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] |
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Sir Hugh Pauletts Epitaphe.
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 | A pleasaunte Laborinth called Churchyardes Chance |  |
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Sir Hugh Pauletts Epitaphe.
No verse a vailes, ne teares maie serue, to waile the want at full:My witts are weake, my words but bare my penne but base and dull.
To frame in forme and stately stile, the lines I ought to write:
I finde my muse orecome with cares, my reason banishe quite.
My hedde so fraught with cold conceits, of newes I knowe full well:
That I had rather crie and rore, and shrillie houle and yell.
Then treate of dreadfull deaths despite, who daiely doeth deuoure:
The noblest fruits of Natures mould, and pluckes the purest flowre.
Death neither looks on mens renowne, nor who maie best be spard:
But like a Theef stealls life awaie, and striks without regard.
Not takyng those that vertue wants, and fills the worlde with vice:
But snapps vp suche that people praise, & worlde holds moste in price.
As loe of late to well was seen, when Paulet left his life:
Forsooke his freends, desired the graue, and went from worthy wife:
To liue and lodge in loftie Skies, where blessed angells are:
And good mens souls doe suretie finde, and rest from worldly care.
No maruell though our troubled sprits, doe make a swete exchange:
And leaues this sowre and bitter soile (and will some coūtrie strāge.)
To goe where Gods in glorie sitts, and where our home must bee:
Yet in my mynde suche partyng is, a wonder greate to see.
When men by toile and labour long, haue purchast suche a praise:
Attainde to wealth and honour bothe (through seruice sondrie waies.)
And on the suddaine leaue these pomps, and pleasures here possest:
As did this knight of whom I spake, who bore about in brest.
A noble harte a constant mynde, a iollie courage greate:
A warme good will to common wealth, that neuer wanted heate.
Brought vp in armes and Marciall feats, a maister of that arte:
Whiche oft in feeld and countreis cause, did plaie a manly parte.
As birth was good and noble sure, so all he went about:
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In office oft, and by his Prince, to credite called still:
In matters graue and thyngs of weight, of deepe foresight and skill.
No talker of good Fortune won, nor boster for vaine bruite:
A tree that seldome blossomde showd, & yet brought forth good fruite
As calme and milde as Sommer winds, that neuer water moues:
And yet as stout to cruell Kites, as gentill with the Doues.
A bodie apte to beare the brunt, of paines and labour long:
A hedde that could conceiue the beste, and sone could put vp wrong.
A freende that vsde no fained phrase, and surely one of those:
That dealt with parfite plainnesse so, he neuer purchaste fose.
A settled rocke a staied trothe, that no deuice could staine:
A Paulet yea a piller too, where Paulet did remaine.
An aide to sutche as wanted helpe, a father free and franke:
To those that onely for good tourns, but barely yeelded thanke.
What resteth more in any man, then was in hym I saie:
Thus Paulet wan a noble brute, and bore the same awaie.
Where vertue at the dreadfull howre, when trompet sounds a loude:
(Emong the cheef and chosen Lambes,) shall sit in sacred cloude.
FINIS.
| A pleasaunte Laborinth called Churchyardes Chance | |