AN ELEGY, On the most Barbarous, Unparalleled, Vnsouldiery, Murder,  
Committed at COLCHESTER, upon the persons of the two most incomparable, Sir CHARLES LUCAS, AND Sir GEORGE LISLE.   printer's or publisher's device 
LONDON. Printed in the Year, 1648. Sept 28   

AN ELEGY On the most Incomparable, Sir CHARLES LUCAS, and Sir GEORGE LISLE.  

THough all the Trophies Rebels can bring in,  
Are but successful guilt, and prosperous sin:  
And each defeat their savage heat can buy,  
But outrage be, and highway victory:  
Though there be Juries due for all 've slain,  
And the just Bar each conquest must arraign:  
Though what they Charge, and vigorous Onset call,  
Is downright, Stand, Deliver, and that's all:  
Though Forts reduced, and Holds suppressed by awe,  
Here's S … 〈◊〉 Siege, but Burglary i'th' Law:  
And COLCHESTER itself, in Truth's free scope,  
Is no Town Taken, but a Town Broke   
That from the Booty gained, and wealthy prize,  
Not their renown, but their Indictments rise.  
Whence they can naught but Tyburn Triumphs raise,  
And Sessians-Laurell, where the Hemp's the Bays:  
Yet they had some Pretext, some Title still,  
Though not to virtue, yet to generous ill:  
And the next Age, by our Records, might say,  
They went well on, though they mistook their way.   

So aged Rome even in her outlaws shines,  
Some lustre gains even from her Cataline's.  
But ours are sunk and fall'n, have stained their Name,  
Things beneath Rebels, bashful Annals shame.  
Traitor! though the wild sound affrights beget,  
Though it be Villain deep, 'tis Manly yet:  
And in the Heraldry of Crimes may find  
Kin and Allies ' mongst Sins of humane kind.  
But this unpatterned By-blow, base offence,  
Must fly disclaimed, and unaffianced hence.  
Chained and immured in un-frequented Cell,  
And live an Anchorite in Populous Hell.   

The stout Besieged, whom Force could ne'er subdue,  
Now long begirt with Foes, and Famine too,  
When the last drop lay gasping in the cruse,  
And no accession worn supplies renews,  
While clean, and unclean they alike embark,  
Like the Creation's shelter (once) the Ark,  
When the exhausted Town defended hears,  
'Bove the distress of Troy, though not the years:  
At last they do subscribe, but leave this Fame,  
They knew no Conqueror, till Hunger came:  
So Tyre yields to th' Pellaean Youth at length,  
The purchase of his patience, not his strength;  
When now dis-abled, they for rescue come,  
To private Shrines, to public Altars some,  
The Victor checked their flight, and bade them know,  
No Sanctuary saves like a just Foe.  
But oh the difference 'twixt two Heathens gone,  
'Twixt him of old, and Fairfax Macedon!   

In doubtful conflict, where the equal day  
Smiles fair on both sides, and gives neither sway,  
Slaughter may prudence seem, and blood allure,  
Since 'tis not then to kill, but to secure.  
But all contest laid by, and steel let go,  
To cull, and slay! the Shambles vanquish so.   

A Coward's still unsafe; but honour knows  
No other Foe, but him that doth oppose.  
Nor would this blasted act such field afford,  
Were't the Escape or Heat of some Rash Sword,  
The ghastly monster might be then disguised,  
And savage Murder sound but Unadvised.  
But this was Tame debate, and was let fall,  
Thy cool result, deliberate Cannibal.   

Is this the Mercy? are we pitied thus?  
Had your Committee-Prisoners such from us?  
We grant ten thousand such heaped in one pile,  
Can never poise a Lucas, or a Lile:  
Yet be the difference vast, the change is true,  
And you are paid, if those be dear to you.  
If Aesop's Cock for Pearl would Barley get,  
Who makes that change is nothing in his debt.  
Persons and things are as their Prisers deem,  
Not rated from their Worth, but our Esteem.  
With Indians Beads of Glass 'bove Diamonds go,  
The Traffick's just, because they count them so.   

Safe and untouched we sent your men in peace,  
And must our Blood requite for their Release?  
We not expect Returns in our own way,  
For than we must be Free as well as They.  
Yet sure a full complete discharge from thrall,  
May for uninjured Bondage safely call.   

But since no danger in their Lives remains,  
Since shackles scare not, and none awes in chains:  
Nay since their Safety, is their Purchase now,  
And equal Trade will men for men allow:  
Since their commerce doth on a level stand,  
And all's but ware for ware at strictest hand;  
Why then these crimson streamas, this Sea of Blood?  
Is there no Head, no Spring derives this Flood?  
Yes, a pale hoof the Ruthless mountain hit,  
And rising thence, proclaimed Revenge was it.  
Revenge is she, that great incensed Power,  
Whose Altars humane sacrifice devour.  
Revenge is Honour, Justice, Country, Laws;   

Yourselves at lest should have concealed this clause.  
Say, was that Scar received from Lucas hand,  
(That which was once a Scar, but now a Brand)  
Received in Fight, when what he then did give  
They Cheek, had sped thy Heart, but He cried, Live?  
Was it a crime thou couldst so not endure,  
That Blood must balsam it, and his Life cure?  
Hast thou complexion, lines, or aught to pass  
For less than Vizour in thy affrighted Glass?  
Then we might prise, not think the damage small,  
But wail the loss of Lady General.  
But in thy course, taught visage, homespun face,  
Wounds may imprint, and scar, but ne'er disgrace.   

Yet know, who muse why Lisle and Lucas die,  
They fall to Fairfax injured symmetry.  
That beauteous feminine Buff dispatched them hence,  
That featured General, He Her Excellence.   

But, there were friendship yet in destiny,  
If those who kill, would but lend space to die:  
Mark then how they are huddled to their fate,  
How the next Sun would call their murder late:  
To live till morn would seem a slow Reprieve;  
To respite Death is almost to let live.  
No, they are posted hence, and butchered go,  
 they can fancy you can murder so.   

This tyranny alone belongs to you,  
To slaughter Men, and expectations too.  
On to the Tragic Amphitheatre,  
And see these Hero's in the Bassive War,  
Whose fortitude had deep this bottom laid,  
The Valiant must affright, not be afraid.   

 this, your busy care sweats to digest,  
Some that can aim, and act the Villains best.  
Can single out the eye, the brain, the heart.  
(For Murder now is but their kind of Art)  
Know each recess, and all deaths secret maze,  
Which path leads to Dispatch, which to Delays.  
With nice Dissectors they must enter Lists,  
And Naked combat armed Anatomists.   

When Force doth force, and Army Army meets,  
Where wounds give wounds, & slaughter slaughter greets,  
Blind Fortune Fate in her own darkness wraps,  
Our falls are oft not Courage, but Mis-haps.  
But here the guided ruin none can shun,  
Keen death must on, and hath no tract but one.  
No Bullet reaves or wanders in the dark,  
But unperplexed designs one single Mark.  
While they i'th' threatening storm undaunted rest,  
And taketh ' whole peal of thunder on their Breast.   

To Gideon's fleece alone the Shower did fly,  
While the whole World was else untouched, and dry.  
Thus Peasants, England's Worthies veins do broach,  
Who were their Terror once, now their Reproach.  
Whom to Subdue, their Foes must first Betray,  
Whom Fairfax durst assault no other way.  
Whom Norwich, Capel, Loughborough, Compton, all  
Must see avenged, or in that Justice fall.   

Two of a matchless, yet a different heat,  
A various mingled flame, where both defeat.   

LUCAS, possessed a stout Majestic fire,  
Wound up to a just pitch, but yet no high'r.  
Not shunning pride as he his worth not spied,  
But making it his Worth to scorn all Pride.  
Where Vigorous was Assisting: to be strong  
Enabled not t' Inflict, but Shroud from wrong.  
Not stern, yet fit to have instructed sway,  
To make none Tremble, yet make all Obey.   

LISLE, Soft even to tears, yet stout as Adamant:  
So nature doth stiff Rocks 'mongst Water's plant.  
Gentle and Melting into Valiant came,  
As supplest Oil drains in and heightens Flame.  
Slain in his Friend, expiring in his groan;  
Tender of all men's blood, besides his own.   

Both were so Peerless such, 'twas fit that they  
Had not fall'n this, and yet this only way.  
Vespasian thus when his renown was full,  
And could not add to his thronged Chronicle:  
Surprised, despises fate, and Rousing, cries,  
The Valiant falls Erect, and Standing, dies.    
THE END.