AN EPYTAPHE
upon the Death of the Right Reverent Father in God
J. Juell, Doctor of Divinitie and Bishop of Sarisburie.
Who deceased the .22. of September. 1571.
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IF Publique Weale, or Countreies clame,
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might languish and bewayle:
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The late decease of suche Devines:
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as chiefely did prevaile
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And cleane extirp suche shadowed workes:
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as Antichristians Ire
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Or ARIUS flocke, moste TITYRUS lyke,
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began for to conspire,
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To overwhelme the Verytie:
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then may we Christians saye,
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We doo sustayne a double losse,
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of JUELL at this daye:
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Whose name doth not import so much the value, or the price:
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As is his misse accompted off, by Fathers sage and wise.
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No Pearle, or precious substance may, so much bewailed bee,
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As Countrey soyle hath cause to mone, deare JUELL now for thee.
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Who hath detected prudently, and publisht very playne:
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Suche Errours, as unworthy are, in Christians to remaine:
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As Warrierlyke, thou JUELL hast, laide Battry to thy Foes,
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As HARDYNG, with like Popish Sectes, that Papists Captain chose
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For to defende their Heresies: By thee his fond Delusion,
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Apparantly as proved is, was brought unto confusion.
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Thy zealous mind, thy sacred spright: by West, by North, by South,
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Hath driven of raging Papists Sect, a Snaffle in the mouth.
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Wheron so longe time they have fed, that Christes Ghospell cleare
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Unto the Laye and common sort, moste brightly doth appeare.
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So that deservedly of right, by golden Trumpe of Fame:
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Thou doest deserve the Title of a JUELL unto name:
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For why? by thee most worthily, thy Vertues stood in stead:
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By thee likewise the Flocke of Christ, most preciouslie were fed.
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By thee, the Path of Heavenly health: by thee, true faith was showen
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By thee, the fruites of Charitie, in deedes & wordes were knowen.
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By thee, the inwarde man was clad, and nourisht verie well:
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In any soyle, scarse is there founde, suche Juelles for to dwell.
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Thy deedes agreed with stedfast wordes, fast fownded on the Rocke,
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To Christian state, a Father deare, and Patron to the Flocke.
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Whiche beares the Title of the Church, or Sheepefould of the Lord,
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Approved by testimoniall Actes, as Scriptures do record.
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If thus much then, th accompt, was made, what Creature can denay
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But England she, too soone hath lost, a JUELL at this daye,
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Whom neither benefite of wealth, could cause to wander froe
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The Compasse of the heavenly Card, his Dutie to bestowe
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Amonge his Bretherne deare in Christ: then as we have begon,
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Let us suppose that we have lost, this JUELL all too soone.
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Desiryng God, that as he is, no doubt with him on hie,
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We may become true Juelles all, untill the time we die.
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So shall the heavenly Verytie, most brightly floorish still,
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And spred her Branches fayre abroade, all over Sion Hill:
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Wherby the Popish trayne may fall, that erst hath ben so hie,
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And cleane diminisht from the Earth, as withered Plants that die.
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Graunt this (O God) for evermore, and pearse thy Pastors hartes,
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That valiantly (as JUELL did,) they playe true Pastors partes.
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And leave behinde suche worthy workes, to gloryfie Goddes name
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As he hath don: and so confound the Popish Sect with shame.
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That by suche meane no Papist may, the perfect Scripture wrest,
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As HARDYNG hath don heretofore, whom JUELL hath supprest.
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And thus farewell, (deare JUELL now:) sith Gods good pleasure is
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To have thee hence from us among, to his Eternall blisse.
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With teares I ende this simple Verse, proceedyng of good wyll,
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Let learned sort take Pen in hand, and frame their filed Quill
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To spread this Juelles Fame abroad, though Corps be clad in Clay,
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His worthy Workes & Vertues rare, Dame FAME shal sure display.
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