England's Mercy Explained in the Just Excecution of William (late) Viscount Stafford a Traitor to his King and Country. depiction of procession to Tower Hill and execution there of William Viscount Stafford Viscownt Stafford Repent o Stafford ere the blow be given Lest there be found no Rome for thee in Heaven 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 men's 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 than Devillist Cruelties and cunningness; It has interwoven itself with the Policies 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 men's Souls and Consciences; and thereby debauched them so far, as to think the blackest Crimes to be Meritorious Acts, and to boggle at no Villainy, 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 itself 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 public Monuments of his Severity; yet so hardened and blinded have they been by their Sin, so misled by a villainous Crew of Canting and lying Priests and Friars, that they have realy believed, that the Penalty inflicted on them for their bloody Villainies, 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 sucked in, thought himself in Conscience obliged 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 Majesty's 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 Ruin and Confusion on his native Land, O monstrous and more than Devilish Villainy! Tantum Religio potuit suadere malorem. But for all these infernal Treasons and Conspiracies, he was at last brought to public Justice, and after a fair Trial, 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 7th. 1680. The Judgement 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 ripped 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 intent 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. Thus Stafford for his horrid Treasons fell A misled Martyr unto Rome and Hell; And thus Eternal Vengeance first does blast The Traitor's Plots, and ruins them at last, Snaky Ambition who dost always twine Thyself 'bout great men's Thoughts, and dost incline And hurry them on violent Actions Skill, Betrayest the Judgement, and corrupt'st the Will: Makes them to think they'll ne'er stand high enough, Cheatest them with Honours that's an empty puff. Still forcest them to soar up higher higher though't be through Sin, through Blood, through Sword, through Fire. Till to the Temples Pinnacle they're flown, Then lettest them fall, pressed with a Vengeance down. If with false Notions of Religion clad, Thou than lettest lose thy Reins and runnest stark mad. Dost toss and wrack the Minds thou dost enslave, Till brought with Shame and ruin to the Grave. Deluded Stafford, miserable Wight, Was a great Instance of thy cursed spite. Cursed Popery, whose Principles does bend Its Bigots to such Actions, such an end, We must rejoice for Justice done t'him all, And yet lament his miserable Fall. And Curse the Infernal Maxims of proud Rome, Who brought so great a Man to such a Doom. EPITAPH. Poor wretched Viscount Stafford here lies dead, Here lies his Body, but without a Head. Still that was Plotting against Church and State. For which the Laws adjudged it such a Fate. All that are not Printed for the abovesaid Persons, are Counterfeits. London, Pirnted for N. Ponder at the Sign of the Peacock over against the Stock-market. and S. Lee at the Feathers in Lumbard-Street, near the Post-Office.