Works, Encomia – Dedication 3
EPIGRAMMA IN OPERA Pijssimi, & doctiss. Theologi. M. Ric. Greenham, labore ac studio. M. Hollandi, diuini verbi apud Londinates Ministri fideliss. edita, post obitum Authoris, per F. Hering. D. Med.
MEntibus afflictis, grauis haec afflictio cessit,
Greenamum è medio tolli, qui saepè solebat
Eregius mentis Medicus, solatia mira
Dexteritate sacris virtus depromere chartis.
Sic que pias animas vitiorum mole grauatas,
Implicitas Satanae laqueis, misere que agitatas
Infernis furijs, exemit faucibus Orci.
Antidotos quippè hic varias, ac pharmaca norat.
Coelica, & antiqui technas que dolos que colubri:
Hinc tristes moerent mentes geminant que querelas,
Quod mala permaneant Medico pereunte: sed ecce
Hollandus pius, & foreign respicit illas,
Greenamumque loqui rursus post funera fecit:
Alloquio & duros solito mule…re labores.
Gaudete attonitae mentes lamentaque crebris
Suspirijs, alijs que remissa relinquite, vester
Grenamus praestò est vobis, pretiosaque secum
Balsama in Elysijs portat nascentia campis.
Floruit in terris olim Greenamus, in alto
Nunc floret coelo, terraque virescere rursus
Incipit Hollandi studio, curaque sagaci.
Scilicet haec verae merces pietatis, vt ipsam
Conculcet mortem, satanam, ruptisque Gehenna
Aeteroum vireat vinclis, post fata superstet.
IN OBITVM ET OPVS. Richardi Greenhami.
NOn erat hic celebri Greenhamus stemmate natus,
Ast pictate sua nobilitatus erat.
Huius ego laudes si forsan fingere credar,
Vita fiet testis, testis & istud opus.
Vita fiet testis, cuius radiante nitore,
Vtilitas populo, gloria nacta Deo.
Testis & istud opus mira pietate refertum,
Quod digito monstrat Religionis iter.
A. R.
ON THE DEATH AND WORKS OF MASTER GREENHAM.
SOme skilfull Caruer helpe me to endorse
The blessed stone that hideth Greenhams corse,
Make me a tree whose branches withered beene,
And yet the leaues and fruit are euer greene.
The more the stocke dyes let them flourish more,
And grow more kindly greene than …arst before.
Set Time and …nuie gazing at the ro…e,
Cursing their …ootlesse hand, and sliding foote.
Let all the Graces sit them in the shade,
And pull those leaues whose beautie cannot fade.
Greenham, if this cannot thy worth descriue,
That thou once dead, thy works are still aliue,
Would I might say thy selfe could neuer die,
But emulate thy workes eternitie.
VPONUPON HIS SABBATH.
WHile Greenham writeth of the Sabbaths rest,
His soule inioyes not which his pen exprest:
His worke inioyes not what it selfe doth say,
For it shall neuer finde one resting day.
A thousand hands shall tosse each page and line,
Which shall be scanned by a thousand eyne.
That Sabbaths rest, or this Sabbaths vnrest.
Hard is to say whether is the happiest.
I. Hall.
ANOTHER IN ENGLISH IN COMMENDATION of Maister Greenham, and his godly and learned workes, set forth by Maister Holland, Preacher of Gods word.
GReene yet I am (may Greenham say) and greene shall flourish still:
Though World, Sicknes, Death, and the Graue, on me hauehave wrought their will,
The Apostate world, me wore with griefe, and troubles manifold,
Whilst that I sought with all my strength, her pillers to vphold.
Then Sicknes came Deaths Sergeant grim, my …arkesse craz'd t'arrest,
And Death at sheeles with gaping graue receiu'd me for their guest.
But great Emmanuel mark'd, and smilde to see them take this toyle
To roote, and race out Greenham quite: and gaue them all the foyle.
My soule he plants in Paradise, there greene to flourish aye,
And charg'd the graue my body safe, to keepe till the last day.
And least Death should suppose on earth, h'had blotted out my name:
He stirs vp Hollands louing minde, for to renue the same.
So that as oyntments precious, my workes on earth doe smell,
Refreshing poore distressed soules, whom Sathan seekes to quell.
Loe here the fruit of godly zeale, and zealous pietie,
In Greenham who triumphs against all Sathans tyrannie.
In spite of world, Sicknes, Death, Graue, and all the powers of Hell,
With godly Men, aliue and dead, it alwaies shall goe well.
F. Hering.
TO THE RIGHT VVORSHIPFVLL SIR MARMADVKE DARRELL, AND SIR THOMAS BLOOTHER KNIGHTS, SVRVEYERS GENERALL FOR THE VICTVALING OF HIS MAIESTIES NAVIE: Stephen Egerton wisheth increase of all true comfort in this life, and euerlasting felicitie in the life to come through our Lord Iesus Christ.
PVblius Virgilius (Prince of Latine Poets) beingDonat. in vit. Virgil. demaunded why he read the writings of old Ennius, made this answere, Aurum colligo ex Ennij stercore: that is, I gather golde out of Ennius his dunghill; meaning thereby, that though Ennius his Poems were not so exquisitely penned as they might hauehave been, by Virgil himselfe; yet much good matter might be picked out of them. Surely (right VVorshipfull) if one heathen man could gather gold out of the writings of another, how much more may we (being Christians) gather not gold only, but pearles and pretious stones out of the religious and holy labours of Master Richard Greenham (though not all polished by his owne penne) being a most godly brother, yea more than a brother, euen a most painefull Pastor, zealous Preacher, and reuerend Father in the Church of God, of whom I am perswaded that for practicall diuinity (which ought worthily to hauehave the preheminence) he was inferiour to few or none in his time. VVherefore the same prouidence of God, which moued that faithful Minister, MasterGen. 6. 9. Henry Holland, to collect and publish so many of his worthie labours for the good of the Church, doth call and allure others to the reading of them; and namely you right VVorshipfull, who hauehave shewed singular kindnes (as Naomi saith of Boaz) both to theRuth. 2. 20. liuing, and to the dead: that is, both to good Master Holland while he liued, and to his desolate widow and fatherles children since his death. In respect whereof, shee desired by my hand to testifie hir thankfulnes to both your VVorships, as it were by these two mitesLuk. 21. 1. 2. of this dedicatory Epistle; which office of louelove to my deare brother deceased, and to his widow and children liuing, I doe the more willingly tender to your VVorships, because I am partly priuie to your kindnes and bountie, both towards them & towards others. The Lord giuegive merciemercy (saith Paul) to the house of Onesiphorus, for he often 2 Tim. 1. 26.refreshed me, &c. The same might faithful Holland say, and the same may his widow and children say, The Lord giuegive merciemercy to your houses and posteritie, for you hauehave often refreshed them; which being done (as I doubt not) in faith, and from louelove, out of a pure heart, shall be put to your reckning, and brought in as a cleare euidence,Mat. 25. 34. for a comfortable sentence to passe on your side in the day of the Lord Iesus Christ: To whose most gratious direction and blessing, I commit you both, with the vertuous and Christian Ladies your wiues, and whole families. From my house in the Black Friers, this third day of Aprill. 1605.
Your VVorships readie to be commanded in the Lord: STEPH. EGERTON.