Upon the much Lamented Departure of the High and Mighty PRINCE, OLIVER LORD PROTECTOR Of ENGLAND, SCOTLAND and IRELAND, &c.  
A FUNERAL elegy.  
IS the States Atlas dead, whose strongest Brain  
Held it from ruin, with his might and main?  
Could not his wisdom, Prudence, Prowess, Zeal,  
And rich endowments for the Commonweal,  
Nor conquering hand, nor people's Votes, nor Tears,  
Nor Prayers for him to prevent their Fears  
Prevail against the stroke of Destiny?  
No, 'tis a Statute-Law that all must die.  
Death is impartial, Kings, and Peasants must,  
When Death knocks at their doors, lie in the dust  
And fate wise Princes seldom so long spares  
As common men, their heads are full of cares,  
Which is the reason that by most is guest,  
Why Joseph younger died before the rest.  
Sceptres and Crowns are oftentimes begirt  
With thorny cares that lying in the dirt,  
Few men would take them up, did they but know  
The thoughts of heart they bring with grief and woe.  
So Henry Bullingbrook on his deaths-bed,  
Henry the Fifth his Son admonished.  
Men ofttimes strive for things they know not what,  
Which being gained, they wish they had them not.  
Crowns cannot respite time, nor hinder fate,  
But are more likely for to antedate.  
This Wise PROTECTOR that is lately dead,  
How was He toiled with thoughts that filled His head  
For to preserve from dangers that appeared  
On every side most justly to be feared?  
Would men lay this to heart I dare profess,  
They'd never envy Prince's happiness.  
They watch when subjects sleep, and counsel take  
For public good, and for the people's sake.  
The People pressed it, and the parliament  
On Him they thought most fit for Government;  
And strove to crown Him, but He that refused,  
And much ado He had to be excused.  
Which shows, that He was loath to undergo  
This burden, but that God would have it so:  
Who heard the people's voice up to the skies,  
Sadly complaining for their Liberties.  
Reflect on Him departed, whom, in vain,  
With Sighs and groans you would call back again.  
How did His great Achievements fill His soul,  
Almost ubiquitary, to control,  
And rule such multitudes, so divided  
In minds and hearts, hardly to be guided▪  
How did His great Employments make Him sad;  
Needing more eyes than ever Argus had!  
To see in every corner, and descry  
Men's private Plots, and hidden Treachery,  
Which did retard, and laid on Him more load;  
Yet could not stop His vast designs abroad.  
Let England, Scotland, Ireland speak what he  
Performed, by making One, these Countries Three.  
Let France, and Holland, Portugal, and Spain,  
Denmark, and Turkey send to us again  
A true Report of Victories He got  
Where ere His Armies martched, almost where not?  
Raising his Trophies not far from the Line;  
Let but Jamaica speak His great design:  
(Hispaniola, by Calumbus found,  
Was first intended to be English ground:  
But here refused; by the King of Castille  
Accepted. Gold may yet be gained by steil,  
Where that the cause is just, but private jars  
Have often hindered great attempts in wars.)  
The Indies, East and West will say no less;  
His Name's renowned with the Antipodes.  
Each day brought a new Conquest, Flanders now  
In part subdued, almost they knew not how:  
Dint of his sword Dunkirk no sooner felt,  
But all the people's hearts like Ice did melt.  
Nor Pompey, Cesar, great Alexander  
Nor great Emperor, the world's commander  
Prevailed so far, counting the time He steered  
At helm: yet by this haste 'twas to be feared  
That these his noble Acts did much portend  
He hasted drawing near unto his end.  
All things did prosper that he undertook:  
And if we nearly into causes look;  
He ne'er attempted any thing, but Cries  
And Prayers made way for His Victories:  
His Devotion may examples give  
To Christian Princes that now do live;  
That if they mean to speed, they must implore  
Aid from above, and seek to God before.  
Thus this Lands Gideon prospered always,  
And, having settled Peace, ended his days.  
At such a time, when as most things do stand  
In a fair posture, both by Sea and Land,  
On the same Day of Thanks, designed to be,  
For Woster, and Dunbar's great victory.  
We wish that his successor may excel,  
And be the son of great Jerubbaal.  Vivit post funera virtus. 
JO. ROW. C. C. C.  
FINIS.