AN ELEGY, ON The Deplorable, and never enough to be Lamented Death, of the Illustrious, and Serene CHARLES the II. KING OF Great-Britain, France, and Ireland, &c. who Departed this Life, (on Friday the 6th. of February, between 11 and 12. of the Clock, in the Forenoon: And was Interr'd at Westminster, the 14th. of the same Month, being the 55th Year of his Age, 1684/5
HAng all the Streets with Sable Sad; and call
The Royal Palace
Black; and not
White-Hall:
Weep Sacred Beads of Loyal Tears, and true,
Of Orient Pearl; but Occidental Hew:
Since
Britains Phoebus hath forsook the Stage,
Before he reach'd the
Tropick of his Age.
The interval betwixt our
Setting Sun,
And Rising
Soveraign, 'ere his Light begun
Was short; yet (till our Sorrow found Relief)
We were near delug'd in the Seas of Grief.
Yet (tho our
Soveraign doth our Mourning 'swage,
And gives our joy of Grief the Weather-gage.)
We'll make no
Bonfires, for (it were in vain)
Our flowing Eyes would Weep them out again.
All
Isra'l when Good
Hezekiah Di'd
To his last Breath, true Loyal Honour pay'd;
Where's then the Boldest Critick can deny
Great
CHARLES his worth a Doleful
ELEGY;
His Worth, to Times last Period shall Endure,
In spight of Envy or the Grave Secure:
And Children yet Unborn with Tears shall pay
A Mournful Tribute to his sacred Clay.
He from his Child-hood was of great Renown;
He bore his
Cross before he wore his
Crown.
Brancht in the stock of Trouble ('tis well known)
His Fruit was Ripe, the Blossom yet unblown.
Great-Britains Bane, and
Blush Eclips'd his Skie,
Ere
England knew his Soveraignity:
But as his
Sun ascended the Noon-day,
All Clouds (like Vapours) vanish'd quite away:
And the Bright Calmes of Peace did still remain
Through the whole Circle of his Halcyon Reign.
Then Rest (dear
Saint, tho now Intomb'd in Dust)
Until the Resurrection of the Just.
And let our Mourners mitigate their Grief,
Because our Sorrow doth admit Relief:
The Vail of Death no Christian needs dismay;
The
King of
Kings himself did guide the Way.
And (since our Sore a Salve along doth bring)
God save Great
JAMES, our Second Soveraign
King.
Let his Dominions preface Black with White;
Since Rising
Phoebus dissipates our Night:
Let Loyal Subjects all both cry and Sing
Like Birds Reviv'd in the returning Spring.
Let Court and City raise their joyful Voice
And Loyal Sighs still Eccho back
Rejoyce:
Till Plotters all Conspiracies lay by,
And
Treason turn to purest Loyalty.
Hence then projecting Traytors, stand aloof;
His Loyal Throne is sure, and
Treason-Proof:
Lest set on Edge by old Seditious
Smec,
Your
Treasons Trap turn round upon your Neck.
His Presence may no
Rebels Old Resort,
Nor base
Achitophels frequent his Court;
But Reign in Peace, whil'st we have in our Eye
CHARLES still alive in
JAMES'S Royalty.
But since he's Dead and gone let this sad Verse
(Tho undeserving) yet attend his
Herse.
EPITAPH.
HEre lyes Great
CHARLES the just the Good,
As ever came of Royal Blood:
To Troubles Born, he Early knew
What
Kings (as Men) are subject to:
His Morning Glories were orecast,
And by some fatal Star Opprest.
But as his Sun ascended Noon,
The cruel
Comet did fall Down,
In Peace he Liv'd, in Peace he Di'd;
The Kingdom and the Churches Guide.
The Guardian of the swelling Main;
The Terrour of the
DUTCH and
DANE.
At his Commands all War did Cease,
And
Europe Owes to him her Peace.
Diseases at his Power did Crouch,
And own the Vertue of his Touch.
Let
KINGS and
PRINCES in him Glory,
And make his Reign their Directory.
P. K.