Suffolks Tears, Part 17 – Part 27
To the Memory of that renowned Knight, Sir Nath. Barnardiſton,
LOok as the Heliotrope the Sun's lov'd flower,
That ſpreads the yellow curtain of her bower
At his fair riſing, cloſes it again
When he declineth weſtward to the main:
Ev'n ſo ſhould we, (our Phoebus gone to bed,)
Shut in our joyes, and hang a drooping head:
Our lips in ſables dreſſe, cloſe mourners all,
Our tongues are to pronounce a funerall;
A Barmſton's funerall; recall that name,
A name ſo old, 'twil fit the trump of fame;
A name too heavie for a ſlender quil,
Whoſe very echo would a Nation fill;
A name ſo good, poſterity may run
Diviſion on that name, till time were done.
Pardon (great Sir) we cannot ſpeak thy worth,
Apollo's tongue-ty'd, and muſt liſp it forth;
To ſcore each vertue on thy noble tombe
Would ſtrike invention, and the Muſes dumbe.
What Quire of wel-breath'd Lungs ſcrew'd ne'r ſo high,
Can reach the Ela of that harmony,
That did concenter in thy pious breſt,
Warb'ling forth Airs, ſuch as the Sphears might feaſt;
Sweet conſort! where the Graces tune their throats,
And vertues chant their Polyphonian notes,
Striving t' excel in thoſe diviner Layes,
And crown their Maſter with coeleſtial bayes.
But oh! we lack an Orpheus in our eares
That might diſtinguiſh (they are ſtopt with tears)
Each lofty ſtraine; each Rapſody reſound,
And take each quaver at the firſt rebound;
Our ſence is dul, and cannot comprehend
The words they breath'd, unleſs his Ghoſt do ſend
A key t' unlock the cloſet of his heart,
(Which may their language to our eyes impart)
We muſt diſpair to read thoſe Heav'n-borne tones,
And be content to ſpel their minde in groans.
Sure 'twas his Muſick act, he's gone from hence
To Heav'ns-Kings Chappel there for to commence
Doctor in glory, and hath left us here
To celebrate his feaſt, our funeral chear.
Oh! how his conſort, and his mourful train,
Their Criſtal ciſterns broach, draw, tun again,
Brim full with tears, each tender eye o' reflows,
And proves a running banquet in the cloſe.
That friend, who brings a pallate in his eyes,
May fill his ſtomach at theſe obſequies.
But now our dear Mecaenas leads the way,
Come, come; enough, our ſorrows cannot ſtay:
The ſlow-pac'd Mourners wait upon the herſe,
And teach their feet to tread elegiac verſe:
The vertues which were inmates in his breſt,
Hover about, now they have loſt their neſt;
And fear leſt they who had a cage of gold
Be forc'd to wander (charity's ſo cold)
Nay beg for harbour, woo each heart they meet,
Yet find no lodging but a winding-ſheet.
Unhappy hand of fate, that went about
To make the holes whereat theſe Birds flew out…
Theſe pretty Phil' meles hop from flag to flag,
Filling th' air with ſweetneſs, as they wag
Their lovely wings, each eare with elogies,
And thus extol their patron to the skies.
VVhat ſoaring pinion's able to expreſſe
That wel ground conſtancy, the ſole impreſſe
That rul'd thy actions, and as firmly ſtood
As doth the Oke the Monarch of the wood;
VVhoſe ſtately towring top ſcorns to ſtrike ſayl,
(Like to the Poplar) to each whiffling gale,
And dance a quaver with a trembling bough,
VVhen Boreas plays a crochet on his brow?
Men now adays in ſuch a poſture ſtand,
That's ready to receive each baſe command:
Blow what wind wil, like the wind-ſerving Vane,
They wil comply, then as you were again.
Mechanick ſpirits with their ſupple joynts
Can ring the changes to a thouſand points,
And pleaſe their ears too with that Stygian ſound,
That's harſh enough ev'n Babel to confound.
But Barm'ſton moved in an higher ſphear,
Diſdain'd to crouch unto degenerous fear,
And on the Hinges turn his Patron knee,
To dance the humours of diſloyalty.
Bluſh, bluſh you ſervile natures, that can mould
Your very ſouls into what frame you would;
New caſt your moulds, and work your brittle clay
To ſuch a temper, as with honour may
Heav'ns-broad-backt Porter Atlas ſtrength excel,
And under-prop the Churches cittadel,
And tott'ring ſtate. A pillar we have loſt
By deaths unhappy ſtroke (our glory's croſt)
An ancient Pillar, whoſe firm baſis ſtood
Supporters of the truth, and what was good,
Ev'n when ſurrounded with the dangerous ſeas
Of Errors, …hiſms, and Metamorphoſes;
Call it Seths pillar, wonder, and vouchſafe
To read th' inſcription in this Epitaph;
Behold Nathaniel, ſayes ſacred ſtyle,
An Iſra'lite indeed, in whom's no guile;
An holy veſſel tunn'd with noble breath,
By Surgeons broacht, to be drawn out by death.
Mirrour of goodneſs, and of conſtancy,
Gods gift, our loſſe, within this vault doth lye.
Quòte, maeſta pedes? an quò via ducit, in aedem?
Muſa▪ perantiquum quid petis aegra locum?
Fortè ſepulchrales mens eſt inviſere ſedes,
Et veterum exuvias; oſsa que ſpectra times?
Flebilis illa refert, vix ora in verba reſolvens,
Heu! cineres magni nominis urna tenet!
Et dictura fuit Barmſton, dolor occupat ora,
Sic vox ipſa haeret faucibus: exit Io.
Teſequar; at lentis pedibus modò currite verſus;
Funeris, heu, maeſtos cogor inire modos!
Stella ſerena poli cecidit jam gloria noſtri;
O decus! O noſtri ſtella ſerena poli!
Hac ſignante viam, non qualem erraticus ignis
Nil metuit populus, ſtagna profunda, dolos.
Infauſtos nuſquam radios diffudit in orbem,
Evomuitve iras, bella nefanda, neces.
Indidit huic nullas vires natura malignas,
Quales cancer habet, ſcorpius, a… que canis.
Quin dedit aſpectus aequos frontem que benignam:
Luce ſub innocuâ non latet ulla lues.
Scilicet innumeri fulgent hinc indè planetae,
Et nova diſpergunt lumina: quale decus!
Fert quaſi ſtelliferam per dorſum stellio ſphaeram:
Sed cave, tabificam pixida pectus habet.
Lucifer Angelico zeli larvatus amictu,
Decipit incautum credulitate gregem.
Auguſtam Phoebi faciem mortalibus aegris.
Invida opaco aufert corpore Luna ſuo.
Non tulit haec noſtrum, magno dum luxit in orbe
Aequali peragens tramite Sydus iter.
Meeoenas, Trabeatus, Eques, Paſcit, Colit, Ornat,
Clerum, Jus, Patriam, Munere, Voce, Fide.
Singula quid memorem? Nil non laudabile Barmſton,
Stemmata nobilitans, ſtemmate priſca ſuo.
Nubibus immunis tranſlato eſt mortis Horizon,
Occaſu claro, pulchrior ortus erit.
Ra. Aſtel.
An Elegy on the Death of the Right Worſhipful Sir NATH. BARNARDISTON.
IF Davids Worthies, God himſelf recount
In Writ Divine, which doth humane ſurmount.
If Chriſt, the anointing of his holy Head
Deign'd, as an honor done t'his Funeral Bed;
And to requite this pretious Maries favor,
Embalm'd her name with Everlaſting ſavor.
Then do we not amiſs, this faithful Knight
To praiſe and recommend; if ſo me might
Hereafter move to pious emulation,
Poſterity by holy imitation.
And not his Son alone, to bear the Name
And Heir his Grace, but others gain the fame
Of being like this er'ſt renowned Knight,
To equal and ſurpaſs him, if they might.
(Whil'ſt others envy) Miniſters are bound,
His praiſe by Word, and writing forth to ſound.
To him who did Prophets on Earth receive,
Prophets reward, both God and Man ſhall give.
Nathaniel don coruſcus Barnardiſton
Vixit in hac terra nobilitatu… Eques.
Vixiſſet ſemper, regeret si ſtamina vita
Vox populi, cujus claruit auspic…it▪
Clarus ad invidiam, quem ſic ne que dira ſimultas
Flexit ab officio carcere, ſive mini….
Miſta priora novis, nec ſumma pericla movebant
Obſtrictum Patriae cumpiet ate Deo.
Eripit hunc nobiſ que ſuit mors ſcaeva, videmur
Orbatam patriam flere, perinde domum.
Quem Deus indid ſit, rapuit mors ſava, queremur,
Non rapuit reddens officioſa Deo.
Oſſa quidem nobis anima aſcendente reliquit;
E…apſam ut veſtem quam tenet arca pia,
Qua, Deus expurgans ſimul & fulgore deaurans,
Regis in adventu veſtiet ad thalamos.
Haec vates ſperans, ovat geſtit que videre
Nunc Monumenta ſpei, tunc documenta rel.
Obſervantiae cauſa poſuit. Clemens Ray.
On the Death of that moſt Illuſtrious and worthy Knight Sir Nathaniel Barnardiſton.
OFt have I ſeen (in veiwing Monuments)
Of Roral Drops from Marble ſtrange deſcents:
Wonder not why this Rocky Marble weeps;
For lo! here Noble Barnardiſton ſleeps
The ſleep of death; 'tis ſtrange to cloudy ſence,
That in the Tomb there ſeems no difference
'Twixt juſt and unjuſt, Pebble and the Gem.
Here vertue ſeems to wear no Diadem.
'Tis ſtrange here ſeems to fall ſuch equal lots
Upon the Traitors, and true Patriots.
But ceaſe fond heart to wonder, 'tis not hard,
God is to ſuch th'exceeding great reward;
And ſure to him, who yet could ne'r be wone
To act a Proteus in Religion.
Reward in life, he met with great renown,
God did his faithful acts with glory crown.
Reward in death, for (when the world ſhall ſee
Thoſe Pha…tons in duſt interred be,
Both names and bodies too; and them ſhall laugh
To ſcorn, to ſee no better Epitaph
Then this: Lo here their skeletons are laid,
Who once their Country, and their Church betray'd:)
His name ſhall live as one, that witneſs'd well
Himſelf to be a true Nathaniel.
ACROSTIC.
Nomen in aeternum, Barnurdiſtone, perenne
Auguſta humanum pectus dum capſula condit,
Tulampas terris aſt inter ſydera coeli,
Haud minimus meliore tui jam parte manebis:
Accingens radiis nitidis tua tempora Phoebus,
Noſter amator eras, artis ſophiae que patronus:
Imminuere decus gentis, virtutis honorem
Electi Heroes; fidei tu ſemper amicus;
Lex tibi grandis erat virtus quae neſcia vinci.
Bruma perennis adeſt nobis te ſole cadente,
Aſtra calore carent nitidi ſine lumine Phoebi,
Rara fides genti virtus procerum que propago,
Noſtrorum que decus capitis tua gloria magni,
Aſt nihili pendens, tu talia foreign Chriſti
Reſpectu que Dei: ſacrato ſanguine venas,
Diluvians, cauſa eſt magni Theodorè triumphi
In coelo ſolio frueris ſemper que frueris.
Siſte viator iter: vultum cortina recondit
Talem quem memores lacrimarum flumine deflent
Omnes, dona Dei nobis cum numina poſcunt,
Nos decet hanc deflere vicem, gemitu que dolere.
Joſephus Skinner, M. A.
An Elegie on the Right Worſhipfull Sir Nathaniel Barnardiſton.
HEre's one that was an Iſra'lite ſincere,
In whom all noble vertues did appear;
A faithfull Patriot, one that ever ſtood
Firme to Gods Cauſe, and to his Countries good;
And yet by cruel death's impartiall hand
Laid level with the duſt: Who can withſtand
Death's all commanding power? this tyrants Law
Is that which keeps the univerſe in awe;
He nips the Infant bloſſom when it ſprings,
And aged Snow to diſſolution brings:
And though the faded Roſe year after year▪
With a freſh colour in her leaves appear,
Age knows no ſpring, and death will not reſtore
His ſtollen goods, till time ſhal be no more.
O happy thoſe that doe betimes begin
To love Chriſt Jeſus, and to leave off ſin;
To walk in holy wayes with Simeon old,
That in the armes of faith their Saviour hold.
The life of ſuch is bleſt, their death much more,
For then they reſt from labour, not before.
Thus (worthy Barnardiſton) thou art bleſt,
Who from thy labours and all pains doſt reſt.
Death which for thee a crown of gold prepares,
Gives unto us a thorny crown of tears,
And puts us in a mourning frame, for we
Cannot but have ſad hearts, when as we ſee
The Chariots and the Horſmen yeeld to fate,
And few ſuch left to guide the affairs of State:
But yet our grief for thee ſhall not proceed,
'Tis charity to give to thoſe that need,
That's to our ſelves; our miſeries and feares
Require not only floods, but ſeas of tears.
Therefore for thee we'l ceaſe our lamentation,
And tak't up for our ſelves, and for the Nation;
Though for our loſſe we cannot chuſe but grieve,
This comfort ſhal our paſſions yet relieve;
That heav'n is joyful, and thy bleſſed ſtate
Shall be a means our griefs to mitigate.
O what a happy ſtate it were, if we
Had no more cauſe of ſorrow but for thee.
ACROSTIC.
Non audis noſtras, Barnardiſtone, querelas,
Aut lacrymis opus eſſe putas; ſed funera fletu
Tu tua nos ornare vetas; at nos tamen ipſi
Haud ita ſentimus, vanum licet eſſe fatemur
At que ſupervacuum pro te (vir ſumme) dolorem;
Non ita pro nobis, nam mors tibi maxima merces,
Ipſa tamen ſummi nobis eſt cauſa doloris,
Et poſcit lacrymarum imbres, luctum que perennem,
Lumina que ut lacrymis turgeſcant ſemper amaris.
Buſta viri tanti ſtudeant ornare Camaenae,
Adſit Melpomene, moeſtiſ que boatibus auras
Repleat, & totus reſonet plangoribus aether,
Nam pietas & priſca fides, & maſcula virtus
Angligenum que decus, jam nunc periiſse videntur.
Religionis honos venerabilis, artis amicus
Defunctus jacet hic▪ titulis & honore priori
Impoſitis parvo turba comitante Sepulchro,
Sed lacrymis jam parce, ſat eſt, non prorſus ineptus
Te Theodore mori, quiſquis vel poſſe putabit.
Onimium Felix frueris meliore ſenatu,
Nil ubi juris habet mors, mars, aut Barbarus hoſtis.
J. C.
On the much lamented death of the right Worſhipful Sir Nathaniel Barnardiſton.
I VVonder not that Barnardiſton's dead,
But rather that he ſpun ſo long a thread;
Sure 'tis a ſound hath eccho'd through the earth,
Chriſts verdict on Nathaniels ſecond birth.
Behold an Iſra'lite: 'Twas then a wonder,
But now the Gloworm times that we live under,
Write ſuch men Miracles, and they we know
Are ceaſed, dead, and buried long ago.
We would enjoy'd him longer, but we knew
Who was the gift of God, was Heavens due.
(So Job, he gives and takes) ceaſe then to tell
His worth, whoſe Epitaph's a Miracle.
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Memoriae Sacrum equitis Nobiliſsimi, Pientiſſimique Viri, Nathan. Barnardiſton. Equ. Aur.
QUote corripis, viator, properans?
In hunc tumulum converte oculos,
Si modo permiſerint
Lacrymae & ſingultus tui.
Jacet hic
Eques auratus, & vir verè aureus,
Sinè fuco Iſraelita, & abſ que dolo:
Ipſemet enim Nathaniel:
Decus Patria, & familiae antiquiſsimae,
Quae inter trophaea ſua hoc jactitat,
Quòd talem peperit.
Amor cleri & Patrocinium:
Orthodoxa Religionis ingens exemplar & columen,
Veris Evangeliti Miniſtris tutela & praeſidium,
Apud eos dum vixerit,
Hi omnes ornarunt calculo
Mortuum,
Lugubri Epitaphio.
Quippe quòd his indulſit, ut parentem decuit,
Ut filium, auſcult avit obſequentiſsime;
Sic quos humi calcavit aetas impia,
Hic fovebat in ſin….
Ipſimet enim in deliciis, quos mundus reputat
foreign.
Lumina eccleſiae radiantia,
Quae ſeculi rabies
Extincta vult, & effoſſa penitus.
Heu! quoties … eſt, & (Conſtantini more)
Deoſculatus ſuaviter.
Defe male ſuiſ que metuit
Reformata religio.
Dum talem …
Fidei columnam & … naculum.
Quem non gementem audies? Abiit, hem obiit
Noſter Nathaniel;
Tam coeli quam terra …
Utrobi que affulſit …,
Hic equeſtri cinctus …,
Illic corona redimitus gloriae
Improba & aetate degeneri.
Cum ultra vivere penitus displicet
Eja! tunc juvat mori.
Ultimi in occaſu ſeculi
Occaſum is paſſus eſt,
Ut celo fulgeat fortiori jubare
Hinc diſce Lector;
Tunc tunc nos coelo maturi ſumus
Cum huic ſumus mundo decidui.
Poſuit honoris
Et debitae obſervantiae ergô.
Johan. Allot.
Chronogramma.
SI patrlae fIDVs perIIt & VerVs aMICVs, VIr pIVs at que bonVs, VIta perennIs erIt.
MOrte manet juſtis ſua ſpes, poſt fata, futura
Soecula cum venient, ultima cum que dies.
Optima ſanctorum remanebunt lucra virorum
Illorum effari gaudia nemo poteſt.
Peſsima pravorum remanebunt damna virorum
Illorum effari triſtia nemo poteſt.
Epitaphium.
AN juſtus periit? dici hunc periiſſe licebit?
Non licet; in Chriſto non periturus abit.
Aſt periit juſtus, dici hunc periiſſe licebit?
Heu! periit nobis, non rediturus abit.
Rara avis in terris eſt juſtus, pura que corda
Sunt inter spinas lilia nata Deo.
Eſt conſtantis opus durum quin ampla corona,
Spes perit illius qui recidivus erit.
Temporibus duris frigent pietatis amici
Vani: ſinceri ſe renovare ſolent▪
Talis erat vivus Barnardiſtonus, & inter
Omnes emicuit vir bonitatis amans,
Nathaniel vivus fuit, expers fraude doloque
Sincerus, conſtans in pietate fuit.
Funus juſta petit, juſtum hunc plorare decebit
Ne plorate nimis, non decet iſte dolor.
Dum vixit Chriſti valde eſt gaviſus amore,
Cum Domino moriens percupit eſſe ſuo.
Non ſibi ſed Chriſto vixit, nunc mortuus ipſe,
Cum Chriſto coelis gaudia ſumma ſapit.
Ad Lectorem.
En perit juſtus, perit imbrobuſ que
Sorte communi perit omnis, ecce
Vanitas mundi, cito tranſit ejus
Gloria fallax.
Dum viges fac ut ſapas ſuperna,
Poſſidens mundum quaſi non haberes,
Eſt pio terris peregrina coelis
Vita perennis.
Pet. St. Hill.
Juſta Nathanieli Barnardiſtono Equiti Aurato.
SIccin' abis? Ò ſerve Dei ter maxime, ſplendor
Et columen patriae, & religionis honor.
Heu! nos cur dubio rerum ſub turbine linquis,
Turbatur mediis, publica puppis aquis.
Forſitan ingratum quod ſeſe praebuit orbis,
Praemia nec meritis aequiparanda dedit,
Vel te ſubducis dum tranſit iniqua tyrannis
Caelitus ereptus, quod ſuper aſtra regas?
Irrita vota forent terris obſtante caterva,
Sed fient coelis omnia quae que velis.
Te te priſca fides, teque ipſa Eccleſia poſcit
Patronum, fer opem, jam celerato pedem.
Quid ſtas? at cadis heu! Deus optime ferſ que referſ que
Gloria quòd dederis ſit tribuenda tibi.
Subtrahis heu nobis, Deus optime quod que dediſte,
Quod tibi cum placeat, gloria ſumma tibi.
Abſtinet a lacrymis quis jam? turgentia guttis
Lumina quis non fert? nocte die que fluunt.
Ac veluti fierent modò lumina flumina; cordum
Hinc gemitus, dolor hinc, quòd pius ille jacet.
Qui ſteteras à parte Dei, dum vivus adeſſes,
Mortuus aethereas ingrediare domos.
Miles ut emeritus Chriſti ſplendeſcis honore,
Coeptis ſuſceptis glorificando Deum.
Perditur extremus tuus hand orabilis hoſtis,
Mors Chriſti Domini quod teneare fide.
Ergo praeſtiteris cum quod Deus imperat, euge!
In cameram Domini posſis inire Dei.
Offert ſe nobis Iſraelitica nubes,
Parte priore nigrens, poſteriore nitens.
Quod ſis ſublatus ſequitur nigredo ſuperſtes,
Quod tua progenies emicat, inde nitor.
Ecce triumphantem jam ſpiritualibus armis,
Non ſecus ac Chriſtum tu, ſequar ipſe ducem.
Jo. French. Art. Mag.
Carmen funebre in obitum clarisſimi viri D. Nathaniel Barnardiſton. equitis Aur.
OCcubuit clarus claro de ſtemmate natus
Barnardiſtonus, gloria certa ſuis;
Gloria certa ſuis, magis an genere an pietate
Emicuit quaeras: clarus utro que fuit.
Sanguinis en quanto fuerat dignatus honore,
Mentis candores pingere nemo poteſt.
Effigiem verae virtutis nobilitatis
Candoris nivei religionis babes.
Flete viri, lugete ſenes, plorate puellae,
Pulpita maeſta, ſacri funera flete viri.
Nos res lugemus noſtras, Eccleſia luget,
Interitum deflet patria maeſta tuum.
Te nobis vitia & mores rapuere maligni,
In coelis virtus te tua ſancta locat:
Terra tegit corpus, mens aureo regnat Olympo,
Fama Anglos inter celſa perennis erit.
Nath. Eyres.
In obitum Illuſtriſſimi Domini, D. Nath. Barnardiſton, Equitis Aurati.
PRo dolor! inſignis ſuccumbit gloria noſtri,
Nobilium ſplendor, juſtitiae que decus.
Spes dulcis Patriae decreſcit te moriente,
Te vivente, tuo lumine tuta fuit.
Aegrite, …udi que carent, & carcere clauſi;
His data non tarda ſunt tua dona manu.
Muſarum Pater es, qui ſit, poſt funera Patris
Praeterea vereor nullus adeſſe velit.
Fulgida ſtella cadit non ultra credita terrae
Immeritae, at coelis jam quo que fix a manet.
Verus amor, ſpes firma, fideſ que inſignia Chriſti,
Omnia florebant pectore clauſa tuo.
Inquè oculis charites habitant & grata venuſtas,
Nec minor es proavis tu pietate tuis.
Coelitùs haec bona te ſanctum fecere beatum,
Et nunc in coelis praemia digna capis.
Te lugeant omnes, lacrymis ſint undi que ſparſi,
Veſtitus nigros induat omnis amans.
Qui color albus erat, nunc est contrarius albo:
Jam, jam, conveniet luctibus ille color.
Haec ego; dum laudant alii tua facta, tuaſ que
Ingenio laudes uberiore canunt.
Rob. Hobart.
An EPITAPH. NATHANIEL BARNARDISTON. Anagram. And Art Is In An Noble Hart.
A Generous Knight and Noble Heart lies here▪
I'th' Art of living well, he had no Peer.
A true Nathaniel, and void of guile.
Stay and admire (Reader) but a while,
Here Barnardiſton lies, our loſs bemoan
With briniſh Tears, as doth this weeping Stone:
Here lies his worst, in Heaven's his better part.
True worth, And Art Is In An Noble Hart.
Sylvanus Morgan.
FINIS.
End of the text · Samuel Fairclough Jr, Suffolks Tears (1653)