth love,  
And truth to say, his torment might attaint  
The strongest heart, yet, he did never faint:  
Yea martyred long, with furious grief and pain.  
No one can say, they heard him to complain.   

61  
The grief of heart, showed in the watery eyes,  
Of friends that saw, 
He was wonderfully martyred by the Physicians & Surgieons. The greatness of his patience.  the mangling of his flesh.  
But he that felt, what grief man may devise,  
With comfort, did his Comforters refresh.  
His patience then, my pen cannot express.  
His sickness strange, as strangely was he used.  
More strangely called, when Art had him refused.   

62  
What should I say? that Science is divine:  
Yet knowledge fails, 
The Doctors and Surgeons gave him over.  unless God blesseth skill.  
The master Doctors, gave him over in fine.  
And left his Cure, unto the Lord his will.  
The mournful cries, the house with sorrows fill.  
The Lord then had, 
M. Marrad & Fouler western men, Surgeons. Description of the world, and of all estates.  compassion of our moan,  
And blest the works, of men that beware unknown.   

63  
But o their Cure, did but prolong his pain,  
Even from this Cross, he longed Christ to see.  
He healed this world, and all her beauties vain.  
The proudest pomp, a short felicity.  
The regal care, a Golden misery,  
The Magistrate, an honourable thrawle.  
The poor man blest, whose conscience hath no gall.   

64  
But aware mishap from worldly pleasure free,  
So short a use may not be counted joy..  
Man's life is like, a bloom upon a tree, 

The uncertainty of Life.  
The certainty of death.    
Which every storm, is ready to destroy.  
No threatening can the Monster death annoy.  
From all his pomp, he takes the Prince away.  
Even as the night, doth cloud the brightest day.   

65  
A sorry tale, 
The worldly man's felicity Nemo ante obitum ●eatus.  unto the worldly thrawle,  
Which hath health, wealth, & in his bowels peace:  
But foolish man, that these thy pleasures cawl▪  
Thy lasting joy, is after thy decease.  
A grain of wheat doth rot ere it increase.  
Even so the flesh, a lasting joy to give,  
Must turn to dust, and then the soul doth live.   

66  
And from this ground, this Lord did never sma●ue  
he likened life to voyages at Sea: 
Life like, voyages at Sea.   
Some short, some long, as wind and wether ●a●ue,  
And as men joy, their ships return to see,  
Because their wealth, within their bowels be.  
The godly so, in death their comfort eye,  
Which made him live, as he would daily die.   

67  
Return of health▪ which visibly was seen, 
He never had great care of worldly causes, since his former sickness. Her Majesty oftentime most graciously visited him, in his former sickness.   
To tempt this Lord, was but an idle train:  
The visiting of our most gracious Queen,  
Did glad his heart, but with no climbing vain:  
Which swelleth still, where princes favours reign.  
She loved him as her strength in time of need,  
He honoured her, with duty, zeal, and dread.   

68  
He strained himself, far more than was his case▪  
To serve her highness, in his latter health:  
In Parliament, he did himself disease,  
About sound laws, to arm the Common wealth:  
But private gain, he grounded on a shelf,  
Came the Bridegroom by day or else by night.  
In his clear lamp, he ever more had light.   

69  
Not like his worth, his life before is shown,  
The more our loss his death doth now draw near: 
His most godly and blessed end.   
What was his life, his godly death made known,  
His sharp assault, his faith did nothing scare:  
His care was past, 
One of his godly sayings, in his last end.  he found his Conscience clear,  
He saw by faith, the perfect life in dead,  
The Woman's seed, trod on the Serpent's head.   

70  

The senses of a number, fail before they deseace.  In those fierce pangs, man's senses often quail  
Their feeble heads, are full of Idle thought:  
Their hollow eyes, of worldly sight do fail.  
Their faltering tongues, do wag and utter nought:  
Their hearts do pant, as they with death had fought.  
But he whose life, by none of these did wronng,  
In death had use of eye, heart, head, and tongue.   

71  


He had perfect use of his senses unto his latter gasp.  
He lively confessed his faith, in the trembling passage of death.   His head was free, from worldly thought and care,  
His heart did still contemplate of god's book:  
His tongue, his faith, did in his end declare:  
His eyes abroad, did towards heaven look.  
His hands he heaved, when strength the rest for sook,  
His chamber seemed, a heavenly preaching place,  
Himself even then, the soundest teacher was.   

72  
Among the rest, his sayings full of Grace,  
For our regard, this one would here remain.  
I do thank God, that I shall die in peace,  
And do not live, 
A fruitful admonition upon hi● last saying.  for to behold the pain,  
Which for our sins, on earth is like to reign.  
Regard it well, and each man one amend,  
What good men dread, God forth most doth send.   

73  
S. Austin saith, that God is all in all,  
And with his Grace▪ is ever with the good:  
It follows then, the wicked to appaule.  
His vengeance is, even mixed with their blood.  
His mercy long, his justice hath forestood:  
But tempt not far, the loathest man to fight,  
When he is would, the soundest blows doth smite.   

74  
England beware, bewarnd if thou be wise,  
Thy secret sins, ●or open vengeance cry:  
The words are mine, but his the sound advise.  
What men forshave, that ready are to die.  
The sage do hold, even for a prophesy.  
His eyes (no dobut) the highest heavens did peace,  
And saw even that, his tongue did then rehearse.   

7●  
For to conclude, the word, the devil, and death,  
He vanquished, in all his households sight.  
From gaps, 
His departure most quiet.  or Groans, ware free his latter breath,  
His life did wear, even like, a Taper light:  
O happy soul, that made so strong a fight,  
And thus in fine, he mildly did disseace,  
Even in the place, where long he lived in peace.   

76  
A happy end, that Plato calleth blest:  
The end that he most gladly did embrace.  
The end, his, end that many since have mist.  
The end that fails, his memory to deface,  
Whose virtues live, and shineth in his race.  
The end that soon, had raised this heavy moan:  
Alas the Earl of Bedford now is gone.   

77  
Yea, he forth of this sinful world is gone,  
Gone from the trains, of Envy and disdain:  
Gone, gone, before the knowledge of this moan,  
Which would have grieu'de him more than all his pain:  
His noble son, treacherously is slain,  

Of the valiant Lord russel.  His son, his heir, of honour, Grace, and all.  
Stout Lord russel, whom Mars we well might call.   

78  
A passion hear so dul● my heavy muse,  
As that I faint, to sound his high renown,  
My hand, and judgement have forgot their use,  
To stain my work, the tears do trickle down.  
O dismal tune, where in the heavens should frown  
To reave at once, two Stars of russel's Fame,  
The Sire, and So●●e, to all this Realm amame.   

79  
Francis the Sire, derrast by nature's Corpse:  
Francis the Son, was slain by Fortune's spite.  
By Fortune's spite, armed with treacherous force.  
But yet in spite, of all the spites their might,  
His fame shall shine, when shame shall reign & light,  
Upon his foes, and all the cursed seed,  
That guilty are, of this most impious deed.   

80  
God will be just: you Murderers then unjust,  
Your judgement hear (although pronounced by me)  
The God that said, 
God punisheth murder, for the most pai●e with visible vengeance.  to Cain most accuest.  
Who Cain doth kill, shall scanenfolde punished be.  
Your Murder hear, even in the worst degree,  
Where law of Arms, and martial faith was broke  
Of God and man, will feel the wrathful stroke.   

81  
I judge not who are guilty of this deed:  
God will reveal, the depth of all this reach:  
But this I say: 
At the spu●. In the last siege of Edenbrough Vide Holengh, Cre.  his valour they did dread,  
Experience erst, before their eyes did teach,  
Where danger stood, his courage made a breach,  
Which made them seek, by Cowardice his breath.  
Who would himself have else revenged his death.   

82  
A shameful part, upon a day of truce,  
Where mortal foes, 
He was treacherously slain, upon a day of truce.  no sharp revengement try,  
But once again: who set this fowl abuse?  
'Twere good that he, the 〈…〉 ●ye,  
And deserts haunt, till vengeance 〈◊〉 dye:  
Yea there to dread, until his 〈…〉,  
Each bush that strrres a RUSS 〈◊〉 friend.   

83  
But leave we here, 
Ever 〈◊〉 last rebellion in the 〈◊〉. He followed all o●ters of service, in Scotland and the Northern parts.  his foes unto their fall,  
And see how high ●●●●●e virtue ●a●●d this Lord,  
When Treason armed the Northern parts with thrall,  
In tender years, with noble courage stirred▪  
He left the Court, and took him to the sword:  
But did not with the multitude retower,  
When Rebels fled, before their Prince's Power.   

84  

He married the daughter and heir of S. john Foster Knight. L. Warden of the middle marcher.  To stay him there, he married in those parts,  
A loving wife: and S john Foster's heir,  
Who died soon, yet for her sweet deserts,  
And for the zeal, he to that service bare.  
To leave those parts, he never since had care:  
Whose government, and hazard oft of blood,  
Approved him armed, to do his Country good.   

85  
The Roman wars, record a noble fight,  
By Mantius son: in Combat with his foe:  

TITUS MANLIUS being Consul, commanded that none of his Soldiers should fight, but when he commanded them Ge●●iu● Metius one of his Enemies pricked forth of his campany, and challenge Ma●●ius Son. The commandment of his father was that h●● should not fight. But he being the Consul Son, rather than the Ehim 〈…〉 him with Cowardice, preferred a certain death, by breach 〈…〉 Commandment, before a dishonourable life in refusing 〈…〉: He slew his enemy and was himself put to death, 〈…〉 justice. Even so this noble Lord, although not so 〈…〉 because he valiantly adventured his person in a 〈…〉, at the assaults of Edinbrough castle, which Sir W Drury, ●●●●●enant, had appointed for men of meaner reputation, was by the said Lieutenant Committed toward. But albeit, discipline in martial policy it to be reverensed. The noble courage of this Lord, answered 〈…〉 saying: 〈…〉 matters of honourable danger, there ought to be no difference between a king and a mean Soldier: and through that thought upon a mortal drought, he powered a present of 〈…〉 the 〈◊〉 because it sufficed not to relieve his whole Army, Vid●●●oling Cro.  His father yet, in all his soldiers sight,  
Put him to death, because he did undo,  
His Order made, that none should hazard so.  
This Lord likewise, commanded was to ward,  
For valiantues, beyond his life's regard.   

86  
Knighted he was (and worthy in the field)  
Who never yet did faint, 

He was Knighted by the Earl of Sussex, general of the field.  
His stout answer to his treacherous enemies. He lived, until the day, after that he was wounded.   to see his foe:  
Yea thus betrayed, when he was wild to yield,  
He answered thus: That will I never do,  
Add drew his sword, but o they shot him through:  
Yet home he went, and carried death alive,  
So long as strength, with mortal wounds might strive.   

87  
What should I say? In field a Mars he was,  
In time of peace, a stayed and noble Knight:  
In pride of years: to be cut up like grass,  
Gives cause of moan, to many a worthy wight  
Of Chivalry, who held him for the light:  
But all in vain, To market to be sold,  
The young shape comes, aswell as doth the old.   

88  
To ward Death's Dart, Honour is no shield,  
Young years, 
Spes famae solet ad virtutom impellere multos. johannes de Temporib●s, lived in Charles the 5. time.  fair looks, nor prayer may entreat.  
The Prince, the Peer, and every estate must yield,  
Of fame yet Death, the 〈…〉 not get  
Desire whereof men's minds 〈…〉 set  
And sure this Lord, by Fame 〈◊〉 here,  
Old john of times, that saw 〈◊〉 ●●●dred year.   

89  
He lived so, as he shall never die.  
In Heaven nor earth, while any earth remain:  
His godly life, is crowned above the sky:  
His noble deeds, which no fowl deed doth stain  
(Though venial sin, in every flesh doth reign)  
Doth make his life, his mortal life I say,  
In fame to live, till Moral Time decay.   

90  
I say no more, that can not praise too much,  
This Lord, that lived well and died blest:  
Fame spreads abroad, reports I dare not touch,  
Ti●l leave do join, in knowledge with the rest,  
Truth shields from shame, and Truth is yet expressed,  
And I in time, God willing will expose,  
With leave obtained, the practice of his foes.   

Vivit post funera virtuns.   

AN epitaph UPON THE DEATH of the right honourable Francis, Earl of Bedford, Baron russel etc. And of his most valiant Son, and heir S. Francis, Lord russel, treacherously slain by a Stratagem of the Scotes, and died the day before his noble father.  

Hear underneath the Earl of Bedford lies,  
Whose head was fraught, with Grace, & godly care.  
Who ears were ope, to hear the poor man's cries.  
Whose eyes to wi●h, his neighbour's goods forbore:  
Whose tongue pronounced, but good and godly speech.  
Whose hands 〈◊〉 and seldom did receive,  
Whose holy 〈◊〉 ●●rts of men might teach.  
This painted wo●●d, did nothing but deceive.  
He lived and died, as he with God should reign:  
But O his loss joins with an other rod.  
His noble Son slain by a Scottish train.  
His father lead, the happy way to God,  
Upon a day of trute, they did him wound,  
Whom shame (no doubt) by vengeance will confound.   

Nemo ante obitum beatus.