University of Virginia Library

Search this document 
Two bookes of epigrammes, and epitaphs

Dedicated to two top-branches of gentry: Sir Charles Shirley, Baronet, and William Davenport, Esquire. Written by Thomas Bancroft
Bancroft, Thomas (fl. 1633-1658)

collapse section1. 
The First Booke of Epigrammes.
 1. 
To Sir Charles Shirley, Baronet.
 2. 
2. To the Reader.
 3. 
3. To the same.
 4. 
4. To his Booke.
 5. 
5. On the Spheares.
 6. 
6. On severall Countries.
 7. 
7. On cracking of Nuts.
 8. 
8. On Thomas Randall.
 9. 
9. To a Glazier, shrewdly married.
 10. 
10. Of the Earth.
 11. 
11. A drunken brabler.
 12. 
12. An Epitaph on his Father and Mother, buried neare together in Swarston Church.
 13. 
13. To Iame Shirley.
 14. 
14. The Usurer.
 15. 
15. An Epitaph on Mistris Anne Knyveton.
 16. 
16. Another on the same.
 17. 
17. To Thomas Pegge Gentleman.
 18. 
18. To an Eunuch.
 19. 
19. Against Drunkennesse.
 20. 
20. An Epitaph on Master Henry Hopkinson.
 21. 
21. To Ben. Ionson.
 22. 
22. To the same.
 23. 
23. To Oliver Cookerill.
 24. 
24. To Caspar the Foote-man.
 25. 
25. To Godfrey Froggat.
 26. 
26. On humane bodies.
 27. 
27. An Epitaph on George Siddon of the Bull-head in Bosworth.
 28. 
28. To Thomas May of Sutton-Cheney, Gentleman.
 29. 
29. On Maltworme.
 30. 
30. To Sampson Baker.
 31. 
31. To Thomas Dixie, Gentleman.
 32. 
32. To Amoret.
 33. 
33. To Sir Iohn Harpvr.
 34. 
34. To the same.
 35. 
35. To William Bottome.
 36. 
36. A tricke for your Learning.
 37. 
37. To Tom Dizzy.
 38. 
38. To a Red-ey'd Conjurer.
 39. 
39. To Sir Andrew Knyveton, in his Travaile.
 40. 
40. To the same at his Returne.
 41. 
41. An Epitaph on Mistresse Gray, Grandmother to Sir Andrew Kniveton.
 42. 
42. On Gentry.
 43. 
43. Gluttons and Lechers.
 44. 
44. The Life of Man.
 45. 
45. To Master Farnaby.
 46. 
46. To old Sir Iohn Harpur of Swarston, deceased.
 47. 
47. On Martiall Boggard.
 48. 
48. To Master Pestell of Packinton.
 49. 
49. An Epitaph on Mistresse Anne Roberts of Naylston.
 50. 
50. To Dabbler.
  
61. Ingrossers.
 62. 
62. An Epitaph on Alexander Hill.
 63. 
63. To a Detractour.
 64. 
64. An Epitaph on William Holorenshaw, the Mathematician.
 56. 
56. To Briskape the Gallant.
 57. 
57. On a French Knight, and Mistris Wolsley.
 58. 
58. To the Slanderer, Stinks.
 59. 
59. To Sir Gilbert Knyveton.
 60. 
60. To a Musitian, on his hurt finger.
 61. 
61. An Epitaph on Captaine Knyveton.
 62. 
62. The brevity of Mans life.
 63. 
63. To Mistris Dorothy Harpur, (now the Lady Fitzherbert.)
 64. 
64. To Mr. William Roberts watch-maker.
 76. 
76. An Epitaph on the King of Sweden.
 76. 
76. To William Jernegan, Gent.
 77. 
77. To Captayne Roberts.
 78. 
78. To Trent.
 79. 
79. To Swarston.
 80. 
80. On Pillard with his Periwig.
 81. 
81. To Grace-dieu.
 82. 
82. On a curst wife.
 83. 
83. On Poets.
 84. 
84. Our Grandames infirmities.
 85. 
85. Of Warre.
 86. 
86. On Scheltco, the Astrologer.
 87. 
87. To John Fretchvile Esquire.
 88. 
88. The New World.
 89. 
89. On Sir Philip Sidney.
 90. 
90. To Charnwood.
 91. 
91. On a Woman.
 92. 
92. On the same.
 93. 
93. On the motion of the Starres.
 94. 
94. On Gluttony and Lechery.
 97. 
97. To the Honorable Esquire, IOHN MANNOVRS of HADDON.
 98. 
98. To our Queene MARIE.
 99. 
99. To Vicar Blunder.
 100. 
100. On Iohn the Warrener, falne in love with Ioane the Net-worker.
 101. 
101. To the Lord Uerulam.
 105. 
105. To Nathaniel Carpenter, on his Geography.
 106. 
106. To a Tell-tale.
 107. 
107. To Baull, the Cryer.
 108. 
108. To our King CHARLES.
 109. 
109. On deafe Joan, the Ale-wife.
 110. 
109. Copernicus his opinion.
 111. 
111. To our Prince Charles.
 112. 
112. To Sir Thomas Overbury, on his Wife.
 113. 
113. To Zounds the Swaggerer.
 114. 
114. To the same.
 115. 
115. A point of hard fortune.
 116. 
116. To George Slanders, on his Marriage.
 117. 
117. To Th. Ch. Esquire.
 118. 
118. To Shakespeare.
 119. 
119. To the same.
 120. 
120. To Aston Cokaine, Esquire.
 121. 
121. The World.
 122. 
122. On Blinkes, a pretender to Poetry.
 123. 
123. To William Coke Esquire.
 124. 
124. An Epitaph on Mris. Hope Alford.
 125. 
125. Peace and Warre.
 126. 
126. An adumbration of Mans life.
 127. 
127. Dulman to Ignoramus.
 128. 
128. Ignoramus his reply.
 129. 
129. To Sir Iohn Fitzherbert of Narbury.
 130. 
130. An Epitaph on Foxe the Tinker.
 131. 
131. On Pride.
 132. 
132. The Miller to the King.
 133. 
133. On Captayne Milward, lying dead upon Trent banke.
 134. 
134. On the same.
 133. 
133. To Iohn Milward Esquire:
 136. 
136. To Doctor Donne.
 137. 
137. To the Lords of the privy Councell.
 138. 
138. The foure Elements.
 139. 
139. On a good Phisitian over-match't with an ill wife.
 140. 
140. On Nell Lusty.
 141. 
141. On Celestiall bodies.
 142. 
142. Death, a sure friend.
 143. 
143. A Cure for Impatience.
 144. 
144. On the same.
 145. 
145. To I. P. an old Fencer.
 146. 
146. Time alters all things.
 147. 
147. To Gilbert Knyveton, Gentleman.
 148. 
148. On Sleepe.
 149. 
149. To Hugh the Cryer.
 150. 
150. A good wits dyet.
 151. 
151. To the prime Lady Fainebe.
 152. 
152. To Sir Landlesse Ramkin.
 156. 
156. To the same.
 157. 
157. To Doctor Butler, in his last sicknesse.
 158. 
158. To the Lord Silly sense.
 159. 
159. To Captaine Iames, after his intended discovery of the North-west passages.
 160. 
160. On the Searchers of the North-west passage.
 161. 
161. Loves Remedy.
 162. 
162. The Pulpets complaynt of a Diabolicall Lyer.
 163. 
163. The Lyer.
 164. 
164. Naked Love.
 165. 
165. An Epitaph on George Agard, Gent.
 166. 
166. On Nuptiall love.
 167. 
167. On Church-bells.
 168. 
168. Evacuation of the foure humours.
 169. 
169. On the Kings Iester.
 170. 
170. To cracking Iohn.
 171. 
171. To Humphrey Okeover, Esquire.
 172. 
172. To Robert Lincolne, Gentleman.
 173. 
173. On Thomas Draper, Gentleman.
 174. 
174. To T. R.
 175. 
175. To Sir Henry Merry deceased.
 176. 
176. On old Trudge the Termer.
 177. 
177. Christmas in a Consumption.
 178. 
178. On the Ocean.
 179. 
179. An Epitaph on Walter Merry, Gent.
 180. 
180. On old Sharke.
 181. 
181. To Bertholdus Swart, Inventor of the Gun.
 182. 
182. The greatest Clerkes, not the wisest men.
 183. 
183. On Tobacco taking.
 184. 
184. Maides and Wives.
  
The prayse of Poverty.
 185. 
185. To William Lilly.
 186. 
186. On Excessive drinking.
 187. 
187. On Carnall mirth.
 188. 
188. To a young and wealthy wanton.
 189. 
189. The Ægyptian Isthmus.
 190. 
190. The Prodigall, on himselfe.
 191. 
191. To old Canker, a wicked Gardener.
 192. 
192. To John Ford, the Poet.
 193. 
193. To his Brother Iohn Bancroft deceased.
 194. 
194. The penitent Prodigall, to his loose-bodied Mistresses.
 196. 
196. On Lust.
 197. 
197. To Iustice Much-ill.
 198. 
198. A Prince and a Parasite.
 199. 
199. Of Man.
 200. 
200. Of the Æthiopian Mountaine, Amara.
 201. 
201. Mans gradation.
 202. 
202. To Envy.
 203. 
203. On Greene-wit Gosling.
 204. 
204. Hope of preferment.
 205. 
205. Loves Motion.
 206. 
206. To Plots, a pretender to the Mathematicks.
 207. 
207. To Mr. Henry Meller, the first Major of Darby.
 208. 
208. To Innocent Heartlesse, on his Imperious Wife.
 209. 
209. On Hypocrites in friendship.
 210. 
210. To Sir Iohn Curzon.
 211. 
211. To a lying Victualler.
 212. 
212. To Mistresse Mutable.
 213. 
213. To a Giglot, with her greene sicknesse.
 214. 
214. To Iohn Gell, Esquire.
 215. 
215. On Wood of Kent, that prodigious Gormund.
 216. 
216. Money, a fruitfull commodity.
 217. 
217. The English, too like the French.
 218. 
218. An Acrostick to Mistris Elizabeth Corbet.
 219. 
219. To Tumbrell Gullygut.
 220. 
220. On Pot-valiant Champions.
 221. 
221. On Ioane Easie.
 222. 
222. The Roman Eagle.
 223. 
223. To Nath. Bate, Gentleman.
 224. 
224. On Pickwell the Miller.
 225. 
225. To John Whiteall, Gentleman.
 226. 
226. To Canary Birds.
 227. 
227. To Master Thomas Lightwood.
 228. 
228. To Mammons bond-slaves.
 229. 
229. A tryall of right.
 230. 
230. To the same.
 232. 
232. Of carnall pleasure.
 233. 
233. To Francis Quarles.
 234. 
234. To the Honourable Matron, the Lady Grace Cavendish.
 235. 
235. An Epitaph on Mistris Anne Port.
 236. 
236. To the Lady Maunsfield, now the Countesse of New-Castle.
 237. 
237. To his Muse.
 238. 
238. To the Flower of Youngsters, Rose Verney.
 239. 
239. To Sir Charles Shirley, Baronet.
collapse section2. 
The second Booke of Epigrammes.
 1. 
1. To William Davenport, Esquire.
 2. 
2. On Theologicall Vertue.
 3. 
3. Sinne, like a Serpent.
 4. 
4. On Drunkennesse.
 5. 
5. On Devotion.
 6. 
6. Gods Bounty.
 8. 
8. On Lazarus in Abrahams Bosome.
 9. 
9. Mocking's Catching.
 10. 
10. The body and the soule.
 11. 
11. Percolation of Waters.
 12. 
12. Faith and Love.
 13. 
13. Of Nature.
 14. 
14. David and Goliah. Christ and Sathan.
 15. 
15. The fall of Angells.
 16. 
16. Strong encouragement.
 17. 
17. Of Mortification.
 18. 
18. To penitent Magdalen.
 19. 
19. A beame of comfort.
 20. 
20. On the two theeves crucified with our Saviour.
 21. 
21. An unfruitfull Reader.
 22. 
22. Sects in Religion.
 23. 
23. To London in time of Pestilence.
 24. 
24. The Arke and Dagon.
 25. 
25. On Palestine.
 26. 
26. The motion of sinne.
 27. 
27. Marke the end.
 28. 
28. Nebuchadnezzars Image moraliz'd.
 29. 
29. An old sute.
 30. 
30. Our Saviours first Miracle applyed.
 31. 
31. Pride, not unpunished.
 32. 
32. Good Workes,
 33. 
33. Heaven and Earth.
 34. 
34. The soules twylight.
 35. 
35. To Princes.
 36. 
36. Eminent Examples.
 39. 
39. Poverties priviledge.
 40. 
40. A Boaster.
 41. 
41. To Pride.
 42. 
42. On Iosephs Cloake.
 43. 
43. On Nebuchadnezzar, Deposed.
 44. 
44. Death of Tyrants.
 45. 
45. Gods Image.
 46. 
46. Of Divine Precepts.
 47. 
47. Of Repentance.
 48. 
48. On Worldlings.
 49. 
49. On the same.
 50. 
50. Prosperity perilous.
 51. 
51. Affliction profitable.
 52. 
52. On the same.
 53. 
53. Paine before pleasure.
 54. 
54. Of Riches.
 55. 
55. Ioseph in Prison, to Pharaoh's Butler at liberty.
 56. 
56. On Tobias his Fish
 57. 
57. The Devills child, the Devills lucke.
 58. 
58. On Avarice.
 59. 
59. A false World.
 60. 
60. Of Religion.
 61. 
61. On Saint Stephen stoned.
 62. 
62. Pride and Humility.
 63. 
63. Divine Wisedome.
 64. 
64. Ignorance, the Divels foole.
 65. 
65. Of Mahomets Religion.
 66. 
66. On Jacobs wrestling.
 67. 
67. On the same.
 68. 
68. Mans life in the lapse.
 69. 
69. Of the Pillar of Salt, the remainder of Lots Wife.
 70. 
70. Of a Carnalist.
 71. 
71. Seths Pillars.
 72. 
72. Of Drunkards.
 73. 
73. Worldly pleasure.
 74. 
74. Not too fast.
 75. 
75. To an Epicure.
 76. 
76. Ill enough at the best.
 77. 
77. Solace in solitude.
 78. 
78. No truth in the World.
 79. 
79. Comfort in selfe conquest.
 80. 
80. An Ocean of Wine.
 81. 
81. Christs rising and setting.
 82. 
82. To the Heavenly Host, exulting at our Saviours Birth.
 83. 
83. Of the beatificall Vision.
 84. 
84. To Herod, Murtherer of the Innocents.
 85. 
85. Patient and prudent.
 86. 
86. To the blessed Virgin at her purification.
 87. 
87. On Mary Magdalen, weeping &c.
 88. 
88. To Iordan, wherein Christ was baptized.
 89. 
89. Flesh to dust.
 90. 
90. Comfort in calamity.
 91. 
91. Of Heaven.
 92. 
92. To a serpentine Sychophant.
  
A generall benefit.
 94. 
94. The power of prayer.
 95. 
95. An invitation to happinesse.
 96. 
96. Evill Objects, infectious.
 97. 
97. Peter, at the transfiguration.
 98. 
98. The Covetous, to sublime contemplators.
 99. 
99. Of the Wedding Ring.
 100. 
100. Pharaohs Daughter, finding yong Moses in the Water.
 101. 
101. To ambitious favourites.
 102. 
102. On the skales that fell from Pauls eyes.
 103. 
103. On Iezabell, to Ladies.
 104. 
104. Iphtah, meeting his Daughter after Victory.
 105. 
105. The worlds entertainement.
 106. 
106. Iohn Baptists Head.
 107. 
107. Christ Crucified.
 108. 
108. An upstroke to his soule.
 109. 
109. On our Saviours Crosse.
 110. 
110. Of the terrours at the Death of our Saviour.
 111. 
111. On the Spunge filled with Vinegar.
 112. 
112. The anguish of Conscience.
 113. 
113. Man unnaturally revengefull.
 114. 
114. Our Saviours Parentage.
 115. 
115. Faith a fast friend.
 116. 
116. Sinnes attendants.
 117. 
117. Of silence.
 118. 
118. Belly, cease thy grumbling.
 119. 
119. True Knowledge.
 120. 
120. The Soules Center.
 122. 
122. Against prophane jesting.
 123. 
123. On Iudges. To Sir Tho. Milward.
 124. 
124. Now, or never.
 125. 
125. Winke not at great faults.
 126. 
126. Gold like straw.
 127. 
127. On the healing of a crooked woeman.
 128. 
128. Against our Fashion-mongers.
 129. 
129. A sight of our Saviour.
 130. 
130. A Cure for the Kings evill.
 131. 
131. Temptation of the flesh.
 132. 
132. Davids Harpe out of Tune, after its Masters decease.
 133. 
133. A consort of Starres.
 134. 
134. A guilty Conscience.
 135. 
135. On the same.
 136. 
136. To a busie headed, idle-handed Zelot.
 137. 
137. The necessity of Respiration.
 138. 
138. An offer of love to our new-borne Saviour.
 139. 
139. On a seared Conscience: to a damnable Swearer.
 140. 
140. A flocke of Fooles.
 141. 
141. A flight of cares.
 142. 
142. Light enough in the Scriptures.
 143. 
143. Our Kingdomes happinesse.
 144. 
144. Hard hearts, to be broken.
 145. 
145. David dancing, Michol mocking.
 149. 
149. David to Michol.
 150. 
150. A devillish uproare.
 151. 
151. Lust and Pride.
 152. 
152. Fond delights to be relinquisht.
 153. 
153. Of Death.
 154. 
154. Diffusion of goodnesse.
 156. 
156. Of the same.
 157. 
157. Meditation of mortality.
 158. 
158. No peace without piety.
 159. 
159. Workes of Charity.
 160. 
160. To Lavolt, a fauourite.
 161. 
161. Birds of prey, hardly reclaimed.
 162. 
162. Of incineration.
 163. 
163. Of the same.
 164. 
164. Of the externall sences.
 165. 
165. The duty of meditation.
 166. 
166. A troublesome world.
 168. 
168. Of concord.
 169. 
169. Of Regeneration.
 170. 
170. Of Divine contemplation.
 171. 
171 Israels Shepheard upon the mountaines.
 172. 
172. Generall disobedience.
 173. 
173. To Asia.
 174. 
174. Of abstinence.
 175. 
175. Holy violence.
 176. 
176. Away prophane.
 177. 
177. Of the Starre, and the stable, upon our Saviours Birth-day.
 178. 
178. Double Victory.
 179. 
179. Of humane life.
 180. 
180. Of solitude.
 181. 
181. Of Traitors.
 182. 
182. Of Bablers.
 183. 
183. The Objects of reproofe.
 184. 
184. The fall of fortitude.
 185. 
185. Preparation for the Sacrament.
 186. 
186. Keepe within compasse.
 187. 
187. Earth to earth.
 188. 
188. The worme of Conscience.
 189. 
189. Of tongues.
 190. 
190 Good preachers, Gods favourites.
 191. 
191. Gods feare, with true fortitude.
 192. 
192. Of zealous alacrity.
 193. 
193. Poore and rich.
 164. 
164. Of Prayers.
 195. 
195. A Crowne for constancy.
 196. 
196. The Divels temptation.
 197. 
197. Avoid Sathan.
 198. 
198. Of perseverance in piety.
 199. 
199. To Fewlove, a turbulent Church-man.
 200. 
200. Of Hypocrisie.
 201. 
201. The choice of a wife.
 202. 
202. Of Confession.
 203. 
203. The blood of our Lord.
 204. 
204. Wisedome without measure.
 205. 
205. On bad Patrons.
 206. 
206. Portions for Gods Children.
 208. 
208. Heaven hardly entred.
 209. 
209. To a vaine Babbler.
 210. 
210. Spirituall bondage.
 211. 
211. A happy Convert.
 212. 
212. To an Apostate.
 213. 
213. Celestiall comfort.
 214. 
214. On the ten Lepers in the Evangely.
 215. 
215. To Lake Warme.
 216. 
216. On old Simeon.
 217. 
217. To a Communicant.
 218. 
218. To a Pharisaicall boaster.
 219. 
219. VVho first, for a winding-sheete.
 220. 
220. Wormes meate.
 221. 
221. Keepe off your Hatts.
 223. 
223. Comfort in the Crosse.
 224. 
224. Heavenly endowments.
 225. 
225. An intricate Receptacle.
 226. 
226. On Truth.
 227. 
227. Adams honourable interrement.
 228. 
228. Treasures of Devotion.
 229. 
229. On St. Thomas the Apostle.
 230. 
230. The place of Christs Nativity.
 231. 
231. On the Star that watched over our Saviour.
 232. 
232. The Forge of devotion.
 233. 
233. On our Saviour, wounded in the side.
 234. 
234. To an Atheisticall scoffer.
 235. 
235. To the same.
 236. 
236. On Cocke-fighting. To Master William Latkins.
 237. 
237. Of Whoores, and their Masters.
 238. 
238. Gods garden.
 239. 
239. Of Grace.
 240. 
240. Mans dignity, and danger.
 241. 
241. Of the blessed Trinity.
 242. 
242. To William Davenport Esquire.

collapse section Collapse All | Expand All expand section
previous section Two bookes of epigrammes, and epitaphs
next section

110. Of the terrours at the Death of our Saviour.

What tempest's this, that from the Tree of Death
Would shake this fruit of Life? what angry breath
Of Heav'n teares up my tender-rooted heart?
Doth the rude world into confusion start?
Or Nature, bending to her finall wracke,
Heare the maine Engine of her motion cracke?
The Temple rends its cloaths, the Rocks (that were
Angry at harder hearts) their Centers teare,
Heav'ns blood-shot eye winkes close for griefe and dread,
The Earth grows sicke, and vomits up her dead,
The Sea howles out, while the loud winds in rage
Hisse at those Actors on their Tragicke Stage,
That, having lost both shape and reasons sparke
In that blacke day, seeme Dragons in the darke.
O poisonous sinne! whose force the solid ground
Thus breakes, and threats whole Nature to confound.
previous section Two bookes of epigrammes, and epitaphs
next section