A LETTER OF Mr. Casaubon. WITH A MEMORIAL OF Mris Elizabeth Martin, late deceased.  MICAH 7.8. 
Rejoice not against me, O mine Enemy; when I fall, I shall arise; when I sit in Darkness, the LORD shall be a Light unto me.  
O te Beatum Cespitem tanto Hospite!  
O cui invidere cuncta possint Marmora!  
LONDON, Printed by NICHOLAS OX'S for GEORGE NORTON. 1615.   

ADMODUM REVEREND. ET ILLUSTRIBUS VIRIS, DN o. JOHANNI, EPISCOPO SODORENSI; DN o. CLEMENTI THROGMORTON DN o. JOHANNI REPINGTON Equitibus Auratis. DN is & Amicis Honorandis: L. M. Q. D. D. D.   

To the Reader.  
HAppening upon this Letter of Mr. CASAUBON 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, (writ (as may appear) upon Extraordinary Occasion) together with some Funeral Lines, which (in regard of the Subject) were a Piaculum to smother; 
* Quis Thrax defunctis, in Christo 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 neget?  I here offer them to thy courteous view. It is Piety (saith Naz.) to publish the deceaseds Virtues; yea, it is a means to increase grace in our own selves. Vale; & sanctas Vmbras, Animamque planè divinam, quâ par est Veneratione, sequere.  
I. M.   


Eruditissimo & Magnae Spei Adolescenti, (* ⁎ *) Amico Singulari & Honorando.  
BInas paucis diebus à te accepi: priores rei magnitudine quam narrabant dederunt me in stuporem: nam certissimum Miraculum quae scribis continent. Caeterum à Deóne sit 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 an 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 nostrum non est pronuntiare, illorum est qui rei gestaefuerunt aut testes aut testium familiares, quique de eo quod accidit 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, peritiam habent voluntatis divinae circa miracula. Quare praestantissimis Theologis illustris Academiae vestrae hoc 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 relinquo tractandum: mihi volupe fuit cognoscere 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉: illi quaerant 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉. Quod si quid ab aliquo eorum fuerit super ea re sane mirabili scriptum, magnam inieris à me gratiam si id mecum communicaveris. Ego Operi instituto Dei gratiâ finem his diebus imposui; jamque me habet cura illiberalis de conficiendis indicibus: quos confecit homo & doctus & bonus, sed ei negotio parum aptus: itaque magna pars illius operae in humeros meos recidit, praesertim quod ad Auctorum indicem qui vel illustrantur vel emendantur in hoc opere. Habebunt mei inimici in quo exerceant: irritavi enim totam 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, eo quidem alacrius, quia confido non defuturos mihi in Anglia defensores adversus illorum putidas calumnias. jam vir insignis, Rector Prideaux, eximio opusculo declaravit quodnam esset doctorum in hoc regno de meis studijs judicium. Itaque amorem, vestrum pluris facio quam omnes omnium 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉. Sed moror te. Hoc tantum addam, optare me scire quibus in studijs nunc sis, & quid porrò mediteris. Vale & me ama vir eruditissime, 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉. Londini. VI Eid. Feb. incunte ante paucas horas Natali meo LVI. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 qui utinam quod praeterijt vitae meae, tegat; quod superest regat. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉.   

The same Englished. To his Singular and Honoured Friend, etc.  
I Received lately two Letters from you: The first transformed me wholly into Wonder: without doubt the thing you writ of, is miraculous: But WHENCE, I cannot affirm. They may best conjecture, that were Eye-witnesses, or of their nearest acquaintance, & they that have the Spirit of Discerning, etc. In which regard I leave the discussing thereof to the Most Excellent Divines of your Illustrious University. The Knowledge of it was pleasing to me; the Cause I refer to them, whose judgements on such an Admirable Event, I should be very glad to hear. I have at length (by God's Help) ended my Work (against BARONIUS) and am now busy in gathering the Index of Authors that are Illustrated or Corrected. I have stirred a whole Hornets-nest of Adversaries; the more confidently, in that I doubt not but some in England will defend my Name from their base and unsavoury Calumnies. Mr. Doctor Prideaux hath lately show'd in an Excellent Work, what the Learned of this Kingdom judge of my Labours. Your Love is of more force with me, than all the Spirits of Detraction. I desire to hear further from you, etc.  
LONDON, the VI of the Ideses of February: the 56t year of my Age, by the Grace of my Merciful God, whom I beseech to cover what is past, and govern what is to come.  


jacobus Martynus.  
〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉.  
Casauboni Myrtus.    ISAACUS MARTINUS, GERMANUS, fecit.   

TO THE RIGHT WORSHIPFUL AND WORTHY, MY MOST ENDEARED AND EVER HONOURED MOTHER-IN-LAW, MISTRESS MARY GREY;  
I CONSECRATE THIS, DEVOTE MYSELF, WISH ALL THE COMFORTS AND BLESSINGS OF THIS LIFE, AND A CROWN OF GLORY IN THE NEXT.   

D. O. M. S. LECTISS ae. FAEMJNAE. CONJUGI. SEMPER. COLENDAE. ET. VSQVE. ET. VSQVE. DEFLENDAE.  
DN ae. Elisabethae. Martinae. SUFFOLCIENSI. SINGULARI. SEXUS. SVI. ORNAMENTO. E. NOBILI. GRAIORUM. PROSAPIA. ORIUNDAE. AETERNAE. BEATITUDINIS. CANDIDATAE. CVIVS. CORPUS. GLORIOSAE. RESURRECTIONIS. EXPECTATIONE. HIC QVIESCIT.  
I. M.  
MARITUS. MOESTISSIMUS. HOC. PIETATIS. SVAE. QVALECUNQVE. SYMBOLUM. L. M. Q. P.  
Pijssimè in Christo obdormivit (ex Occulta Tabe) Aᵒ MDCXIV Decembris 7. 
Climax vita fam. senarijs desunt.  aetat. 24. Vitae Climacterico. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉.   

On the Decease of my Incomparable Sister, Mistress ELIZABETH MARTIN.  

TO the dear Memory of the most Dear,  
I set apart this Ink, more sad than Tears:  
These are the Cypresse-branches that I bear,  
The mourning Habit that my sad Soul wears:  
This the Impresa that my Sorrow bears:  
If This, not feelingly define my Smart,  
'Tis not defect of Woe, but want of Skilful Art.   

Within the Centre of my Troubled Soul,  
A Monument unto thy Name I'll build,  
And there with Teare-filed Characters enrol  
Those Bright Perfections that thy Life did gild;  
The Graceful Good that all thy Actions filled.  
There shall my Love thy sad Loss memorise,  
When all the World shall cease to mind thy Obsequies.   

Then deign to take of the Obscurest Hand  
These well-deserved Attributes of praise;  
I know thy Trophies not the higher stand  
Because my Hand desired thy Name to raise:  
Fair Angelized Soul, these humble Lays  
And worthless Numbers give thy Light no lustre,  
But show those Shapeless Woes that in my Bosom muster.   
MARY.   

To her Soule-loved Sister, Mris E. M.  

THough Marble, nor the Proudest Monument,  
Can Splendour add to thy Starre-crowned Fame,  
That now triumphest above the Firmament,  
Where Glorious Lights all Mortal Sparks out-flame:  
Yet deign (Sweet Saint) t'accept these lines of mine,  
Which here I offer at thy Sacred Shrine:   

EPITAPH.  
WHo living was Her Sex's ANADEM,  
heavens fair IDEA, Natures rarer GEM,  
Needs not the Lustre of DIVINEST PRAISE,  
though Golden Statues KINGS to Her should raise;  
Since that Her Name is registered on high,  
In th'Happy ANNALS of ETERNITY.   
ANNE GREY.   

PARODIA.  

SO down the Silver Streams of ERIDAN,  
On either side banked with a Lilly-wall,  
Whiter than both, rides the Triumphant Swan,  
And sings his Dirge, and prophesies his Fall,  
Diving into his watery Funeral;  
As SHE (whose Gold-beamed fame shall never date)  
Fore-warn'd in sleep, did prae-divine her Fate.   

So fairest Phosphor the bright morning-star,  
But newly washed in the Green Element,  
Before the drowsy Night is half aware,  
Shooting his flaming Locks with dew besptent,  
Springs lively up into the ORIENT;  
As Globes of Winged Angels, swift as Thought,  
ELIZA's Soul to her dear SAVIOUR brought,   

Why spend we Tears (that never can be spent)  
On her that VALE of TEARS no more shall see?  
Why send we Sighs (that never can be sent)  
To her that died to live, and would not be,  
To be there where she would? here bury we  
This Heavenly Earth; O let it softly sleep:  
" Let's not for Her, but for our own Sins weep.   

Had I a voice of Steel to tune my Song,  
Were every verse as smoothly filled as Glass,  
And every Member turned to a Tongue,  
And every Tongue were made of sounding Brass,  
Yet all that Skill, and all that Strength, alas,  
Should it presume to gild, were mizadvized,  
The Place, where now she reigns Imparadized.   

Impotent Words, weak Sides, that strive in vain,  
In vain, t'emblazon that so heavenly Sight,  
So Heavenly Sight, as none can greater feign,  
Feign what he can, that seems of greatest Might,  
Might any yet compare with Infinite?  
Infinite sure those joys, my words but light;  
Light is the Palace where she dwells. O Blessed Wight!   Blessed are the dead that dye in the Lord. 
PENELOPE GREY.   

TO THE SOUL.  

PErfections fair Idea, that art crowned  
With more rich Attributes of Excellence,  
Than all the Wonders of this spacious Round;  
Of more Regard, of Higher Consequence;  
Above them all thou hast Pre-eminence,  
In thy most powerful Maker's arms embraced,  
And with his own Endowments amply graced.   

Just, Holy, Righteous, Innocent and Wise:  
Such is the Soul, jehovahs' sole beloved;  
These are the Lustres of her Sphery Eyes  
That her to him unparalleled approved.  
Angels, at this amazed, stand unmoved  
To see the Glories that do her endow,  
As Heaven itself to abject Earth should bow.   

Then banish hateful Passion unto Hell,  
That veils with Cupid's Scarf the clearest sight,  
And doth True judgement from his Throne expel,  
Circling with shades Heavens love-deserving Light,  
Making Obscurity then Day more bright.  
Disdain this servile Yoke of base Subjection,  
For drossy Earth deserves not thy Affection.   

heavens brightest Abstract, canst thou condescend  
These mundane vanities to meditate?  
Why dost thou not thy best Devotions bend  
Thy Mighty Maker's Power to contemplate?  
To Him, thy Love and Service consecrate,  
Whose ever-gratefull Truth knows no Defect,  
But gives for Love a more than dear Respect.   
Mary. q. G.   

* ⁎ * ⁂  
THe Church doth not solemnize the Birth of Saints; it makes the day of their Death a Festival: Diem Fatalem, Natalem; which is another kind of Birth than the first; there being no more proportion betwixt the World out of which they go, and Heaven whereinto they enter, than there is betwixt the Womb out of which they go, and the World whereinto they enter. We must drink Thu Cup JOYFULLY when God presents it. Christ himself, his blessed Virgin-Mother, all the Saints in Heaven have begun to us. Christians, that have a firm hope (in Christ) of Eternal Life, should not be scared with a Temporal Death. 
* 1. Thess. 5.9.10.  God hath not appointed us to wrath: but to obtain salvation by our Lord jesus Christ, who died for us, that whether we Wake or Sleep, we should live together with Him.  
FINIS.