AN elegiacal EPITAPH UPON The deplored Death of that Religious and Valiant Gentleman, colonel John Hampden Esquire, A worthy Member of the Honourable House of Commons in PARLIAMENT; who received his death's wound in a battle near Chinnar in Oxfordshire, and deceased At Thame. JUNE, the 27. MDCXLIII.  
SInce God himself did stoop so low, to lay  
His Picture on a piece of that same Clay  
Whereof we are composed, 'tis but just,  
To wail his loss, and to adorn his Dust:  
In doing which, both head and hand may miss,  
For who can portray virtue as it is?  
Or make a true description of that fire,  
That so inflamed him with a brave desire?  
But if a gem, which God both made and bought,  
Of manly shape, yet of more manly thought,  
If Piety, and to the truth true zeal,  
If love and care of Church and common weal,  
If Chastity (rare in a soldier's breast)  
And Temperance, (which Cavaliers detest,)  
If wisdom, courage, and an humble mind,  
●ust dealing unto which he was inclined;  
If love of Peace, of arms, and heavenly Arts,  
And bounty unto men of good deserts,  
May make a man unto his Country dear,  
Brave Hampden justly may exact a tear  
From present and succeeding Ages; then  
Come Albion Muses all, come Maids and Men,  
Come silver swans leave singing on the banks,  
Of Isis' floods, and in you painted ranks  
Ye merry Birds go solitary sit,  
Silence and sorrow, does us best befitt:  
For though we live, yet are we deadly shot,  
(Like strike deer at gaze) and feel it not.  
Then let our tears upon ourselves descend,  
For our heau'n-daring Crimes, which do portend  
More heavy Judgements coming on apace,  
To Court and Country, retrograde to Grace.  
In vain (Dear Hampden) we solicit Thee,  
Whose passive part hath made thee now shot-free  
From Siren's violence, Sin, fear and Death,  
Wherewith we mortals struggle here beneath.  
Then let us strew thy hearse with bud and bloom,  
As Thetis did her loved Achilles' tomb,  
Or rather hang (with Athens) laurel by,  
In token of Thy happy VICTORY,  
Triumphing over all forenamed Foes,  
And whatsoever did Thee here oppose.  
Farewell then honoured Hampden (Heavenly gem)  
Adoring now the new Jerusalem.  
Farewell beloved in Parliament and Field,  
Farewell thy Soldiers faithful broken Shield:  
Farewell thy friends and native Counties stay,  
To them it is an overclouded Day;  
And dismal unto all it may be spoke,  
Save such as love to bear the Romish yoke.  
July, 27. 1643. Per JO: LEICESTER.   

LONDON, Printed by BERNARD ALSOP. 1641.