A pleasaunte Laborinth called Churchyardes Chance ::

A pleasaunte Laborinth called Churchyardes Chance

framed on Fancies, uttered with verses, and writtee[n] to giue solace to eury well disposed mynde: wherein not withstanding are many heauie Epitaphes, sad and sorowfull discourses and sutche a multitude of other honest pastymes for the season (and passages of witte) that the reader therein maie thinke his tyme well bestowed. All whiche workes for the pleasure of the worlde, and recreation of the worthie, and dedicated to the right honourable sir Thomas Bromley, Knight, Lorde Chancelour of Englande [by Thomas Churchyard]

Churchyard, Thomas (1520?-1604)

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My Ladie of Lennoyes graces Epitaphe.

An Epitaphe of sir Nicholas Bacon Knight, late Lorde Keeper.

Sir Hugh Pauletts Epitaphe.

Sir VVillyam Courtneis Epitaphe.

Sir VVillyam Pickryngrs Epitaphe.

Maister Hampdens Epitaphe.

My Ladie Baggnalles Epitaphe who died at the Nuerie.

An Epitaphe of one maistres Blunt, The Ladie Pauletts sister.

Maister VValter Archer his Epitaphe, an auncient Borgis of Kilkenie

The Lorde Braies Epitaphe.

Sir Jhon Constables Epitaphe.

The phantasticall Monarkes Epitaphe.

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Of the fickle faithe of men.

Of a Flatterer and a Backbiter.

A good description of a freende.

A warnyng from Courte.

Of a Courtiers life, and how the worst sorte findes beste Fortune.

Of woordes spoken by a greate personage.

A description of Desire.

Of a vicious woman.

Of vnsounde freendes.

A matter of fonde Cupid, and vain Venus.

This showes the vanitie of some hopes.

The meetyng of twoo noble knightes of the Garter (sir Henry Sidney, and the Erle of Essex) in Irelande, twoo miles beyond Dradath the xxj, of September, and 17 yere in the raigne of our souerain ladie Quene Elizabeth.

Of my Lorde cheef Baron that was.

Of a noble personage.

A letter in Maie, sent to Maister Henry Knowles house at Gobbyns.

Of the want of will.

Of twoo vertuous sisters.

Translated out of Latine.

A discription of the goodnesse that growes in Cicilia.

A matter of repulce, goyng to the Sea.

Of one that for vertues sake honored a freend.

VVritten from the Countrey twentie yere agoe, to one that poorely remaines at the Courte yet.

Of an iniurie by faunyng freendes.

Of the quietnesse that plaine Countrey bryngeth.

Of a fearfull Dreame.

Of a harde worlde.

Made against Idell and vain Rimes.

Of the vanitie of youth.

VVritten of a gentleman, whose name is in the verses.

Non est fides super terram.

Of a disdainfull persone.

A letter to maister Cressie.

A speciall trifle on a fickle woman.

Uerses written on the Muster that was made by the Pensioners before the Queene.

VVritten of the Queene, when her highnesse was in trouble.

Verses giuen the Quenes highnesse at windsor.

A Newe yeres gift to the Erle of Ormond, giuen at Kilkennie, when the Erle of Essex was in Irelande.

A touche stone to trie an error from a trothe.

For the losse of a mightie and noble mannes fauour.

Verses that were giuen to the Quenes maiestie.

A rebuke to vaine louers.

Of fained frendshippe.

Uerses that weare giuen to a moste mightie personage.

The louers of the worlde.

Of a noble mynde.

Of doubtfull hope.

Of the flantyng worlde.

Of a fantasticall dreame taken out of Petrarke.

A fancie as an answere to that dreame.

A fantasie on fifteene woordes, endyng all in one letter.

Of the strong and the weake.

Of Youth and Age.

Of the short estate of man.

The praise of mistres Mabell Browne, wherein vertue is honoured.

Of wandryng and gaddyng abroad.

Of faire thynges and foule, where in a vertuous Ladie is sette out.

Of an enemie.

VVritten in the beginnyng of Kyng Edwardes raigne, whiche verses are called Dauie Dicars Dreame.

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Maister Hampdens Epitaphe.

Good life is knowen through deathes despite, and when to graue wee goe:
Good life steppes forthe of shroudyng sheete, and doeth our vertues showe.
The yearth can claime but fleshe and bones, and leaue the reste to fame:
The heauens lookes, but for the soule, and worlde retaines good name.
So somwhat man doeth leaue behinde, that shines like lanterne clere
Note well the same ye mourners all, that stands about this bere.
And doe but liue as Hampden did, and get that garlande gaie:
And smell but on that posey sweete, that Hampden boare awaie.
What liuyng man can make reporte, he harmde hym any where:
So vpright was the harte in breast, that Hampdon still did beare.
His harte was iuste, his hands were franke, his words were meeke & milde:
A presence that declarde his minde, was harmlesse as a child.
A gladsome countenance would he shewe, when sorowe searcht hym throwe:
Though Fortune frounde, she could not chaunge, his cherefull merie browe.
A pleasant freende, cleane voide of fraude, bothe honest true and wise:
In court so loude that now the teares, ronnes gushing frō their eyes.
When thei but speake of Hampdens name, an offcer liked so well:
Shall neuer sure from countrey come, in Court againe to dwell.
O happie is that Prince that hath, sutche seruantes at the neede:

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And blessed is that lande and soile, that doeth sutche subiects breede.
Thrise happie is the wife I trowe, that sutche a housbande findes:
And perfect honest is that man, that Hampdens vertue mindes.
Good birthe and auncient blood doeth breede, in noble nature still:
Good maners & good life withall, whiche wins the worlds good will.
So Hampdens waies did well declare, from whence began his race:
And told what marke he thought to hit, when death bid life giue place
Well freend the Goddes hath graunted thee, that thou hast sought so long:
A croune of glorie for thy life, or els thei doe thee wrong.
Here we be lefte in wicked worlde, and finde but fewe like thee:
Wherefore my sprite through clouldie skies, would after Hampdon flee.
Though thou hast ronne thy race before, I followe on full faste:
And hope aboue in Abrahams breast, our soules shall meete at laste.

FINIS.

University of Virginia Library

Maister Hampdens Epitaphe.