Broadside elegy entitled 'On the Death of the Right Honorable James Earle of Perth, Lord Drummond and Stobhall. Elegie'

Transcription

On the DEATH of

THE   RIGHT    HONOURABLE

JAMES

EARLE of PERTH,

LORD Drummond, and Stobball.

E L E G I E.

Jealous I am, Mourners are scarce adayes,
Time will have Period, ere Tears dime some Eyes :
Admit the Reason never be so great,
The Signs of sorrow weareth out of date.

Awake, awaks! Oh, then dull dumpish Age,
Be no more stranger to Gries's Tragide Stage :
Implore Heav'ns may, their clouds of Rain to turn
In Showrs of Tears, t'affist dry hearts to mourn ;

More universal cause, for long time ne're
In any Age to Kingdom did appear :
When Pillars fall, the Roofs are weakned sure,
When States. men die, does it not Thrones injure ?

Ecclips'd is not the Pow'r of Majesty?
When Death blows out such Lamp of Loyalty.
Does not old Albions Lebanon decay
When such prime Cedar, thus is pluck't away:

Sad, sad, O Perth ! is the distemper that
Thy Death hath wrought into our publick State :
From Prince to Peasant, all in General
Do find thy losse so Epidemical;

Exposed to deep groanning is each heart,
In woe all strive who shal have greater part:
Admited boundles mind of all the good
In Earth or Heav'ns by souls are understood :

As sun to lesser lights doth splendor lend,
Thy Influence to Heroe's did extend :
The Mirrour of all comprehended worth,
Nobility or Honour could show forth:

Respected by the Machivals of State,
Faithful, Ingenious, Eminent, Compleat:
T'advance thy Prince, all dangers for his sake,
Ev'n in Thy Action thou did undertake,

Loved him so, when fined and confin'd
By the Usurper, again re-re-fin,d:         

Judg'd all thy Sufferings but a duty bound,
'Mongst those who fought, reward was never found.

Esteem'd by Monk, were he alive would give
This verdict, straighter Crown friend ne're did live:
From Birth to Death unstain'd, remained so;
Whils from thy grave, may Loyalties Laurels grow

One of King's restauration Instrument,
Short of no joy, then did him complement:
With contemplation, search thy matchless wayes,
Most circumspectly walked in bad dayes:

From whose rare steps, Ages to come may trace
Guides, for to follow, Kingdoms well and peace:
A changeless Son, to present Church still seen,
Religion with good works did entertain.

Prov'd the most cordial tyecould friendship binde
The best of humours, and most real kind :
Brave gen'rous spark, to Jove's society,
The Quintessence of Magnanimity:

Even unto Deserts makes the virtues moan,
They now may weep, their chiefest Lord is gone:
To Tennants, Widows, Orphans, a Disaster,
They ne're again shal find more just a Master

Rated, though inward parts, and knowledge might
Have rais'd proud thoughts, unto promotions height:
Thou did it prize to Man felicity
To be invested with humility.

Thy praise who views, write by immortal same,
Will find 'bove Perths are none that beareth Name.
A Lamentation to old Drummonds race,
Did so much glory from a Chief imbrace :

Hold, hold! to which is this relentment made,
Hath Of-spring left, does theerevive when dead:
Makes Drummonds Name, & Stobbals house renownd,
From which hath sprung eight lineal Monarchs crownd.

                                              M. M.

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