Brat ' Into the world so horrible as that ' Since Rome Usurpt the Western Monarchy ' Which she still Rules with Fraud and Treachery ' In forging Plots imploying Hellish Actors ' Ah! let us treat 'um as the Devils Factors ' Distressed Sion O how few regard ' My sighs and tears their Hearts are grown so haâ—â— ' My restless Hurricanes with storms and wind ' No ease no peace no comfort can I find ' ' The horrid aspect of these Monsters do ' Affright my Children some they worry too ' Others they seize like greedy Beasts of prey ' And to their Den the Sacrifice convey ' Renowned GODFREY whose immortal Glory ' Martyr'd for me shall ever live in Story ' Let every Loyal Eye that reads it there ' Yield to his name the Tribute of a Tear. ' Brave Soul thy Love and Loyalty do claim ' That King and People should proclaim thy name ' As England's Victim ne're to be forgot ' Fastning on Rome an Everlasting blot ' The Great Jehovah who is only wise ' Permits thy fall as a sweet Sacrifice ' Thy barbarous Murder has made clearly out ' That Plot which none but Infidels now doubt ' Those bloody Varlets black Assassinates ' Curst Executioners of Rome's Debates ' Drunk with Infernal cruelty made thee 'A Specimen of England's Tragedy ' By thee we learn what curtesie to hope ' From Romish Butchers Vassals to the Pope ' Thou led'st the Van first fell'st into the Trap ' From whence they hope 't no Protestant should scape ' Poor Innocent trepann'd amongst them came ' Into their Nets like a poor harmless Lamb ' Whilst they like hungry Tygers ready stood 'T' imbrue their Tallons in thy guiltless Blood. ' Thou little dream'dst such an Infernal snare ' Had there been laid t' intrap thee unaware 'T is strange say some what reason should ingâ— ' Them to make thee the Object of their rage ' Some think 't was 'cause the Babylonish Whore ' Big with a Bastard long'd as heretofore ' For Christian Blood Her Favourites made haste ' In her great need to help her to a taste ' Of choicest Liquors thine she calls for first 'To cheer her sinking Heart and quench her Thir ' Fearing miscarriage when her Spirits faint ' She drinks the Hearts blood of some Martyr'd Sain ' Insatiate like the Horse-leech still she cries ' Give give me that there 's nought else will suffice ' My craving Paunch my pleasure must be done ' This Heretick was a Pragmatick one ' He knew my secret Clubs and would reveal ' My Tragick Plots we must prevent his Zeal ' Let 's strangle him before he does relate ' The Villanies we intend to perpetrate ' Ah brutish Whore of Canibals the worst ' For this curst draught be thou for ever curst ' In the most lasting Records let us see ' This horrid instance of thy cruelty ' This Loyal Knight ne're injur'd thee but stood ' Upright for Justice and his Countreys good ' Will nought but Blood of Protestants give ease ' Or quench thy thirst What mischievous Disease ' Infects thy Bowels Must your Churches food ' Be Flesh of Saints Your Mornings draught their Blood ' Fellonious Strumpet dar'st thou be so bold 'To steal by night into thy Neighbours Fold ' And seize my Lambs Thy Theft and Cruelty ' And all thy Murders shall revenged be ' But since he 's gone and Justice does pursue ' With eager steps the Assassinating Crew ' We 'l acquiesce for Heav'n now seems to call ' And bid tears cease at his sad Funeral ' Let Christians offer through the Universe ' Whole Hecatombs upon his bleeding Herse ' And could their tears increase into a Floud ' 'T were no excess so much I prize his Bloud THus thus did I in Eighty make sad moan For that brave Hero who was dead and gone But Oh my Heart A Cordial presently My Spirits faint Ah me Help Lord I die Unless I have relief I can't sustain My sinking Soul was ever any pain Or sorrow equal to what I now feel My burd'ned mind under her weight does reel Oh since that year what woes have I beheld How have my mournful Eyes with tears been fill'd I then did fear what since is come to pass As in that Treatise plainly hinted was Did Rachel mourn and all relief refuse How then can I forbear How can I chuse But weep and to lament for my sad Lot What Children have I lost who now are not Did I for one such Lamentation make My Bowels now may surely throb and ake When I recount how many since are gone Who murdered were by bloody Babylon 1681. Poor Colledge first before this Idol fell Betray'd to death by Evidence from Hell To drink his Blood there seem'd to be some strife Was twice Indicted they must have his Life Yet they could never shake his constancy Hear his great Soul sing his own Elegy A Poem written by Mr. Stephen Colledge a while before he was sent to Oxford where he Suffered Death Aug. 31. 1681. Wrongful Imprisonment Hurts not the Innocent WHat if I am into a Prison cast By Hellish Combinations am betray'd My Soul is free although my Body's fast Let them repent that have this evil laid And of Eternal vengeance be afraid Though Racks and Gibbets can my Body kill My God is with me and I fear no ill What boots the clamours of the giddy Throng What Antidote 's against a poysonous Breath What Fence is there against a Lying Tongue Sharpen'd by Hell to wound a man to Death Snakes Vipers Adders do lurk underneath Say what you will or never speak at all Our very Prayers such Wretches Treason call But Walls and Bars cannot a Prison make The Free-born Soul enjoys its Liberty These clods of Earth it may incaptivate Whilst Heavenly Minds are conversant on high Ranging the Fields of Blest Eternity So let this Bird sing sweetly in my Breast My Conscience clear a Rush for all the rest What I have done I did with good intent To serve my King my Countrey and the Laws Against the bloody Papists I was bent Cost what it will I 'le ne're repent my Cause Nor do I fear their Hell-devouring Jaws A Protestant I am and such I 'le dye Maugre all Deaths and Popish Cruelty But what need I these Protestations make Actions speak men far better than their words Whate're I suffer's for my Countrey 's sake Not 'cause I had a Gun or Horse or Sword Or that my Heart did Treason e're afford No 't is not me alone they do intend But thousands more to gain their cursed End. And sure of this the World 's so well aware That here 't is needless more for me to say I must conclude no time have I to spare My winged hours do fly too fast away My work Repentance must I not delay I 'le add my Prayers to God
â—o now Invade and strive to have it given â—nto their hands that they may tread it down And impudently cry All is their own Grand Rebels what attempt the Right of God â—â— you not fear his dreadful Iron Rod Would you Dethrone him would your hellish spite â—â—â—rive both God and Man of their just Right This you design'd although in vain to do And Christ's blest Kingdom fain would overthrow One while they cry Conscience to them must beâ— Another time Christ's Right they did defend When it did seem to favour their design Conscience in all its rights they undermine But when they found 't would with their Interest staâ— And with th' Intrigues that they then had in hand They cry Nought's juster than that all men do To others as they would be done unto But to return nothing for many years Is seen but Persecution Bloud and Tears No Liberty at all Conscience must have But the Dissenters Prison proves his Grave Where hundreds of them lay long buried Whilst others of their Goods were plundered Many in filthy Jayls so long did lye That poysoned with the stench they there did dye Law and Religion both were trampled down And most good men term'd Enemies to the Crown Charters of Towns and Cities ta'ne away That Popery and Slavery might bear sway No Stone 〈…〉 unturn'd whereby they might Bring 〈◊〉 poor England an Eternal Night Of Popish darkness many therefore fled Whilst others were strangely dis-spirited Divers good Magistrates were laid aside And wicked men for Judges they provide Void of all fear of God who any thing Would give for Law they thought would please 〈◊〉 King Did a Dissenter Law or Justice crave He 's branded for a Rascal Rebel Slave Yet many men so strangely blinded were They could not see though things appear'd so clear Because that King a Protestant was thought Matters by him so cunningly were wrought And carried on but when he came to fall All things were plain and bare-fac't unto all For the next King his Visage did lay down And publickly himself a Papist own And I likewise more clearly did espy My dreadful danger then approaching nigh The Popish Plot under a Cloud was hid And a Sham Plot contrived in its stead Though own'd by three Successive Parliaments â—et all 's denied by Romish Innocents â—hose Jesuits who hang'd for Treason were Themselves free from all guilt or crime declare 〈◊〉 th' unborn Child nor is this strange since they 〈◊〉 Dispensation have That they may say Whatever will preserve their Cause from blame And Holy Church secure from her just shame 1685. Therefore is Dr. Oates brought on the Stage â—egraded and expos'd to brutish rage They on his Back their cruel strokes do lay Whereby their Hellish Plot they stifle may â—et let them whip and lash him till he die And practice all their Romish cruelty â—one of his Evidence he can deny 'T is to his Honour and Immortal praise And to his name it will high Trophies raise Those many hundred stripes laid on by Rome Are as so many Monuments become More great and lasting than a Marble Tomb. Poor Dangerfield couragious and bold Whom Rome's Incendiaries never could By horrid threats or subtle flattery Prevail upon to gainsay or deny What he of their Intrigues did testifie Unto a cruel whipping they him doom Which yet could not his Fortitude o'recome 'T would pierce ones Heart to think what miseries He suffered from his bloody Enemies And though perhaps not well prepar'd to die Yet he must fall by Romish Tyranny A Villain in the midst of all his pain Stabbing his tender Eye out with a Cane Which pierc't so deep he in great torments lay That never ceast till Death took him away The Fence b'ing thus thrown down the ravenous Beasts Rush in and of poor Innocents make Feasts Wild Boars and Bears yea Wolves and Tygers strive All to destroy and leave no Lambs alive Religion Laws though all good mens great care Yea and mens precious Lives they did not spare That England seem'd as if it were become A Scene of misery and a prey to Rome And what could Sion do Alas poor I Bewail'd my state but saw no comfort nigh Yea my poor Children about me hung B'ing hardly able to endure the wrong And sharp Assaults of those fierce Fiends of Hell Yet knew not how their malice to repel About this time i' th' West there did appear Some unto whom their Countrey was most dear Striving to free it but mistook the time And Person too who Landed then at Lyme A Man belov'd but not the Instrument God chosen had and now to us hath sent To save our Land and Sion from that blow Which would have been to both an overthrow 1685. But of my joys I must forbear to sing A doleful noise seems in my Ears to ring And still grows louder sure 't is from the West What 's that I see a cruel savage Beast A Man no sure a Monster though he came Of Humane Race he don't deserve that name A cursed Spirit of th' Infernal Legion A Lord Chief Justice of the Lower Region I cannot rest hot strugling rage aspires And fills my Free-born Soul with Noble Fires My Muse soars high and now she doth despise What e're below attempts to Tyrannize Ah! but again she faints how shall I tell What to those poor mistaken Souls befel The dismal news of Rapine Spoil and Blood Shed in those Parts which ran ev'n like a Flood Works strange Effects in my afflicted Soul For grief my Bowels do within me rowl In biting Satyr I could even contemn That Villanous Judge who Innocents did condemn Who on the Bench did nought but what he knew Would gratifie the bloody Popish Crew Though nature seems assistance to refuse Revenge and Anger both inspire my Muse. Shall the Wretch live why is he spar'd so long Justice seems to complain of having wrong Th' Infernai Daemons angry seem to say Dead or alive we him will fetch away And at his stay they all seem to repine That to their vengeance we don't him resign But Ah! his Blood can never recompence His ruining so many Innocents And it may seem the wonder of the time And some are apt to think may be a crime That we no more regard their memory Who for their Countries welfare dar'd to dye Poor Hearts who seeing we were drawing nigh To Vassalage and ROMISH Tyranny Resolv'd to save Religion and the Laws But mist and fell into this Tygers Claws Whose mind upon the prey was wholly bent Pitying none though ne're so Innocent bâ—â— like an hungry Wolf or furious Bear Without remorse the harmless Lambs did tear No time of preparation would he give To many nor Petitions would receive Nor would he hâ—aâ— their Wives and Childrens cry But scoâ—t and laught at them in â—isery And though they pity beg'd with sighs and groans He was relentless to their tears and moans Beg'd that distressed Widdows he 'l not make
for England's good And if he please will Seal them with my Blood. O Blessed God destroy this black design Of Popish Consults it's in thee we trust Our Eyes are on thee help O Lord in time Thou God of Truth most Merciful and Just Do thou defend us or we perish must Save England Lord from Popish Cruelty My Countrey bless Thy will be done on me Mans Life 's a Voyage through a Sea of tears If he would gain the Haven of his Rest His signs must fill the Sails whilst some Men Steers When Storms arise let each man do his best And cast the Anchor of his hopes opprest Till Time or Death shall bring us to that Shore Where Time nor Death shall never be no more Laus Deo. Amen From my Prison in the Tower August 15 1681. Stephen Colledge Great Essex Ah thy groans methinks I hear What ne're a Friend hadst thou not one Friend near Noâ—e none to help in vain it was to cry When there were none but Savage Monsters nigh Since thy great Soul could not inticed be Noâ— wouldst conceal their cursed cruelty They make a bloody Tragedy of thee Surpriz'd lest all should be discovered Unto this Dev'lish Policy they were led And to conceal their horrid Plot they try Those wicked Arts which do it justifie Confirming it to all Posterity Though thy Assassinates like men appear Their curst attempt shew'd least of man was there Incarnate Devils certainly they were Ah cruel Tyrants destitute of shame To murder both thy Body and thy Name Could not thy Blood their hellish thirst suffice But must thou die a double Sacrifice What! cut thy Throat with such barbarity And when thy Soveraign also was so nigh The Royal Prison though a Tower strong Was no defence nor refuge to thee long Thou careful wast how to preserve thy life And yet didst fall by a curst Romish Knife Thy Head almost cut off and yet they cry That thy own hands did act the Tragedy â—â—t now we hope it plainly will appear Who the vile Actors who the Murderers were May I not borrow now as many do Some proper lines made on an Essex too Shall such a Noble Peer fall thus by Rome And shall I not drop tears upon his Tomb Shall none who loved him move for a Vote Ye Lords and Commons ye are bound to do 't A Vote that all on that same day o' th' year On which he fell shall mourn or shed a tear Or else be judg'd a` Papist It were wise T' erect an Office in my Childrens Eyes For issuing forth a constant sum of tears There 's no way else to pay him his Arrears And when we 've drien'd this Ages Eyes quite dry Let him be wept the next in History 1683. Renowned Great Lord Russel next 〈◊〉 Is markt out for this direful Tragedy Scarce had I dry'd mine Eyes for loss of one But they another Hero fall upon A braver Lord scarce ever lost his Head Nay few like him hath England ever bred From a most Noble Stem he did Spring forth And had a Spirit â—uited to his Birth Had I not wept so many tears before For him whole Rivers from mine Eyes might pour Had I an Helicon in either Eye The thoughts of Russel soon may draw them dry Great Soul too great for our inferior praise You for your self the Noblest Trophies raise Your Love to Sion and your Native Land Shall mention'd be ev'n while the Earth doth stande My loss and England's too who shall repair Great God! his hardned Enemies do not spare 'T was by the Blood of these Great Men I see England was freed from Rome's curst Tyranny T' avoid the Odium of their cursed Plot Which notwithstanding ne're will be forgot Another was contriv'd wherewith they thought The innocent to insnare who should be brought Thereby to ruin and then hop'd to see Sion and her best Friends would ruin'd be This was the Second part of Rome's design To work the overthrow of me and mine And these two Champions standing in their way With bloudy hands they villanously slay The first inhumanely was Murdered The other they did publickly Behead They charged him indeed with odious Crimes And many others too in those black times Crimes he to th' last did utterly deny Whose Noble Soul their malice did defie But Villains swore and he alas must die O Heav'n and Earth be ye astonished How fain would they have struck off my poor Head Yet of my Blood that they themselves might clear Good Protestants the scandal on 't must bear 1683. Sydney dear Sydney treacherously fell Whom I esteem'd a Prince in Israel Those Laws that were intended for defence Were wrested so thou couldst not have from thence Any relief but thou must likewise dye Although on thee no guilt at all did lye Jury and Judge dealt so inhumanely What hadst thou done what cause of death in the For Sion 't was 't was for thy Love to me Thy Principles were such Hell could not bear The thoughts thereof though publisht they ne're we Thou wast too Just and hadst such piercing Eyes Those Hellish Statesmen doubted a surprize And therefore made thee a third Sacrifice 1684. By Popish Arts many more ruin'd were Poor Holloway likewise fell into the snare B'ing from th' Western World a Prisoner brought By those who fiercely his destruction sought Who at the place of Execution Delivered his Bible unto one Of his Relations wherein he had writ The following lines which I do here transmit ' Owner hereof prize this and bless the Lord ' That yet to England doth his Word afford ' Had I liv'd longer hopes I should have had 'T' have seen times mend but now expect them bad ' Truth will not do for much of it I wrote ' And for 't I die much rather than the Plot. ' Did you know all you 'd say I did my part 'To free you from designed Popish smart And now alas behold my dismal case Great Flouds of sorrow follow on apace Many Religious Pious Men of worth Are rendred vile not fit to live on Earth Observe Rome's policy who contriv'd it so That Protestants should Protestants undo Conscience must now be basely shackled Against its Light impos'd on and misled And truckle like a Slave unto all those Who did Christ's Regal power in man oppose Either their Consciences must wounded lye Under despair for their Apostacy Or if they were resolved and sincere They loss of Goods Contempt and Scorn must bear Be sent to noisom Jayls or to Exile Which many chose rather than to defile Their precious Souls and treacherously dis-own Or yield the power of Christs righteous Throne Up to Usurpers who audaciously Cry All is Caesar ' s due and so deny God over Conscience has the Soveraignty No wonder they Laws violently break down That all our Civil Rights are overthrown That our Just Properties they take away And our most Ancient Liberties betray Since they the Glorious Monarchy of Heav'n
But save their Husbands lives for Jesus sake â—t being plain most of those who were there Designed well though taken in a snare But with what rage did he upon them fall Swearing He 'd make examples of 'um all Cry'd On that Sign-pâ—st take and hang them up The Rogues shall all taste of this bitter Cup Whereby this bloody Wretch destroyed more In a few Weeks than Bonner did before In full three years many as faithful men As suffered by Popish fury then He hang'd 'um up by two by three by seven Whose Blood aloud for vengeance cries to Heav'n Their Bodies likewise cut to pieces were Their Quarters hang'd o' th' Hedges here and there Their Flesh was given to be Meat for Crows And all because they Antichrist oppose And were resolv'd never to bend the Knee To Images nor turn to Popery Nor ever Slaves or Vassals to become Unto the Pope and Scarlet Whore of Rome Whom Christ commands his Saints so to reward As she has done to them in 's Holy Word Their ends were right but they mistook their call And therefore God did suffer them to fall They did disdain those Yokes with generous scorn Which were by other servile Spirits born ' They saw the threatning Storm approach from far ' Fearing a thousand mischiefs worse than War ' And therefore rushing on th' impetuous waves ' Would rather die like Men than live like Slaves 'To save Me and the Land they bravely try'd ' Fail'd in th' attempt and then as bravely dy'd ' In vain would envious Clouds their Fame obscure ' Which to Eternal Ages shall endure ' If ill designs some to the Battel drew ' Must all be scandalized for a few ' If fawning Traytors in their Councils sate ' 'T is base to mock rather lament their Fate ' Though Heav'n for England's Sins refuse to bless ' Their great Design with the desir'd success ' 'T is an unequal brutish Argument ' Always to judge the cause by the event ' Thus the unthinking giddy multitude ' An Innocent may Criminal conclude But woe to those who in cold Blood did kill And thereby did their own revenge fulfil The High-ways like a Slaughter-house became Or bloody Shambles to their Enemies shame What multitudes of men did they destroy And hang on Trees which did so much annoy The People round about it made them cry O Lord defend us from Rome ' s cruelty But this Relation gives me little ease I must some other way seek to appease My overflowing Passion therefore I Some of those Hero's Names cannot pass by Until I drop some tears upon their Hearse That the next Age may mourn for them in Verse Brave Colonel Holmes Wise Valiant and Sincere Who didst to Sion true affection bear Thy worthy Name shall not forgotten be But shall recorded be in History To after Ages nor can thy Arrears Be duly paid without a Flood of tears Great Soul thy Life thou seemedst to despise Rather than ask it of thine Enemies Much less didst thou in any sort incline Others to charge to save that Life of thine How didst thou grieve and publickly bewail Thy undertaking should so strangely fail But yet Prophetically didst Divine It would revive again in little time Though by what means it brought about should be It was impossible thou couldst then fore-see And thy Prediction now is come to pass Though by thy Foes it then contemned was And now the sad Spectators wondring saw The Horses long refuse the Sledge to draw The poor dumb Beasts by Heavens Instinct are Made sharp Reprovers whilst the lash they bear And seem to say These men are innocent They must not die God will not give consent And therefore he doth strangely us restrain From drawing them though lasht and lasht again What other voice there was I cannot see In this amazing wondrous Prodigy Yet all these warnings from the Foe are hid For dye they must and dye they also did Although on foot to slaughter they must drudge To gratifie a most Tyrannical Judge Nor did the Gallant Father fall alone He in the Cause lost a Religious Son. Poor Captain Holmes few young men like to thee Did hazard all to set their Countrey free From Rome's curst Yoke and cruel Slavery The next Great Worthy 'mongst the vanquisht Host Which in that hour of darkness I have lost A Preacher was indu'd with Holy Art Who did dissolve the Stone in many a Heart His name was Lark O come my Children now Pay him those tears which he laid out for you Ah! must he fall by Fate Ah! must he yield His Life up too but why not in the Field Must Sampson fall by the Philistines hand Who from their Bondage strove to save the Land Well! by thy death thou hast prevailed so Thou hastenedst their utter overthrow And yet I cannot but lament to think Of what a bitter Cup thy Flock do drink My loss of thee is more than loss of Ten Though they might be sober Religious men When Death thus with his hands lays hold upon The Pillars of the House the Building 's gone Unless God in his Mercy instantly Raise others up their places to supply But Ah! how many dye how few appear Them to succeed and their great weight to bear In Jesus Christ's own Harvest in this Nation which now seems white there 's cause of Lamentation A Chariot and an Horseman I have lost But he 's above incampt i' th' Heavenly Host. Have you not seen an early rising Lark Mounting aloft making the Sun her mark Lo here 's a Lark that soar'd up higher higher Till he had sung himself into Heav'ns Quire. From Earth to Heaven he went and in a trice His Soul ascended into Paradice Now stop mine Eyes for fear your Floods should fail And I want tears for all I must bewail But yet I need not doubt Springs I espy Yea Fountains which will give a fresh supply For two young Plants who both sprang from one Stem Belov'd of God I hope as well as men Dear Hewlins of what use might you have been If you to spare th' Almighty good had seen What cruel Tyrants had we lately here That two such tender Branches would not spare But when I think of Grace that they had store And with what patience they their Sufferings bore It gives such comfort I can weep no more What Testimony did they leave behind Of that sweet joy which they in Christ did find When wicked men all pity do deny Our Saviour to compassion's moâ—'d thereby And doubtless they are plac't in that High Sphere Where th' Spirits of Just Men Triumphant are Ah me Alas what means this Sea of Blood Oh! See see see it breaks forth like a Flood Must Walcot Bateman Ayliff Ansly too Be all forgot are no sighs to them due No no that must not be I 'm drencht in tears To hear this cry of Blood sound in mine Ears But lo another Stream issues amain My sinking
Spirits Lord with speed sustain Poor Nelthrop's gone too and the Lady Lisle Nay more the Gallant Noble Lord Argile Hath Scotland bred a greater Man than he Of Noble Birth and Ancient Pedigree No danger could his High-born Soul restrain He strove his Countreys Liberty t' obtain And it to free from Romish Usurpation Beyond most of the Nobles in that Nation For which his Enemies many snares did lay Both his Estate and Life to take away Who only did design Tranquillity To th' State and to secure't from Slavery Were I but able I 'de advance his Praise And with high strains of grief his Glory raise A Nobleman Just Pious Valiant Wise Able for Counsel or for Enterprize Fit to set Cato Copies if alive Whose sharp discerning Judgment soon could dive Into their Plots though laid as deep as Hell But missing his Design our Statesman fell Success sometimes does not the Wise attend The most Sagacious sometimes miss the end They aim at and yet may not be i' th' wrong The Race is not to th' swift nor to the strong The Battel is not always and we see This Scripture Proverb was made good in thee Farewel Argile my weeping Muse shall burn Her wither'd Laurel at thy mournful Urn Contemn a Monument and scorn a Stone Marbles have flaws and must good men have none But gone he is drop tears my Children all And mourn because that day a Prince did fall Though he be gone his Honour shall not dye My Children shall preserve his Memory Undaunted Rumbold is the next that I Register in my mournful Elegy He both Couragious and Religious was Whose Zeal for 's Countreys Freedom did surpass Most others and although he then did lye Under the scandal and the infamy Of secretly conspiring how to slay His Soveraign Lord in a vile treacherous way Which he deny'd and did abominate When his last Breath he yielded up to Fate So wounded that two Deaths he seem'd to dye Tears drop again mine Eyes I cannot dry When I observe the Babylonish Train Strive all these worthy Mens repute to stain With Lies false Slanders and black Calumny That they unpitied by all might die But to my comfort I now hope the day Is come will wipe all their reproach away That whilst their Souls Triumphing are in Glory Their Fame will cleared be in future Story And that to all good Men their Memory Will precious be to all Posterity But now my Muse back to the West must go And tell what there the Enemy more did do Where cause of grief be sure I cannot lack Brave Patchel next appears with Captain Blake And though I have great store of tears let fall Yet their sad Fate aloud on me doth call To draw the Sluces up and yet once more From my wet Eyes fresh Floods of tears to pour For I perceive whole Troops together come Of Western Sufferers crying Pray make room Why must our names be buried in the Croud And all our worth be vailed in a Cloud Of dark Oblivion Must we always lye Under an Odium of the blackest dye Is nothing due unto our mangled Clay Will none strive our reproach to roul away Can you so partial be What not a tear For us to whom Liberty was so dear Do you disdain to speak in our defence Because some were of no great Eminence Was not our Blood as dear to us as theirs Whose death you do bewail with bitter tears A lust our mean dust be slightly trampled on And disregarded without sigh or groan Ah! Must we ever ever be forgot And must our names like wicked Persons rot No no Great Souls I equally resent The sad misfortune of each Innocent And though some not for want of Ignorance Cry 'gainst your Prince your Arms you did advance Yet your Allegiance sure could never bind Your hands that when Rome's power had undermin'd The Constitution thereby to o'rethrow The Government yet you must nothing do Must every man sit still and quiet be And Law Religion Life in Jeopardy The contrary Jehovah hath made out And thereby our Salvation's brought about Yet Non-resistance is our duty still When Princes Rule by Law but not by Will. When Magistrates pursue that gracious end God by advancing of them did intend Then to resist them is a horrid thing And God to shame will all such Rebels bring But must Superiors be submitted to When they contrive to ruin and undo Their faithful Subjects and o'return the State And their most sacred Oaths do violate Is Government ordained to destroy Or to preserve the Rights that Men enjoy Suppose a Father should be led away T' attempt the Mothers Life and strive to slay His Innocent Children and to those adhere Who unto them malicious Enemies were In such a case as this the Children sure Their Mothers and their own Lives may secure Ought they not then their Fathers hands to bind So to prevent the mischief he design'd Don't Nature teach a Man to save his Life From th' Treachery of Father Child or VVife Must Servants yield and passively consent Their Master from their Bones the Flesh should rent Is it a crime if they won't this indure But seek a better Master to procure Self-preservation 't was that moved you Fore-seeing what was ready to insue To seek such ways to save your selves and me VVhich you thought Just and hop'd would prosperous be And though God did Success to you deny Yet you might act with all Integrity VVhich Heav'n doth seem to Crown now with Applause And to Assert the Justice of your Cause Since 't was ordain'd that spot should be the Scene VVhere the Cause dy'd there to revive't agen And though for what you therein were misled I did lament and many tears have shed Yet I must vindicate you from the wrong You suffer'd have by many a viperous Tongue And will more of your worthy names revive Though at your slips I never will connive Dear Hicks shall slanderous mouths seek to defame And to calumniate so sweet a name Ah! shall detracting malice go about VVith its rude Breath to blow thy Taper out Well! let them all their full-mouth'd Bellows puff It is their Breath that stinks and not thy snuff Oh what a judgment 't were if such as they Should but allow thy actions and betray Th' endanger'd name by their malign applause To good opinion that were a just cause Of grief indeed but to be made the Story Of such false Tongues Great Soul it is thy Glory Ah! is he dead did his poor Body fall By th' rage of man tears cannot him recall Yet might not then have died but his day Might have been lengthned had he known the way To Life and Peace which God hath since found out And for our safety strangely brought about The day he longed for his Eyes had seen If some things had and some things had not been What he saw past Heavens Eye fore-saw to come God saw how that contingent act should sum
The total of his days His All-seeing Eye Though his own could not saw that he should dye That very fatal hour yet saw his death Not so so necessary but his Breath Might have been spared to a longer date Had he imbraced this not taken that Had not a furious Judge condemned thee Void of all pity and humanity Thou might'st have liv'd and seen with joyful Eyes That done for which thou fell'st a Sacrifice Yet that God orders all things right w' are sure The Death of some may Life to more procure But here 's just cause of further Lamentation For one we scarce can equal in the Nation A worthy Preacher who could not comply With what his Conscience could not justifie But hark how th' Enemy doth scoff and jear That a Dissenter's taken in the snare A better Sacrifice there could not come To please the Canibals of Bloody Rome Who do believe there is no Dish so good As a John Baptist's Head serv'd up in Blood. But he 's a Rebel Ay! that that 's the cry Now as to that let 's weigh impartially His dying words now printed which relate He did believe Monmouth Legitimate Or Lawful Son of Charles or else that he Would ne're have acted in the least degree In that design and we may likewise find The rest in general were of that mind And though they were mistaken let 's take care Not to asperse what dying men declare But sober thoughts of them still to retain And not with Obloquy their Memory stain But lo a multitude of Sufferers more Whose Blood for vengeance cries stand at the door Open to them my Muse Ah! do but see What a great number of them still there be Now they are come 't is fit I first make room For the most gallant generous Battiscombe A worthy Person of a great Estate Although he was cut off by cruel Fate The wretched Judge allur'd him to accuse Some other Gentlemen which he did refuse VVith scorn for he abhorr'd his Life to buy By such base and unmanly treachery VVen he o' th' Ladder was he seemed to smile Saying He hoped in a little while He should enjoy a Crown and Diadem Of Glory in the New Jerusalem That from a Land of misery and woe To the Coelestial Paradice he should go Hamling fell too nor was his Innocence Before so vile a Judge the least defence Against the Crimes wherewith they charged him Though altogether free from any Crime VVho neither was in Arms nor did assist Any that were nor any who did List Themselves for Monmouth nay he did advise His Son not to ingage but to be wise And unto Gods dispose leave every thing VVho in due Season would Deliverance bring But he was a Dissenter and for this He must not live for he accused is By two such Rascals as did never care VVhether 't were truth or falshood they did Swear But with the Judges humour would comply And by such Evidence this man must die Next Mr. Brag a Man of good Descent And well known to be wholly innocent VVho though a Lawyer yet no Law could have VVhereby his Life from violence to save When Law and Justice both o're-ruled were And Judge and Jury too resolv'd to steer By the false Compass of the Princes will In vain was the most Learned Lawyers skill None were secure neither the weak nor strong Will was made Law whether 't were right or wrong The Land-mark was remov'd all Common laid And all our English Liberties betray'd But time will fail me therefore I 'll proceed And not forget Smith Rose and Joseph Speed And Evans too shall such a man as he Fall basely and not draw a tear from me Then Madder Kid young Jenkins too all bled Who for his Youth ought to be pitied With Doctor Temple Spark and Captain Lisle Kill'd in cold Blood their malice was so vile And many hundred others who there fell So barbarously there 's scarce a Parallel Of Stirs that were in any former Reign Where so much cruelty was and leaves a stain Upon that time will ne're be wip't away Until the World and all things else decay But notwithstanding so much Blood was shed Some hundreds of poor Souls were banished Bereaved of their VVives and Children dear And into Forreign Countreys driven were And there exposed to all misery And the severities of Slavery The Husband separated from the VVife Depriv'd of all the joys of humane Life Their Goods and their Estates all forfeited And nothing left wherewith to buy them Bread. But should I all their miseries recount They to a mighty number would amount Yet now Great Nassaw's setled on the Throne VVe do not doubt but he 'll regard their moan That on their sorrows he will cast his Eyes And of his Princely goodness ease their cries But stay my Muse for here 's more cause of grief And I have still more cause of Heav'ns relief For now alas two Martyrs I espy On whom were acted a sad Tragedy The one a Person of great worth and name A Citizen of London of much Fame VVho by Time serving wretches that would do VVhat e're might please the Factious Romish Crew VVas doom'd to death by villanous Evidence Though for himself he made a just defence Alderman Cornish was this worthy man That thus unjustly suffered Who now can Forbear to weep or can forbear to tell VVhat to a pious woman then befel Poor Mistress Gaunt most dear thou wast to me Few of thy Sex ever excelled thee â—â— Zeal in Knowledge or in Charity VVho wast condemn'd a cruel death to die Cause thou relievedst men in misery These two I must bewail who in one day By Romish Treachery were swept away 'Gainst whom these Miscreants malice did appear ' Though altogether innocent and clear As doubtless we shall find apparently VVhen their Case stated is impartially As to the woman 't will be shewed ere long That many ways she suffered much wrong VVho by a Jury at Hâ—â—ks-Hall was freed Yet at th' Old-Bailey 'gainst her they proceed A London Jury took her Life away VVhich they may answer for another day On the same day these worthy Christians fell Most of us may remember very well That Gods displeasure ere that day was done Seem'd very evident to every one That his works doth observe and mind his hand In his strange operations in the Land. O come ye Angels lend your glorious Stile Created Beings to lament a while Ye blessed Hosts that sing Jehovah's praise Assist my Muse in lamentable Phrase For now the City Streets ev'n run with Blood Of those Just men who only sought our good Ah! London let all future Ages see Thy grief that Cornish lost his Life in thee Could not their burning thee abate their rage Nor their inslaving thee their wrath asswage Could not Great Russel's death them mollifie Nor Essex's murder stop their cruelty VVould not th' inthralling of Great Brittain do Religion and Liberty to o'rethrow Hast thou not
sent To humble men and move them to repent Yet they proceed in foul impenitence And aggravate their horrid insolence Seeming to bid defiance unto Heaven Scorning to take the dreadful warnings given ' The sweeping Plague that Messenger of wrath ' In such as scap'd smâ—ll Reformation hath ' Produc'd nor has the desolating Fire ' A perfect token of Gods flaming Ire ' Burnt up the Cities Pride 't was great before ' And now it seems to multiply much more ' Fantastick Garbs and Antick Modes declare ' How much from Pride their Souls reformed are ' Should any Women have such Children Born ' With such Attire as on their Heads are worn ' Would it not them affright and terrifie ' God may do so it you don 't speedily ' Reform your Lives and cast your Fashions off ' Which make ill men at you revile and scoff ' Though Want though Poverty and loss of Trade ' Do many Men and Families invade ' Yet do they vaunt in Pride and Luxury ' As they had Mines of Treasure lying by ' Some know not what to eat nor how to go ' Yet on the Poor will no compassion show ' Whose unregarded cries unheeded moans ' Whose unreliev'd distress unpity'd groans ' Can scarce extort a Mite such do not grudge 'To purchase Hell at dearest rates and drudge 'To please their brutish Lusts who void of measure ' Consume Estates to wantonize in pleasure ' Tumbling in Riot as proud Dives sate ' Whilst Lazarus lies starving at the Gate A Complaint against Oaths VOlleys of Oaths with horrid Blasphemy And dreadful Cursings in mine Ears do cry Mark but our impious Gallants when they meet Observe the Mode how they each other greet What new coin'd Oaths what modish Execrations What Damning Sinking horrid Imprecations Do they disgorge the Serpents flery hiss That belches Sulphur from the black Abyss Can scarce out-do this Ranting Tribe who count The Man Genteel that is most Paramount In wickedness he that Blasphemes aloud Christ's Blood and Wounds a Courtier 's Alamode How can th' abused Earth but gape again To swallow quick vile wretches so prophane How can Heavens great Artillery so long Forbear the Treasons of a Mortal Tongue Jehovah's Attributes so vilely us'd His Sacred Essence and his Name abus'd Fresh Blasphemies they mint new Curses frame And sins that never had before a name Graduates in Courtship are preferr'd who 'ave made Most quick proficience in the Hellish Trade That Rant and Roar Revel and Domineer As if nor God nor Devil they did fear Approaching dangers can't disturb their pleasure But still they sin until they fill their measure Judgments deferr'd in evil makes them bold Despising such by whom they are controul'd As if th' avenging hand their Lives did spare Thus to provoke him without dread or fear But poor Blasphemer though thou art past by 'T is not t'indulge thee in iniquity Think'st thou the God of purity does like Such ways because he yet forbears to strike Dost think a gloomy interposing Cloud From Gods All-searching Eye can be thy shroud Or that because he is inthron'd on high Thy deeds of darkness he cannot espy Or since his Judgments are so long delay'd Wilt thou proceed and be no whit afraid Wilt thou his patience without end abuse Slight true Repentance and his Grace refuse If so thy Judgment hastens for a Rod Will quickly reach thee from an angry God Because of Oaths the Land does greatly mourn For which my Soul much inward grief has born A Complaint against Drunkenness DOst thou not see how filthy Drunkenness Does reign in City and in Villages Some reel and wallow in the Streets like Swine Whilst others boast their strength in drinking Wine Although to such God doth denounce a curse They mind it not but still grow worse and worse Dread not Examples of Gods wrath at all Nor what to Drunkards does so oft befal Although Gods Word has fearful warnings given That Drunkards never shall inherit Heaven But that their Lot shall with damn'd Spirits be In Chains of darkness to Eternity They Drink Carouse and waste their jolly Breath Upon the brink of Everlasting death What-e're ensues they are resolv'd they will Carouse full Goblets and be filthy still Thus men by Pride by Oaths by Worldliness By daily swallowing Liquor to Excess Defile the Land and do the Lord provoke To cause his vengeance on the Land to smoke Sin sets the door wide open and makes way For all the sorrows of th' approaching day These are in part the cause of Englands woe And will if Grace prevents not it undo But there are other heinous Sins behind Which pierce my Bowels and perplex my Mind A Complaint against Whoredom and Adultery DID filthy Lust and Whoredom ever rage With more success than in the present Age Abominations of so vile a name That their bare mention is indeed a shame What Sin more hateful in Jehovah's Eye Than this of Whoredom and Adultery 'T is rank'd as chief and marches in the Van Of all the gross Debaucheries of Man In those black Muster-Rolls God does Record Of grand offences in his holy Word What more affronts the second Table or Provokes the Lord No fitter Metaphor Could be produc'd t' express Idolatry Than that abhorred name Adultery Besides the terrors of Gods fiery wrath Which judges such to Everlasting death On Earth amongst all sober men they gain So vile a blot so infamous a stain That all the waters in the Sea can never VVipe off nor can it be forgot for ever The loud Embraces of Lascivious Dames VVill rot their Bones breed Cankers in their names Beget consumption in Estate and Purse Produce destruction and a certain curse The common ends that such arrive unto Are foul Diseases Beggery and VVoe They 're sottish Fools says wise Demosthenes That buy Repentance at such rates as these VVho Sâ—n to please an Enemy that strives To damn their Souls and rob them of their Lives God in his Sacred Ordinances hath Appointed such to an immediate Death VVould mâ—n but judge it as their greatest Foe They'd never love nor hug it as they do Each Sex is bad but VVomen seem to be The very Brokers of Immodesty Which makes that passage to be born in mind A Wise and vertuous Woman who can find Your City Dames and Ladies are on Fire With wanton Passion and unchast Desire Providing Meats on purpose to inflame Their pamper'd Gallants to their wonted shame Bare Breasts and naked Necks a Harlots Dress Are strong Temptations unto wickedness All other Sins th' Apostle does declare Which men commit without the Body are But this abominable Act alone Against his Body by a man is done Marriage to all the undefiled Bed Is honourable he that will may Wed But Whoremongers God judges and they shall Be cast into the Lake both great and small The Wiseman calls th' Adulterer a Fool And well he may for he destroys his Soul.
price than Gold Canst thou deny her thy assistance while These Ravenous Creatures do thy Vineyard spoil Take notice how her bulwarks are thrown down And more heart-breaking evils coming on Breach upon breach Alas I daily see And doubtless I shall quickly ruin'd be Unless by some unknown and Glorious hand Thou speedily dost save me and the Land. I am Christ's Spouse His undefiled one Wilt thou permit me to be trod upon 'T is by thy grace I am intit'led so Great God! relieve me and divert my wo Who am surrounded every way with grief Oh let thy lovely smiles bring me relief Thou hast withdraw the beamings of thy grace And wrapt in Clouds the Splendor of thy face Which has upon me brought such anxious smart As tears my Soul and makes my very heart Drop tears of blood For if the glorious Sun Of Righteousness be hid where shall I run For joy or comfort in this dismal hour Who only to bemoan my self have power More she had spoke but that her Passion ties Her mournful Tongue The Floodgates of her eyes In Chrystal Streams do represent such anguish As makes her vital opâ—rations languish Sunk in despairing Swouns she scarce appears To breathe or live but by her Sighs and Tears Sion's Children Mourn Mourn Oh Heavens And thou Oh earth bewail Weep ye blest Saints until your Spirits fail For she that is the glory of the Earth Of the most Noble and Illustrious birth Lies sadly groaning in a deep despair Whose grievous sorrows no tongue can declare Oh! that our brethren would but hasten hither That in Gods fear we might confer together Sure you must grieve when her complaints you hear You cannot certainly but shed a tear Do not your Eyes ev'n like a Fountain stream And all your joys turn to a mourning Theme Does not your nightly rest from you depart Are you not pierced to the very heart And fall'n into the depth of bitterness Because of Sions Trouble and distress How can our hearts delight in things below How can we rest secure as sinners do How can we comfort take or pleasure find Or how can we the Worlds concernments mind Or with Terrene enjoyments be content And not poor Sions miseries lament 〈◊〉 can we hear our Mothers doleful cries 〈◊〉 Sighs she Sobs she Languishes she lies 〈◊〉 dreadful Agonies in bitter pain 〈◊〉 can we bear her Enemies disdain 〈◊〉 wickedly reproach her every day And like a broken pot she 's thrown away Despis'd and trod upon ev'n like the dung The Drunkard on her makes his daily Song But Christ will come and look on her sad State End with poor Sion he 'l Expostulate ' Why art thou sometimes high then low again ' Sometimes at ease and then in bitter pain ' Doubtless th' are Throwes Chear up and do not fear ' For thy deliverance is very near ' These labouring pangs will speedily be o're ' Take heart thou shall not die One or two more ' Will bring that Child into the World which thou ' Hast travell'd with in bitter pangs till now ' Address thy self to God for surely he ' From these thy tortures will deliver thee ' 'T is he alone that brings unto the birth ' And giveth strength and vigor to bring forth ' Then stay thy self upon th' Almighty Lord ' His gracious help he to thee will afford ' Upon his promises do thou depend ' And thou shalt see deliverance in the end These words of Comfort like a Cordial wrought And to her sences mourning Sion brought With fainting looks and with a weeping Eye Unto her Children she renews her cry Sion How am I spoil'd How do I sit forlorn How long wil't be e're I shall cease to mourn I 'm like a Ship by raging Tempests tost ' Midst Rocks and Sands just ready to be lost Where every billow do's present a grave And Death in Triumph rides on every Wave But yet I am ingraven on his hand And in his sight for ever I do stand Awake O arm of God! Oh come away My woes are very great Ah do not Stay Hear me Dear Jesus unto thee I cry Unless thou save me I must surely dye Christ. In Glorious Regions of approachless Light VVhere Joys unmixt with perfect Love unite There do I sit There do I see and hear VVhat Kings and Potentates consulting are But in mine Ears methinks I hear the cry Of some distressed Soul in misery My Bowels in me with compassion move Oh! 't is the voice of her I dearly love She whom I purchast with my dearest blood Seems drencht yea drown'd in tears as in a Floud Some mighty Sorrow sure and Tribulation Extorts from her this doleful Lamentation Enough to pierce my tender heart again And make the Temple once more rend in twain Alas poor Sion thy Complaints I hear And I will rescue thee Oh do not fear I know thy sorrows and I hear thy cries And from what apprehensions they arise Know I can still the blustring Winds and Seas And in the greatest anguish can give case I can both wound and cure Build up and break I kill I make alive I give I take The Greatest Monarchs I can soon pull down I can make void and then fill up the Throne VVhen I think fit I make the Nations shake And haughty Princes at my presence quake Kingdoms to totter and reel to and fro All this and greater things for thee I 'll do Although thy Foes do thee environ now All power and wisdom 's mine and I know how Thee to support and make them all to bow I will arise and Shew my Soveraignty And make them to the Rocks and Mountains fly Though with the Powers of Hell they have combin'd I will pursue them and they shall not find A hiding place my vengeance to avoid Till by my fury they are all destroy'd I 'll soon bring down the most Exalted head The Mighty Ones I into dust will tread Thy cause I 'll plead Though I have silent stood I 'll be reveng'd for all the righteous blood That has run down ev'n like a mighty Flood The day of vengeance shall no longer stay VVhat 's due to Justice they shall surely pay Besides the cruel wrongs thou dost repeat The bloud of former Martyrs does intreat Me to avenge their cause I therefore will Come down in fury and those Monsters kill For though I seem'd to have forsaken thee Yet from all bondage I will set thee free Though I have thee afflicted heretofore I 'll turn my hand upon the Bloudy Whore Shortly her place shall never know her more Because thou dost my Holy name profess I 'll break in peices such as thee oppress Arm'd with Commission from the Great Jehove I will come down and all thy griefs remove All weapons form'd against my Churches shall Unprosperous prove for I will break them all All Kingdoms of the Earth shall now be mine And thou in beauty like a Queen shalt Shine