AN ELEGY On the EARL of ESSEX. Who Cut his own Throat In the TOWER. July 13. 1683.  
14 July. 1683  

HOW many strange uncertain Fates Attend,  
The Wand'ring Pilgrim to his Journeys End.  
Earth turns to Earth, Water, Air, and Fire,  
Against the Breath informed them, do Conspire;  
As every Man were his own Fatal Catch,  
'Tis in his Hands to forward the Dispatch;  
Some in the Field of Venus, Some of Mars,  
Some meanly Hang themselves, some Hang an Arse:  
But Mighty Essex, His Victorious Arm,  
With Griefs Oppressed, Receives the Swift Alarm,  
A Meaner Foe than Steel, He Scorns to own;  
Or Fall by any Hand, but by his Own,  
Achitophel may Hang Himself, and Oats  
With Judas Swing, and some may cut their Throats,  
Whom Black Despair, may Urge; But Essex He,  
The First that Cut his Throat, for's Loyalty.  
Oh! That Despair should ' Tend such Fiery Zeal.  
This Mighty Samson of the Common-Weal.  
Raised to Defend, and set his Israel Free.  
From Popish Rage, Philistian Tyranny,  
To Shake the Pillars of the Church and State,  
He Crowns it with his own untimely Fate.  
Essex the Famous General; That Name,  
So dear Recorded in the Books of Fame,  
With Royal Blood, and Fatal Conquests Cloyed,  
Ten Thousand of the King's best Friends Destroyed:  
But thou'rt the First, and shall Recorded be,  
That Rid him of one Secret Enemy:  
What Fitter Victim, could Great Essex Bring,  
T'atone his Crime against an Injured King?   

But here thy Rage too Desperate appears,  
To Die a Martyr to thy Doubts and Fears.  
Oh Dire Revenge! Oh! Too Officious Steel,  
To make that Wound, which Time can never heal.  
Hadst thou but few Days Courage to withstand,  
Jack Catch had done the Business to thy hand.   

But Oh Despair! more desperate than thy Gild,  
That durst not trust thyself to stand the Tilt.  
Lest thy false Tongue, should through thy Throat Impart,  
The Bloody Treasons that oppressed thy Heart.   

This must convince the World, and thy wronged Prince,  
Thou with thy Gild hadst rather hurry Hence,  
Then stay to Justify thy Innocence.    

LONDON, Printed for J. Smith. 1683.