A Monumental PYRAMID TO ALL POSTERITIES: Erected to the everliving memory, and perpetual Honour of the All-vertuous and Euer-glorious Prince, LODOWICK, late Duke of Richmond and Lenox: Earl of Newcastle, and Darnley, etc. Lord of Torbolten and Methuen, Baron of Settrington, etc. Knight of the Noble order of the Garter. Lord high Admiral and great Chamberlain of Scotland: Lord high Steward to the Kings most excellent Majesties most Honourable Household: Gentleman of his Bedchamber: and one of his Majesty's most Honourable Privy Council for England and Scotland, etc. Who departed this transitory life at his Chamber in White-Hall, on Monday, being the sixteenth day of February, 1624. betwixt six and seven of the clock in the morning, to the great grief of many thousand people of sundry Nations. AT LONDON Printed by Edw. All●de for Nathaniel Butter. 1624. TO THE JLLUSTRIOUS PRINCE ESME, Duke of Lenox etc. Earl of MARCH and DARNLEY etc. Lord of AUBIGNY, Terboten And Methuen, Baron of Settrington etc. And to the learned Princess KATHERINE his Gracious DUCHESS NOt to draw any more tears from your eyes do I publish under your Grace's Protections, this FUNERAL ELEGY. I could not have thought it worthy your view, but that it aims at the conservation of the glorious fame of that lamented Duke your noble Brother, which is to you most dear. I know none can set truly forth his divine Virtues, for his praise is a high-going Sea, that wants both shore and bottom: I do only show my duty in my broken English, both to awaken and encourage Great Britain's Poets, who were struck into a Lethargy by this Princes sudden ascension to Heaven, to lament (in singing his due praise) their irreparable loss, until I can honour France (desolate for his death) with the bright Pattern of his matchless life, more fully in my native Language. Your Grace's devoted, A. Darcie TO THE NOBLE FRIENDS of that lamented Prince the deceased Duke of Richmond and Lenox. THe friendliest office used to the dead, Is their illustrious Virtues for to spread: That though their MORTAL Parts interred lie Their MEMORIES may last Eternally. And to discharge my far obliged Breast These saddest FUNERAL LINES I have addressed Which as I hope shall due Acceptance find With those who keep his VERTVES in their mind. To show my small skill in Poetic vain, I have not undertook this willing pain, But to make known the gratitude I own For Courtesies which undeserved did flow From his full-handed Bounty, unto me WHO RAISED THIS COLUMN TO HIS MEMORY. And if (Great Lords) this Muse may but obtain, Your gracious eye, my labour is not vain. A Monumental PYRAMID TO ALL POSTERITIES: Erected to the everliving memory, and perpetual Honour of the All-vertuous and Euer-glorious Prince, Lodowick, late Duke of Richmond and Lenox, RISE MOURNFUL MUSE MELPOMENE, Relate The woeful Story of a sudden Fate, Which on a great and Noble DUKE befell; No age can this Disaster parallel; Imperious Death his cruel arrow flings, Into the palaces of mighty Kings, Transfixing sometime with impartial hand The highest Nobles of a glorious Land. A Funeral Elegy. His corpse returned to earth from whence it came But from his acts doth rise his worthy fame. Jmmortall Prince! whose name shall never dye; But shall survive to all eternity: How can the memory of such a spirit, Whose deeds of very Envy got his merit, Ever forgotten be? whom to just praise The worthy actions of his life did raise. All you the Worthies of our present days, Whose judgement & experience knew his ways Conversed with his actions and intents, In private and in public managements. To your true understandings it is known, That he might claim all honours for his own. But you thrice noble Princess, late the Wife Of this brave Hero now deprived of life, Who can prescribe a bound unto your moan, Now that your second dearest self is gone? He was the pattern of a perfect man, His singular endowments ever wan A general liking, and a full applause For his upright sincereness in each cause: How quickly do all earthly joys decay, Forsaking their possessors; In a day, An hour, a minute, hard misfortunes fall, Which from our mirth do unto mourning call! O let your brinish tears without all end From th'inexhausted fountains still descend. England lament thy loss of such a Peer, And France, thy Ebon Robes of sorrow wear: But the praiseworthy actions he hath wrought, Till the world's Fabric be to Chaos brought, Shall live perpetual in each age's story, As the due Trophies of his matchless glory! O cruel Tyrant, how canst thou repair This ruin? though hereafter thou shouldst spare All mankind, break thy Dart and Ebon spade, Thou canst on't cure this wound which thou hast made; Achilles falls, and Hector he is slain, When as base Peasants do untouched remain, Beams which shall break forth from his hollow tomb Shall stain times past, & light the time to come: There is no man, though he before were glad, But when he thinks that we his Hero had, And now have lost him, Though he be divine Made by his death, yet will his eyes drop brine; All men are sorry, all do weep their turn, All in their hearts, though not in habits mourn, The gener all land overwhelmed in sorrow lies exclaiming on the cruel destinies, What accident fall'n in a 1000 years, Hath from his friends drawn forth more store of tears? Since the first man that in the world was borne, A fuller number was not known to mourn: But for ourselves, not him, let us lament, Whose happiness is grown our punishment. And is the Pattern of true courtesy, Both humble and with majesty; May his proceed from above be blest With fortunate success and happy rest. And may his Duchess with their Princely Line All live long, and in Sunbright honour shine. For these my worthless lines, let it be said, I hasted till I had this tribute paid Of my poor service; let the speed excuse The zealous error of my sudden Muse: Yet though his praise here bear so short a wing, England hath Poets that his praise will sing In sweeter tunes, and that will make his Hearse To be remembered, while men live or verse. FINIS.