Great strafford's FAREWELL To the World: Or his VLTIMUM VALE To all earthly Glory.  
Written by his own Hand in the Tower, and left behind him for his friends or foes to peruse and consider.  
Thomas Earl of Strafford L Lieutenant of Ireland.   depiction of Thomas Wentworth, Earl of Strafford 
Printed in the year 1641.   

Great strafford's farewell to the world: Or, his Vltimum Vale to all earthly GLORY.  

YOu whose great birth, and favour with your Prince,  
May make you dream you can all truth convince;  
You whose ambitious thoughts do still aspire,  
And being at the highest, would be higher:  
Observe my life and death, I pray you all,  
And shun my folly to avoid my fall.   

I once was great and greatly in esteem,  
But time misspent I cannot now redeem;  
I had preferment, learning, wit and Law,  
These did advance me, but withal withdraw  
My native goodness from me, so that I  
Grew worse and worse, by growing dignity.   

The Bee and Spider have a different power,  
For note their nature, from the self same flower  
The one sucks honey, th' other poison draws,  
And thus men far in Gods or humane Laws;  
Good wits judge well, the bad make ill construction,  
The latter turns to many a man's destruction.   

I knew enough, less would have been more fit,  
Unless I'd had more grace to govern it;  
My wit and learning made me too too proud,  
And under greatness many sins to shroud;  
I have (although it gave not all content)  
Long time contested with a Parliament.   

I have been long under Sir William's hands,  
Troublesome to the Guard and the train Bands;  
Times ancient Chronicles read o'er and see,  
You'll hardly find a precedent like me;  
But what's become of all my wit and skill?  
I must bid all farewell at Tower hill.   

And I must die in open public show,  
That discontented people all may know,  
When I am gone and being once appeased,  
Heavens grant they may of all their grief be eased;  
The author I have been of many a fault,  
But some will yet survive, that made me halt.   

He that my light and lantern should have been,  
To lead me from, did draw me unto sin;  
His promises and protestations large,  
Made me forget my God, myself, my charge;  
My greatness wanting goodness now is come,  
Unto a heavy, headless mortal doom.   

Ah! why should great men greater wish to be?  
As if they thirsted all for Majesty?  
Is not a Prince's grace, a grace proficient?  
Is not a Prince's favour held sufficient?  
Yes next to Gods, but here's the counterbuff,  
Some great ones think they never have enough.   

Some lately placed very near the King,  
Have had such honour time and chance did bring,  
Such dignities on them have been conferred,  
As that no subjects have been more preferred;  
But what of that? if they had yet had more,  
They that are ne'er content, are still most poor.   

How woeful now am I? once one of them  
Who dreamt of something like a Diadem.  
How wretched is that man that late did hope,  
Perhaps to wear the Mitre, and be Pope?  
Where are those other two that were so great?  
They scarce could have a more Majestic seat.   

Some of them are escaped (God knows whither)  
So far men judge, they'll ne'er return back hither;  
Some of them are in hold, myself am one,  
Who have just cause to grieve, lament and moan;  
I often have been tossed from post to pillar,  
'Tis hard when as the fore horse must go thiller.   

Proud Haman deemed himself much more than man  
But Hester of the King such favour wan,  
That all the devilish plots by Ham●n laid,  
Were found, discovered, frustrate, and made void;  
The fatal tree for Mordecay set up,  
Proud Hamans' death, he tasted first that cup.   

This Haman doubtless was a favourite,  
Did sway the King sometimes against the right,  
He did intent and had commissions sent,  
To cut believers off incontinent;  
But God by Hester did prevent the same,  
And Hamans' project, turned to his shame.   

Achitophel was likewise held so dear,  
That David's Court did hardly yield his Peer;  
He was a privy Councillor, and sat  
Where matters always handled were of state;  
Nevertheless this great man did conspire  
'Gainst David's throne, selfe-hanging was his hire.   

The fall of many favourites in times past,  
Doth not one jot make some men now aghast;  
When once they are advanced and in great place,  
They quickly slight their God and Prince's grace;  
When they have power to do even what they will,  
They'll do small good, yet would be greater still.   

I wonder and admire men should forget  
Their God, their King, themselves, and that same net  
Which truth hath laid to catch all falsehood in,  
This blind stupidity doth cause much sin:  
This was my fault, this caused all my error,  
This filled me first with pride, but now with terror.   

What have the Minions of all former times  
Gained with their honours, but a clog of crimes?  
Hath not their policy and vain ambition,  
Brought them at last unto a low condition?  
Yes, and their dignities had better far  
Been given unto some Swain that drives the car.   

Why then should men so often wish in vain?  
Why should men plod, project and spend their brain?  
Why should men fill their hearts so full of care?  
And all to build up Castles in the air?  
What are vain hopes? but like a blast of wind,  
Only conceived to perplex the mind.   

Our hopes and haps, do for the most part vary,  
Our wishes and th' events, prove quite contrary;  
Our thoughts run most on that which most we crave,  
Which peradventure we shall never have;  
This proverb old is written in Time's hall,  
Proud men may rise, but pride will have a fall.   

This I have tried and found true in myself,  
For notwithstanding all my worldly pelf,  
Yet I perceive there is no trust in man,  
The life even of a King is but a span:  
What is man's love, when God in anger frowns?  
Subjects should never dream of earthly Crowns.   

When Lucifer was placed up on high,  
Almost above Angellique Majesty;  
When he amongst all Angels was the prime,  
He then would needs above his Maker climb;  
But how did God his proud presumption quell?  
He cast him down to be a devil in hell.   

Give unto Alexander Kingdoms store,  
Give him even all the world, he'll wish for more;  
Give Midas his own wish, that all he touch  
May turn to gold, yet he hath ne'er too much;  
No dignity, no earthly riches can,  
Content or please the avaricious man.   

I had (I do confess) at least in part,  
Knowledge of Tongues, the ground of every Art;  
I was my Kings I ieutenant or Viceroy,  
I● arms and arts I did myself employ:  
I was indeed advanced too too high,  
I reigned, I ruled, I raged in tyranny.   

I daily did endeavour to subvert  
The fundamental Laws; I did pervert  
Justice and equity, by fines and tax  
I sought to make the Law a nose of wax;  
My power was great, even reaching to a Crown,  
But want of thankfulness hath brought me down.   

men's highest fortunes like a watery bubble,  
At biggest break, mean while most full of trouble;  
But now in full assurance, I rely,  
Upon the alsufficient Majesty  
Of God above, there lies my faith and hope,  
Living and dying, I defy the Pope.   

God bless the King my sovereign Lord & Master,  
His Queen and offspring heavens keep from disaster;  
God bless both houses of the Parliament,  
Give them united hearts with full content;  
God bless their counsels and proceed all,  
That virtue may be raised, vice may fall.   

I do confess I have deserved death,  
And willingly submit to lose my breath;  
The world I freely with my heart forgive,  
Since all must die, why should I wish to live?  
I justly die by th' Law, fame ring my knell,  
Earth's fading pomp adieu, vain world farewell.    
FINIS.