A Description of the late Rebellion in the WEST;
A HEROICK POEM.
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FROM Belgias shore, with a pretended claim
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On Junes eleventh in three small Vessels came,
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(Though fatal to him in a fatal Time)
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The Traytor MONMOUTH and surprized Lyme;
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I'th' West of England, whence o'th' fourteenth day,
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He marched with all his Rebel Rout away
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Part of which fell on Bridport and their shed
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The Blood of Loyalists, but were repaid,
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With tripple Deaths, there Rebel Blood first stain'd,
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The guiltless Ground there Loyalty first gain'd.
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A lucky vantage, seaven were kill'd outright,
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Twenty three Prisoners, made the rest by Flight,
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Scatt'ring their Arms, to their main Strength retreat,
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And the sad Tale of their Defeat relate.
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No sooner news of this Rebellious Crew,
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To our dread Monarch and his Senate flew,
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On Fames swift Wings, but an Attaindure's laid
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'Gainst MONMOUTH and upon his Rebel Head
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Five thousand pounds to bring him alive or dead.
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When worthy Monaux on Junes nineteenth day
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With twenty Horse the Rebels did dismay,
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Killing them twelve, though in the valiant strife,
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Death (still the Brave's worst Foe) surpriz'd his Life:
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But unrevenged he did not long remain
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Brave Oglethorps Commanded Troops distain
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Canishams Bridge with eighty Rebels slain
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Whilst bold Trevanion Lymes Recovery wrought,
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With th' Arms and Powder which the Rebels brought,
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And noble Pembroke entred factious Frome,
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Scatt'ring the Rabble that were thither come;
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Took the Ring-leader and made him recant
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The Trayterous Declaration he durst plant,
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Up in the Market-place and Traytor own,
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MONMOUTH to be who had such mischief done.
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Soon after thrice renowned Feversham
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Near to the Town call'd Phillips-Norton came
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Where leading on the Rebels flank'd the Lane.
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Yet Hero like undaunted Grafton made
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A brave attempt and beat their Ambuscade,
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Speaking in Thunder his unshaken sence
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Of Loyalty and Justice to his Prince;
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Whilst from the Hill the loud mouth'd Cannons bent
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Against the Foe, their Globes of Ruin sent:
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Wing'd with swift Death, which made them soon remove,
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Not longer daring such destruction prove:
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But fearful of approaching Fate retire,
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Before those Swords that spoke a Monarchs Ire.
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And passing many Towns, at last they came,
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To Wells so known for it Cathedrals fame:
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Which impiously with Sacrilegious Hands,
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Fit for all horrid Mischief these black Bands
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Rifl'd and such base outrages commit,
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As if they had been born the Sons of Spite:
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Which done to Glassenbury strait they drew,
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From thence to Bridgewater and there make shew,
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As if they meant to fortefy the Town,
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But now the fatal time came swiftly on,
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To which Rebellions Punishment was due
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On Julys fifth, when the bright Sun withdrew
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And o're the World sad night her Mantle threw,
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In Darkness suiting with their Deeds the Rout,
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From all their Quarters silently drew out,
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With an inglorious purpose to surprize
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The Royal Army, but those wakeful eyes,
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Under so great a Charge, no slumber brook,
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But instantly the hot alarum took.
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And now no more but Neptunes silver Hair,
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Parting the threatening Fronts of cruel War;
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The Leaden Thunderbolts on Lightnings Wing,
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A swift Destruction to the Rebels bring.
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Not able to withstand those juster Arms,
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Their Horse affrighted, fly the fierce Alarms:
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In much Disorder before every Charge,
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And o're the field disperse themselves at large:
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Leaving the Foot, who faintly stood a while,
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But broken by the Horse they soon Recoile.
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MONMOUTH himself, GREYs fortune follow strait;
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With thirty Horse betaking him to flight
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Whilst one the plain the slaughter'd Rabble lye
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And stain the Grass with a Rebellious dye.
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Those that escap'd the field for safety fought,
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By wretched flight but that small safety wrought
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Heav'n had decreed to punish their bold guilt
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And on their Heads, revenge the Blood they spilt:
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Two thousand Lives they paid upon the place
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And most that fled were taken in the Chace.
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So Julys happy sixth their ruin view'd,
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Saw them intirely broken and subdued;
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On some of them the Martial Law took place,
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And made them know what 'twas the Nation Peace
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In such wild lawless Tumults to molest
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Whilst other Laws prepar'd to try the rest:
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And now the happy Vict'ry being known,
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To Troops on divers Posts their care was shown:
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In seizing all suspitious Travellers,
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When near Holt-Lodge some Troopers nnawars
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Seiz'd on the late Lord GREY with him his Guide
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Who vainly sought a refuge where to hide.
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On Julys Eight MONMOUTH was likewise found
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Hid in a Ditch inclosing Ferney Ground;
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With him the Brandenburg on whom a Guard,
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Was strongly plac'd which instantly prepar'd;
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To bring them to Whitehall who there with GREY,
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Arriv'd secure on Julys thirteenth day;
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Thence to the Tower they in a Barge were row'd
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Whilst on each shore stood the rejoycing Croud
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Clapping their Hands to see the Punishment
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Fall upon those that others Ruins meant.
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MONMOUTH upon Attaindure being doom'd,
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His Treasons meed no more on Life presum'd:
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But on the fifteenth day being brought upon
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A Mourning Stage, and there his Crimes made known;
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Expressing Sorrow for the wrong he did
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To his dread Soveraign and the Blood he shed,
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Submitted patiently and lost his Head:
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Which in a Coffin with his body laid
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A Hearse to their Interment them convey'd
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So fell Rebellion and so fall it still,
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So fare it with all those that dare Rebel.
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