Distressed Sion Relieved Or, The Garment of Praise for the Spirit of Heaviness. Wherein are Discovered the Grand Causes of the Churches Trouble and Misery under the late Dismal Dispensation. With a Compleat History of, and Lamentation for those Renowned Worthies that fell in England by Popish Rage and Cruelty, from the Year 1680 to 1688. Together with an Account of the late Admirable and Stupendious Providence which hath wrought such a sudden and Wonderful Deliverance for this Nation, and Gods Sion therein. Humbly Dedicated to their Present Majesties. By Benjamin Keach |
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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 mov'd thereby;
And doubtless they are plac't in that High Sphere,
Where th' Spirits of Just Men Triumphant are.
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 mov'd thereby;
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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.
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.
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.
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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.
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.
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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?
Must 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?
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?
Must our mean dust be slightly trampled on,
And disregarded without sigh or groan?
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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?
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 'twas 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 'twas 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.
T'attempt the Mothers Life, and strive to slay
His Innocent Children; and to those adhere,
Who unto them malicious Enemies were:
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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 'twas 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 'twas 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 'twere 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.
And to calumniate so sweet a name?
Ah! shall detracting malice go about
VVith its rude Breath to blow thy Taper out?
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It is their Breath that stinks, and not thy snuff.
Oh what a judgment 'twere 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.
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.
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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, 'tis 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.
VVhen 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 Cœlestial Paradice he should go.
(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, 'tis 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.
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Some other Gentlemen, which he did refuse
VVith scorn; for he abhorr'd his Life to buy
By such base and unmanly treachery.
VVhen 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 Cœlestial 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 'twere truth or falshood they did Swear;
But with the Judges humour would comply,
And by such Evidence this man must die.
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 'twere 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 'twere right or wrong.
The Land-mark was remov'd, all Common laid;
And all our English Liberties betray'd.
And well known to be wholly innocent;
VVho though a Lawyer, yet no Law could have
VVhereby his Life from violence to save,
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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 'twere 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.
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.
37
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.
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.
| Distressed Sion Relieved | |