❧ An Epitaph vpon the death of the right honorable Edward Earle of Darby, Lorde Stanly and Strange of Knocking, Lord and Gouernour of the Isles of Man, Knight of the Noble order of the Garter, and one of the Queenes Maiesties most honorable priuie Counsell. Deceased the. xxiiij. of Nouem. 1572.
SHall shaking hande with drilling teares, deliuer rural verse?
my mourning Muse doth bid me staye, vnable to reherse.
The noble actes of Derby Earle, that late had breath and life:
who was through Realme and forren land, beloued of man and wise.
But sure as teares doe case the heart, that plunged is in paine:
and Sorrow shée will belch foorth sobbes, in séeking rest againe.
Can countrie now at once refuse, with dolors thus opprest?
To shed foorth teares, sith Darbye Earle, is thus now clapt in chest.
Who though in yeres he was, more fitter for the graue,
then long to liue, yet may wée saye, to soone did death depraue.
This noble valiaunt Earle, of his aspiring breath:
whose sage aduise thus lost may be, his countries seconde death.
Though hee in Ormeschurch lye, inclosed now in slime:
yet shall his factes inforce his fame, vp to the skies to clime,
Though ougly Mors with spight, haue reft him of his life:
yet shall his worthy déedes declare, his knowledge was full rife.
That hée in setting ioynt and bone, as stanching bloodie wounde,
to fewe that Chirurgery doth professe, so much doth vnderstande.
Let Sicophantes that nolve doe séeke, by this his death to rayse:
yet let them knowe his worthy factes, hath merited great prayse.
No fines no time he raysde, but Tenauntes were content:
and yet ye shall not heare of worlde, hée greatly raysde his rent.
No toyler in the lawe, though he had profred wrong:
nor yet would séeme to 'ppresse his foe, though he was mightie strong.
But hée by méekenesse made, his foe to be his friende:
the wisest way, all wisemen saye, all quarrels so to ende.
You nobles doe beholde, your péere doe not forget:
who did not long in Marchauntes booke, delight to stande in det.
Who knewe the Marchauntes trade, his money was his plow:
and would not payment long delaye, that dishonour should not grow.
Oh noble Earle of stature meane, but yet of manly hart:
in Scotland thou, with Northfolke Duke, at Kelzey playde thy part.
Of Darby Earle, as Lorde of man, and of the Garter Knight:
and one that in his Princes grace, had very much delight.
Both for his fayth the which, vnto hir grace he owde:
and also for his wisdome graue, in counsayle often showed.
A mind that did delight, in yelding Justice dewe,
an eare still bending downe to heare, poore Sewtors that did sewe.
A hart that rude the plight, of those that were opprest:
a knee to bende to Princely throne, to haue their cause redrest.
A foote that readie was, to ryde, to runne, or go:
to helpe the weake that Mydas might, was like to ouerthro.
An eye that single was, and not with lucre staind:
a hande to helpe the hungrie poore, he in nowise refraind.
How many now shall want, to haue wherewith to féede?
their hungrie corpes which in his life, receyued reliefe at néede.
What mourning make his friendes, of him that are bereft?
what mourning make his yomen all, that he behinde hath left?
How doth his neyghbours all, that dwell in Lancashire?
with sobbes and teares they doe deplore, this death of his to heare.
With teares we all are forst, this noble Earle to wayle:
although that death hath brought to him, a life of greater vayle.
Though Mors his corpes haue seast, that daunger none coulde daunt:
yet in his ende a subiect true, as fame shall aye auaunt.
No Traytor coulde him traine, at no time to rebell:
nor Papist coulde him ought perswade, he liked them not so well.
To deale by their deuice, to holde with Scottish dame:
nor Duke thats dubd, nor Percies pride, that sought their countries bane.
Though Papistes him extoll, and make the worlde beléeue:
yet at his death he them renounst, and to his Christ did cleaue.
Hée knewe their trash be suche on, Masse he did not builde.
but onely calde one Jesu Christ, to helpe him win the fielde.
And thus hée died in Christ, no helpe he sought from Pope:
but in the death and bloud of Christ, he put his fixed hope.
Though slowe of tongue to talke, of curious questions fine:
yet one that read the Scriptures much, no doubt a good Deuine.
He practizd that in life, that he in Scriptures founde:
and so he built vpon the rocke, and not on shiueling sonde.
No bloode he brought in Maries dayes, to burne or for to broyle:
nor well he likt of Spanish pride, that sought this Realme to spoyle.
Now is this Earle from Lathum gone, tourne horse another awaye:
the saint is fled, though shrine remaine, where he was woont to staye.
Let Lancashyre, and Chesshyre both, with teares bring Corpes to graue:
For loe, his happie soule in heauen, the blessed Aungels haue.
As hée in honour runne, a happie race to ende:
So to his sonne now Noble Earle, God graunt him grace to bend.
To treade his Fathers trace, to staye in Gospell pure:
so shall he liue in fathers fame, that euer shall endure.
‘Ʋiuat post funera Virtus.’
¶Iohn Denton Minist.
¶Imprinted at London by VV. VVilliamson, dvvelling in Distaffe Lane.