MEMORIALS VPON THE DEATH OF SIR ROBERT QVARLES, Knight.
LONDON, Printed by Thomas Cotes, for Nicholas Alsop; and are to be sold at the signe of he Angel in Popes-head Alley. 1639.
TO THE MVCH HONORED LADY, AND MY MOST DEARE SISTER MARY Lady Quarles, Late Wife of Sir Robert Quarles of Romford, Knight, Deseased.
MY beloved Brother, your deare Husband, had a name (purchased by his owne worth) which needed the helpe of no quill, either to perpetuate or vindicate it: But Affection will be doing. Losers may chalenge leave to speake, and it is a ventall vanity to repeate that losse, which admits no recovery. A busie hand will blow, although the fire burne: But [Page] let the world excuse the Tautology of my affection, and know there is a secret cause that bred these lines, which I had rather should bee imagined then revealed: However Madam, one of my ends are to comfort you, who have made your selfe a prisoner to your sorrowes, and whose blessings I desire may bee multiplyed by your teares. Let your confidence of his happinesse moderate the extremity of your mourning, lest all that loved him beginne to mourne for you: Madam I present you with the Abstract of his story, for your affection to enlarge, which I recommend as a president for his Children to follow. Lesse I could not, and more I cannot doe, to testifie the deare remembrance I owe his ashes, and the true love I beare his memory, for whose sake and [Page] yours, your Ladishippe shall ever bee beloved, and truely honoured by
To The everlasting memory of my dearely loving, and as Dearely beloved Brother, Sir Robert Quarles, of Romford, K nt.
Iustice of peace and Quorum, in the County of Essex; Francis Quarles, a disconsolate mourner, In the depth of his just sorrow, and height of true affection, presents and consecrats these sad Memorials, in testimony of that deare love, which Time cannot dissolve, nor death divorse.
[Page]Reader, who ere thou art, That with an obvious eye dost happen to peruse these lines, taxe not my quill whose zeale commands a taske which may incurre the censure of officious Partiality; excuse that hand which rather seekes to ease a heart burthened with a faithfull griefe, then to magnifie his name whose owne deserts require no other Herault than popular Report; no other Plaudit than the voyce of heaven and Angels.
[Page]His family, If Antiquity may chalenge honour, receivd it before the martiall Drum of the victorious Norman left to beat his conquering marches in this glorious Island: but, birth nor blood, nor what his Ancestors have done, can chalenge ought in him that might redeeme his Name from dull oblivion, had not his undegenerate actions out-spoke his long-lin'd Genealogie.
[Page]His youth Had all advantage of education which Carefull parents could contrive to give and a sweete ingenuous disposition could take; bred in the illustrious Academy of Cambridge, and the honourable Society of the Innes of Court; wherein He suckt such literature and manners, as seasond his youth, and ripned his age; to the honour of the Church, to the good of his Country, to the glory of his Family.
[Page]He was The faithfull husband of three wives; the first Esther; the daughter of Sir Edward Lewknor, in the County of Suffolke K nt. the second, Anne; the Widdow of Sir Thomas Sackford in the County of Suffolke, K nt. the third, Mary; the daughter of Henry Parvish, of the City of London, Esquire, a true and faithfull Mourner.
[Page]His obedience to authority gave him Authority to command; and his Gentlenesse in Commanding made him a necessary Commander: wherein, he so wisely compounded Severity and Clemency to the making up of true Iustice both Commutative and Distributive, that the very mouth of malice was muzl'd at his Actions, not daring to impeach The uprightnesse of his Civil Govenment:
[Page]There was no Morall vertue, wherein he attained not to high Perfection; which, like a rich perfume, breathd so much sweetnesse into his name; and, like a diademe so crownd his dayes with Honour and Opinion, that timerous vice, not daring to approach his sight, would stand and blush, or shrinke away, and seeke a safe protection From those false hearts that lov'd him not.
[Page]Hee was a friend to all goodnesse and to all that lovd it: faithfull without ends; constant, without suspition; loving, without dissimulation: his words were the exposition of his thought; his actions were the confirmation of his words: in respect of which, he was neither apt to glory nor upbraid; Excusing defaults, without Censure: Acknowledging deserts, without detractiō
[Page]The two great Pillours which supported and maintaind his Oeconomick government, were, Piety and Hospitallity; wherein, Sobriety so moderated Plenty, that Men and Angels were equally refresht at his repasts, sweetned with the Symphony of a chearefull and a charitable heart; seasoned with the musicke of conjugiall Harmony.
[Page]He was the faithfull servant of two illustrious Princes, Iames and Charles; in whose acceptable service He so demean'd himselfe in Humility, wisedome, and fidelity; that his knowne faith still rectifyed him in the gratious eye of popular Opinion; whose loyalty Could have no greater Evidence than a smiling Conscience, and two soveraigne Princes.
[Page]The true sincerity of his Religion had, but sought not the applause of men; who, pressing on towards the high Reward, both in his practise and profession, neither blusht nor bosted: He was the Orphans father; the Oppressors Enemy; the poore mans Advocate: apt to forgive, and willing to be forgiven: Zealous without faction; Charitable without ostentation; Orthodoxe, without superstition.
[Page]His brest was a Cabanet of [...]iety, faith, and compassion, whose carefull keeper was, a true Nathaniel, In whom there was no guile: He was the master of his word, wealth, and passion; Lord of his Affections both Concupiscible, and irascible; curbing all extremities with Prudence; conquering all adversities with Patience.
[Page]His life was a happy continuation of well spent houres, devoted to the glory of God, the good of his country; the service of his Prince; wherein, his Piety, Iustice, and Fidelity proposed him an example to all that would desire the love of God and Man, and purchase to themselves the underpriz'd Inheritance of an honourable name.
[Page]His death was the Confirmation of a well led life, being the other moity of his happy story; wherein, he appeares just waight, without the allowance of the least graine of flattery, or affection; It was the subject of his Contemplation, Expectation, Preparation; in respect of which, it was neither strange, sudden, nor terrible, but a welcome passage from mortality, by corruption, to eternity.
[Page]And now his blood-washt soule hath entred the pearly gates of New Ierusalem; where he sits roabd, and crownd, and glorified; enjoying the beatifique vision of Iehovah Elohim; triumphing and singing to the name of IESVS, in the sacrosanctious Quire of Angels, and Archangels, Hosannas, Anthems, and Halelujahs.