University of Virginia Library

The Epitaphe of Doctor Underhill latelie B. of Oxforde.

What helpeth hap or due deserts to bee in fauour here,
Whē life is mixt with such orethwarts, we buy our fortunes dere.
Gay gold or pearle brought home from farre, at end consumes away,
Great fame attainde by peace or warre, doth quickly heere decay.
The loue of friends and fauour won, of wise and worthy wights,
Steales hence like shadow of the sun, or stars in moonshine nights.
Sate I not safely Vnderhill, (in calmie vale below,)
From bitter blasts and tempests still, how ere the winde did blow.
What suddaine storme then troubles me, that had so sure a seate,
Hath winters wast blown down my tree, that feard no summers heat.
O tell harde Destnies why you did, enuy my happy state?
Infury now, O God forbid I should cry out on fate.
Or braule & chide with churlish Death, for when we hence must goe,
What beareth life or draweth breath, are borne to die I knoe.
My friend is gone, the passing bell hath rung his {rufull} end,
The graue God wote we see full well, doth for his corse attende.
Now Vnderhill lyes vnder ground, knit vp in sheete full short,
Whose wit and learning did abound, as Oxford makes report.
He Bishop was of that faire seate, where floods of wisdome floes,
To whose sweet springs and Fountaine great, a world of people goes.
O would to God he had beene there, when he his time did waste,
And caught conceit some other where, that halde him hence in haste.
His lyfe was such that none could staine, with any blot or crime,
Vnmatcht alone he did remaine, and so spent all his time.
In chaste content and single wise, a good report to gaine,
As one that did this world despise, and held all pleasure vaine.
Held house and table in such rate, as though his rent had bin,
As great as any hie estate, whose wealth comes flowing in.
Kept men that had good gifts of grace, lou'd those that worthy were,
To schollers shewd a cheerefull face, relieu'd them eu'ry where.
His bounty and large librall minde, did daily so exceede,
That he was glad some cause to finde, to helpe all those that neede.
His words were of so great a waight, to ballance eu'rie case,
That who so heard his iudgement straight, would giue his wisedome place.
His sensure made the sentence cleere, & so shut vp the dout,
That sure a ioy it was to heare, him canuase questions out.
His loue and zeale to Prince and state, in Pulpit was exprest,
And what thereof he did debate, surmounted all the rest.
His hauiour was so sweet and meeke, that men might easely know,
No vertue was in him to seeke, he made so full a showe.
For friendship, faith, and dealings iust, he past the greater sort,
An vpright man of speciall trust, with passing comely port.
A thunder-bolt to forraine foes, a skurge to each new Sect,
And one the Lord aboue had chose, to be his owne elect.
Full long before his leaue he tooke, and life made his last end,
Vnto the heauens did he looke, and praied with a frend.
And when the pangs of death arose, as sicknes did increase,
He held vp hands and eyes did close, and went away in peace.
O England hadst thou many such, to be thy Iewels now,
Thou could'st not praise those men too much, if thou wilt way them throw.
Not I alone lament the losse, for many more there be,
A liue to beare this heauy crosse, of sorrow now with me.