The Hearse of the Renowned Robert Earl, Frontispiece – License
Robert Earle of Essex, his Excellence, Generall of ye Army. Imployed for the defence of the Protestant Religion, the ſafety of his Maties Person, and of the Parliament: the preſeruation of the Lives & Liberties of the Subiects. Aetatis ſuae. 56.
THE HEARSE OF THE Renowned, THE RIGHT HONOURABLE ROBERT EARLE OF ESSEX and Ewe, Viſcount Hereford, Lord Ferrers of Chartley, Bourchier. and Lovaine, ſometime Captaine Lord Generall of the Armies raiſed for the defence of King and Parliament.
As it was repreſented in a Sermon, preached in the Abbey Church at Weſtminſter, at the Magnificent Solemnity of his Funerall, Octob. 22. 1646.
By RICHARD VINES.
Eccleſ. 12. 5.
Man goeth to his long home, and the mourners goe about the ſtreets.
Publiſhed by Order of the Houſe of Peeres.
LONDON, Printed by T. R. and E. M. for Abel Roper at the Sign of the Sun againſt Dunſtans Church in Fleet-ſtreet. 1646.
TO THE RIGHT HONORABLE The Houſe of PEERES Aſſembled in PARLIAMENT.
Right Honorable,
I Have performed what ſervice I am able to the memory of the renowned Lord, deceaſed, And to the Commands of that Right Honorable and Noble Triumvirate which gave being to this Sermon. And to your Lordſhips by whoſe Order I have adventured upon this Publication: All men (except ſuch whoſe either moroſity or malignity doth account, vetera in laude, praeſentià in faſtidio) muſt acknowledge the worth, the valour, the faithfulneſſe which lie under the Robes you weare, and that it is not a meere borrowed Opinion which makes you Honorable, but the reflection or rebounding back of that upon you, which went firſt out from you: But this Sermon will teach you, that Titles of Honour are written in duſt, and that Princes and great men muſt fall, their very Monuments are mortall, and will in time be found as Archemedes his Tomb (by Cicero) in vepretis, over-growne with Thorns and Bryers; and that light of memory which ſhines after your Sun-ſet, is but like the Moon which wanes alſo by degrees: No glory that's woven in the fineſt Tapeſtry of this world but will loſe colour, decay, and periſh, but ſaving grace and the knowledge of Jeſus Chriſt is foreign a poſſeſſion for eternity, your zealous agency for the Church and State will carry you as far towards Immortality as any other Chariot in this world. Its as much as nothing when one can ſay no more of a man then is ſaid of ſome great ones, that they reigned and died. The Gen. 36. 33.Lord give you hearts actuated with zeal for God, together with a right temperament of counſels, knowing that you are over a people who (as Tacitus ſaith) nec totā ſervitutem pati poſſunt nec totam libertatem, and if your fall do come before you ſee, or reap the fruit of your labours: The Lord make you ſuch as may take comfort with you, and leave Honour behinde you, ſo prayeth
Your Lordſhips moſt humble and unworthy ſervant, in and for Jeſus Chriſt, RICHARD VINES.
Die Veneris 23. Octob. 1646.
ORdered by the Lords in Parliament aſſembled, That this Houſe gives thanks to Maſter Vines for the great pains by him taken yeſterday in the Sermon hee preached at the ſolemnization of the Funerall of the Earle of Eſſex, deceaſed: And hee is hereby deſired to Print and Publiſh the ſame, which is not to be Printed by any but by Authority under his own hand.
Jo. Browne Cleric. Parliamentorum. I appoint Abel Roper to print this Sermon. Richard Vines.