Religion & morality > Letter to Father Petres from the Devil

And ſince 'tis doubtful how the Crown be gain'd,
As He o'res Brother, ſo o're Him ſhe Reign'd.
This Delilah Uſuir'd the Soveraign Sway.
And Blindfold Samſon's Secrets did betray,
To that Philliſtian Lord, Romes great Da Da.}
Which thing ſucceeded to my Hearts deſire,
Knowing, by Her I ſhould ſet All on Fire.
I urg'd ſuch Beauty, Conduit, Parts and Meen,
Was ſurely meant by Heaven for more than Q-----
Made Her each Day render Him leſs and leſs,
Which did Her Haughtineſs the more expreſe:
No Council, Conſutations or Debates,
Either Domeſlick or. of Foreign States
Muſt be diſpatch'd, until by Her approv'd.
A Lyoneſs robb'd of Her Whelps was ſaſer mov'd,
Which ſtill on Majeſty did bring Diſgrace,
He bore the Name, but She aſſum'd the Place.
I knew, when I had wrought Her to the Height,
Proud Babel, needs muſt tumble with its Weight:
And had She ſtill in her Carreer run on,
I'd not been ſafe on my Infernal Throne;
Mean time I cunningly did ſpread my Snares,
Of Animoſiries, of Doubts and Fears:
That might one fide confound, no matter whether ;
I car'd not which, I had my Ends in Either:
Infatuating ſtill the Vulgar Fry,
While on Three Kingdoms I impos'd a Lie.
That ſtrance Conception, with a Birth as ſtrange,
Which both the very Courſe of Nature Change:
For one to Travel ere She do's Conceive,
The Blindeſt Catholick will ſcarce believe.
Yet He {oft Sir, do's own it as his Creed ;
'Tis an odd thing, and odly doth Succeed:
And I'm more pleas'd to heat you're run away,
Than I had been, bad you obtain'd the Day.
I own your Slaughters had been much the more,
But Hell by this will gain the greater Store.
Had you been taken, All had been compleated ;
That had been Sport ! to ſee the Cheaters cheated:
But 'tis not yet too late; for She and Ton,
By a juſt Doom ſhall both receive your Due.
You muſt a Victim fall to th' Peoples Rage,
And She Diviner Juſtice to aſſwage;
Till which Time it ſhall be my daily Care,
To load you both with Horner and Deſpair;
Nor need you doubt but I will ſtill be Civil,
            Given at Our Court, and Sign'd by me
                                                            The DEVIL.

               London : Printed for R.M, in the Year 1689.