University of Virginia Library

From worldly wo

An epitaph of maister Henry williams.

From worldly wo the mede of misbeliefe,
From cause of care that leadeth to lament,
From vaine delight the grounde of greater griefe,
From feare from frendes, from matter to repent,
From painfull panges last sorow that is sent.
From drede of death sithe death dothe set vs free,
With it the better pleased should we be.
This lothsome life where likyng we do finde,
Thencreaser of our crimes: dothe vs beriue,
Our blisse that alway ought to be in minde.
This wyly worlde whiles here we breath aliue,
And fleshe our fayned fo, do stifely striue
To flatter vs assuryng here the ioye,
Where we alas do finde but great annoy.
Vntolde heapes though we haue of worldly welth,
Though we possesse the sea and frutefull grounde,
Strength, beauty, knowledge, and vnharmed helth,
Though at our wishe all pleasure do abound.
It were but vaine, no frendship can be founde,
When death assaulteth with his dredfull dart.
No raunsome can stay the home hastyng hart.
And sithe thou hast cut the liues line in twaine,
Of Henry, sonne to sir Iohn Williams knight,
Whose manly hart and prowes none coulde stayne.
Whose godly life to vertue was our light,
Whose worthy fame shall florishe long by right.
Though in this life so cruell mightest thou be,
His spirite in heauen shall triumph ouer thee.