Selected quad for the lemma: truth_n
Text snippets containing the quad
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A33882
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A letter from Mr. Stephen Colledge to a person of quality upon his removal to Oxford to be try'd upon an impeachment of high treason.
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Colledge, Stephen, 1635?-1681.
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1681
(1681)
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Wing C5224; ESTC R33355
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1,375
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2
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A LETTER FROM Mr. Stephen Colledge TO A Person of Quality upon his Removal to Oxford to be Try'd upon an Impeachment of High Treason Honoured Sir I Hear I am with Confidence Reported to be a Papist nay more a Jesuit It 's their hour and power of Darkness they have the advantage and power of me I was born to suffer and have no possibility of Righting my self at present but I hope e're long I shall by a fair Tryall where all I ask is Justice no favour and had rather dye than live suspected In the Interim Sir I have sent these following lines not for your own satisfaction who I am perswaded are so already But for those to whom you shall think fit to communicate them that are otherwise that they are true Verse I cannot say but that the matter speaks in short the Truth of my Case the Sincerity of my Heart and the Sentiments of my Soul I do most constantly affirm My Time is precious I begg your Prayers and of all good Protestants for whom I suffer and the Lord be with us all Amen Stephen Colledge Tower 15 Aug. 1681. Wrongfull 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 Come 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 Antidotes 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 Barrs cannot a Prison make The free-born Soul enjoyes it's Liberty These Clods of Earth it may incaptivate Whilest 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 Papist I was bent Cost what it will I 'le ne're repent my Cause Nor do I fear their Hell-devouring Jawes 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 What'ere I suffer for my Countrey 's sake Not Cause I had a Gun or Horse or Sword Or that my heart did Treason e're affoard No 't is not me alone they do Intend But thousands more to gain their cursed Ends. And sure of this the World 's so well aware That here it 's needless more for me to say I must conclude no time have I to spare My winged hours flye too fast away My work Repentance must I not delay I 'le add my Prayers to God for Englands 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 mercifull 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 Man's Life 's a Voyage through a Sea of Tears If he would gain the Haven of his Rest His Sighs must fill the Sayls 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 Aug. 15. 1681. Printed for Francis Smith at the Elephant and Castle in Cornhill 1681.