A Funerall Elegie upon the deplorable and much lamented Death of the Right Honourable Robert Devervex, late Earle of Essex and Ewe, Vicunt of Hereford, Lord Ferrers of Chartley, Bourchier and Loviane, late Lord Generall of the Parliaments Forces, whose Hearse was solemnely solemnized on Thursday the two and twenty day of October, 1646. Being conueied from Essex-House to VVestminster-Abby, where his Body was interred.
THe Easterne
Essex bright resplendant Sun
Now in the West is set his course is run;
Although grim Death hath tane his Life away,
His Honour and his Fame shall live for aye,
For Death he hath outdar'd, as all men knowes,
Both on the Sea, and Laud, to meet his Foes:
His Auncitors were all brave Men of Warre,
Whose valient acts were knowne both neere and far,
His House proclaimed by the Trumpe of Fame,
There's few but weepe to heare of
Essex name;
The many Victories that he hath won,
Doth shew, that he was valient
Mars his
Son;
He in the head of all his Troopes did lead,
Nor thundring Cannon Bullets nere did dread,
His way he cut through his fierce Enemy,
Who at his presence did so often fly,
He bore the brunt at first in thi
[...] fierce VVar,
And in the VVest shone like a Blasing-star;
Though he was Va
[...]ient, yet he blood did hate,
And still was trusty to the
Weale and
State,
So wise, so provident, so bounteous, so free,
That prou'd what every hopefull Soule should bee,
Vnto the meanest
Souldier of his Band
He still was courteous, though he did command,
To save his Men he alwayes had a care,
And in all miseries with them take share,
In his proceedings he was resolute,
Incouraging his valiant Horse and Foote,
Which so inflaim'd their hearts with hot desire,
That they would raither dye then to retire;
Truly Religious he was alwayes found,
Mild, temperate, and of a Iudgement sound,
He was (woe worth the losse) ambitious more,
To climbe with Vertue then aspire with store:
A compleat Generall was
Essex still,
Which made his
Souldiers to obey his will;
His stout Commanders all for him doe mourne,
With droping hearts they bring him to his Vrne,
Rivers of reares run flowing from their eyes,
When they did celebrate his Obsequies;
In fable Weedes a mournfull march they tread,
And (sighing) say, brave
Essex he is dead:
But stay, weepe not, for hee's alive againe,
And with Christ Iesus doth triumph and reigne;
Teares are the outward signes of inward sorrowes,
Mankind to Nature renders what it borrowes:
Ah brittle Nature, doth thy toyle depend
On frailty, as where you begun to end?
Lillies and Roses doe decay and perish,
Whilst bitter Wormewood and sharpe Nettles flourish;
Hee's dead (oh bitter word) of Souldiers prime.
That in his life prou'd Honour to the time:
This sinfull Globe (af meere mortalitie)
He now hath left, and did transcend the Skie,
Passing the Orbes of all the Planets seven,
And Fixed-Starres, whose Soule is fixt in Heaven,
In that Celestiall Paradise of Ioy,
Whereas the Spirit never feels anoy,
There's alwaies cheerfull Day and never Night,
A
[...]waies beholding of Gods glory bright,
All Ioy, no Sorrow, and Mirth without measure,
No Sicknesse, Sorrow, but all Heavenly pleasure,
No Death, no Weeping, nor no Miserie,
M
[...]kenes and Concord, with sweet Harmonie,
Here God doth reigne with Heavenly Angells bright,
Which to behold is a most glorious siight:
Essex his Soule's in Heaven, cease to weepe,
Although his Body in the Grave doth sleepe;
We m
[...]urne on Earth, he ioyeth with his Maker,
(A Soule in blisse is of no griefe Parraker;)
For he is gone in better parts to dwell,
He bid the World good morrow, and farewell.
Finis.
LONDON, Printed by John Hammond, 1646.