Thriving so bad in that boggy Country, to add to his misery, he was robb'd by the Rebels of that little he had left; whereupon, in great grief, he returns into _England_, and falling into want, which to a noble spirit is most killing, being heartbroken, he died _Anno_ 1598. and was honourably buried at the sole charge of _Robert_, first of that name Earl of _Essex_, on whose Monument is written this Epitaph.
Edmundus Spencer, _Londinensis, Anglicorum Poetarum nostri seculi fuit Princeps, quod ejus Poemata, faventibus Musis, & victuro genio conscripta comprobant. Obiit immatura morte, Anno salutis_, 1598. _& prope_ Galfredum Chaucerum _conditur, qui scoelisissime Poesin Anglicis literis primus illustravit. In quem hæc scripta sunt Epitaphia._
_Hic prope_ Chaucerum _situs est_ Spenserius, _illi Proximus ingenio, proximus ut tumulo. Hic prope_ Chaucerum Spensere _poeta poetam Conderis, & versu! quam tumulo proprior, Anglica te vivo vixit, plausitque Poesis; Nunc moritura timet, te moriente, mori_.
These two last lines, for the worthiness of the Poet, are thus translated by Dr. _Fuller_.
Whilest thou didst live, liv'd English Poetry, Which fears, now thou art dead, that she shall die.
A modern Author writes, that the Lord _Cecil_ owed Mr. _Spenser_ a grudge for some Reflections of his in _Mother Hubbard's Tale_, and therefore when the Queen had order'd him that Money, the Lord Treasurer said, What all this for a Song? And this he is said to have taken so much to heart, that he contracted a deep Melancholy, which soon after brought his life to a period: so apt is an ingenious spirit to resent a slighting even from the greatest persons. And thus much I must needs say of the Merit of so great a Poet, from so great a Monarch, that it is incident to the best of Poets sometimes to flatter some Royal or Noble Patron, never did any do it more to the height, or with greater art and elegance, if the highest of praises attributed to so Heroick a Princess can justly be termed flattery.
Sir _John Harrington_ is supposed to be born in _Somerset-shire_, he having a fair Estate near _Bath_ in that County. His Father, for carrying a Letter to the Lady (afterwards Queen) _Elizabeth_, was kept twelve months in the _Tower_, and made to spend a Thousand Pounds e're he could be free of that trouble. His Mother also being Servant to the Lady _Elizabeth_, was sequestred from her, and her Husband enjoyned not to keep company with her; so that on both sides he may be said to be very indear'd to Queen _Elizabeth_, who was also his Godmother, a further tye of her kindness and respects unto him.