AN Epitaph of the vertuous life and death of the right worshipfull Ladie, Dame Helen Branch of London widow, late the wife of sir Iohn Branch Knight, sometime the Right honourable Lord Maior of London, and daughter to M. William Nicolson sometime of London Draper:
VVhich said Ladie, deceased on VVednesday the 10. of April last past: and lieth interred in the parish Church of S. Mary Abchurch in London, the 29. of the same moneth. 1594.
VERITAS VIRESSIT VVLNERE
T C
LONDON Printed by Thomas Creede. 1594.
An Epitaph of the vertuous life and death of the Right worshipfull Ladie, Dame Helen Branch of London widow, late the wife of Sir Iohn Branch Knight, sometime the right honorable Lord Maior of London, and daughter of M. William Nicolson sometime of London Draper: Which said Lady deceased on Wednesday the 10. of Aprill last past: And lieth interred in the parish Church of S. Mary Abchurch in London, the 29. of the same moneth. 1594.
SInce that all liuing things we see, on earth that draweth breath,
Do at the last returne to dust, and yeeld themselues to death:
So death vnto the godly ones, is happie end of wo,
For then doth come the end of cares, that tosse vs too and fro.
This world is full of snares and trappes, temptations vnto sinne,
As well in generations past, as this that we liue in.
Compare our selues vnto a tree, which springeth vp with sap,
And brings forth branches goodly ones, which taste of Adams hap.
And as this tree doth grow to strength, the owner of the wood,
May lop away the branches faire, as them which are not good.
So hath he lopt away from vs a Ladie Branch of price,
That liued here right worshipfull, disdaining euery vice:
Whose lacke her friends do much bewaile, but specially the poore,
Whom she continually did feede, abroad, and at her doore.
Right beautifull, and fane was she, in feature and in face,
A modest and a vertuous Dame, indued with great grace:
Daughter to maister Nicolson, a Draper wise and sage,
A man well giuen to honour God, as well in youth as age.
She from her infancie in youth, did leade a vertuous life,
To Maister Mynors sage and graue, she first became a wife.
[Page 4] She issue had by him, one sonne, and daughters also three,
Which all departed very yoong, as Destinies decree.
When Maister Mynors yeelded life to God that gaue the same,
To sir Iohn Branch, then late Lord Maior, she was the spoused Dame.
Right godly and right vertuously, they liued long in ioy,
With deeds of hospitalitie, whereas they saw annoy.
Vnto the Drapers Hall also, she in her life time free,
Gaue fiftie pounds to yoong mens vse, of that good companie:
From foure yeares vnto foure yeares, still remaining without charge,
Which was a deed of charitie, and bountie passing large.
In Abchurch parish where she dwelt, the poore she alwaies fed,
With mony, meat, with coales for fire, somtimes with drink & bread.
To the Lunatickes of Bethelem, she gaue right needfull things,
And not one prison she forgate, from faith such fruite oft springs.
To Maydes to helpe their marriages, (I meane the poorer sort,)
She left reliefe as bountifull, vnto their great comfort.
To Oxford, & to Cambridge both, frō whence good learning flows,
She hath them giuen liberallie, as sequell plainly showes.
To the Hospitals of London too, she gaue a great reward,
And to the poore good store of gownes, she tooke so good regard.
And as she liued a vertuous life, so godly was her end,
The which in letters all of gold, deserues well to be pend.
And now mee-thinkes I see and view, the holie Lambe to greet her,
The Angels and Archangels too, and all the Saints to meet her.
Mee-thinkes I see old Abraham, vnbracing of his brest:
Saving blessed Branch come here and sleepe, and take thy quiet rest.
The Lambe shall wipe away thy teares, his blood hath washt away,
All worldly cares and blemishes, and here is perfect day.
Inioy the sweete melodious tunes, with husbands both reioyce:
Sing Hims & Psalms before the throne, with sweet & pleasant voyce.
For thou hast cloath'd the naked ones, the hungry thou hast fed:
Thou hast bene milde and mercifull, relieuing members dead.
Thou hast not hid my Talents, nor my blessings in the ground:
Thou hast not bene a wauering reed, but faithfull, strong, and sound.
Be thou example to the rest, like goodnesse to ensue:
That they may ioy where thou art blest, thus Ladie good Adue.
FINIS.
S. P.