A RELATION OF The Manner of the Funerall of the Right Honourable, Robert Devoreux Earl of Essex, late Lord Generall of the Army raised for defence of King, Parliament, and Kingdome.
MVnday last was five weekes the Right Honourable Robert Earl of Essex departed this life; and in acknowledgment of the good and faithfull service to the Publique, and honour of his Person and Name, It pleased the Parliament to allot a large summe of money (besides what was left by the Deceased) towards the honourable Buriall of the said Earle, and voted that the vhole [Page] House should attend at his Funerall Rites. Great preparations was then made for all kind of accommodations befitting such a Solemnity: First, his Corpes was put in a Sere cloth, and afterwards inclosed in Lead; upon which was his Armes 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 Lovain, Lord Generall of all the Parliaments Force, Dyed on the 16. of Septemb. 1646.
Then were most of the Herrolds Painters in London employed to make Banners, Scutchions, Flagges, Streames, &c. and an exceeding great quantity of mourning prepared; And in the great Chamber in his Excellencies house was set up a Hearse covered with black Plush or Velvet; on which was laid the Statu of the said Earle, having a paire of white Boots, skarlet Breeches, a Buff Coat (the same as he wore at Edge-hill fight) with his Parliament Robes, a Sword by his side, a Commanders Staffe in his hand, and an Earles Coronet on his head; the roome was hanged with Broad-cloth, and adorned with Scutchions, as was also the Hearse with his Armes, Colours, Ba [...] ners, and the like; All which remained divers dayes 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 Abby at VVestminster: 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 foure small Coronets upon the Supporters, the velvet being gallantly set forth with his Armes, quartered severall Scutchions, Banners, Mottoes, and the like; the Pavements covered with cloth, and the long Seates or Benches covered; The Abby Church from the Belfrey to the upper and hung with black, and decked with scutchions, a rich Pulpit cloath, and severall other things, which are needlesse to be related: Yet before we come to the solemnity it self, give me leave to cary your thoughts and spectation a little further, viz. to the place where the Corpes of this noble Earle rests.
In a Roome called St. Iohn Baptists Chappell, a little before you go up into Henry the 7 Chappell, as you turn in on the right hand of the Chappel was the earth broken, to make a Vault for a buriall place for his Excellency: in which place had been buried Bo [...]on Abbot of VVestminster, who (as I take it) dyed temper R. 2. And as the manner was to put in the Graue with them a Crostier staffe; so was it by this occasion digged up again, which although it is but wood, yet one end thereof feeles hard, and appears sound: VVee doe no [...] recite this, as though we conceived any vertue in it more then in another piece of wood; but the cause that it continued so long was doubtlesse drinesse of the place in which it lay, and if any one doubt hereof, they may see it.
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But not to digresse 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 halfe in length, a yard and half broad, and height proportionable arched over with Freestone, and in the next Vault to him lyes the Lord Hundsdon. It is said a stately Monument will be erected for him in that place.
VVe will in the next place proceed to the Solemnity of the Funerall it self, which was on this manner
The Solemnity of the Funerall Rites.
On Thursday the 24. of this instant. October about one of the clock in the afternoone, the red Regiment of VVestminster, the Regiments of Southwarke, the Regiment of Hamblets. the 6 Regiments of the Citty of London met in the strand, and Colonell 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 Cittie) 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 Abby 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 blew 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. Collonels. Lieutenant Collon is, Majors. Captains, Reform does, and Gentlemen every one trasing of a Pike, [Page] and Sir William Waller brought up the reare.
After these marched Collonel Tompson bearing his own Banner in close mourning, having a Gowne, with a Hood that came over his head, and part of his face, with his Horse led after him, covered from head to tayle 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 Be [...]fore, Sir Samuel Luke and others with mourning Gowns, in manner as afore said, and their Horses in like manner; carrying Banners.
Then was carryed his Excellencies Spurs and other Emblems of Honour as also the Kings of Herrolds went along with his several Coates of Armes, after w [...]ich went a great many of his Excellencies chiefest Domestick attendance and immediately after them was drawne a rich Charret with 6. stately Horses, with great plums of feathers, and all covered with velvet, the Coach-men and Foote-men having velvet Cassits, and in the Charret lay the Statu of his Excellency, set forth to the life, to the open view of all the beholders in the garbe before declared, and at his head sate one close mourner and at his feete another.
This Charret was honorably attended by the Earle of Warwick Pembroke, Earle of Northumberland, and the rest of the Honourable House of Peiers in long mourning, having their raynes carried up in great state, the Members of the House of Commons followed afte; the Speaker having the Mase 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 Abby Church the statu before mentioned was carried in, and is layd upon the standing Hearse in the Church before mentioned, where it is to remaine during the pleasure of the House or as many dayes as was from his Excellencies death to the time of his burial, and afterwards is to be set up in a presse. Mr. Vines preached [Page] the Funerall Sermon▪ having now given you a perfect relation of the memorable rits performed at the entering of this Honourable Earle, let the Mules joyne in framing an Epetapth which may declare to future ages, the worth and heroick Acts of his Excellency in the entering to enlarge his memory, let us borrow something from famous Drayton.
An Epitaph.
Doe polisht Marble let thy Readers know
VVhat they and what their Children owe
To Essex Name, whose honoured dust
VVe recommend unto thy trust;
Protect his Memory, preserve his Story,
Remaine a lasting Monument of his glory;
And when the ruines shall disclaime
To be the Treasurer of his Name;
His Name that cannot fade shall be
An everlasting Monument to thee.