The royal martyr, or, The history of the life and death of King Charles I

MAJESTY in MISERY: OR, An Imploration to the KING of Kings.

Written by his late Majesty King CHARLES the First, during His Captivity at Caris∣brooke Castle, Anno Dom. 1648.

GREAT Monarch of the World, from whose Power springsLine 1 The Potency and Power of Kings, Record the Royal Woe, my Sufferings sings,

And teach my tongue, that ever did confineLine 2 Its faculties, in Truths Seraphick Line To tract the treasons of thy foes and mine.

Nature and Law, by thy Divine DecreeLine 3 (The only Root of Righteous Royaltie) With this dim Diadem invested me,

With it, the sacred Scepter, Purple Robe,Line 4 The Holy Ʋnction, and the Royal Globe: Yet am I level'd with the life of Job.

The fiercest Furies, that do daily treadLine 5 Ʋpon my Grief, my Gray Dis-crowned head, Are those, that owe my Bounty for their Bread,

They raise a War, and Christen it, The Cause,Line 6 Whilest sacrilegious hands have best applause, Plunder, and Murder, are the Kingdoms Laws;

Tyranny bears the Title of Taxation,Line 7 Revenge and Robbery are Reformation, Oppression gains the name of Sequestration.

My Loyal Subjects who in this bad seasonLine 8 Attend me (by the Law of God and Reason) They dare impeach, and punish for high Treason.

Next at the Clergy, do their Furies frown,Line 9 Pious Episcopacy must go down, They will destroy the Crosier, and the Crown.

Church-men are chain'd, and Schismaticks are free'd,Line 10 Mechanicks preach, and Holy Fathers bleed, The Crown is crucified with the Creed.

The Church of England doth all Faction foster,Line 11 The Pulpit is usurpt by each Impostor, Ex tempore, excludes the Pater Noster.

The Presbyter and Independant SeedLine 12 Springs with broad-blades; to make Religion bleed, Herod, and Pontius Pilate are agreed.

The Corner-stone's misplac't by every Pavier;Line 13 With such a bloody method, and behaviour, Their Ancestors did crucifie our Saviour.

My Royal Consort, from whose fruitfull WombLine 14 So many Princes legally have come, Is forc't in Pilgrimage to seek a Tomb.

Great Britains Heir is forced into France,Line 15 Whilest on his Father's head, his foes advance, Poor Child! He weeps out his Inheritance.

With my own Power, my Majesty they wound,Line 16 In the King's Name, the K. himself's uncrown'd: So doth the dust, destroy the Diamond.

With Propositions daily they enchauntLine 17 My Peoples ears, such, as do Reason daunt, And the Almighty will not let me Grant.

They promise, to erect my Royal Stem,Line 18 To make me Great, t' advance my Diadem, If I will first fall down, and worship them;

But for refusal they devour my Thrones,Line 19 Distress my Children, and destroy my bones, I fear they'l force me, to make bread of stones.

My Life they prize at such a slender rate,Line 20 That in my absence, they draw bills of hate, To prove the King, a Traytor to the State.

Felons obtain more priviledge than I,Line 21 They are allow'd to answer, e're they dye, 'Tis death for Me, to ask the reason, Why.

But Sacred Saviour, with thy words I wooLine 22 Thee to forgive, and not be bitter to Such, as thou know'st do not know what they do.

For since they from their Lord are so disjointed,Line 23 As to contemn those Edicts he appointed, How can they prize the Power of his Anointed?

Augment my Patience, nullifie my hate,Line 24 Preserve my Issue, and inspire my Mate, Yet, though We perish, bless this Church and State.