University of Virginia Library

TO THE PIOUS MEMORY

Obiit. Feb. 26. Anno Domini 1638.

of Sir Richard Hutton Knight;

And lately, One of his Majesties Justices of his Highnesse Court of Common Plees at Westminster.

An Elegie.

Great Æsculapius, hadst thou none to kill
But Britaines grave Hortensius with a pill?
Hippocrates his Maxim never ment
On Goodmens lives to make experiment
But on indulgent patients, who did breath
Lesse spirit in their life then in their death:


For their inglorious Ev'nings could forbid
Others to doe ought lesse then what they did.
Tell me, O tell me! who could with his eye
Survey a gracefull-usefull Nurcerie,
Stored with various plants that might befit
Their Masters turne for Shade or Benefit,
And in this Seminarie to cut downe
An humble-mounting Tamrick, though full-growne
Whose very Site might prove him to be made
A Grace for some, to other plants a Shade?
Injurious Fate! if I may justly call
That Fate unjust, which is impartiall;
Why wouldst thou not in this vast wildernesse
(Where every worldling seemes to interesse


His sole imployments, as no place but here
Were th' Native soile whereto he must adhere)
Cull out such rotten and worme-eaten trees
Who keep a place, but promise no increase?
Some might thy subtile eye have quickly found
Crook'd, or with swelling bunches to abound;
Others so strangely wreath'd, 'twere hard to know
By their loose-dangling tops what way they grow.
Others so freely spreading, as their root
Takes so much ground, it holds all others out.
Others Time-statists, scorning to incline
To any compleat humour but of Time.
Others like Sprigges from th' Phœnix ashes bred,
Fix on that Sun by whom they'r nourished;


From which should thousand motes like atomes rise,
They'd vow them beames darted from Phœbus eyes.
And coulds't chuse none of these to make a dish
For hungry wormes, and close a Subjects wish?
These doe no good, they trouble but the earth
By making goodnesse labour of a dearth.
But say, Grand-Artizan of pick and spade,
If thou in purple hast desire to trade,
Traverse thy ground, thou canst not safely erre,
But finde Intelligencers ev'ry where.
Here maist thou finde a Cœlius, one of might,
Who pleads worse with his left hand then his right:
A Critick Consull, who Records can tax,
And make the Law a very nose of wax.


Neat-glorious Glosses can his Art finde out
Either to raise or reconcile a doubt:
And with such confidence, as if this man
Were held the Ages sole Iustinian:
Yet of his reasons he no ground can gather,
Unlesse he lye them on an unknown father.
Hows'ere, his weake Assertions are held good,
And long-approv'd e're they be understood.
But th' Reason why he beares such high command
Is this, “Hee's great for whom he seemes to stand.
There a loose-liv'd-licentious Appius
Who woo's his mistresse with a rev'rend busse:
A purple-prostitute, that hides this mote
With gravity and colour of his coat.


Yet who should see this uselesse Trunk, would sweare
His age had made him fitter for a Beare
Then amorous embraces; and this grave
Grave-sinking Patriot must his Doxie have,
Who in her active postures is so pliant,
She feeds on him, as he did on his Client.
There a sweet-sented Flavius, who could speake
More Tully in steletting of his peak:
Or twirling his Mouchato's, then those low
Declining drossie Groundlings e're could doe.
Flowers of selected phrases spring by nature,
While matter must serve words, not words the matter:
No aire sounds unaffected, which imparts
More musick to our eares then to our hearts.


Yet though his tongue be smooth, his body small,
Within he stores huge Magazins of gall,
Which raise in him such indigested passion,
As if styles of disgrace were all in fashion.
Were not this Bird, in earnest tell me Fate,
Farre fitter for thy Cage then for our State?
Surely, I think, it would availe thee much
(His moving tongue and eloquence is such)
To have him for thine Orator, to draw
Poore Mortals to submit them to thy law:
And though he hold himselfe for Death unfit,
He might move others to encounter it.
There a word-scattering Pytheas, who affords
A drop of reason for a sea of words.


Of numerous discourse, and so well fraught
As he speakes more then ever he was taught:
And in those conscript Magisteriall Seats
A Chaos too of Cases he repeats,
How properly I meane not to debate,
Hows'ere it argues a retentive pate.
Thus Aristippus findes stones set on stones
Senselesse of widowes teares, or orphanes moanes.
THESE eye the Clock, and measure out the day
In numbring houres, not hearing what men say.
What rich, enamel'd Shadowes (Fate) are these,
Who fat themselves to foster a disease?
These suck full fortunes from a Gooses quill,
By setting of their Names unto a Bill


Which (as they seldome doe) if they read o're,
They are no wiser then they were before.
But a Cramm'd purse can never knowledge want,
'Tis want of meanes displaies the ignorant.
There a corrupt Sysambris, who would win
A pretious Bribe with losing of his skin.
There a Turinus, who in ev'ry nook
Deludes poore people with the sale of smook.
These Chymicall Impostors from grosse mold
Extract th' Elixir of refined gold
And never surfet, till their mouthes be fill'd
With that rich gravell their injustice pill'd.
For as the Horseleach crieth still, more, more,
So they desire new measure to their store,


Which like Erichthous bowels, swell so fast,
As they consume their owners lungs at last.
Now tell me Fate, wer't thou enjoyn'd to steale
This pretious treasure from our Common-weale,
And spare impurer mettals soild with rust,
Who lay a shame upon their Countrey's trust?
There was a time, but no such place as kere,
When to Anticyræ such shipped were
As honour'd goodnesse: No inhabitants
Admitted were but timing Sycophants,
Lascivious Palliards, who made publick sale
Of vestall-virgin-honours by retaile.
Dark shops were in request to vend base ware,
Each in an act of knavery claim'd his share.


Whole Sholes of bankrupt Marchants week by week
Broke, and those held the wisest that did breake
For most, and when it lay within their power
Could subtilely delude their Creditour.
Petitionarie Pattenties grew strong,
Pretending by prescription to doe wrong:
State-prolling Sherkes, who to supply their turne
Laugh'd in their sleeves to see their Country mourne
Nought smel'd of profit, though it took beginning
From that contagious-leprous source of sinning,
But't relished: yet how did these bestow
This large distreaming fortunes over-flow
But on Vitellian bankets, luscious fare,
Phantastick habits? while their Ladies care


Extended to a Play hill, a Caroach,
A compleat Usher, or Postillion Coach;
A Bevy of out-landish Tirewomen,
For nought could suit their humors that was cōmon.
No Artist, were he never held so rare,
Tasting no other but his countrey aire
Could gaine request: those onely bore renowne
Who were least knowne to fashions of their owne.
Those then were honest men, who in good troth
Could mince an oath, and cheat, and wipe their mouth,
Guild vertue with pretences, and deceave
Deluded eyes with onely seeming grave.
No reall goodnesse purchas'd them esteeme,
Those were held good, that did but goodly seeme;


Yea, seeming-good lost her account in time,
And by degrees fell into that decline
As those who gave a countenance to good
Were held degenerating from their blood:
So as to lye a blemish on His fame
Whose actions were a glory to his name;
Or to detract from good men, or disgrace
A Magistrate or Iustice in his place
Was held an act of honour;—Th' Counterfeat
Taxing a Iustice on his Iustice Seat
Was an high-Mufty made; none durst reprove
His frontlesse impudence, but highly love
His resolution, though his phrentick Spirit
Meerly consisted in debasing merit:


Nor needed this indulgence, though he err'd,
In good mens thoughts, he ever was preferr'd.
Those onely Martiall Chevalieres were held
Could veile a plume of feathers in the field;
Speake bigge to their inferiours, and define
(What they had got off booke) their discipline.
Then ranke their squadrons in each regiment,
Though they knew little what their Captain meant,
Nor he himselfe, while he by mimick charmes
Could gull the State, and guild his harmlesse Armes.
BUT our's a golden age, a glorious State,
Where no such Scarabees surround our gate;
Our Purple-conscript-fathers are divine
And scorne to cloze with th' humour of the time.


They shun preferment as our Clergie doe,
And would decline it, were it offer'd too.
Their Iudgements and Decretals do proceed
From a discreet, sage and judicious head:
For what imports the publicke interest
That they deliver with a constant breast.
Our Courtiers too, they have no trickes to please,
To purchase suits, desertlesse offices.
Free are they from all avaritious thirst,
What they preferre it must be honest first,
For else to gaine an Empire they'l not doe it,
Nor shew least gracefull countenance unto it.
These seriously examine ev'ry point
In such a suit, before they'l stirre a joint,


As thus: “Is't honest? may it not offend
“The State? inferrs't not some peculiar end?
“May't introduce no president of ill?
“Nor with suspicious feares the people fill?
“Doe'st undermine no Trade? No Commerce stay?
“Nor turne our Traffick cleare another way?
“Doth it not trench upon some Company?
“Nor wrong the State by some Monopoly?
“May I present't with honour, and come off
“Like a wise Courtier without a scoffe?
“May I ingratiate him do'es imploy me,
“That no calumnious Agent may annoy me?
“May I with reputation so proceed
“As no just rub t'ancipate my speed.


“Is the foundation firme whereon I stand?
“Does't promise good successe if rightly man'd?
“Should it be granted, as't importeth one
“Would it doe good to many, hurt to none?
This our good Courtiers weigh, as may appeare
By many Suits presented lately here:
Wherein sole love to goodnesse was their aime,
Which they preferr'd before their Pattents gaine.
Our Ladies too are modest in attire,
They see no forraigne dressings they desire;
No cerussed complexion they endure,
To feed vain fancie with as light a lure;
They keep their windowes shut; no bosome bare,
It must be private if they take the aire.


They sacrifice not th' Morning of the day
Unto their Glasse, nor th' Ev'ning to a Play;
Our Court-rere bankets seldome they frequent,
But make their Feasts a pœnitentiall Lent.
They care not for priority of place;
Nor wooe affection with a borrowed face.
They love not to consort, nor to be knowne
To any Favorites but to their owne.
Snayles may be well their Embleames, for they live
Still within doores, lest they should Patterns give
Of wandring unto others; They are chary
Whom to admit, but whom they meane to marry.
Their Usher, though he be a proper man,
Ha's but accesse unto them now and than,


And then he stands at distance, lest he tempt,
Or his familiarity breed contempt.
They aske not what this dressing cost, nor flower,
Fruitlesse expences they reserve for th' poore,
And with as free extensive hand they give it
While every farthing sweetned is with Civit.
If a light-amorous line approch their hand,
Like a poor-wounded Deare at Bay they stand,
Astonisht at the folly of such men,
Who ravell Time out with so light a pen.
Yet they'l peruse the Letter ore and ore
And finde, perchance, more then they found before,
Not to admire him nor affect his straine
But to disgrace him when they meet againe;


Yet with such sweetnesse, he shall hardly know
Whether in earnest they be mov'd or no.
Such modest-Matron-Mirrors, Ladies be;
They coynesse love, though Love's their liverye.
Our Camp-Commanders too, they merit praise,
Who had they liv'd in Agamemnons dayes,
Those fierce Atrides, or in Armes had come
When Carthage was beleagred by Rome,
Brave Hannibal, Hamilchar, Asdrubal
Had rais'd their Citie to a Capitall.
So active is the Gentry of our time,
So docile too in feats of discipline,
Which such impressions in their service take,
As one weekes training may an Ancient make.


Tara tantara, what a martiall sight
Of brave Commanders disciplin'd for fight
Approch th' insulting foe! no stratagem
Practis'd abroad but introduc'd to them;
No feat, defeat, advantage, point of warre,
But to our Colonels familiar.
No Tearmes of Armes but these exactly know,
Their Marches, Postures, and Gradations too,
Their Sconces, Palisado's, Parapets,
Their Military-Ovall Coronets;
Sallies, Alarmes, Excursions, Rendevous,
Issues, Retraits, their Pay unto a souse.
Their Martiall Ord'nance too they can dispose
And to the disadvantage of their foes


Plant them with such discretion, none would deeme
But that they knew the Frier invented them.
Their Musket, Saker, Minion, Culverin,
Dragonet, Basiliske, and Carabin:
These with their sev'rall Charges they'l explaine
By their dexterity unto a graine.
These passe that Captain, who desir'd to heare
What discipline was us'd in ev'ry shere,
Or what new Ordinance they had in store
This Ile was not acquainted with before:
By a briske merry Greeke, whose jeering nature
Could tell a Tale, and never laugh at th' matter
Noting his ignorance, was answer'd thus:
“Sir, there be Pieces lately come to us


“Of strange proportion and as strange a style,
“The like whereof ne're landed in this Ile.
“And if my mem'ry faile not, they are these,
“State-frighting Formidons, Quo mixuses,
“Neat Cerciorares, Stockes that ne're will burst,
“By Fabius Maximus invented first,
“When by delay and spinning out of time
“He finished his glorious designe.
“And these, beleev't, Sir, are of such esteeme,
“As Harquebusses are but Squirts to them
“For usefull mannagement: for I have seene

These Coun{treys} might have b{een} in Vto{pia} for ou{ght} he knew.


“In Zealand, Brabant, where I oft have beene

These Countryes might have been in Vtopia for ought he knew.


“And kept my fixt Perdue, these Armes doe more
“One houre, then others would in twenty foure.


The credulous Captaine, he beleeves the man,
Desiring much to know from whenc they came,
And by what Engines drawne on horse or foot,
But this Atturney fearing to be out
By entring more discourse, briefly declar'd
How they were moulded, planted and prepar'd,
But at such distance, as whats'ere he s'ed
Was by the Captaine firmly credited
For reall Oracles, as't might appeare
The more he heard, the more he sought to heare:
So as in th' end this expert Blademan vow'd
He had spoke nought that could be dis-allow'd:
For having never heard Law-terme before
A Formedon might be a Musket-bore


For ought he knew; nor did he hold it fit
That th' Enemy should notice have of it,
But that such Engines as he had related
Should by command be on our selves estated
Without discovery to such forraine Powers
As wished no successe to us nor ours.
But their occasions so divide their journey
As th' Captaine must take leave of his Atturney,
Returning him great thankes for his relation
And wishing many such within our Nation,
Whose knowne experience might secure the State,
And make the Age ingaged to his pate.
Though th' Law-man knew not what these Engines ment
Nor ever any other Instrument


Save what his

A vaste Magazin of Bilis, with other Law-Engines.

Law-port mantua did containe,

The late reversions of a factious braine,
Whose native vigour being broke asunder
Would startle weake Defendents worse then thunder.
Yet one Occurrent I must here relate
Which in their Progresse happened of late;
This Chivaliere had a desire to play
A game at Bowles his journey to allay,
Or else directed by another aime
(More probable of two) in hope to gaine.
A Cumrade takes him up; but th' Captaine would
Have none but this Atturney keep the gold,
That strange Relater, for he held him just,
And therefore none he might more safely trust:


What he enjoynes, he as demurely takes,
But in conclusion runs away with stakes.
But riding on no swift Pegasean Steed

Clozing with those Stanza's of famous Bragamoni “What though the Jade his Masters fury feels “Hee yeelds the spoile because hee wanted heeles.


He renders stakes because he wanted speed.
But let no trifling Tales take up that place
Which on my Poem should bestow most grace.
Our Clergie too; men of a choice repast,
(For I reserve my best wine for the last)
How they scorne avarice; loath venerie,
And sing an Antheme with Conformitie?
Survey their dainty Ducks from top to toe,
Their active wastlesse wasts above, below,
You shall see beauty in her proper place,
Without Embrodery, Fringe, or Tinsell lace:


And to restraine wild fancie, their intent
Crownes pure resolves with a religious

Being most austere observers of that ancient Decretall touching Abstinence and Continence in Lent.

Lent.

Their fixt desires are cloz'd; they doe not crave
From their Parochialls more then they have.
Their late Petition was not ment a pressure
T'inrich themselves, but to improve th' Successour;
For what they did was out of Conscience
While their desires cloz'd in a competence.
They hate Non-residence with all such vermin
As feed their Audience with a pocket-Sermon.
Their Study makes them leane: they scorne to rise
To honour or a deoble benefice.
Zeale is that sacred Lampe they study by,
Which they display in turning white oth' eye.


Our zealous Zimri's too, their Trophies raise
Adorned with Rose-mary and gilt Baies,
Wherewith they meet their late-exiled Pastor,
Servant and Master who may run the faster.
Their precious fervour can present their grieves,
Thousands combining to pull downe Lawne sleeves.
So strong's th' infusion of our Bandites zeale,
They'd form the Church to Plato's Common-weale:
Presbytrian parity sole undertaker
To raze a Doctor, and to raise a Baker.
Yet in this pure Platonick Common-weale
We have some Darnell mixed in our meale.
All are not Solons that do Purple weare,
Nor all true Courtiers that do so appeare;


Nor all our Ladies really devout,
Nor all our braving Cavaliero's stout;
Nor all our seeming Levites well content,
Nor all their zealous females continent.
The Sunne h'as motes, what may we think of these
Who ta'ne with fancie, honour or with fees
Expose their fames to an injurious staine
Which blemish'd once, are ne're made white againe?
What of these formall Agents who pretend
Good to the State, but worke their private end?
These moderne Machavels who can devise
A vertuous vizard for an odious vice?
These who can lye their hand upon their heart,
And gull their loyallst friends with words of Art?


Such fruitlesse shrubbs in my opinion were
Fitter to cope with Fate then such as are
Mirrors of Justice, who bestow their Oile
To fructifie a leane and barren soile
With honest culture, or such Scienes croppe
Who shadow freer Spurges with their toppe.
And such an One was that grave Patriot
Whose pious zeale such reputation got
Amongst good-men, who onely hold such great
As make iust actions steps unto their Seat.
These close not with Times garbe, nor can they vaile
To that Soild-foot-cloth sets his soule to sale.
And yet there are Some such make Justice go
On Crutches, while poore vertue rank'd below


Must hold his Stirrup; of which vicious sort

Sport for Democritus.

Yeering Democritus could make a sport;

Accoast them with derision, and discover
The loose embraces of a wanton Lover,
To make them more contemptuous to themselves,
And caution simple Clients of such Shelves
As most endanger Justice: “If you'l live,
“And prosper in your Suits, be sure you give
“Meat to the mouth oth' Court; you'r rightly serv'd
“In suff'ring a good cause for to be starv'd
“For want of exhibition: let him ply
“The Iron while 'tis hot, and in a pye
“Incoffin such a bounty, as't may force
“The Iudge to crowne his Cause though it be worse


“Then his penurious Adversary, who
“Was foil'd because hee'd nothing to bestow.
“Suits are like Pills, they must be guilded over,
“For should they any bitternesse discover,
“The squeamish appetite would not receive them,
“But either loath them or directly leave them.
“Some have I seene advanced to a place
“For their smooth polite tongue, or amorous face.
“Others by making betts, as I've beene told,
“While others lost their Place, for being Old.
“This rais'd for making Courts an Ostridge nest,
“That raz'd for bringing Courts into request:
“Playing his Cards so to his publick shame,
“For all his huge Ruffe, He must lose the Game.


“One in a Funerall pompe goes to his Grave,
“One in triumphant port jetts to receive
“His Consul-charge; yet e're the next Moonth come
“A Writ of Ease may kick him from his roome.
“For as 'tis fit, whens'ere th' Dictator please,
“He must surrender by a Writ of Ease.
“Laugh, laugh Democritus, for thou art free
“From these State fears Who is he mindeth thee?
This merry frumping Stoick meets soone after
With other Objects to revive his laughter,
Pie-colour'd humorists who make their Nation
An apish introducer of each fashion;
And these he laughs and wonders at, how Reason
Should suffer Sense her Organs to imprison.


“Briske fooles, quoth he, how you debase your mind
“In your preferring of this outward rind
“Before the inward pith!—Ye State divines
“Who serve Apollo, but adore the times
“More then that God you serve; you early rise
“To offer him an heartlesse Sacrifice
“Whose Priests you are: But you shall never find it
“Leave a perfuming pretious smell behind it.
“For you doe hold it a religious theft
“To keepe back from him th' better part oth' gift,
“And so delude your Deity with wit,
“But trust me, Augurs, you must smart for it.
“For when Pandora's Box shall opened be,
“Some will prove knaves, weare Vertues liverie.


“O age; refined age! where nought seemes good
“But what sucks poyson from corrupted blood!
“Hee's no Philosopher, but he must borrow
“Teares from a madding joy, or puling sorrow.
But how art thou transported! eye this Piece
Whose living actions render'd an increase
With high improvement: freely I appeale
To ev'ry corner of this Common-weale
Where he administer'd iustice: first of these
To his long-practis'd Seate ith' Common plees,
Where his confirmed judgement on that Bench
Begot an awfull gracefull reverence
In his Observers: scorning to devoure
Rich time in acting of the Oratour,


But in strong-sinnowy Arguments, which were
More for the Understanding then the Eare,
Though pleasing both: Students of Innes a Court
T'augment their knowledge making there resort
Beare Record of this Truth; no Supplicant,
So his depending cause bore weight, could want
His count'nance and supportance: where he went
His Circuit too, such generous content
Did's affability to all men win,
As many Eyes and Hearts were fixt on him.
Whens'ere he mounted those Pretorian Stayres
They shrilly eccoed with

So as justly might he be distinguished & personally dignifide with these Titles: The Poormans patron, the Justmans patterne, the Orphā parent, his Countrey's patriot.

poor-mens prayers:

“God blesse thee, and preserve thee for us long,
Were pleasing ayres distilling from each tongue.


No man as yet against him e're could pick
A Quarrell, but a crack-brain'd Lunatick
Or State-distracted Levite, who'd averre
Astræa false, to make him singular.
Whose blasted reputation ever shall
Be valued like himselfe, Apocriphall:
Ech where disgras't where He and goodnesse meet,
“That Calumny may in Oblivion fleet.
Nor is this all; when Portia besought
That those spoke ill of Cato should be brought
Before th' Prætorian, to confesse their crime
And cleare his fame by paying of a fine;
Romes Conscript Fathers held her motion fit,
With gen'rall voyce and vote confirming it.


To Tullianum were they straight convaid,
There to remaine till they their fines had paid.
This Act knew no demurre; downe went their gold,
Which to supply, their Houshold-stuffe was sould,
Their Farmes ingag'd, their persons at command,
Till they discharg'd these Debets out a-hand,
To th' Publique Treasory what first belong'd,
To th' Widdow next whose husband they had wrong'd.
The Flamen, though their Augur, being tride,
Pai'd twice so much as all the rest beside.
Their doome was just; I wish like censure may be,
“To cloze the Morall with his wronged Ladie.
Thus this Sage Patriot by heav'ns command,
Who liv'd to be the Antienst Iudge oth' Land,


Translated hence from this inferiour Vaile

But th'Silver cord is broke, the grinders faile, And he translated from this fable vaile Mounts to that high Prætorian, where true blisse Becomes his Baile, his Judge his Saviour is.


Mounts up to glory with a prosperous saile
Ripe both in yeares and graces: and to prove
That he did never Ostentation love,
He gives direction that no Sermon be
To cloze the Sceane of his mortalitie,
Lest He forth of exuberance of wit
Should speake more to his praise then he held fit.
Nor might his Corpse be coach'd, as others use,
From th' City to his Countrey-Mannor house,
But at Sainct Dunstons neare to Scrieants In
He takes his Grave, where Death surprized him.
So small a Plotte containes so great a Pile
Whose life gave light and honour to our Ile:


What's left of that faire Structure is a gage
Of mans decline and winter of his age.
Which Time shall hold in reverend regard
So long as Bookes are to be sold ith' Yard:
Nor shall our young Justinians need to looke
On any other Title but his Booke,
Where Leafes are Volumes, Volumes Columns be
With Palmes of peace to crowne his memorie.
While these Remaines of thy diviner part
In lines of dust shall tell men what thou art:
Till re-united to thine heav'n-lodg'd Spirit,
They joyntly live, and love, and joy inherit.


EPITAPH.

A rarer Sage ne're Age brought forth,
Richer in fame, love, reall worth,
Freer in heart, milder in Speech,
Apter to learne, fitter to teach,
Gladder to dye, nor in his death
Lesse taken with affected breath:
“Nor did he any Sermon need,
“Who left his life a Book to read.