A POEM On the EFFIGIES of Sir EDMUNDBURY GODFREY, UUho was Barbarously Murdered.  
LICENCED, November the 20th. 1678.  

A Lasting MONUMENT Erected To the Memory of Sr Edmond Berry Godfrey one of his Majesty's justices of the Peace.   portrait of Sir Edmund Bury Godfrey  

NOr shall Antiquity outbrave our Zeal  
To Generous Patriots of the Public Weal.  
Tho They with Massy Statues might contrive,  
And Lasting Brass, to keep the Fame alive  

Of well-deserving Hero's;— This mean Plate,  
Which to a Greater Worth we Dedicate,  
Shall all their Glorious Monuments out-date,  
And last till Bankrupt-Time's swallowed by Fate.    

Let no bold Eye approach this Reverend Shade,  
Till first a Tribute of Just Tears be paid  
(The dear Resemblance of that Noble Knight,)  
Who by Rome's Restless Rage, and Barbarous Spite,  
Did lately Fall, (Ah, Treacherous Surprise!)  
Religion's Martyr, the State's Sacrifice!  
Godfrey! A Name, that shall Embellish Story,  
The Shame of Popery; But lasting Glory  
Of Loyal Protestants: He that to save  
Three Kingdoms, met with an Untimely Grave.   

View here his Serious Look, and you may find  
All the Fair Marks of a Judicious Mind;  
A Solid Goodness, Temperate, and Grave;  
Mixed with a Modest Sweetness, and yet Brave.   

But, what is This?— Alas! The Graver's Art  
Pretends not to Express his Better Part:  
Could we have Limned his Soul, than you had seen  
All the Rich Gifts and Graces shine within,  
In Native Lustre; such as might Inspire  
Next Age thought to Despair of, yet Admire!   


But Best Men Here are not Most Fortunate,  
Where Greatest Virtue attracts Greatest Hate,  
And Just Rewards attend a Future State.   
Whilst to Preserve his Sovereigne's Lise, he had shown  
His Zealous Care, basely he Lost his Own.   

See how the Villains first Trepan him in!  
Hypocrisy cloaks the most Horrid Sin!  
But soon as in their Clutches he was got,  
Those Bloodhounds Murder him upon the Spot:  
With Barbarous Hands, they Stop his Generous Breath;  
And that they might be sure t' Effect his Death,  
Strangle him too: Whence closely they convey,  
And in a Ditch the Slaughtered Body lay,  
Transfixed with his Own Sword: Ah, Barbarous Crew!  
That thought to Stab his Reputation too:  
But that's beyond their Reach, and shall survive  
As long as one Good Protestant's Alive.   

The Cursed Fact is now Exposed; and All  
Good Men for Vengeance on the Actors, Call.  
See, what a Loyal Crowd attends to pay  
Their last Respects unto his Martyred Clay.   

His Mourner's, the whole Nation ought to be;  
Whose Fate reversed a General Tragedy:  

For, had their Malice not on him been shown,  
Their Hellish Plot had not so well been known;  
By Godfrey's Death, each Good Man scap't his own.    
FINIS.   

LONDON, Printed for Thomas Cross, in Little-Brittain, 1678.