An Epitaph of Maister Win drowned in the Sea

WHo so thou art that passest by this place
And runst at random on the slipper way,
Recline thy listning eare to mée a space
Doe stay thy ship & hearken what I saye:
Cast Ankor here vntill my tale be donne,
So maist thou chaunce the lyke mishaps to shonne.
Learne this of mée, that men doe liue to die
And Death decayes the worthiest Wightes of all,
No worldly welth or kingdomes can supplie
Or garde their Princes from the fatall fall:
One way to come vnto this lyfe we sée,
But to be rid thereof a thousand bée.
My gallant youth and frolick yeares behight
Mee longer age, and siluer haires to haue,
I thought my day would neuer come to night,
My prime prouokte me to forget my graue:
I thought by water to haue scapte the death
That now amid the Seas doe lose my breath.
Now, now the churlish chanell me doth check
Now surging Seas conspire to bréede my carke
Now fighting flouds enforce me to the rock,
Charybdis Whelps and Scyllas Dogs doe barke
Now hope of life is past, now, now I see
That W. can no more a liues man bée.
Yet I doe well affie for my desart
(When cruell death hath done the worst it may)
Of well renowmed Fame to haue a part
To saue my name from ruine and decay:
And that is all that thou or I may gaine,
And so adue, I thanke thée for thy paine.