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EBBA 36346

Society of Antiquaries of London - Broadsides
Ballad XSLT Template
AN
HONOURABLE PRESIDENT
FOR GREAT MEN.
BY
AN ELEGIECALL MONUMENT
to the Memory of that worthy Gentleman Mr. JOHN BANCKS,
Citizen and Mercer of LONDON, aged about 60. yeares,
and Dyed the 9.th day of September.
ANNO. DOM. 1630.

FAME come and wayte upon the Fu-nerall Herse
Of Noble worth; and let this wee-ping Verse
Charme all those Eyes which spent a brinie Teare:
Let none weepe more; but read what's written here.
Fame dry their Eyes, and bid them all rejoyce
For Rich and Poore all with a generall voyce
Spend their best breath, to tell the World that hee
(Whose death deserves this sad solemnity)
Was One, a Tunne of Dyamonds could not buy
The Jewels which he wore: Humility,
Religion, Judgement, Wisedome; Poore Mens Prayers
Which halfe the way to Heaven, made him Stayres
Should any weepe for such a man that's dead?
Inter'd with Fame, his Soule to Heaven fled?
Not a Teare more: But bid the great Ones learne
To doe like good, that they in BANCKS discerne
Bid them peruse the Index of his deeds,
And everyone discreetly as he reeds
Observe and quote i'th Margent of his hart
The best of them; that when their soules must part
From their dead bodies; They may so worke in them
The World may say; they liv'd and dy'd good Men
But above all his Merit, My Pen is bound
To laud his worth (whom Fame hath so renown'd)
Much more then any: For the Legacies
Bequeath'd to Rich and Poore at Obsequies
Of dead Testators, are but customary
But the bequest I treat, is full of glory.
As long as Time hath being shall not dye
This first borne famous Guift and Legacy.

Let the World know, he hath remenbred those
The greate Ones doe forget; and to disclose
His Goodnesse in it, Censure You that read
This Eligie; Although JOHN BANCKES be dead
He shall forever live. ThArtillerie
Shall fame his Guift to all Posteritie.
Nine times Ten Pounds this Gentleman did give
LONDONS Arttillerie, that such may live
And florish in that noble Schole of Armes
(Where's taught the Gaurd of Princes from all harmes)
Twenty Pounds to Feast, and other Twenty more
To purchase Armes; and Fifty to the Store,
The Stock, the Treasury, or to the Banck
BANCK fits it well; if there were more to ranck.
Hee was a Souldier, though that honored age
Deny'd him with his Juniors equipage;
Therefore his love we honor: Behold and see
The Glory of this sad Solemnitie.
The Warlike Musick, Drum and Fife are clad
In blacke, there beating Dub a Dub all sad:
Muskets (Retrorsum) and their rests doe weepe,
The heads of Pikes doe the like Clangor keepe
Captaine, Leiftenant, Ensigne, and the rest
All with dejected Countenances prest
To direfull Mourning: Thus are Souldiers friends
Like royall Princes brought unto their Ends.


FINIS
Mariscallus PETOWB composuit.

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