A CROWNE, A CRIME: OR, THE MONARCH-MARTYR.
" Set up your Scaffolds;—and your Prisoner bring;
" Nere worser Fate befell a worthyer King;
" This will true Bards in after ages sing.
STate-shaking Cethegus, curst Catiline,
Dissect this horrid Treason of our time,
And tax proud Rome for holding yours a crime.
Un-king a King, because He was too good!
Doome Him a Tyrant, who for Justice stood!
Cruell, whose hand was never dipt in blood!
Adjudg'd for living well, unfit to live!
Deni'd for heav'ns provision a reprive!
Traitor, for pleading his Prerogative!
Barr'd from Reply, when he at Bar was tryde!
By Achans and Achitophels defyde!
Kept from his Childrens sight untill He dyde!
Informe our knowledge, Heav'ns; there's some amisse
Skrean'd from our Skaly Eyes occasion'd this;
"To snatch three Crowns from Him ('tis fear'd) from His.
VVhat might this be!---Me thinks I see a brave
Creature of His awaking from his Grave,
Shewing that Hand which His Dismission gave.
Yet to Excuse that Error, there is writ
The Doctrine of our Prelats under it:
"It was an Act convenient and fit.
Ay me! How Cheerfull dayes produce sad nights
VVhen Kings give eare to Pulpit-Parasites!
VVhich Sceane is here presented in our sights.
A Prince decreed to forfeit his Command
By signing Others Errors with His Hand:
Creating so a Democratick Land.
Heav'ns judgement's
Which might be imply'd by those words He spake before his Execution: "God forbid that I should be so ill a Christian, as not to say that Gods Judgments are just upon Me; Many times he does pay Justice by an unjust▪ Sentence, &c.
just! Let Soveraigns take heedIn Acts against their Conscience to proceed:
Timists will find no Advo [...]ates to plead.
Timists will prove weak Reedes in time of need.But those pure-crimson Streamlings which were shed
On th' Sable Stage, where He resign'd His Head,
Seal'd with a deep remorce, have witnessed
His peace is made; and that his Diadem
Cannot be now pull'd off by hands of Men;
"His Courts remov'd to New Hierusalem.
EPITAPH.
BEhold the Mirror of a Prince pourtraid!
The living Embleam of a glorious shade,
Whose Chair of State was late a Scaffold made.
One, then whom never any did professe
More Zeal to th' Publique, and received lesse;
Of more desert, and brought to more distresse.
That reall lustre to our Royall Garter;
That late inlarger of our Cities Charter;
Whose Crown the Crime that made this Monarch-Martyr!
Adieu Deare Prince; Death, like a loving friend
Hath crown'd thy sufferings with a peacefull end,
While headlesse we our ruine must attend.
Nor can we lesse expect, Iudgement's at hand
To scourge the follies of a sinfull Land:
"What Brightman wrote we would not understand.
" From th' fatall period of a Charlemaine,
" VVaine should a Kingdom in her Charles-waine:
" But Prayers nor tears might call him back again.
" Lords should resigne their Patents to the Sword,
" Lurdane should equall any English Lord.
O brave Platonick Levell! Martiall Boord!
Augurium Criticum in Auspicium Civicum.
JAne geris frontem geminam, Nova Troja fricatam,
Dum pateris Regem caede perire tuum.
Sin Carolum nescis; minitantia flebilis Ʋrbis
Funera quò siccis suspicis ista genis!
Conjugis, aedis, opis, reditura est gloria flammis,
Militis aut manibus praeda futura feris.
Haec cecinit Vates; Sed non credenda Superbis;
Cassandra ulterius non mihi (Shipton) eris.
HEroës pereunt; Generosi praedia perdunt:
Artifices lachrymant; fana profana jacent;
Publica Causa ruit; Terras Astraea reliquit;
Et Caroli casu Regio tota gemit.
Haec Simulata fides incendia contulit Urbi,
Exilium Civi, tristia fata plebi.
FINIS.