His friendship was sought for of most foreign Embassadors, and his acquaintance entreated by many other strangers, whose learning or employment occasioned their stay in this Kingdom.  In which state of life he composed his more brisk and youthful Poems; in which he was so happy, as if Nature with all her varieties had been made to exercise his great Wit and Fancy; Nor did he leave it off in his old age, as is witnessed by many of his divine Sonnets, and other high, holy and harmonious Composures, under his Effigies in these following Verses to his Printed Poems, one most ingeniously expresses.

  This was for youth, strength, mirth, and wit, the time
  Most count their golden age, but ’twas not thine: 
  Thine was thy later years, so much refin’d,
  From youths dross, mirth, and wit, as thy pure mind,
  Thought, like the Angels, nothing but the praise
  Of thy Creator in those last best days. 
    Witness this Book, thy Emblem, which begins
    With love, but ends with sighs and tears for sins.

At last, by King James’s his command, or rather earnest persuasion, setting himself to the study of Theology, and into holy Orders, he was first made a Preacher of Lincoln’s-Inn, afterwards advanc’d to be Dean of Pauls, and as of an eminent Poet he became a much more eminent Preacher, so he rather improved then relinquisht his Poetical fancy, only con converting it from humane and worldly to divine and heavenly Subjects; witness this Hymn made in the time of his sickness.

A Hymn to God the Father.

  Wilt thou forgive that sin where I begun,
    Which was my sin, tho’ it were done before? 
  Wilt thou forgive that sin through which I run,
    And do run still, tho’ still I do deplore? 
      When thou hast done, thou hast not done,
        For I have more.

  Wilt thou forgive that sin which I have won
    Others to sin, and made my sin their door? 
  Wilt thou forgive that sin, which I did shun
    A year or two, but wallowed in a score? 
      When thou hast done, thou hast not done,
        For I have more.

  I have a sin of fear, that when I have spun
    My last thrid, I shall perish on the shore;
  But swear by thy self, that at my death thy son
    Shall shine as he shines now, and heretofore;
      And having done that, thou hast done,
        I ask no more.

He died March 31. Anno 1631. and was buried in St. Paul’s-Church, attended by many persons of Nobility and Eminency.  After his burial, some mournful friends repaired, and as Alexander the great did to the Grave of the most famous Achilles, so they strewed his with curious and costly flowers.  Nor was this (tho’ not usual) all the honour done to his reverend ashes; for some person (unknown) to perpetuate his memory, sent to his Executors, Dr. King, and Dr. Momford, an 100 Marks towards the making of a Monument for him; which they faithfully performed, it being as lively a representation as in dead Marble could be made of him, tho’ since by that merciless Fire in 1666. it be quite ruined.