IT has been observed, that nothing has been so destructive to the Peace and Repose of Mankind, as those monstrous Differen­ces in Matters of Religion: and that meek, gentle, and pea­ceable Christian Religion has been prevaricated by the Devil's Malice and Mens Lusts, to be the cause of most dreadful Heats and Animosities. Amongst all eontests of that nature, none has been so long continued, and with that Warmth Vigour and Activity, as that between Christ and Antichrist. For Popery as it was founded in Blood, Treason, and Treachery, so it has been propagated and maintained by a continual Series of more then Devillist Cruelties and cunningness; It has interwoven it self with the Pollices of all the States in Europe, and linked most of the Crowns of Christen­dom to its Interest. But herein it has most eminently outstriped all the other implacable Enemies of God, that it has usurped an absolute Jurisdiction over mens Souls and Consciences; and there­by debauch't them so far, as to think the blackest Crimes to be Meritorious Acts, and to boggle at no Villany, though never so hor­rid, for the Advantages of the Romish Sea; nay, what is more, think that therein they do God good Service. And though Eter­nal Justice has eminently declared it self against them and their Practices by various Methods and Dispensations; as sometimes by hanging up as it were, some of the Notorious Malefactors in Chains, and making them publick Monuments of his Severity; yet so hard­ned and blinded have they been by their Sin, so misled by a villa­nous Crew of Canting and lying Priests and Fryars, that they have realy believed, that the Penalty inflicted on them for their bloody Villanies, has been their Martyrdom. We see the Devil may have Martyrs as well as God. Among Instances of this kind, was that lamentable Object, that deserves our great pity, who was execu­ted lately on Tower-Hill for his Hellish Treasons. He was a Peer of this Realm, and nobly descended, very considerable as to Estate, and allied to many great Families; no doubt, he had Gentility run­ning in his Veins, having derived it from his great Ancestors. But observe the damnable perniciousness of the Romish Religion, whose bloody Principles and Tenets he having once suckt in, thought him­self in Conscience oblieged to violate all Laws, both Sacred and Humane, to lay aside all Loyalty and Gratitude towards his Prince; of whose Royal Bounty and Favours he had in a special manner so largely and so frequently tasted, and under whose gracious Government he and his Fraternity lived so securely and peaceably, and enjoyed very quietly without any molestation, the exercise of their Religion notwithstanding; nay, had many severe Laws to the contrary, several Advantages above several of other his Majesties Protestant Subjects; and yet maliciously to conspire to As­sassinate so good a Prince, so gracious to him in particular, and to bring a storm of Ruine and Confusion on his native Land, O mon­strous and more than Devilish Villany!

But for all these infernal Treasons and Conspiracies, he was at last brought to publick Justice, and after a fair Tryal, was cast by the Lords his Judges, where he received the following Sentence from the Mouth of the Lord High Steward in Westminister-Hall, December the 7 th. 1680.

The Judgment of the Law is, and this Court doth accord, you go to the place from whence you came, from thence you must be drawn on a Hurdle to the place of Execution; when you come there, you must be hanged up by the Neck, but not till you are dead, for you must be cut down alive, your privy Members must be cut off, your Bowels ript up before your Face, and thrown into the Fire. Then your Head must be severed from your Body, and your Body divided into four Quarters, and those must be at the disposal of the King, and Almighty God be merciful to your Soul.

After Sentence pronounced, the Lord High Steward told the Pri­soner, that the House of Lords in consideration of his Quality, do in­tend to move the King to pardon all the rest of the Execution of his Sentence, except only the taking off his Head: Which his Majesty was graciously pleased to grant:

And he was Executed accordingly by severing his Head from his Shoulders.

And we will do him the Honour to give him this Elegy.