MEMENTO MORI  AN ELEGY ON THE RIGHT WORSHIPFUL Sir Edmundbury Godfrey, Knight, One of His MAJESTY'S JUSTICES of the PEACE: Who was found Murdered on Thursday the 17th of this Instant October, 1678. in a Ditch on the Southside of Primrose-Hill near Hampstead.  

STRAFFORD crowd up, and brave Montross make room,  
Here's a State-Martyr too, that's lately come,  
All gored in BLOOD;— who may most justly crave  
To share with you in your immortal Grave.  
To you he comes, to you! who best can tell  
How many Perils in true Virtue dwell;  
Yea, and how dangerous 'tis i'th' Gap to stand,  
Against Rebellion in your Native Land;  
Which now is, or ne'er was, by Rome's cursed Hate,  
Destined to Ruin both in Church and State.   

If Souls refined, and freed from Humane care,  
Could mongst immortal joys such leisure spare,  
As to reflect on all that they did do,  
And what they suffered while confined below;  
The ill returns which Loyal Godfrey found,  
ere his Deserts had thrust him under ground;  
Their pity would resent, and sighs attend,  
The Funeral of this lamented Friend.   

Whom shouldst thou praise, poor blear-eyed Muse? proclaim  
Thou wouldst thine own Defects; not sound his Fame:  
The worth of whose large Soul can never be  
With finite Numbers dressed, much less by thee.  
Silence amazed, more meet than Pen, or Eyes,  
Will pass Close-Mourner at thy Obsequies.   

And yet methinks, by strength of thought, I view  
Even still his generous Soul, as first it flew  
From its wronged Body, and made blest Retreat,  
And just Appeal, to God's Tribunal-Seat.  
Methinks I see him as at first he stood,  
With his pale Body newly streaked with BLOOD;  
With gaping Wounds, like Mouths, which called for Woe,  
And home Revenge, on those who made them so:  
With bruised Neck, and Cheek, with battered Chin;  
And Breast as black, as his vile Butcher's sin:  
But with a Soul more innocent and gay,  
Than newborn Lilies in the midst of May.   

Ah worthy Knight! If thy high Virtue did  
Not all thy thoughts of just Revenge forbid,  
What dismal Truths mightst tell, what Plots mightst show  
To those above, were Hatched by Rome below?  
Thou needest no more but all thy Wounds display  
Before those glorious Messengers, and they  
With just rewards that bloody Crew might treat,  
Who dared to use thee at so harsh a rate.  
But thou wert always merciful and kind,  
Even whilst to humane shape thou wast confined;  
And it were cruelty to think thee more  
Severe or fierce than thou were't known before.  
Methinks I hear with an exalted Voice  
Thy happy Manes amongst the blessed rejoice,  
With Joy like that the cheerful Seaman swells,  
When safe on Shore, his dangerous Wrack he tells;  
And from the swelling Banks, with aufull scorn,  
Beholds those Waves which had his Vessel torn.  
So thou, brave Soul! to Heaven didst force thy way  
Through Men more fur'ous than the raging Sea.  
And having gained the Heavenly Port, dost now  
With safe contempt look down on them below;  
Whose rigid usage had so cruel been  
To strand the tender Bark thy Soul was in  
And still, as if thy Tragedy were grown  
Too poor, and mean, to gain from Hell renown;  
Do yet like Bloodhounds the warm Quest pursue,  
And strive to kill thy Reputation too.  
But that's Immortal,— and shall never want  
Remembrance, whilst there's Press or Protestant;  
The one to fix it in most lasting Writ,  
The other to revere and honour it.    

AN EPITAPH.  

REader, beneath this weeping Marble lies  
The People's Love, the Nations Sacrifice:  
A modern Martyr, or (to raise thy Dread)  
A Justice most unjustly murdered.  
Approach his Tomb with Reverence, for he,  
Whilst living, was Rome's deadly Enemy.  
And whosoever the fatal stab did give,  
Went but the nearest way to make him live.  
In th' Dust his Deeds shall blossom: Time (that brings  
A change on other sublunary things)  
Will keep these fresh; this Patriots renown  
Shall ne'er be strangled by the Triple Crown.   
FINIS.   

LICENCED, October 29. 1678.   

LONDON, Printed for Ben. Harris in Sweetings-Rents near the Royal-Exchange, 1678.