A PERFECT RELATION OF The memorable Funeral of the Right Honourable Robert Earl of Essex; whereto divers things are explained, which were not understood by many of the Spectators. Also, the manner of his embarking, and the inscription written upon his breast, and buried with his body; and the finding of a Crosier Staff in digging of the Vault. London Printed for B. A. 1646. A RELATION OF The Manner of the Funeral of the Right Honourable, Robert Devoreux Earl of Essex, late Lord General of the Army raised for defence of King, Parliament, and Kingdom. MVnday last was five weeks the Right Honourable Robert Earl of Essex departed this life; and in acknowledgement of the good and faithful service to the Public, and honour of his Person and Name, It pleased the Parliament to allot a large sum of money (besides what was left by the Deceased) towards the honourable Burial of the said Earl, and voted that the uhole House should attend at his Funeral Rites. Great preparations was then made for all kind of accommodations befitting such a Solemnity: First, his Corpses was put in a Sere cloth, and afterwards enclosed in Lead; upon which was his Arms cast or engraver, and an Inscription, wherein his Titles were set forth, and the time of his death in this wise. Robert Devoreux Earl of Essex, and Ewe, Viscount Hereford, Lord Peirers of Chartley Bourchier, and Louvain, Lord General of all the Parliaments Force, Died on the 16. of Septemb. 1646. Then were most of the heralds Painters in London employed to make Banners, Scutcheons, Flags, Streams, etc. and an exceeding great quantity of mourning prepared; And in the great Chamber in his Excellency's house was set up a Hearse covered with black Plush or Velvet; on which was laid the Statu of the said Earl, having a pair of white Boots, scarlet Breeches, a Buff Coat (the same as he wore at Edge-hill fight) with his Parliament Robes, a Sword by his side, a Commanders Staff in his hand, and an Earl's Coronet on his head; the room was hanged with Broadcloth, and adorned with Scutcheons, as was also the Hearse with his Arms, Colours, Ba●ners, and the like; All which remained divers days together in great state, and a great number of People resorted thither to behold it. And as these preparations were in his House; so was there the like in the Abbey at Westminster: for at the upper end of the Church where the Communion Table stood, was erected a Hearse, which was made four square, standing on large Pillars, about 12. foot high; the edges are guilt with gold, and hung round about with Velvet, And on the top of the Hearse a rich Coronet, and four small Coronets upon the Supporters, the velvet being gallantly set forth with his Arms, quartered several Scutcheons, Banners, Mottoes, and the like; the Pavements covered with cloth, and the long Seats or Benches covered; The Abbey Church from the Belfry to the upper and hung with black, and decked with scutcheons, a rich Pulpit cloth, and several other things, which are needless to be related: Yet before we come to the solemnity itself, give me leave to carry your thoughts and spectation a little further, viz. to the place where the Corpses of this noble Earl rests. In a Room called St. john Baptists Chapel, a little before you go up into Henry the 7 Chapel, as you turn in on the right hand of the Chapel was the earth broken, to make a Vault for a burial place for his Excellency: in which place had been buried Bo●on Abbot of Westminster, who (as I take it) died temper R. 2. And as the manner was to put in the Grave with them a Crostier staff; so was it by this occasion digged up again, which although it is but wood, yet one end thereof feels hard, and appears sound: We do no● recite this, as though we conceived any virtue in it more than in another piece of wood; but the cause that it continued so long was doubtless dryness of the place in which it lay, and if any one doubt hereof, they may see it. But not to digress any longer, let us return again to what we have in hand, and give you a view of the Vault prepared in the place aforesaid, which is about two yards and a half in length, a yard and half broad, and height proportionable arched over with Freestone, and in the next Vault to him lies the Lord Hundsdon. It is said a stately Monument will be erected for him in that place. We will in the next place proceed to the Solemnity of the Funeral itself, which was on this manner The Solemnity of the Funeral Rites. On Thursday the 24. of this instant. October about one of the clock in the afternoon, the red Regiment of Westminster, the Regiments of Southwark, the Regiment of Hamblets. the 6 Regiments of the City of London met in the strand, and Colonel Manwerings Regiment of horse, consisting of 6 Troops marched to the broad place against white-Hall, All the Regiments of foot (except the blow and red Regiment of the City) stood along the street from Essex House in the strand, to westminster, and presently after two of the clock, the horse began to march towards the Abbey westminster, there walking by them threescore and ten poor mourners (or Gown men) and after them 12 Almemen belonging to the Church. Then came the blue Regiment of the City (that were with his Excellency at Ne●gbury fight, and after them the Red of the City, before whom there went many of the Parliaments ●ens servants Mourners. Next unto the the red Regiment came by estimation about 800. Colonels. Lieutenant Collon is, Majors. Captains, Reform does, and Gentlemen every one trasing of a Pike, and Sir William Waller brought up the rear. After these marched Colonel Tompson bearing his own Banner in close mourning, having a Gown, with a Hood that came over his head, and part of his face, with his Horse led after him, covered from head to tail with black cloth, which came almost to the ground, and on his head a stately sether and a great sprig standing upright on his Rump and after him went Sir William Before, Sir Samuel Luke and others with mourning Gowns, in manner as afore said, and their Horses in like manner; carrying Banners. Then was carried his Excellency's Spurs and other Emblems of Honour as also the Kings of heralds went along with his several Coats of Arms, after w●ich went a great many of his Excellency's chiefest Domestic attendance and immediately after them was drawn a rich Chariot with 6. stately Horses, with great plums of feathers, and all covered with velvet, the Coachmen and Footmen having velvet Cassits, and in the Chariot lay the Statu of his Excellency, set forth to the life, to the open view of all the beholders in the garb before declared, and at his head sat one close mourner and at his feet another. This Chariot was honourably attended by the Earl of Warwick Pembroke, Earl of Northumberland, and the rest of the Honourable House of Peiers in long mourning, having their reins carried up in great state, the Members of the House of Commons followed after; the Speaker having the Maze carried before him and every one walking in a solemn posture as befitted the occasion and after them many Aldermen of the City and Assembly of Divines. When they came to the Abbey Church the statu before mentioned was carried in, and is laid upon the standing Hearse in the Church before mentioned, where it is to remain during the pleasure of the House or as many days as was from his Excellency's death to the time of his burial, and afterwards is to be set up in a press. Mr. Vines preached the Funeral Sermon▪ having now given you a perfect relation of the memorable rits performed at the entering of this Honourable Earl, let the Mules join in framing an Epetapth which may declare to future ages, the worth and heroic Acts of his Excellency in the entering to enlarge his memory, let us borrow something from famous Drayton. An Epitaph. Do polished Marble let thy Readers know What they and what their Children own To Essex Name, whose honoured dust We recommend unto thy trust; Protect his Memory, preserve his Story, Remain a lasting Monument of his glory; And when the ruins shall disclaim To be the Treasurer of his Name; His Name that cannot fade shall be An everlasting Monument to thee.