A Dialogue betweene the Church and Common wealth vpon the late departure of that right worthy and honourable Counseller Sir Frauncis Walsingham, who in his life had excellently deserued of them both.
Ezech.4. / 1.Reg.4.31. / 2.Sam.17.16 / Hebr.13.1. / 1.Sam.15.28. / Nehe.2.12. / Iosu.14.12. / Gen.44.1. / Psal.72.6. / Num.11.11,12. / Prov.25.23.
Countrey.
My sister why beest thou so sad,
with mourning weede in blacke thus clad?
Church. The same cause we haue both to mourne,
mine eyes drop teares, thy garments torne.
Count. Then let vs both in mourning striue,
our friend is gone and yet aliue:
Church. Aliue to God, yet sorrowe make,
as bankes and mountaines we may shake.
Count. Nay, that the heauens may giue a sound,
my mournfull voyce shall moue the ground.
Church. From fountaine mine the teares that fall.
with water shall fill euery dale.
Count. Yet mourne I more as widowe left,
as childe of parent deere bereft.
Church. As mother I whose sonne is gone,
or fatherlesse childe so left alone.
Count. Ah wo is me, to death he's thrall,
who husband, keeper was, and all.
Church. Whome I begot, was my reliefe,
for childe and parent double griefe.
Count. From perils great he kept vs sure,
by studie and cost did health procure.
Church. The Papistes he from vs did chase,
his bounteous hand helpt students case.
Count. Iust warre he mooued, yet peace first sought,
the campe in fielde, at home he fought.
Church. The learned sort he did perswade,
their foes by writing to invade.
Count. In iudgement iust, in suites at hand,
in counsaile graue, by poore did stand.
Church. Religion sound, from forraine coast
to straungers he a noble hoast.
Count. A Cato sage, a Solon in minde,
Mæcenas he, of Regulus kinde.
Church. A Mardoche to Prince, in trust
as Haman, Chusai, as Loth the iust.
Count. A Scypio, in suites of Ciceroes skill,
of Fabrice life, Vlysses travill,
Church. Of Dauids minde, of Nehemies charge,
like Caleb, as Ioseph in heart large.
Count. To th' weary sleepe, in slight a seate,
in sea a hauen, a shadowe in heate.
Church. As pleasant raine, of nurses grace,
as winde the cloudes, he euil did chace.
Count. So may his bones now take their rest.
as he in life the poore refresht.
Church. Of heauenly meate he nowe doeth feede,
whose counsaile was of late our meede.
Count. VVhat shall I doe? no teares suffice,
were he aliue, or die we likewise.
Church. And how should Church her griefe descry.
but stay: he's placed in starrie sky.
Count. A tombe of marble shall we cast?
then marble longer fame shall last.
Church. In writing we his name will keepe,
in heauens with diamonde grauen full deepe.
Count. His title shall be faithfull friend,
a father, Countrey to defend.
Church. As one of vs, yet we him call
a pillar, so was he to all.
Count. My Epitaphe I will set downe,
His body's dead, still liues renowme.
Church. Mine shalbe this, thryse he is blest,
whose workes doe followe in Christ at rest.
The Conclusion.
Y'haue wept ynough, ye seeme to me,
both ouercome, or neither to be.
I can not say who hath lost more,
The dolefull Church, or cuntrey poore,
But cease your teares and now reioyce,
Of heauenly myrth he hath made choice.
