A
T T E R
FROM
Mr. Stephen Colledge
TO
A Perfbn of Quality^ upon his Removal to Oixford^
to be Try'd upon an Impeachment of High Treafon.
Honoured Sir,
Hear I am with Confidence sported to be a ^apifl (nay morCy
a Jefuit J ) It's their hour and power of Darknejs: they have the
advantage and power of me, I was horn to fujfer, and have no
poffhility of fighting my felf at prefent, hut 1 hope e're long I
fhall hy a fair T^yall, where all I ask is JuJlice, no favour; and had
rather dye than Itve fufpeSied: In the Interim, Sir, I have Jent thefe
following lines, not for your own fatisfaliion, who I am perfwaded are fo
already: (But for thofe to whom you fhall think ft to commuuicate them,
that are otherwife, {that they are true Verfe I cannot fay,) hut that the
matter fpeaks ( in fhort) the of', my Cafe, the Sincerity of my
Heart, and the Sentiments of my Soul, I do mofl confiantly affrm: My
*Time is precious ; I hegg your Prayers, and of all good Troteflants (for
whom I fuffer',) and the Lord he witf) us all: Amen.
Stephen Colledge.
Wrongfull Imprifonment
Hurts not the Innocent.
WHat if 1 am into a Priibn caft,
By Hellifh G^mbinations am betray'dj,
My Soul is free, although my Body's faft;
Let them Repent that have this Evil laid.
And of Eternal Vengeance be"afraid;
Come Racks, and Gibbets, can ray Body Kill,
• My God-is with me, and I fear no 111.
What boots the Clamours of the Giddy throng ?
What Antidotes againft a poylbnous breath?
What fence is there againft a Lying Tongue,
Sharpen'd by Hell, to wound a man to death?
Snakes, Vipers, Adders do lurk underneath :
Say what you will, or never fpeak at all.
Our very Prayers (fuch Wretches) Treafon calL
But
But Walls and Barrs, cannot a Prifon make,
, The free -born Soul en joyes it's Liberty ;
Thefe Clods of Earth it may incaptivate,
Whileft heavenly Minds are converfant on high,
Ranging the Pields of Bleft Eternity :
So let this Bird fing fweetly in my-Breaft,
My Confcience clear j a RulTa for .all the reft.
What I have done, I did with good Intent,
To ferve my King, my Countrey, and the Laws,
Againft the Bloody Papift I was bent,
Coft what it will, Tie ne're repent my Caufe.
Nor do I fear their Hsll-devouring Jawes : -
A Proteftant I am, and fuch Tie dye,
Maugre all deaths, and Popilh Cruelty.
But what need I theft Proteftations make
Anions {peak men far better than their words;
What'ere I fuffer for my Countrey's fake,
Not Cauft I had a Gun, or Horft, or Sword, ,
Or that my heart did Treaftn e're affbard:
No 'tis not me (alone) they do Intend
But thouftnds more, to gain their curftd End#
And fiire ( of this ) the World's ft well aware
That here it's needlefs more for me to fay,
I muft conclude ; no time have I to fpare.
My winged hours fiye too faft av/ay
My work (^Repentancc.^ muft^pftiot delay. .
Tie add my Prayers to God, tor Emlmds good,
And if he pleaft, will ftal them with my blood.
01 bleffed God deftroy this black Defign
Of Popith Confiilts ; it's in thee we truft.
Our Eyes are on thee, help, O Lord, in time.
Thou God of Truth, moft mercifull and Juft,
Do thou defend us, or we perifh muft;
Save England (Lord;j from Popilh Cruelty,
My Countrey bleis, thy will be done on me.
Man's Life's a Voyage, through a Sea of Tears,
If he would gain the Haven of his Reft,
His Sighs muft fill the Sayls (whilft fbme men fteers)
When ftorms arift, let each man do his beft
And caft the Anchor of his hopes ( oppreft )
Till Time, or Death fhall bring us to that Shore
Where Time, nor Death, fhall never be no more.
Lam Deo: Amem
From my Prijonintht
Tower, Aug. 15.
i6si-
Printed for Francis Smith at the Elephant and Caftle in Cornhlll, i68i.