FOR Birth and Beauty, height of modesty,
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For Wit and Parts, sweet ingenuity;
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A Mother dear, and eke a nature sweet,
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A loving Sister, and a Wife most meet;
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For a free heart, and eke a bounteous hand,
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She scarce hath left Superiour in the Land.
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Able she was with Learned men to reason,
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Nimbly confuting Heresy and Treason.
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In Common Prayers though delight she took,
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Yet could she pray full well without a Book;
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Her secret Pray'rs too (without abuse)
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May be call'd Common from their frequent use.
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She did not hate a Surplice, nor much love it,
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But far prefer'd a pure life above it.
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For Ceremonies she would speak one word,
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But three for substance and fear of the Lord.
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Her chiefest care still was for Christian walking,
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She lov'd good practice, some love only talking.
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She lik'd those Clergy that now Preach and Pray,
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If by good life, they practis'd what they say,
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As if they were in earnest, also some
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She favour'd too, who late were stricken dumb.
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A true Child of the Church she was, yet kind
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To such as were not fully of her mind;
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Courteous to all, of such sweet disposition,
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Each sober man thought her of his Opinion.
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Her dear Aunt Lister (whom she lov'd) and she,
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How well in Heav'n now do they agree?
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Her Speech was quick, yet all her Language such,
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That none had cause to say it was too much;
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Her habit modest, so that thereby no man
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Need question whether she was man or woman.
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Her neighbors found she did the hungry feed,
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And many wayes helpt such as stood in need.
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With her dear Lord she up to London went,
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Whence she was call'd to Heav'ns Parliament;
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While her Lord Sits i' th Lower House; now she
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Sits in the House of Kings where all agree.
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(May never Law be made below, but those
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That with the Laws of Heav'n do justly close;
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That do as well agree with those above,
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As she and her dear Lord did here in Love.)
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Now for this Lord, and for her Children dear,
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For their great loss, I needs must shed a tear:
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But none for her, who now hath gain'd a Crown;
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Her God who lent her, call'd but for his own.
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This Life's no Heritage, but a short Lease,
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And well 'tis so; sooner our troubles cease.
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