 | A transcript of Edward Taylor's Metrical History of Christianity by Donald E. Stanford |  |
The Shine of Divine Patience
I having done with Graces shine whose twineMore Coarse is spun the former run more fine
And now I come to Patience of whose stock
I take a roale well carded and to th'lock
That at the spindle of last Century
Doth hang, I laying it may spining try
Whether its twine will not run out as fine
Over this Century with such a shine
As answer will, with such an overplus
The last and lend to Graces web a brush.
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1.
While Pride and Passion Huffs up Prelats sleeves
And makes their gowns to russle, till they leese
The noise of Aarons golden bells i'th'din
And that bright glory of these garments in
The Cock bells of this rot upon their hearts
They fight like rams with fury in their arts
Dash heads together till their brain pans ring
And brains fall out, Patiences Wheels doth spin
Her glorious thrid most fine to guilt her Web
And gilds it in the spirits this way shed.
Out of this Quaugmire Jack-a-lanterns rise
Leading poore Souls among all bogs like flies,
Of Errours, Heresies, and superstitions,
Schism, Persecution, Sins without remissions.
And makes their gowns to russle, till they leese
The noise of Aarons golden bells i'th'din
And that bright glory of these garments in
The Cock bells of this rot upon their hearts
They fight like rams with fury in their arts
Dash heads together till their brain pans ring
And brains fall out, Patiences Wheels doth spin
Her glorious thrid most fine to guilt her Web
And gilds it in the spirits this way shed.
Out of this Quaugmire Jack-a-lanterns rise
Leading poore Souls among all bogs like flies,
Of Errours, Heresies, and superstitions,
Schism, Persecution, Sins without remissions.
This is the day (attend rich Patience here
Thy shine a while) when Errours spruice appeare
And shake their budget till there out do run
A multitude like pismires in the Sun.
Works now begin to be such worthy Powers
As are Esteemd to rain down Christ-like showers
To wash away mens sins, and justify
Before Gods throne. (Here Patience signs, Oh Phy)
To merit pardon; and Eternall bliss:
And yet their pens some times contrairy this.
They make Repentance mostly penance so
Describing't by such deeds vile men may do.
Angells and Saints they depper lackies make
To run to Christ with suites they chanch to take
From mortall lips, and on their knees before
Gods firy face to lay them, and implore
His Magesty. Brave Saints and Angells 'bout's
Made pretty Babie Christs in swaddling clouts.
Gregory the Great (great goofe) his blots thus ly
We from the Corps most sacred of the high
And blessed Peter do this Key transmit
Wherein his blessing of the Chains doth sit
Which worn about the neck doth munify
Us now against all of adversity
He adds, saint Peter can even in all things
Help here: hereafter too remit our Sins
And saith, whose body here you've covered
His suite in heaven shall your sins behead.
Hence Prayer is pourd out in to their Cues
Even from our tanckards, for this Health they use.
As Anastase, so Gregory mentains
Pastors are not to live with Women; gains
No word for this doth he yet if they bee
Their Mothers sisters, Wives it grant doth hee.
It scarce was lawfull now for such to marry
If any one whatever marride, tarry
Not in this state but hastily ran to
A monckish Cloister both consenting so:
He is a Welcome Votary: Now the praise
They of Virginity to heaven raise.
Pope Symmachus the first compild the Mass,
Decreed that Maids and Widdows that do pass
Their Word for Continency should not wed,
That on the birth days of the Saint now dead
They sing out Gloria in Excelsis do
Did Paschase's Soul in Purgatory stow
(As Gregory saith) who was a Deacon vile,
Did Anastase the Emperour revile;
And Gregory taught that men at Deaths Fair well
Go some to Purgatory, some to Hell
And 'fore Christ came he thought all men down went
Unto Hells Cloisters, though clean innocent.
Thy shine a while) when Errours spruice appeare
And shake their budget till there out do run
A multitude like pismires in the Sun.
Works now begin to be such worthy Powers
As are Esteemd to rain down Christ-like showers
To wash away mens sins, and justify
Before Gods throne. (Here Patience signs, Oh Phy)
To merit pardon; and Eternall bliss:
And yet their pens some times contrairy this.
They make Repentance mostly penance so
Describing't by such deeds vile men may do.
Angells and Saints they depper lackies make
To run to Christ with suites they chanch to take
From mortall lips, and on their knees before
Gods firy face to lay them, and implore
His Magesty. Brave Saints and Angells 'bout's
Made pretty Babie Christs in swaddling clouts.
Gregory the Great (great goofe) his blots thus ly
We from the Corps most sacred of the high
And blessed Peter do this Key transmit
Wherein his blessing of the Chains doth sit
Which worn about the neck doth munify
Us now against all of adversity
He adds, saint Peter can even in all things
Help here: hereafter too remit our Sins
And saith, whose body here you've covered
His suite in heaven shall your sins behead.
Hence Prayer is pourd out in to their Cues
Even from our tanckards, for this Health they use.
As Anastase, so Gregory mentains
Pastors are not to live with Women; gains
No word for this doth he yet if they bee
Their Mothers sisters, Wives it grant doth hee.
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If any one whatever marride, tarry
Not in this state but hastily ran to
A monckish Cloister both consenting so:
He is a Welcome Votary: Now the praise
They of Virginity to heaven raise.
Pope Symmachus the first compild the Mass,
Decreed that Maids and Widdows that do pass
Their Word for Continency should not wed,
That on the birth days of the Saint now dead
They sing out Gloria in Excelsis do
Did Paschase's Soul in Purgatory stow
(As Gregory saith) who was a Deacon vile,
Did Anastase the Emperour revile;
And Gregory taught that men at Deaths Fair well
Go some to Purgatory, some to Hell
And 'fore Christ came he thought all men down went
Unto Hells Cloisters, though clean innocent.
Hormisda Pope none of the worst decreed
Psalms to be sung by turns: and with a breed
Of Ceremonies Saddle backt the Church.
And in him men out Maosism search:
Who Temples garnisht honouring the dead:
He built Basilick Alb: but lavished
Saint Peters Temple with a Silver Trabs
A Thousand fourty pounds worth drild from's bags.
Psalms to be sung by turns: and with a breed
Of Ceremonies Saddle backt the Church.
And in him men out Maosism search:
Who Temples garnisht honouring the dead:
He built Basilick Alb: but lavished
Saint Peters Temple with a Silver Trabs
A Thousand fourty pounds worth drild from's bags.
John after him one of the best of th'bunch
Temples did guild and them with gifts imbunch,
Altars adornd with Silver, Gold and Gems
Ravennas Jayle doth starve him in her dens.
Temples did guild and them with gifts imbunch,
Altars adornd with Silver, Gold and Gems
Ravennas Jayle doth starve him in her dens.
Felix the fourth up pears, doth preaching fly.
Temples to Saints up raise the Mass imply
Onely in sacred places did decree
That dying souls with holy Oyle greasd bee
That holy Dayes, Church Wakes be once a yeare,
Kept when the Temples Consecrated were.
He Athanase did Excommunicate
Constantinoples Patriarch. Strange fate.
Temples to Saints up raise the Mass imply
Onely in sacred places did decree
That dying souls with holy Oyle greasd bee
That holy Dayes, Church Wakes be once a yeare,
Kept when the Temples Consecrated were.
He Athanase did Excommunicate
Constantinoples Patriarch. Strange fate.
Pope Boniface the second damns all who
Before him were or after him should grow,
That should or had endeavered to lurch
Away the Priviledges of his Church.
He from the Clergy separates the rest
In th'Temples that he might them all divest
From Votes in choosing Bishops: unto whom
He suffers not the Clergies Crime to come.
Before him were or after him should grow,
That should or had endeavered to lurch
Away the Priviledges of his Church.
He from the Clergy separates the rest
In th'Temples that he might them all divest
From Votes in choosing Bishops: unto whom
He suffers not the Clergies Crime to come.
The second John Pope did receive, its said,
A golden septer all with Gems enlaid,
Six pounds in weight, two silver Cups worth seven
Two silver Bowls worth fifteen: Tokens given
Him by Justinian the Emperour
The golden Pope doth pitch a glittring bar.
A golden septer all with Gems enlaid,
Six pounds in weight, two silver Cups worth seven
Two silver Bowls worth fifteen: Tokens given
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The golden Pope doth pitch a glittring bar.
Agapetus is next. Gregory assures
Us he in Greece a dumb and lame man cures,
Not in Christs name: but by Saint Peters powers
His Clouds do rain Traditions down by showers.
On Sabbath days Processions he decreed:
Dies at Constantinople and in speed
Brought in a leaden winding sheet to Rome:
And in Saint Peters Church they him intombe.
Us he in Greece a dumb and lame man cures,
Not in Christs name: but by Saint Peters powers
His Clouds do rain Traditions down by showers.
On Sabbath days Processions he decreed:
Dies at Constantinople and in speed
Brought in a leaden winding sheet to Rome:
And in Saint Peters Church they him intombe.
Sylverius next Hormisda's Son's impopde
By Theodote the King without the Vote
Of Clergymen, whom th'Emperess because,
He suited not her tooth, Excild, and claws.
By Theodote the King without the Vote
Of Clergymen, whom th'Emperess because,
He suited not her tooth, Excild, and claws.
And now about the Brittain Congell teemd
A litter of Monasteries, is deemd
In turning Banchors noble Colledge (where
Christian Philosophers did shine forth cleare)
Into a Monckry, out of whose womb,
The Chiefe Monasteries of Europe come,
Whose Eggs were took and hatcht in Germany,
In Ireland, Scotland, France and Italy.
A litter of Monasteries, is deemd
In turning Banchors noble Colledge (where
Christian Philosophers did shine forth cleare)
Into a Monckry, out of whose womb,
The Chiefe Monasteries of Europe come,
Whose Eggs were took and hatcht in Germany,
In Ireland, Scotland, France and Italy.
The Popedome's torn; a monster's with two heads:
While Sylver lives, Vigelius yet treads
His dam with his Traditions big impresst,
Orders his mass-mens faces to the East,
Hews proper lessons out for holy dayes
The Feast of Candlemass ordains; would raise
Rome to be Cald the Mother Church, yet feele
By falshood doth, th'edge of imperiall steele.
When at Constantinople with a rope
Rogue like about his neck (as it is spoke)
About the town till even is lead then led
To prison, and with bread and water fed,
His Clerick train, were some exild, and some
Made dig in Mettall mines, til Narses come
And Roman friends addresses, them redeem.
This Rhetorick schoole, Sir Pope, doth Crabbid seem.
While Sylver lives, Vigelius yet treads
His dam with his Traditions big impresst,
Orders his mass-mens faces to the East,
Hews proper lessons out for holy dayes
The Feast of Candlemass ordains; would raise
Rome to be Cald the Mother Church, yet feele
By falshood doth, th'edge of imperiall steele.
When at Constantinople with a rope
Rogue like about his neck (as it is spoke)
About the town till even is lead then led
To prison, and with bread and water fed,
His Clerick train, were some exild, and some
Made dig in Mettall mines, til Narses come
And Roman friends addresses, them redeem.
This Rhetorick schoole, Sir Pope, doth Crabbid seem.
Alas poore Chair, just now wast made to Crack,
Two ramping Popes squeezd in thee back to back
Now hast thy belly empty three months space,
Pelagius then the first doth take the place,
Out of whose Clinck these fopperies do spring
That Clarks seven times a day their Hours should sing,
That Abbats right be chose: that Priests Mass say
At nine a Clock at Quadrigessina.
He Masses sold for mony: and did clame
Romes Primacy the first, as if the same
Were set by Christ: And he the Popedome steers
Some say four; five; nine; 'leven; some twelve years.
Two ramping Popes squeezd in thee back to back
Now hast thy belly empty three months space,
Pelagius then the first doth take the place,
Out of whose Clinck these fopperies do spring
That Clarks seven times a day their Hours should sing,
That Abbats right be chose: that Priests Mass say
At nine a Clock at Quadrigessina.
He Masses sold for mony: and did clame
Romes Primacy the first, as if the same
Were set by Christ: And he the Popedome steers
Some say four; five; nine; 'leven; some twelve years.
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Now John the third is popiside, decrees
Against his Predicessors minteries,
That none be styld Chiefe Priest ore all or shall
Be Universall Bishop over all.
The laying on of hands too he Confines
From all men but Episcopall Divines.
He did ever Linus and Cletus neer
Did ware the Keyes. Some say he lied here.
Against his Predicessors minteries,
That none be styld Chiefe Priest ore all or shall
Be Universall Bishop over all.
The laying on of hands too he Confines
From all men but Episcopall Divines.
He did ever Linus and Cletus neer
Did ware the Keyes. Some say he lied here.
Benit the first a Pope of four years sise
Decreed that no man might in any wise
A Wooden, Stone, or Marble Cross tread on.
His days were sorrowfull. He's quickly gone.
Decreed that no man might in any wise
A Wooden, Stone, or Marble Cross tread on.
His days were sorrowfull. He's quickly gone.
The Church a headless stump five month abides.
Pelagius then the second backs her, strides
Her saddle, when by Longobards hem'd in
With's Cloake bag up behind him full of sin.
Saint Peters Church with silver tables gilt
With gold he trim'd: and other rich things bilt,
Out of th'Church doores his marrid Deacons thrust
If they their Wives out of their Doors don't just.
Pelagius then the second backs her, strides
Her saddle, when by Longobards hem'd in
With's Cloake bag up behind him full of sin.
Saint Peters Church with silver tables gilt
With gold he trim'd: and other rich things bilt,
Out of th'Church doores his marrid Deacons thrust
If they their Wives out of their Doors don't just.
Gregory the Greate the Popedom next doth ride
A fabulizer and by such up cride.
He's said to turn the Sacramentall bread
To flesh before the Eyes of all there fed,
And back again that flesh to bread: and when
He cut the bread the blood gusht out 'fore them
All to convince a woman that denide
Christ in his substance did therein reside
Not found in many things, yea weighti'st things.
For Merits, Purgatory, Pictures, brings
To pray to Saints and Angels. Marriage he
Some time would have Church men debard to bee,
But when his Fisher full six thousand soulls
Of Infants murderd from his fish ponds pulls
He did reverse his Bull and sighing say
Better to Wed than whore, then babes to slay.
The Spanish Arians, Sicils Manichees
And Alexandrian Agnoits straps with's keyes,
(Long keyes indeed or hung on a long string)
Locking them out of Church doores (Sin Checks Sin)
A Canoneer he was, whose Canons fly
Against the Brittains do, do them annoy.
Austin his Monck and monckish crew do land
In Thenet Ile whose superstitious hand
Gains Edelbert and's Queen to Romish stuff
And is Archbishop made at Dover huff,
Depriveth London where that seat was fixt,
And on the Churches now his wax is pitcht
He crowds up on them Altars, Images
Vests, Crosses, Masses, Bannars, Calices,
Censars and Candlesticks with sacred things
And Holy Waters, Pomps, Processionings,
Tiths, Offerings and Books of Roman Rites
And Ceremonies and such things (darke lights)
The Roman Pascha and their greasy Thumbs
With Cross in Baptism. The Anglish Crumbs
Of German Pagans him attend and own
For Bishop. But the Brittains Christians known
Converted first by Joseph Aramathe
And Choice Evangelists more to the Faith,
Still Grecian and the Asian Rites attend
Did him reject and his: his Rites Condemnd,
And did mentain their Liberties intire
Which made this Prelates Spirits all like fire,
And set the Saxons on their backs who slay
Twelve hundred of their Banchorans they say.
A fabulizer and by such up cride.
He's said to turn the Sacramentall bread
To flesh before the Eyes of all there fed,
And back again that flesh to bread: and when
He cut the bread the blood gusht out 'fore them
All to convince a woman that denide
Christ in his substance did therein reside
Not found in many things, yea weighti'st things.
For Merits, Purgatory, Pictures, brings
To pray to Saints and Angels. Marriage he
Some time would have Church men debard to bee,
But when his Fisher full six thousand soulls
Of Infants murderd from his fish ponds pulls
He did reverse his Bull and sighing say
Better to Wed than whore, then babes to slay.
The Spanish Arians, Sicils Manichees
And Alexandrian Agnoits straps with's keyes,
(Long keyes indeed or hung on a long string)
Locking them out of Church doores (Sin Checks Sin)
A Canoneer he was, whose Canons fly
Against the Brittains do, do them annoy.
Austin his Monck and monckish crew do land
In Thenet Ile whose superstitious hand
Gains Edelbert and's Queen to Romish stuff
And is Archbishop made at Dover huff,
Depriveth London where that seat was fixt,
And on the Churches now his wax is pitcht
He crowds up on them Altars, Images
Vests, Crosses, Masses, Bannars, Calices,
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And Holy Waters, Pomps, Processionings,
Tiths, Offerings and Books of Roman Rites
And Ceremonies and such things (darke lights)
The Roman Pascha and their greasy Thumbs
With Cross in Baptism. The Anglish Crumbs
Of German Pagans him attend and own
For Bishop. But the Brittains Christians known
Converted first by Joseph Aramathe
And Choice Evangelists more to the Faith,
Still Grecian and the Asian Rites attend
Did him reject and his: his Rites Condemnd,
And did mentain their Liberties intire
Which made this Prelates Spirits all like fire,
And set the Saxons on their backs who slay
Twelve hundred of their Banchorans they say.
But now to turn from Romish Dishwater
May we not hope to finde what the Relater
Delights to shew in other places done.
I to Constantinople therefore run
And here we finde such grudgings and like bran
As grieves a pious pen these stars to scan.
Tim Curst Chalcedon's Faith. John Cappadox
A Cruell Treacherous Muckworm and his Chaps
Did water for the Empire and did Call
A Synod, stiled it Ocumenicall.
May we not hope to finde what the Relater
Delights to shew in other places done.
I to Constantinople therefore run
And here we finde such grudgings and like bran
As grieves a pious pen these stars to scan.
Tim Curst Chalcedon's Faith. John Cappadox
A Cruell Treacherous Muckworm and his Chaps
Did water for the Empire and did Call
A Synod, stiled it Ocumenicall.
But to decline such swill Tubs, this is plain
The Writers pens now most are of such Vean
As pewk out Elves of such a monstrous sise
That Gibbits Faith, and Reason takes for lies.
A drop of Which my pen bibd up and grew
As Physickt, sick, and up again did't spew.
And for the reader's sake a drop or more
I now attempt to vomit as before.
The Writers pens now most are of such Vean
As pewk out Elves of such a monstrous sise
That Gibbits Faith, and Reason takes for lies.
A drop of Which my pen bibd up and grew
As Physickt, sick, and up again did't spew.
And for the reader's sake a drop or more
I now attempt to vomit as before.
I first will Call Saint Bridgit, th'Scottish wench
A bastard and a Witch, yet fame doth Quench
These things, for she in Man becomes a Nun,
Works Miracles, Rocks into Salt makes run
Restoreth Sight to one born blinde, she turnd
Water int'Ale, for Leprous beggars burnd
With thirst, and Ale too into Water 'gain
Nay as she prayd, an Angell also plain
Dictating stands, a scribenet penning it,
A Book was thus Compild and wholy writ.
A bastard and a Witch, yet fame doth Quench
These things, for she in Man becomes a Nun,
Works Miracles, Rocks into Salt makes run
Restoreth Sight to one born blinde, she turnd
Water int'Ale, for Leprous beggars burnd
With thirst, and Ale too into Water 'gain
Nay as she prayd, an Angell also plain
Dictating stands, a scribenet penning it,
A Book was thus Compild and wholy writ.
After this Nun, take Benedict the Monk,
(The Benedictine friers sprang from this stump.)
They say he raisd to life a young man killd
By falling of a Wall, A Vessell filld
With Oyle by prayer, a Dead man brought to life,
A Leper heald, a Countrey man through strife,
Bound by a Curst French Arian, loost as soon
As he beheld him, And by night, not noone,
Saw all the world, as in a Sun beame placde
And saw the soul of Germanus, once gracde
With Capua's Bishopprick, carried aright
By Angell up to heaven. Happy Weight.
(The Benedictine friers sprang from this stump.)
They say he raisd to life a young man killd
By falling of a Wall, A Vessell filld
With Oyle by prayer, a Dead man brought to life,
A Leper heald, a Countrey man through strife,
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As he beheld him, And by night, not noone,
Saw all the world, as in a Sun beame placde
And saw the soul of Germanus, once gracde
With Capua's Bishopprick, carried aright
By Angell up to heaven. Happy Weight.
Evagrius saith the godly Zosimus
Of Sind anigh to Tyre, when down did rush
Brave Antioch by Earth-Quakes, being in
Cesaria in Palestine, the din
Thereof did fill his eare, he down doth fall
Falls weeping, Offring Insense, told them all
Again, as going to Cesaria
A Lion slew and eate his Ass in th'way,
To whom he said he now must bare her load
For him: whereat the Lion in the road,
Came fawning to him, carrieth the same
Till in Cesaria's stately gates he Came.
Of Sind anigh to Tyre, when down did rush
Brave Antioch by Earth-Quakes, being in
Cesaria in Palestine, the din
Thereof did fill his eare, he down doth fall
Falls weeping, Offring Insense, told them all
Again, as going to Cesaria
A Lion slew and eate his Ass in th'way,
To whom he said he now must bare her load
For him: whereat the Lion in the road,
Came fawning to him, carrieth the same
Till in Cesaria's stately gates he Came.
That John who dwelt at Chuzica betwixt
Jerusalem and Jericho there fixt
Restord an Eye dasht out, took up again
Yea by a springe and laid it on the maim
And so it was restord thus by his skill
And piety. Believe it sirs who will.
Jerusalem and Jericho there fixt
Restord an Eye dasht out, took up again
Yea by a springe and laid it on the maim
And so it was restord thus by his skill
And piety. Believe it sirs who will.
When Anastase who then the Empire held
Had Macedonius by's Cutthroats killd
Nicephorus saith the dead man with his hand
Did sign himselfe with sign of th'Cross (O brand)
Appeard to one asleep and bad him tell
To Anastase, I to my Fathers fell.
But know thou, I cease not to pray untill
That thou stand shalt before that Bar which will
Not bribes receive, to strive with all his might
With all those judgments that shall on thee light.
Had Macedonius by's Cutthroats killd
Nicephorus saith the dead man with his hand
Did sign himselfe with sign of th'Cross (O brand)
Appeard to one asleep and bad him tell
To Anastase, I to my Fathers fell.
But know thou, I cease not to pray untill
That thou stand shalt before that Bar which will
Not bribes receive, to strive with all his might
With all those judgments that shall on thee light.
Nicetius born with sign of th'Cross, the King
Theodorick to Trevers seat doth bring,
Who sign'd three men possesst asleep with th'Cross
Who wakt, in Vomot did the fiende out toss
Cast out of one a Divell, who out cride
Within the temple loudly, (if not lide)
That King Theodobertus now was grown
A whoremonger. This Gregory Tours makes known.
Theodorick to Trevers seat doth bring,
Who sign'd three men possesst asleep with th'Cross
Who wakt, in Vomot did the fiende out toss
Cast out of one a Divell, who out cride
Within the temple loudly, (if not lide)
That King Theodobertus now was grown
A whoremonger. This Gregory Tours makes known.
Martyrius of Lycaonia
A monk whom Gregory the great doth sayHe walking forth to visit some doth finde
A leprous man in's way with deep wounds linde
With stinck all o're whom on his back he takes
And Carries whom, who from his back there makes
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Mankinds Redeemer, when of men he's known,
And quickly after in Martyrius' eye
He is cought up to heaven; thence doth cry
On earth thou wast not shamd to carry me
I'le not be shamde to heaven to beare thee
But where, Martyrius, hast thy burden left?
Who thus replide, What he had born and heaft
He felt no weight in while he jogging was
Strang thing if true. Here's monkery i'th mass.
A Priest of Centumcell in Italy
When he did bath a man unknown drew nigh
And waited on him, drew of hose and shoes
And kept them while he bathd, as Gregory shews,
And thus he often did untill at last
The Priest for to requite him did unhasp
His purse and gave him of their offerings
Two Crowns whereas his waiting man begins
With sorrow to reply, Its holy Bread,
I cannot eat it. Dominion had
Over this place, But for my faults am sent
Here after death to tend: But now Present
It unto God Almighty for mee, nay
And intercede thou for my sins I pray.
If thou prevailst, thou shalt not finde me here
This said the Spirit soon did disappeare.
The priest goes home and spends the week in prayers
To offer God the healthfull host ne'er spares.
Then going to the bath he doth not finde
His Waiting man. Oh! how's the Divell blind?
When he did bath a man unknown drew nigh
And waited on him, drew of hose and shoes
And kept them while he bathd, as Gregory shews,
And thus he often did untill at last
The Priest for to requite him did unhasp
His purse and gave him of their offerings
Two Crowns whereas his waiting man begins
With sorrow to reply, Its holy Bread,
I cannot eat it. Dominion had
Over this place, But for my faults am sent
Here after death to tend: But now Present
It unto God Almighty for mee, nay
And intercede thou for my sins I pray.
If thou prevailst, thou shalt not finde me here
This said the Spirit soon did disappeare.
The priest goes home and spends the week in prayers
To offer God the healthfull host ne'er spares.
Then going to the bath he doth not finde
His Waiting man. Oh! how's the Divell blind?
One Boniface Bishop of Ferra (sayes
Pope Gregory) when a Child the Corn convays
Out of his mothers storehouse and by prayer
Them filld again. And when a fox did bare
Away a hen, he brought the Fox again
And hen also by prayer Skip Pen for shame)
And when his Church full poore did find by haile
Their Vinyard of its graps were made to faile
His prayers increasd within their press their wine
To their abundance as in fruitfull time.
His words did kill a scorner at a feast,
And wanting mony for the poore, encreast
His prayers to god and found twelve lumps of gold
I'th'blessed Virgins temple we are told.
Two Goths that to Ravenna went, Cravd food,
He filld their Cask with wine which thus is shewd
To last so long as if there had been in
Their Vessell made a Constant bubbling spring.
Pope Gregory) when a Child the Corn convays
Out of his mothers storehouse and by prayer
Them filld again. And when a fox did bare
Away a hen, he brought the Fox again
And hen also by prayer Skip Pen for shame)
And when his Church full poore did find by haile
Their Vinyard of its graps were made to faile
His prayers increasd within their press their wine
To their abundance as in fruitfull time.
His words did kill a scorner at a feast,
And wanting mony for the poore, encreast
His prayers to god and found twelve lumps of gold
I'th'blessed Virgins temple we are told.
Two Goths that to Ravenna went, Cravd food,
He filld their Cask with wine which thus is shewd
To last so long as if there had been in
Their Vessell made a Constant bubbling spring.
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Pope Gregory gives this story of a jew
Going to Rome from Campany, nigh drew
To Appia when the night came on went in
Unto Apollo's Temple (oh choice thing)
That in the Descent at Fundana stood
Where Andrew Bishop was, he understood,
His heart misgiving him because the place
Was such, he signd himselfe with Cross. Oh grace,
And down he lies and naps it but his heart
Did flapper much: sets him the Watch mans part.
At midnight spies a troop of spirits vile
Assaile the place, and one above the Quoile
Of all the rest to whom they Baysence shewd,
Who tooke account what evry one persude
At length one out doth jump and doth relate
How he in Andrews bosom movde of late
Under the shape of th'Holy Woman fresh
A great Temptation taking to the flesh
Which that Cathedrall Don that did preside
Over the Rest attends with eares ope wide
And hath dropt there by him that yester night
I won the Bishop, said, the Subtile Weight,
That he began to flatter her. Whereto
The Chair Imp bad him with his game on go
And promisd him rewards above the rest,
Exhorting him the Bishop to molest.
The wakefull jew whose heart went pitti pat
Lay trembling, heard the Ape Cry thus who's that
Lies in the Temple, See, hence out one came
And seing him signd with the Cross cry'd plain
Vae, Vae Vas Vacuum, Signatum, too
And at that Cry a Way flies all the Crew.
The morning springs away, the Jew doth go
Relates the matter to the Bishop, who
Doth put away the woman and Converts
The Jew unto the Church, who now rejects
The world and in an holy pious guise
Devotes himselfe to spirituall exercise.
This true or no's a golden prop raist well
By Gregory's pen, for Crosses fixt by hell.
Going to Rome from Campany, nigh drew
To Appia when the night came on went in
Unto Apollo's Temple (oh choice thing)
That in the Descent at Fundana stood
Where Andrew Bishop was, he understood,
His heart misgiving him because the place
Was such, he signd himselfe with Cross. Oh grace,
And down he lies and naps it but his heart
Did flapper much: sets him the Watch mans part.
At midnight spies a troop of spirits vile
Assaile the place, and one above the Quoile
Of all the rest to whom they Baysence shewd,
Who tooke account what evry one persude
At length one out doth jump and doth relate
How he in Andrews bosom movde of late
Under the shape of th'Holy Woman fresh
A great Temptation taking to the flesh
Which that Cathedrall Don that did preside
Over the Rest attends with eares ope wide
And hath dropt there by him that yester night
I won the Bishop, said, the Subtile Weight,
That he began to flatter her. Whereto
The Chair Imp bad him with his game on go
And promisd him rewards above the rest,
Exhorting him the Bishop to molest.
The wakefull jew whose heart went pitti pat
Lay trembling, heard the Ape Cry thus who's that
Lies in the Temple, See, hence out one came
And seing him signd with the Cross cry'd plain
Vae, Vae Vas Vacuum, Signatum, too
And at that Cry a Way flies all the Crew.
The morning springs away, the Jew doth go
Relates the matter to the Bishop, who
Doth put away the woman and Converts
The Jew unto the Church, who now rejects
The world and in an holy pious guise
Devotes himselfe to spirituall exercise.
This true or no's a golden prop raist well
By Gregory's pen, for Crosses fixt by hell.
Gregory of Tours a worthy man indeed
A garden gay, yet not without a weed
Greate fables left, of whom men fables shew,
Who holding out the golden Cross if true
Onto a raging fire did quench the same
From Fortunatus Pen strange thing now came.
A garden gay, yet not without a weed
Greate fables left, of whom men fables shew,
Who holding out the golden Cross if true
Onto a raging fire did quench the same
From Fortunatus Pen strange thing now came.
Pope Gregory the great arch as the Rest
When a poor monk had horded in his Chest
Against his monkish rule three bits of gold
Bittrly bewaild it on his death bed, could
Not gain a Shriving from this Pope but hee
Gave a live --- to the old Boy, a Fee,
And dead did in a dung-hill bury him,
And's thunder bolts with lightning on him fling.
Thy mony Perish with thee. Yet at last
Thirty dayes after did amend this Cast:
He having thirty sacrifices spent
Upon him, fetcht from hell to Christ him sent,
Which he by plain Eye sight in vision saw
And also saw an Angell (Silly daugh)
Like to a ship wrack man that him endowd
To do such miracles as from him Crowd,
To wit that by his word he heald the sick
And Divills out of men possessed kick
To bring back roaguing monks: that th'nags that those
That followd them, sat on, the dens disclose
Where in these runawayes lay hid; He made
Divells that in the Arian Temple staid
Run out before the eyes of man and jog
Away appearing like a filthy hog.
The following day upon the Altar came
A Cloud that did the temple lamps enflame
And on a day when this plump pope did stand
About to pour out water on the hand
Of Certain guests, one vanished away
And in night vision following one did say
The other dayes, me in my members thou
Did entertain: but this myselfe ev'n now.
When a poor monk had horded in his Chest
153
Bittrly bewaild it on his death bed, could
Not gain a Shriving from this Pope but hee
Gave a live --- to the old Boy, a Fee,
And dead did in a dung-hill bury him,
And's thunder bolts with lightning on him fling.
Thy mony Perish with thee. Yet at last
Thirty dayes after did amend this Cast:
He having thirty sacrifices spent
Upon him, fetcht from hell to Christ him sent,
Which he by plain Eye sight in vision saw
And also saw an Angell (Silly daugh)
Like to a ship wrack man that him endowd
To do such miracles as from him Crowd,
To wit that by his word he heald the sick
And Divills out of men possessed kick
To bring back roaguing monks: that th'nags that those
That followd them, sat on, the dens disclose
Where in these runawayes lay hid; He made
Divells that in the Arian Temple staid
Run out before the eyes of man and jog
Away appearing like a filthy hog.
The following day upon the Altar came
A Cloud that did the temple lamps enflame
And on a day when this plump pope did stand
About to pour out water on the hand
Of Certain guests, one vanished away
And in night vision following one did say
The other dayes, me in my members thou
Did entertain: but this myselfe ev'n now.
Oh! strang delusions! How do these abound:
The underpining of their shifts unsound
As Mass and Purgatory, Crosses strange
Relicks and prayers and offrings that range
For dead mens souls, my pen doth blush to write?
But on Gods Patience. How doth it now slight.
These are a tast to 'low your realish more
I think would cloy: the rest shut out of doore.
The underpining of their shifts unsound
As Mass and Purgatory, Crosses strange
Relicks and prayers and offrings that range
For dead mens souls, my pen doth blush to write?
But on Gods Patience. How doth it now slight.
These are a tast to 'low your realish more
I think would cloy: the rest shut out of doore.
2 Heresies.
But Patience onely is not here abusde,By Errours Great or small, By slight Confusd
But if we Heresies set as a Glass
To view her face in as a longe we pass
Strange Glory standing in her face we should
Enamled spie like Gem embost in gold
The East and West, France, Italy and Spain
Affrick and Iland too near Arian-staine.
154
King Theodorick and his Queen, no less,
Clearch, Hyperick, Agapit in Court
Deuterius, And Anthemius in the fort
Constantinople had of Prelacy
King Thrasimund the Vandall, Lombardy
Leonigild, yea Lybeans beside
Their Faith have in the Arian blew pot dide.
They did assert the son of God to bee
Not of One Substance with the Father. He
No human soul enjoyes, that th'Holy Ghost
Is not God too. Which things are cursed most.
The Eutychean Heresie and swill
Shed first from Maniches bad Costerill
Denying Christ to take of Mary Blesst
Our Flesh: nor of the Father substance best
Endowed was: and from the selfe same egge
Sprang the Nestorian and Severian skeg,
That trumpetted tantarroe all about
That but one nature did in Christ stand out
Pelagians now infested England much,
Monothelites else where of such a smutch
As gives one will alone to Christ our Lord
Sadducees now sprung up above the board
And up with other sins false Christs arose
As Gregory Tours doth to all disclose,
The stories thus. One by his Witchcrafts vile
Of Biturick, went to cut Wood awhile
About whose back a swarm of flies appeares
He's thought to be a madde man for two years
And rambling o're the Cities neer, at last
He in the Contrey nigh to Arles is cast
Where Cloathd with Skins he as devout did fall
To pray're: and better to delude withall
Some say he had the Gift of Prophesy,
Hence to effect the richer Villany
He goes from thence, and enter doth the Coast
Of Gabala and here began the rost.
He now lets fly that he is Christ, and that
A Certain woman whom he took (a flat
Delusion) he doth style, vile wretch, now Mary:
Folke flock unto him now, not being wary.
They bring him Vestments, silver, much, and Gold,
He gives it to the poore, Oh Cheat most bold.
155
Sends few to heaven: Damns the most to hell,
By Divelish Arts and Witcheries out draws
More than three thousand that espouse his Cause,
Not onely Rusticks but of Priests also
And now he plundring falls and plunders throw
To such as want, Commands them to adore
Him. But the Bishops he did threaton sore
For to destroy because hee did dispare
That they would worship him or for him care.
And entring the bounds of Apella
He at the Chappells nigh with's rout did stay,
As Pitching's Camp as if he did intend
To fight Aurelius Bishop there: did send
His harauld 'fore him, naked, dancing there
And Playing, shewing that he coming were.
The Bishop startled is, sends dextrous men
Out to demant the meaning of him then
Of which an ancient man had who when he
Should bow to sweep the way and kiss his knee
Commanded to surprize him thus beguild
Without delay, which while this done, they boyld
With rage, do hack him all to pieces small:
Thus fell this Christ: and scatterd now are all
That with him came. His Mary too is Caught
(Whom they as part of his Godhead had taught)
And under tortures publickly declares
His Whimsies and his Witchcraffts and his snares:
The persons thus seducde by Divelish tricks
Never returnd into their perfect wits
But held him Christ, Mary a piece Divine
And many rose all France ore of this Crime
Bewitchd took Certain sorry women, who
Like maddmen raging did profess also
Them to be Saints: and made themselves to bee
Preferd as greate ones, whom saith Gregory wee
Behold and by rebukes endeavour do
To bring them from there errour Christ to know.
At Burdsaux another false Christ sprang
Which was uncasd, before he'd such a gange.
But if we put these things to gether do
We must adore Gods Patience for its show.
3. Superstition.
Now rub thine Eye and lend it mee and IWill take it in my hand, while I apply
Myselfe to search the Gardens of these times
To finde how superstitious Flowers did shine
Of Patience dorst upon each leafe With gold
In letters Capitall that it behold
The same may, then I will restore the same
To tell thy minde how brightest patience came.
156
Into the Basket fit for Men and Things
And Men it views with superstitions hug'd
Which are both Dead and Living, both thus Lugd.
Superstition about the Dead
This age hath got the knack to over Doe
The Law With Coffin and with Cradle too.
They Consecrate in France their burying place
And Wash their Dead and some with songs of Grace
Are had unto their Graves. Thus Chrotild Queen.
Some do their dead with Ornaments make seen
Wax Candles ore their Graves instead of Light
Are supplements to Eyes bereav'd of sight.
Glosvint another Queen lost by the Sun
Had such a globe of Light over her hung.
And yet this apish age delights to tare
The Dead out of their tombs to give them aire.
Saint Martins bones, Saint Julians too up turn'd
And in Saint Martins Church at Tours are urnd.
Saint Antony the Monk out of his grave
They summon Alexandria to save
Euphemia's relicks in a Marble bowle
Chacidon keeps as body beds the Soule
And Stephens Reliques being founde by Chance
Are had about and unto Rome do dance.
Elisha's bones in Alexandria
And Barnabas his Body found they say
With th'Gospell by his own hand pend are brought
In such a brightness there to rest its thought.
Pope Gregory sends a Little key found in
Peter th'Apostles Corps unto the King
Richard Wisigoth, having within't
Some of his Chain, what doth his headship think?
Also a Cross with some of Christs Cross wood
And of John Baptists hair in't, Not his hood.
Byzants brave Temple in a golden pot
The Virgins Vest, Vaile, Girdle too hath got
Nay Gregory the Great that bears that style
Not undeservedly Can't Choose but smile
Finding a spring of Holy Relicks lies
In's Holy Throne stopt by his bum out flies
When up again when's brich hath it enfumde
And raised by the breath that thence presum'de
Hence Saint Johns Coat, Pauls Chain his neck did ware
And Handkerchiefs, Nay Coate, Hood Chaine rich fair,
Of Peter fall into his hands. More still
A Bunch of Keyes found out by pritty skill
In Peters sacred Body put in's hand
And he profuse thereof (as matters stand)
Sends eight thereof as tokens rich to those
He honourd much. Sure Peter wealthy shows
He had so many Keyes: or hungry were
And had good teeth, or broake them out, I fear,
Or had a mighty swallow t'live on steel
Or kept a locksmith in his secret keele
He had so many keyes within. I thinke
His Holiness lest he should wronge his Clink
Kept most himselfe, or one the best of all,
Lest that his Fatherhood should from him fall.
The Law With Coffin and with Cradle too.
They Consecrate in France their burying place
And Wash their Dead and some with songs of Grace
Are had unto their Graves. Thus Chrotild Queen.
Some do their dead with Ornaments make seen
Wax Candles ore their Graves instead of Light
Are supplements to Eyes bereav'd of sight.
Glosvint another Queen lost by the Sun
Had such a globe of Light over her hung.
And yet this apish age delights to tare
The Dead out of their tombs to give them aire.
Saint Martins bones, Saint Julians too up turn'd
And in Saint Martins Church at Tours are urnd.
Saint Antony the Monk out of his grave
They summon Alexandria to save
Euphemia's relicks in a Marble bowle
Chacidon keeps as body beds the Soule
And Stephens Reliques being founde by Chance
Are had about and unto Rome do dance.
Elisha's bones in Alexandria
And Barnabas his Body found they say
With th'Gospell by his own hand pend are brought
In such a brightness there to rest its thought.
Pope Gregory sends a Little key found in
Peter th'Apostles Corps unto the King
Richard Wisigoth, having within't
Some of his Chain, what doth his headship think?
Also a Cross with some of Christs Cross wood
And of John Baptists hair in't, Not his hood.
Byzants brave Temple in a golden pot
The Virgins Vest, Vaile, Girdle too hath got
Nay Gregory the Great that bears that style
Not undeservedly Can't Choose but smile
Finding a spring of Holy Relicks lies
In's Holy Throne stopt by his bum out flies
When up again when's brich hath it enfumde
And raised by the breath that thence presum'de
Hence Saint Johns Coat, Pauls Chain his neck did ware
And Handkerchiefs, Nay Coate, Hood Chaine rich fair,
Of Peter fall into his hands. More still
A Bunch of Keyes found out by pritty skill
157
And he profuse thereof (as matters stand)
Sends eight thereof as tokens rich to those
He honourd much. Sure Peter wealthy shows
He had so many Keyes: or hungry were
And had good teeth, or broake them out, I fear,
Or had a mighty swallow t'live on steel
Or kept a locksmith in his secret keele
He had so many keyes within. I thinke
His Holiness lest he should wronge his Clink
Kept most himselfe, or one the best of all,
Lest that his Fatherhood should from him fall.
But leaving dead mens bones a stincking stuff
We finde them trick their shaddows out enough
In Colours fair and picturde upon Walls
Of Temples and Pope Gregory out balls
At one good man that brake them down for fear
Lest they proove shooing horns of sinfull geer.
We finde them trick their shaddows out enough
In Colours fair and picturde upon Walls
Of Temples and Pope Gregory out balls
At one good man that brake them down for fear
Lest they proove shooing horns of sinfull geer.
But to attend the soule that left behinde
The shell for Worms, This age hath it injoyn'd
To Call at Purgatory in its way
And all its Counts to just, and recknings pay.
A count is dropt of two arch Linguist-Nuns
From Gregorys Quill that Benit quickly thums
Out of the Church: They die Extraniate
And buri'd in the Church when feld by fate.
The Deacon at Comunion time thus spake
Let such depart that are not to partake
These buride Linguists hearing up arise
And trudg away, the which their nurse espies
And hints it Benit. He her bread gave she
Doth Offerings make for them: and stilld they bee.
The Centumcellan Ghost by prayers and Mass
Him gave from Purgatory fire a pass.
The shell for Worms, This age hath it injoyn'd
To Call at Purgatory in its way
And all its Counts to just, and recknings pay.
A count is dropt of two arch Linguist-Nuns
From Gregorys Quill that Benit quickly thums
Out of the Church: They die Extraniate
And buri'd in the Church when feld by fate.
The Deacon at Comunion time thus spake
Let such depart that are not to partake
These buride Linguists hearing up arise
And trudg away, the which their nurse espies
And hints it Benit. He her bread gave she
Doth Offerings make for them: and stilld they bee.
The Centumcellan Ghost by prayers and Mass
Him gave from Purgatory fire a pass.
And such as are by Prayer and mass away
From Purgatory halld as wracks by sea
Are with a rope, when got to heaven bright
Are made to bee small Gods with no small might.
Now prayers are pourd out in their Cup and they
Must friends in th'Court their purses penny stay
Thodeliad makes John Baptist's Temple fair
That she and th'Longbards might injoy his prayer
And Intercession unto Christ. Now Cries
Of Lombards pray'res his Worthy ears annoyes
Hence prayers to Saints and Angells do throng in
Making them Inter-Cessors to our king:
And prayers are made hereby at this rich day
At Dead mens Graves. Oh! Stincking sent this way.
John Baptists day, Peters and Andrews too
Pauls, Cyprians, Felix, from their eggs now flew
The Ladie-Dayes now bud Justinian
And Maurice hatcht them. Now also up sprang
The Lenton feast and the Rogation day
By Mamert of Vien, Alcame doth say.
From Purgatory halld as wracks by sea
Are with a rope, when got to heaven bright
Are made to bee small Gods with no small might.
Now prayers are pourd out in their Cup and they
Must friends in th'Court their purses penny stay
Thodeliad makes John Baptist's Temple fair
That she and th'Longbards might injoy his prayer
And Intercession unto Christ. Now Cries
Of Lombards pray'res his Worthy ears annoyes
Hence prayers to Saints and Angells do throng in
Making them Inter-Cessors to our king:
And prayers are made hereby at this rich day
At Dead mens Graves. Oh! Stincking sent this way.
John Baptists day, Peters and Andrews too
Pauls, Cyprians, Felix, from their eggs now flew
The Ladie-Dayes now bud Justinian
And Maurice hatcht them. Now also up sprang
The Lenton feast and the Rogation day
By Mamert of Vien, Alcame doth say.
158
Superstition about the Living.
But come we now unto the Living, seeThem superstition hugs, as ivy th'tree
As soon as e're they peep into the World
They're in the arms of superstition hirld.
The idoll Cross is printed in their brow
Though not first usd, yet found in use grown now.
But touching it, these days first ground this grist
Of Babtism by any monkish fist
They did baptiz and Cross but might not soile
Their forheads as Archbishops did with oyle
The Woman too must Churched be therefore
That she may freely enter the Church doore
And Holy Water too they kept, its said,
By Gregory Tours, in Martins Chappell made
And otherwhere. And holy Oyle to smeere
The sick therewith, and such as feeble were
And if once slide strange Penance is the fine
As Genebaud of Laudune Church the prime
Must seven years Penance in a sell attend
Because he marride was, and so all mend.
And other that was staind with Patricide
Must to Saints places choice ore Seven years stride.
Superstition about things.
But now its full high day to dig for Springs
This age allows of superstitious Things.
Now garnisht Temples blossom out apace
And Consecrated are to Saints. What grace?
Peter and Paul, John, Andrew, Mark and Mary
Philip and Jacoss Stephen, though not Clary
Are templeizd and multitudes beside
In ery place, as once were Deifide
By Pagans, Jupiter, Diana, Mars,
Apollo, Juno, Venus, Vulcan, Scarce
Any that did Excell but have and by
A Temple consecrate had to enjoy
Their Godhead in, bearing the name to Whom
It's dedicated, just so things now come
Onely the Idols name is now a Saints
Saint Johns, Saint Peters, Temple. What Complaints.
Pope Symachus, Poore Peter, did up build
Saint Andrews Church with ornaments up filld,
A Silver Shed, and Confessory too
Whose Pension unto sixscore libra'es grew,
And silver Arches of three Pensionists
Each one did of full twenty pounds Consist.
An Oratory for Confession, and
An Arch unto Saint Thomas Church did hand
Them all of Silver and to them doth lay
A Pension full of twenty pounds in pay.
A Silver Arch, and Pension of the Sum
That fully doth to sixteen libra's come.
A silver rich Confessory for these
Saint Cassion, Procus, Jacinth, having fees
Of twenty Pounds: A silver Arch also
With Pension that of twelve pounds worth doth goe.
A Silver Arch and Confessory gay
Of Saint Apollinaries and did lay
A pension to't of thirty pounds well made,
Unto Saint Sofies Confessory laid
A Pension of full twenty silver pounds,
Also Saint Peters Font, and (as it sounds)
The holy Crosses Confessory, such
Of Silver, and a Cross of Gold set much
With Gems that hath of Christ Cross wood therein
This golden Cross ten libra's to it cling.
Two Confessories for th'two Scripture Johns
Having their Arches Silver (thanks good Dons)
He built even from the ground their Lodgens all,
And them compleatly whether great or small.
He garnist Peters Church with marbles ore
Unto the very handles of the doore,
He richly did adorn its Quadriportch
With Marble and Mosaick Worke, brave Church.
Hormisda on Saint Peters did bestow
A silver beam that did amount unto
Full fifteen hundred pound. Justin, Clodove
And other Princes their rich gifts out drove
Unto these Temples, Gems and Pretious Ware,
Six silver Cans, ten silver Bowles rich fare
Hormisda did adorn this with and now
Saint Peter wares a silver Beard and brow.
I weary am to shew the pomp and shew
They in their Consecrating these out threw
Accordingly Baptistories they have
The most without, yet now Honorius grave
Of Tarentine first heav'd them ore the sill.
These Consecrated are with oyly skill.
Now Consecrated Tables Altarizd
And Consecrated Cups are idolizd.
To name the Super of the Lord is rare
Its metamorphosd. Mass is all the fare.
The Super of our Lord it hath tript up
Making't a Trolly-Lolly bit or supt.
Communion Table Cloaths, Mass I should say
They Consecrate. Call Corporalls do they
On which they set the Host (the Cup and Bread)
And make't a sacrifice for Quick and Dead
A Charm or Spell to Cast out Divells though
The Divell rather's in't, than outed so.
Vigetius Pope decreed they should not say
The Words of Consecration but when lay
The Sacrifice upon the Altar there
That's Consecrate in holy Vestment cleare,
And with a mumbling voice whereas before
That all might learn a loud voice up they bore
Hence once as Gygas saith, upon a Stone
The Priest ridiculously set alone
The Bread now in the Camp ore which he said
The Consecrating Words, and it was made
Transubstantiate, and now before them all
Mans bloody flesh appeard, they down do fall
Destroyde by God, and if he do not ly
With mass they now the dead mans mouth do cloy.
This is the May day of Monasteries
Wherein they blossomd: from their shell arise
Like Hemlock budding forth from Banchor Schoole
Converted thus, grew big, and on the stoole
Papoose Monasteries teemd all Europe ore,
France, Germany, and the Italian floor
Scotland, and Ireland. Whence Monks like flyes
Or Ants from molehills and vaild Nuns arise.
Thanks Congill for this Egge. Wee pick it still:
It yieldeth Abby-Lubbers, Dick and Will.
This age allows of superstitious Things.
Now garnisht Temples blossom out apace
And Consecrated are to Saints. What grace?
Peter and Paul, John, Andrew, Mark and Mary
Philip and Jacoss Stephen, though not Clary
Are templeizd and multitudes beside
In ery place, as once were Deifide
By Pagans, Jupiter, Diana, Mars,
Apollo, Juno, Venus, Vulcan, Scarce
Any that did Excell but have and by
A Temple consecrate had to enjoy
Their Godhead in, bearing the name to Whom
It's dedicated, just so things now come
Onely the Idols name is now a Saints
Saint Johns, Saint Peters, Temple. What Complaints.
Pope Symachus, Poore Peter, did up build
Saint Andrews Church with ornaments up filld,
A Silver Shed, and Confessory too
Whose Pension unto sixscore libra'es grew,
And silver Arches of three Pensionists
Each one did of full twenty pounds Consist.
An Oratory for Confession, and
An Arch unto Saint Thomas Church did hand
159
A Pension full of twenty pounds in pay.
A Silver Arch, and Pension of the Sum
That fully doth to sixteen libra's come.
A silver rich Confessory for these
Saint Cassion, Procus, Jacinth, having fees
Of twenty Pounds: A silver Arch also
With Pension that of twelve pounds worth doth goe.
A Silver Arch and Confessory gay
Of Saint Apollinaries and did lay
A pension to't of thirty pounds well made,
Unto Saint Sofies Confessory laid
A Pension of full twenty silver pounds,
Also Saint Peters Font, and (as it sounds)
The holy Crosses Confessory, such
Of Silver, and a Cross of Gold set much
With Gems that hath of Christ Cross wood therein
This golden Cross ten libra's to it cling.
Two Confessories for th'two Scripture Johns
Having their Arches Silver (thanks good Dons)
He built even from the ground their Lodgens all,
And them compleatly whether great or small.
He garnist Peters Church with marbles ore
Unto the very handles of the doore,
He richly did adorn its Quadriportch
With Marble and Mosaick Worke, brave Church.
Hormisda on Saint Peters did bestow
A silver beam that did amount unto
Full fifteen hundred pound. Justin, Clodove
And other Princes their rich gifts out drove
Unto these Temples, Gems and Pretious Ware,
Six silver Cans, ten silver Bowles rich fare
Hormisda did adorn this with and now
Saint Peter wares a silver Beard and brow.
I weary am to shew the pomp and shew
They in their Consecrating these out threw
Accordingly Baptistories they have
The most without, yet now Honorius grave
Of Tarentine first heav'd them ore the sill.
These Consecrated are with oyly skill.
Now Consecrated Tables Altarizd
And Consecrated Cups are idolizd.
To name the Super of the Lord is rare
Its metamorphosd. Mass is all the fare.
The Super of our Lord it hath tript up
Making't a Trolly-Lolly bit or supt.
Communion Table Cloaths, Mass I should say
They Consecrate. Call Corporalls do they
On which they set the Host (the Cup and Bread)
And make't a sacrifice for Quick and Dead
160
The Divell rather's in't, than outed so.
Vigetius Pope decreed they should not say
The Words of Consecration but when lay
The Sacrifice upon the Altar there
That's Consecrate in holy Vestment cleare,
And with a mumbling voice whereas before
That all might learn a loud voice up they bore
Hence once as Gygas saith, upon a Stone
The Priest ridiculously set alone
The Bread now in the Camp ore which he said
The Consecrating Words, and it was made
Transubstantiate, and now before them all
Mans bloody flesh appeard, they down do fall
Destroyde by God, and if he do not ly
With mass they now the dead mans mouth do cloy.
This is the May day of Monasteries
Wherein they blossomd: from their shell arise
Like Hemlock budding forth from Banchor Schoole
Converted thus, grew big, and on the stoole
Papoose Monasteries teemd all Europe ore,
France, Germany, and the Italian floor
Scotland, and Ireland. Whence Monks like flyes
Or Ants from molehills and vaild Nuns arise.
Thanks Congill for this Egge. Wee pick it still:
It yieldeth Abby-Lubbers, Dick and Will.
But to return unto the Temple doores
Behold they're Clencht with nails and keyd up ore
With greate and many Gifts. Here wait also
A Worship kankered all which doth grow
Up into Massings, Singings, Exorcisms
To pulverisings, Oylings, Candlisms,
And such rare hits, however matters Chance,
As are such jigs at which the Divells dance.
Wax-Candle prayers, And holy dayes a Swarm
Embers, Rogations, Lents Fast-feast, still-storm.
Church wakes which first Greate Gregory up hoighted
And Candlemass Vigilius pope first lighted
A Rout of Ceremonies strange far more
Than ever could be reckend for good store.
Behold they're Clencht with nails and keyd up ore
With greate and many Gifts. Here wait also
A Worship kankered all which doth grow
Up into Massings, Singings, Exorcisms
To pulverisings, Oylings, Candlisms,
And such rare hits, however matters Chance,
As are such jigs at which the Divells dance.
Wax-Candle prayers, And holy dayes a Swarm
Embers, Rogations, Lents Fast-feast, still-storm.
Church wakes which first Greate Gregory up hoighted
And Candlemass Vigilius pope first lighted
A Rout of Ceremonies strange far more
Than ever could be reckend for good store.
Nay ornaments of Silver and of Gold
And Costly Pearls these play houses do hold.
Our Saviours Image ---ther of his Clay
They stow the Temples with, and worship lay
Upon it too. The Virgin Mary stands
Impictur'd here by image mongers hands.
Peter and Paul are made Church images
By such as say thy are their linages,
And pictures too of other Saints and such
Esteemed so, though haply filld with smutch.
Tapers give light, doctors Rush Candles pink
Perfumes arise, things otherwise much stinke.
White surplices, Albs, and Dalmaticks White
Church Chests with iron band made strong and tite
Are all inricht with here they rest in ease:
(For blackness else doth most attend Church keyes)
These Temples, though they steeples now have filld
With Jack daughs nests to much, It's spring: they build:
Yet richly are enlinde, through superst'tion
With Kings and Princes Guifts, with larg addition.
Justinian sent to John the second Pope
A Golden Crown with Gems stuck in't (a Rope)!
Two Silver Bowls: two silver shining Cups,
For Peters sake. The Fishers Coate off puts.
Brave Belissarius sent a Golden Cross
Adornd with Gems most Pretious (wealthy loss)
In honour of Saint Peters name, Unto
Vigilius, How glorious Temples grow?
The Picture of our Saviour was so rich
Set in a Temple that it did bewitch
A jew to play the thiefe and steale the same
Whose pay, they say, upon his head soon came
In vomiting of blood untill he dide,
And if our Oracle don't us misguide
Mauricius set a stately Diadem
Made by his Emporess and Justins Hen
Namde Sophie wrought by all exquisite Art
Up in the Church. Pelagius did his part
Who garnisht brave thy body, Peters fold,
With Silver Tables richly guilt with gold.
The Emporess Justinians Ladie sent
A Golden Cross stuck full of Pearls in prent,
To Sergius' Temple where rich jewells Chest
In Sergiople Birds of Choisest Crest
Chosross the Father Persia's king gaind this
When he besieg'd the town, but failes of bliss.
His grand son in distress to Sergius prayes
And hath success, his pagan vows he payes
To Sergius, sends back this rich Cross again
With other monuments then tooke --- th'same
Also another welthy golden Cross
Which he with glorious jewells rich did boss
Having his name bravely ingravd therein
And reason shewing why he did this thing
And shortly after other royall gifts
For answering his prayer, which he up lifts
Unto him that his Sira might have Child
A Golden Cross three hundred pounds weight stild,
Five thousand statures more of gold to make
A Dish, Cup, Cross and Censer, to attake
The service of his Table with, and to
Guild ore a Unicorn in open show
And other necessaries: and he sent
A royall Dish of Gold wherein in prent
Stood graven cleare his name and Cause wherefore
He did the martyre Sergius adore,
And deems himselfe an Happy man to have
His name engrav'de in these rich Vessells brave.
Now though this Pagan king did Idolize
This Sergius, in whose Cloake the Serpent joyes
Yet Gregory thy Bishop Antioch
Receives the same of Maurice (Demons joke)
Doth in great shew of solemness repare
To Sergius' Temple, where they stowed are.
And Costly Pearls these play houses do hold.
Our Saviours Image ---ther of his Clay
They stow the Temples with, and worship lay
Upon it too. The Virgin Mary stands
Impictur'd here by image mongers hands.
Peter and Paul are made Church images
By such as say thy are their linages,
161
Esteemed so, though haply filld with smutch.
Tapers give light, doctors Rush Candles pink
Perfumes arise, things otherwise much stinke.
White surplices, Albs, and Dalmaticks White
Church Chests with iron band made strong and tite
Are all inricht with here they rest in ease:
(For blackness else doth most attend Church keyes)
These Temples, though they steeples now have filld
With Jack daughs nests to much, It's spring: they build:
Yet richly are enlinde, through superst'tion
With Kings and Princes Guifts, with larg addition.
Justinian sent to John the second Pope
A Golden Crown with Gems stuck in't (a Rope)!
Two Silver Bowls: two silver shining Cups,
For Peters sake. The Fishers Coate off puts.
Brave Belissarius sent a Golden Cross
Adornd with Gems most Pretious (wealthy loss)
In honour of Saint Peters name, Unto
Vigilius, How glorious Temples grow?
The Picture of our Saviour was so rich
Set in a Temple that it did bewitch
A jew to play the thiefe and steale the same
Whose pay, they say, upon his head soon came
In vomiting of blood untill he dide,
And if our Oracle don't us misguide
Mauricius set a stately Diadem
Made by his Emporess and Justins Hen
Namde Sophie wrought by all exquisite Art
Up in the Church. Pelagius did his part
Who garnisht brave thy body, Peters fold,
With Silver Tables richly guilt with gold.
The Emporess Justinians Ladie sent
A Golden Cross stuck full of Pearls in prent,
To Sergius' Temple where rich jewells Chest
In Sergiople Birds of Choisest Crest
Chosross the Father Persia's king gaind this
When he besieg'd the town, but failes of bliss.
His grand son in distress to Sergius prayes
And hath success, his pagan vows he payes
To Sergius, sends back this rich Cross again
With other monuments then tooke --- th'same
Also another welthy golden Cross
Which he with glorious jewells rich did boss
Having his name bravely ingravd therein
And reason shewing why he did this thing
And shortly after other royall gifts
For answering his prayer, which he up lifts
Unto him that his Sira might have Child
A Golden Cross three hundred pounds weight stild,
162
A Dish, Cup, Cross and Censer, to attake
The service of his Table with, and to
Guild ore a Unicorn in open show
And other necessaries: and he sent
A royall Dish of Gold wherein in prent
Stood graven cleare his name and Cause wherefore
He did the martyre Sergius adore,
And deems himselfe an Happy man to have
His name engrav'de in these rich Vessells brave.
Now though this Pagan king did Idolize
This Sergius, in whose Cloake the Serpent joyes
Yet Gregory thy Bishop Antioch
Receives the same of Maurice (Demons joke)
Doth in great shew of solemness repare
To Sergius' Temple, where they stowed are.
But to proceed no fur in this greate shine
Of gold and silver glory Pearld most fine
Fit to be idolizd and to display
Attracting beams that pullice men this way
As by this Pagan Prince is manifest
Who put his trust and pray'rs up in the Chest
Of silver which the Dust of Sergius urnd
Who though to Sergius, ne're to Jesus turnd.
Accordingly you have it storid, when
The first Chosroes Antioch burnt and then
Came to Apamea, the people pray
Thomas their Bishop bring the Cross that they
Esteeming it their onely safety now
Their lives under its shaddow down may bow
And have its Company when hence they go
He brings it out: they do about it flow.
And as he flourisht it in open sight
It is attended with a glorious light
Of a greate flame like to a shining fire
That did him follow as he did retire
From place to place, this done was many times
Its said their safty followed these shines,
Whose picture in their Temples roofe was made
And under it in writing all display'd.
Of gold and silver glory Pearld most fine
Fit to be idolizd and to display
Attracting beams that pullice men this way
As by this Pagan Prince is manifest
Who put his trust and pray'rs up in the Chest
Of silver which the Dust of Sergius urnd
Who though to Sergius, ne're to Jesus turnd.
Accordingly you have it storid, when
The first Chosroes Antioch burnt and then
Came to Apamea, the people pray
Thomas their Bishop bring the Cross that they
Esteeming it their onely safety now
Their lives under its shaddow down may bow
And have its Company when hence they go
He brings it out: they do about it flow.
And as he flourisht it in open sight
It is attended with a glorious light
Of a greate flame like to a shining fire
That did him follow as he did retire
From place to place, this done was many times
Its said their safty followed these shines,
Whose picture in their Temples roofe was made
And under it in writing all display'd.
So Anatolius at Antioch
A varlat vile when he did God provoke
Tiberius the Emperor inquires
Into his crimes. He to the jayle retires
Unto the Virgin Maries image hung
Up there, in prayer with hands lift up did run
Which as they say did turn away from him
As scorning to face such a man of Sin.
When Childabert the French king did besiege
Cesaraugusta, th'Spaniards did proceed
And in sad robes with mourning great did round
With dust upon their heads the Citie bound
About with walls, and with them bore about
Saint Vincents Coate to give the French a rout.
They sing and say their prayres at midnight in
The Temple and their Letonies they bring
Upon the desk: Maurice the Emperour
Did bearfoot come hereto, and veater far
Gregory of Tours when one lay sick surprizd
By a sharp fever, goes, good man advisde
And prayes at Mammies Sepulchre who were
At Catalaun once Bishop, worthy geere.
Gregory the Pope one of the best Divines
These dayes afford, the matter thus defines
That Images are lay mens books, wherefore
He pleads for such as pray at and adore
Before our Saviours Image, they don't pray
Unto it as a God, but in this way,
The Picture doth as Scripture make Gods Son
Into our memory most aptly run:
And with his resurrection joys our minde
Or with his passion swage them as we finde.
A varlat vile when he did God provoke
Tiberius the Emperor inquires
Into his crimes. He to the jayle retires
Unto the Virgin Maries image hung
Up there, in prayer with hands lift up did run
Which as they say did turn away from him
As scorning to face such a man of Sin.
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Cesaraugusta, th'Spaniards did proceed
And in sad robes with mourning great did round
With dust upon their heads the Citie bound
About with walls, and with them bore about
Saint Vincents Coate to give the French a rout.
They sing and say their prayres at midnight in
The Temple and their Letonies they bring
Upon the desk: Maurice the Emperour
Did bearfoot come hereto, and veater far
Gregory of Tours when one lay sick surprizd
By a sharp fever, goes, good man advisde
And prayes at Mammies Sepulchre who were
At Catalaun once Bishop, worthy geere.
Gregory the Pope one of the best Divines
These dayes afford, the matter thus defines
That Images are lay mens books, wherefore
He pleads for such as pray at and adore
Before our Saviours Image, they don't pray
Unto it as a God, but in this way,
The Picture doth as Scripture make Gods Son
Into our memory most aptly run:
And with his resurrection joys our minde
Or with his passion swage them as we finde.
Oh superstition! Wither dost thou still
The God provoking droppings of thy Quill.
Such dawbings and such ditchy doing are
Enough to make a fever burn the aire
And while such things take place revenge would plow
Up all by roots. But Patience at this slough
Doth plough her Cheeks so fast with showers of Tears
That quench her firy sparkes and wash as 't 'pears,
Her own pale looks therewith untill she stand
All beautifull: behold her lovely hand.
The God provoking droppings of thy Quill.
Such dawbings and such ditchy doing are
Enough to make a fever burn the aire
And while such things take place revenge would plow
Up all by roots. But Patience at this slough
Doth plough her Cheeks so fast with showers of Tears
That quench her firy sparkes and wash as 't 'pears,
Her own pale looks therewith untill she stand
All beautifull: behold her lovely hand.
4 Schisms
Patience must beare the weight upon her back
Of Prelates Pride and Shisms till it crack
Whose Spirits fly like fire-Balls sulphurizde
And with an hellish blast so sublimisde
They 'to't go tooth and naile whose kiln dride ire
Breaks out in rapid flames and all enfire.
Of Prelates Pride and Shisms till it crack
Whose Spirits fly like fire-Balls sulphurizde
And with an hellish blast so sublimisde
They 'to't go tooth and naile whose kiln dride ire
Breaks out in rapid flames and all enfire.
In Anastasius his rain, a grievous Rent
Was in the Churches West, and Orient.
Some stoode so stiffe to Chalcidons decree
No sylable therein must bated bee
With Leo's Tome. And on the other hand
Synod and Tome Anathemaes have damnd.
Another Cause hereof the Letters were
Henotick Zeno sent of peacefull geere
Which some approovde. Some deemd these buskins poore
And no way fit to shut Dissention's doore.
Hence East and West and Libya's Churches rise
And break off Fellowship like Enemies.
Was in the Churches West, and Orient.
Some stoode so stiffe to Chalcidons decree
No sylable therein must bated bee
164
Synod and Tome Anathemaes have damnd.
Another Cause hereof the Letters were
Henotick Zeno sent of peacefull geere
Which some approovde. Some deemd these buskins poore
And no way fit to shut Dissention's doore.
Hence East and West and Libya's Churches rise
And break off Fellowship like Enemies.
Another shism rose at Byzant who
Explode what Alexandria's Church did do
Which for Dioscorus upstood unwise
And Chalcedon did Anathematize.
Explode what Alexandria's Church did do
Which for Dioscorus upstood unwise
And Chalcedon did Anathematize.
Now Zeneas the Hieropolitan
Doth Flavian vex, the Antiochian,
Doth Charge him with Nestorian Heresy:
Which he anathemating prov'd a ly.
But Xeneaus, a man full turbulent
When this string faild, unto another went
And still unto another, (envies rich
Of wiliness) untill he'd got a squitch
That whipt into exile good Flavian
And John of Plate also that worthy man,
Constantinople's Macedonius
As we assert it from Evagrius.
Doth Flavian vex, the Antiochian,
Doth Charge him with Nestorian Heresy:
Which he anathemating prov'd a ly.
But Xeneaus, a man full turbulent
When this string faild, unto another went
And still unto another, (envies rich
Of wiliness) untill he'd got a squitch
That whipt into exile good Flavian
And John of Plate also that worthy man,
Constantinople's Macedonius
As we assert it from Evagrius.
At Antioch Severus who arose
From petifoging to a Monke, is chose
Their Bishop, who Chalcedons Faith destroyes
He all good men doth anathematize
Who held Christs nature Humane and Divine.
Some Bishops under him to him encline
Some he compells to yield who after Cry
Pecca vimus and others else where fly
Jerusalems grave bishop him withstands
Cosmas, Orontes, and Severian.
From petifoging to a Monke, is chose
Their Bishop, who Chalcedons Faith destroyes
He all good men doth anathematize
Who held Christs nature Humane and Divine.
Some Bishops under him to him encline
Some he compells to yield who after Cry
Pecca vimus and others else where fly
Jerusalems grave bishop him withstands
Cosmas, Orontes, and Severian.
The Emprour Anastase causd in the Hymn
Trisegion the Quiristers to sing
Who for us Crucifide was as if thus
The Trinity was Crucifide for us
Which Macedonius full Orthodox
As strange to Christian Doctrine gave a box.
A Schism's made, the factious hire greate strength
Come in the Temple singing out in length
Trisagion who for's was Crucifide
The next Lords day they th'great Church thus annoy'de.
Now bloody noses grow, they take a monk
Chop off his head concluding that he stunk
Of all this mischiefe, thus the matter came
To fire and Sword, the Emperour a main
Came to the Hipodromy left his Crown
And by his Harauld sounds he doth lay down
His Empire, hence they sheath their swords and cease
And pray he would retain his Crown in peace.
Trisegion the Quiristers to sing
Who for us Crucifide was as if thus
The Trinity was Crucifide for us
Which Macedonius full Orthodox
As strange to Christian Doctrine gave a box.
A Schism's made, the factious hire greate strength
Come in the Temple singing out in length
Trisagion who for's was Crucifide
The next Lords day they th'great Church thus annoy'de.
Now bloody noses grow, they take a monk
Chop off his head concluding that he stunk
165
To fire and Sword, the Emperour a main
Came to the Hipodromy left his Crown
And by his Harauld sounds he doth lay down
His Empire, hence they sheath their swords and cease
And pray he would retain his Crown in peace.
Rome tore her Church to bits: a Senator
Namde Festus, bribes the Church whose silver bar
Thus pitcht, doth pitch the vote on Laurence who
Not pleasing some: Some Deacons votes bestow
On Symmac us, ordain him Bishop: and
Thus to't they go to boxing slaughter, stand
To't stoutly, Ravishings and rapine rage
Full three years going for the bishops stage
Peace Child: its Peters Chair and Heir, yet see
How Name and Nature in this Pope agree
True Child though all's as black as coals we trow
Peters Chair vertue whiteneth the Crow.
King Theodorick of an Arian Face
Is made the judge of Peter and his Case,
Who finding in his Quest the better part
For Symmachus, he easeth them their smart,
Stows Peters Chair with him. And doth assign
Laurence the Bishoprick of Nucerine.
This stills the broile a while, outs not the Coare
Which festers four years, then brake out a soare
Malignant now again, they Laurence bring
To Rome again, this did inrage the King,
To whom they Charge Pope Symmachus (Good Head)
As boasting that he licence had, he said
To sin with th'Charge of feeding of the Sheep
And other Crimes. Good Father Pope most sweet!
Theodorick offended layes him by
And Laurence too, and doth the popedome tie
On Peter Altins girdle, Cerberus
Finds here such scraps as make him leape up thus
Into thy Lap dear Mother. Pluto spares
His Dog awhile now to attend thy Cares.
Is Peters Chair thus metamorphosed
Into old Cerberus with's triple head?
But se these heads a fighting, Symmachus
Doth by a Synod pack the other crush
And while he worrid them much blood did fall
Both from the Clergy's veans, and Flocks withall.
And in the kings wide mouth these Collops trudge
There's none but God may to the Pope be judge.
That Peters Chair finds or refines the Bum
That in it sits, and of it makes a Drum.
Namde Festus, bribes the Church whose silver bar
Thus pitcht, doth pitch the vote on Laurence who
Not pleasing some: Some Deacons votes bestow
On Symmac us, ordain him Bishop: and
Thus to't they go to boxing slaughter, stand
To't stoutly, Ravishings and rapine rage
Full three years going for the bishops stage
Peace Child: its Peters Chair and Heir, yet see
How Name and Nature in this Pope agree
True Child though all's as black as coals we trow
Peters Chair vertue whiteneth the Crow.
King Theodorick of an Arian Face
Is made the judge of Peter and his Case,
Who finding in his Quest the better part
For Symmachus, he easeth them their smart,
Stows Peters Chair with him. And doth assign
Laurence the Bishoprick of Nucerine.
This stills the broile a while, outs not the Coare
Which festers four years, then brake out a soare
Malignant now again, they Laurence bring
To Rome again, this did inrage the King,
To whom they Charge Pope Symmachus (Good Head)
As boasting that he licence had, he said
To sin with th'Charge of feeding of the Sheep
And other Crimes. Good Father Pope most sweet!
Theodorick offended layes him by
And Laurence too, and doth the popedome tie
On Peter Altins girdle, Cerberus
Finds here such scraps as make him leape up thus
Into thy Lap dear Mother. Pluto spares
His Dog awhile now to attend thy Cares.
Is Peters Chair thus metamorphosed
Into old Cerberus with's triple head?
But se these heads a fighting, Symmachus
Doth by a Synod pack the other crush
And while he worrid them much blood did fall
Both from the Clergy's veans, and Flocks withall.
And in the kings wide mouth these Collops trudge
There's none but God may to the Pope be judge.
166
That in it sits, and of it makes a Drum.
This Symmachus his Predicessor rare
The second Anastasius did tare
Away from's Bishops, Priests and Clergie by
Admitting to Communion one whose dy
Was of Acace his dying that the stain
Did rend this head and members all atwain.
The second Anastasius did tare
Away from's Bishops, Priests and Clergie by
Admitting to Communion one whose dy
Was of Acace his dying that the stain
Did rend this head and members all atwain.
Pass we now to Justinians reign, and here
Anthimus of Constantinople shiere
Doth and Thedelze of Alexandria
The truth of Christs Natures distinct away,
Asserting he onely one nature had
Shisms here by all in those Churches gad.
Anthimus of Constantinople shiere
Doth and Thedelze of Alexandria
The truth of Christs Natures distinct away,
Asserting he onely one nature had
Shisms here by all in those Churches gad.
The Monks at Nova Laura, like a web,
Bestained are with errours freckled.
Eustochy of Jerusalem did strive
Therewith, and cast them all out of their hive
Who flying all about did by their hum
Draw many after them by schisms drum.
Bestained are with errours freckled.
Eustochy of Jerusalem did strive
Therewith, and cast them all out of their hive
Who flying all about did by their hum
Draw many after them by schisms drum.
Pope Felix dead, the Chair doth empty stand
While Senate, do with Clergie hand to hand
A squabbling fall and now they make it squeake
Thrusting two bums therein. Good Chair don't breake.
Some Choose and do ordain pope Boniface
Some give Dioscorus the selfe same grace.
Peter thy Chair a two-head monster lies
Nigh thirty dayes, then one picks up and dies.
While Senate, do with Clergie hand to hand
A squabbling fall and now they make it squeake
Thrusting two bums therein. Good Chair don't breake.
Some Choose and do ordain pope Boniface
Some give Dioscorus the selfe same grace.
Peter thy Chair a two-head monster lies
Nigh thirty dayes, then one picks up and dies.
Smaragd the Hexarch of Ravenna saw
The Roman pride to sprawle out of their Craw
To get the bravest Cushon and best place
In all the Church of God their Stooles to grace
Thought to prefer Ravenna and therefore
Joynd to their Bishop John, there others more
Of Aqua Grade and one Severus who
Bishop of Aquileia (Schisms grow)
Pelagius pope and's Romans swell and John
And's Sociats as Schismaticks trample on
The year scarce turnd about, but down they fall
Upon their knees and ask forgiveness all.
Good father pardon us this once and wee
Will do no more so, then he did them free.
The Roman pride to sprawle out of their Craw
To get the bravest Cushon and best place
In all the Church of God their Stooles to grace
Thought to prefer Ravenna and therefore
Joynd to their Bishop John, there others more
Of Aqua Grade and one Severus who
Bishop of Aquileia (Schisms grow)
Pelagius pope and's Romans swell and John
And's Sociats as Schismaticks trample on
The year scarce turnd about, but down they fall
Upon their knees and ask forgiveness all.
Good father pardon us this once and wee
Will do no more so, then he did them free.
John of Constantinople Maurice and
The Grecians bishop make up high to stand
An Universall Head ore Churches all
Gainst whom the Popes of Rome do lowdly ball,
And Gregory the greate this title sayes
Is Usher unto Antichrist and's ways.
The Grecians bishop make up high to stand
An Universall Head ore Churches all
Gainst whom the Popes of Rome do lowdly ball,
And Gregory the greate this title sayes
Is Usher unto Antichrist and's ways.
167
Cato a Priest at Arvern, Bishop chose
Not yet ordain, did threaton to depose
Cautine, Archdeacon, who to shun the shower
Into Theodwalds Court went as his tower
And is himselfe ordaind the Bishop there.
Hence utter enmity did head up reare.
The Brethren torn a pieces are, some stand
For Cato, some for Cautine, and each hand
Do others Persecute. Patience we see
By Schisms sore, sore exercisd to bee.
Not yet ordain, did threaton to depose
Cautine, Archdeacon, who to shun the shower
Into Theodwalds Court went as his tower
And is himselfe ordaind the Bishop there.
Hence utter enmity did head up reare.
The Brethren torn a pieces are, some stand
For Cato, some for Cautine, and each hand
Do others Persecute. Patience we see
By Schisms sore, sore exercisd to bee.
5. Persecutions.
We now approach to see her beauty more
In Persecutions that attend greate store
Which while she sighs at, and at all the sin
Some Drops of Justice sparkle do herein,
Which slipt between her fingers and we spy
The tears of griefe as pearls in Patience eye.
The Ten horns of the brindled beasts Curld head
The bottomless deep pit up vomited
Do gore the Saints of God and Crimson grow
My pensill will it draw out as I go
Which first will tell how others persecute
And then how these Ten horn such tunes do toot.
In Persecutions that attend greate store
Which while she sighs at, and at all the sin
Some Drops of Justice sparkle do herein,
Which slipt between her fingers and we spy
The tears of griefe as pearls in Patience eye.
The Ten horns of the brindled beasts Curld head
The bottomless deep pit up vomited
Do gore the Saints of God and Crimson grow
My pensill will it draw out as I go
Which first will tell how others persecute
And then how these Ten horn such tunes do toot.
First see the Scene of Sorrows others raise
Ore which stands Patience in her blushing baise
While Anastasius Empires it you have
A Manichean Princk a painted grave
Of Envy and Perjur'd hypocrisy.
He Banisht Euphemy for piety
Brings Macedonius in a worthy one
Who by his wiles is also over thrown
Whom when he could not bring unto his bow
Gets some that slandrous Crimes upon him throw
And Charge him with adultery, the which
In open court to clear himselfe did twitch
His Coate aside, did prove the Charge a lie
Shewing his want of his Virility.
And then another noose is for him set
But in the same his head they cannot get
But yet it matters not, he is Exild
And murderd too at Sangra by their Wild
And many more must pledg him. Some they cover
In banishment: some one way, some another.
He banisht Flavian of Antioch
Elias of Jerusalem of broke
The Saints of Palestine exild, and wast
Untill Gods hand his Venom soule uncast.
Ore which stands Patience in her blushing baise
While Anastasius Empires it you have
A Manichean Princk a painted grave
Of Envy and Perjur'd hypocrisy.
He Banisht Euphemy for piety
Brings Macedonius in a worthy one
Who by his wiles is also over thrown
Whom when he could not bring unto his bow
Gets some that slandrous Crimes upon him throw
And Charge him with adultery, the which
In open court to clear himselfe did twitch
His Coate aside, did prove the Charge a lie
Shewing his want of his Virility.
And then another noose is for him set
But in the same his head they cannot get
But yet it matters not, he is Exild
And murderd too at Sangra by their Wild
And many more must pledg him. Some they cover
In banishment: some one way, some another.
He banisht Flavian of Antioch
Elias of Jerusalem of broke
The Saints of Palestine exild, and wast
Untill Gods hand his Venom soule uncast.
168
Severe of Antioch the Jews imploide
Who by their aide in CetoSyria stroyd
More than three hundred monks, their Corps he made
Carion for Crows, the Temples wast he laid
Calades King of Persia's rage doth fry
Against Christs flock, and doth the same destroy.
Cuts out their tongues, who yet as pens descry
Spake perfectly. You have't as cheape as I.
Africk puts in her Martyrs Scrole now more
Than full nine hundred dying all in gore.
Here Thrasamund the Vandall king shuts up
The Temple doors: sends that bitter Cup
Of Banishment into Sardinia
Two hundred twenty bishops drank that day
A grievous brack at Rome that two popes made
Became a bitter spring of bloody trade
Each side did cruell Persecution fling
At others and much butchery did spring.
Who by their aide in CetoSyria stroyd
More than three hundred monks, their Corps he made
Carion for Crows, the Temples wast he laid
Calades King of Persia's rage doth fry
Against Christs flock, and doth the same destroy.
Cuts out their tongues, who yet as pens descry
Spake perfectly. You have't as cheape as I.
Africk puts in her Martyrs Scrole now more
Than full nine hundred dying all in gore.
Here Thrasamund the Vandall king shuts up
The Temple doors: sends that bitter Cup
Of Banishment into Sardinia
Two hundred twenty bishops drank that day
A grievous brack at Rome that two popes made
Became a bitter spring of bloody trade
Each side did cruell Persecution fling
At others and much butchery did spring.
But pass we ore to Justines Scepter bright
Which in five hundred nineteenth year did light
A certain Jew who glori'd that he was
The son of Moses did to Negra pass
A City in Arabia Felix strong
Did summon Christians there from Christ to come
Which when he nought prevaild his tyranny
Did very many there sadly destroy.
And Arethas the Bishop of the place
A Crown of Martyrdom did there embrace.
Which in five hundred nineteenth year did light
A certain Jew who glori'd that he was
The son of Moses did to Negra pass
A City in Arabia Felix strong
Did summon Christians there from Christ to come
Which when he nought prevaild his tyranny
Did very many there sadly destroy.
And Arethas the Bishop of the place
A Crown of Martyrdom did there embrace.
When Thrasamund the Vandall King wagd war
With Cabaon the Moore and in this jar
Did enter Tripolis, in cruell fret
And all base injuries afoot did set
Prophaning of their Temple, did anoy
The ministers, scourging them cruelly.
With Cabaon the Moore and in this jar
Did enter Tripolis, in cruell fret
And all base injuries afoot did set
Prophaning of their Temple, did anoy
The ministers, scourging them cruelly.
But Justins sisters son Justinian
Five hundred twenty eight his realm began
The Analphabetist did well begin
A cruell punishment on varlets fling
And upon Pederasts, for off he parde
Their Genitalls as things that might be sparde
But after fell in th'Eutychean sties
And monstrous Covetous did up arise
His filching Craft did snuff the Wealthies' Light
The Empire to Mechanicks farmd out streight
Sold justice and for gain did theeves admit
Murders and Butcheries, plunders do sit
Unpunished and such as seek to fray
Away these mischiefs are soon made away.
And though he by John Patricks pains with aid
Dorotheus and Theophilus here made
The Roman Laws full easy (which possesst
Two thousand fifty Volumns) now new dresst
Which now come in small lumps and stild are thus
Digesta, some Pandecta. Welthy plush.
Or by the Lawyers now Justinians Laws
Yet after all is said he's filled with flaws.
Five hundred twenty eight his realm began
The Analphabetist did well begin
A cruell punishment on varlets fling
And upon Pederasts, for off he parde
Their Genitalls as things that might be sparde
But after fell in th'Eutychean sties
And monstrous Covetous did up arise
His filching Craft did snuff the Wealthies' Light
The Empire to Mechanicks farmd out streight
Sold justice and for gain did theeves admit
Murders and Butcheries, plunders do sit
Unpunished and such as seek to fray
Away these mischiefs are soon made away.
And though he by John Patricks pains with aid
Dorotheus and Theophilus here made
The Roman Laws full easy (which possesst
Two thousand fifty Volumns) now new dresst
169
Digesta, some Pandecta. Welthy plush.
Or by the Lawyers now Justinians Laws
Yet after all is said he's filled with flaws.
Sore havock the Samaritanish Jews
By Julian their King make and did use
They temples barns and monuments with fire
Most Cruelly with tortures out do tire
The Christian now in Palestine and most
About Neople where they did disghost
Their Bishop with a sword: their pastors stroy
And cut to steaks in frying pans them fry
With martyres Relicks: at Cesaria
In Palestine all Christians down did slay.
By Julian their King make and did use
They temples barns and monuments with fire
Most Cruelly with tortures out do tire
The Christian now in Palestine and most
About Neople where they did disghost
Their Bishop with a sword: their pastors stroy
And cut to steaks in frying pans them fry
With martyres Relicks: at Cesaria
In Palestine all Christians down did slay.
The Vandalls kill King Childerick because
From banishment the godly saints he draws
And Gilimer with all his hellish wiles
Not gainings Saints from Christ them sadly spoiles,
Cuts out their tongues whom yet as authors tell
Who did behold it, they did speak right well.
From banishment the godly saints he draws
And Gilimer with all his hellish wiles
Not gainings Saints from Christ them sadly spoiles,
Cuts out their tongues whom yet as authors tell
Who did behold it, they did speak right well.
The Jews again in Palestin do rise
The Temples burn, and bring great miseries
On Christians, the Lieutenant Stephen kill
And at Cesaria his state ceise still.
The Temples burn, and bring great miseries
On Christians, the Lieutenant Stephen kill
And at Cesaria his state ceise still.
The Huns afflict the Churches sore in Greece
And Plunder do the Thracian Chersonese.
Justinian grows an Aphthartodokite
And doth against the Orthodox now fight
Exiles now Eutychius bishop grave
And Anastase from Antioch he drave
Had Death not quencht his cruelty and heat
And made his persecution to retreat.
And Plunder do the Thracian Chersonese.
Justinian grows an Aphthartodokite
And doth against the Orthodox now fight
Exiles now Eutychius bishop grave
And Anastase from Antioch he drave
Had Death not quencht his cruelty and heat
And made his persecution to retreat.
Justinian dropping in Deaths pitfall and
His nephew nam'd Justinian too upstands
First liberall; but grew a Cormorant,
Did snuff the Silver Candles, shunning want,
Of Usurers and rich men, did excise
The Churches and men very poore likewise,
Cut of his Cousins Justins head asleep,
A worthy souldier, Alexandria weep.
Though many worthy things he did, yet hee
Did many Vex. Now Antioch shall see
Their Bishop Anastase Exiled upon
False Crimes, a trick delighting many dons.
Th'Armenians by Chosroes are distresst
Who to the Churches was a grievous pest.
His nephew nam'd Justinian too upstands
First liberall; but grew a Cormorant,
Did snuff the Silver Candles, shunning want,
Of Usurers and rich men, did excise
The Churches and men very poore likewise,
Cut of his Cousins Justins head asleep,
A worthy souldier, Alexandria weep.
Though many worthy things he did, yet hee
Did many Vex. Now Antioch shall see
Their Bishop Anastase Exiled upon
False Crimes, a trick delighting many dons.
Th'Armenians by Chosroes are distresst
Who to the Churches was a grievous pest.
Justinian languishing, Tiberius chose
And on him's Crown and Royall Coate bestows
With pious Exhortation in such wise
As shews that in repentance deep he lies
Chargd him beware that th'shady glitter fine
And sparkling Robe him cheat not with its shine.
As they have me who wretchedly now smart,
Correct my sins I pray: justice impart
To all and minde not these (pointing unto
His Princes and his Counsellours a row)
For they have ruind me (where at they all
Amaizd let store of trickling tears down fall.)
But see thou honour God and's Church which were
Before thy Mistress, now thy mother deare
Let each retain his own: give to the poore
Observe all others and thyselfe much more.
What thou once wast and whom thou now art minde
Let my Example have thy Eye, be n't blinde.
Remember whom I were just now before
And whom I at the present am therefore
And of these Exhortations a full Crop
From the Imperiall Lips a pace did drop.
Whereat Tiberius Cesar at his feet
Prostrates himselfe and gives out speeches sweet
If thou (saith he) dost please I am: but art
Not pleasd here with, I am not, but depart:
To which the Emperour replide, Let God
Who made both heaven and earth and all abroad
Imminde thee of all things that I have here
Forgot to speake, teach thee's most holy Feare
That all things may go prosperously with thee,
And that by him thou maist have happy glee;
Tiberius thus enthroned on doth go
Gent, Gentle, Modest, Courtious, Just also,
Wise, Liberall Mercifull, Godly, and Blesst
And Valourous, second to none, the best.
He Justins treasures scarcly justly got
Did to the poore most liberaly allot
But I forget my selfe. Patience smiles here.
Whereas I am to bottle up here tears
Which very many are whose scutchons hang
On those ten horns which on the Beasts head sprang.
The Persians war against him, hence great smart
By Persick hatred pierceth godly hearts.
And on him's Crown and Royall Coate bestows
With pious Exhortation in such wise
As shews that in repentance deep he lies
Chargd him beware that th'shady glitter fine
And sparkling Robe him cheat not with its shine.
170
Correct my sins I pray: justice impart
To all and minde not these (pointing unto
His Princes and his Counsellours a row)
For they have ruind me (where at they all
Amaizd let store of trickling tears down fall.)
But see thou honour God and's Church which were
Before thy Mistress, now thy mother deare
Let each retain his own: give to the poore
Observe all others and thyselfe much more.
What thou once wast and whom thou now art minde
Let my Example have thy Eye, be n't blinde.
Remember whom I were just now before
And whom I at the present am therefore
And of these Exhortations a full Crop
From the Imperiall Lips a pace did drop.
Whereat Tiberius Cesar at his feet
Prostrates himselfe and gives out speeches sweet
If thou (saith he) dost please I am: but art
Not pleasd here with, I am not, but depart:
To which the Emperour replide, Let God
Who made both heaven and earth and all abroad
Imminde thee of all things that I have here
Forgot to speake, teach thee's most holy Feare
That all things may go prosperously with thee,
And that by him thou maist have happy glee;
Tiberius thus enthroned on doth go
Gent, Gentle, Modest, Courtious, Just also,
Wise, Liberall Mercifull, Godly, and Blesst
And Valourous, second to none, the best.
He Justins treasures scarcly justly got
Did to the poore most liberaly allot
But I forget my selfe. Patience smiles here.
Whereas I am to bottle up here tears
Which very many are whose scutchons hang
On those ten horns which on the Beasts head sprang.
The Persians war against him, hence great smart
By Persick hatred pierceth godly hearts.
But Good Tiberius we now entomb
And to his Cousin Maurice do presume,
Excelling in great Prudence, Piety,
Clemency, Valour, Liberality
And other Virtues in whose golden Rayes
The Church lay running in her Halcyon dayes
But black clouds do up spring the Persian ire
Doth wast Armenia by sword and fire
Doth Captivate bishops and people too
At Antioch Greg'ry doth meet with woe.
In Sicily Lieuetenant Theodore
Did vex the Christians and made many sore
Abusing of his power against the will
Of's Prince (as Courtiers oft do practice still)
A Persian woman namde Galanduch now
For many years all torments that allow
Great anguish hath sustaind because she would
Not from the Faith of Christ let go her hold,
A Crown of Martyredome most glorious gain,
After her grievous Sorrows doth obtain.
The other Exercise of Patience bright
Upon the Ten horn'd Dragons heads do light
Whereto my pen doth nimbly run ints race
There to adorn rich Patience with her grace.
And to his Cousin Maurice do presume,
Excelling in great Prudence, Piety,
Clemency, Valour, Liberality
And other Virtues in whose golden Rayes
The Church lay running in her Halcyon dayes
But black clouds do up spring the Persian ire
Doth wast Armenia by sword and fire
Doth Captivate bishops and people too
At Antioch Greg'ry doth meet with woe.
In Sicily Lieuetenant Theodore
Did vex the Christians and made many sore
Abusing of his power against the will
Of's Prince (as Courtiers oft do practice still)
171
For many years all torments that allow
Great anguish hath sustaind because she would
Not from the Faith of Christ let go her hold,
A Crown of Martyredome most glorious gain,
After her grievous Sorrows doth obtain.
The other Exercise of Patience bright
Upon the Ten horn'd Dragons heads do light
Whereto my pen doth nimbly run ints race
There to adorn rich Patience with her grace.
The second sort of sparkling Gems we take
Out of the Crowns the ten Horns weare to make
Bright studs to shine in Patience's Crown most clear
Whose glory thus we give to shine out here.
Out of the Crowns the ten Horns weare to make
Bright studs to shine in Patience's Crown most clear
Whose glory thus we give to shine out here.
Now first the Horn that gord the Alpine Coast
Of Rhetia Prima German Prime makes rost
Of the Bajorian Saints the Christians high
From Ratisbon and th'Contries all that ly
Verging thereon, they banish, wast and slay
Their Ministers, in Ashes temples lay.
Do freshen Hercules his worship, and
The Worship of the Heathens by the hand
Of Prince Theodo the Bajorian
This horned bull the furious head doth fan.
Of Rhetia Prima German Prime makes rost
Of the Bajorian Saints the Christians high
From Ratisbon and th'Contries all that ly
Verging thereon, they banish, wast and slay
Their Ministers, in Ashes temples lay.
Do freshen Hercules his worship, and
The Worship of the Heathens by the hand
Of Prince Theodo the Bajorian
This horned bull the furious head doth fan.
A second fury Patience mourns at stands
Upon the Horns of Ostrogoths, and spans
Now Italy, Province. Theodorick
Staind in the Arian Dy fat 'way doth kick
The Christian nobles Symmachus, Boece
Wise Consulls. John Rome's Bishop coming from out of Grece
With his Companions, Legates, prison'd are
Now at Ravenna and by stinck bad fare
Hunger and Thirst is slain and Orthodox
In all his Coasts he vexeth with a pox.
Upon the Horns of Ostrogoths, and spans
Now Italy, Province. Theodorick
Staind in the Arian Dy fat 'way doth kick
The Christian nobles Symmachus, Boece
Wise Consulls. John Rome's Bishop coming from out of Grece
With his Companions, Legates, prison'd are
Now at Ravenna and by stinck bad fare
Hunger and Thirst is slain and Orthodox
In all his Coasts he vexeth with a pox.
In th'second Justins day Totilas th'King
Gods Scourge did havock sore upon them bring
Prusium besiegd, the Bishop Herculane
Upon the Citie walls beheads when ta'ne
And fleys from Head to hell his skin off quite
And held his hide out for a shew or sight.
One of the soldiers, Arian wretch, slew all
Both Monks and Clericks in his hands that fall.
Cerbon Bishop of Populone because
He hid some Gottish souldiers, to the paws
Of a mad bare is Cast which did not bite
But lickt his feet spite of Totilas's spite.
This Horn yielding its seat's made Lombardine
Which ragde against Christs saints in King Alboine
Who entred Italy, swore he would put
All Christians to the sword, and them off cut
And fell upon the same, Temples destroy'd
Slay all the Priests, Hangd Monks on trees up tide,
Besiegd Millain, and taking it down fell
All Christian Citizens that in't did dwell.
Illyrian Christians now to feel this Lash
Against the Bishops of their Churches pass,
And Sicily is made to smart and Cry
Many a worthy saint in jayle did lie.
Gods Scourge did havock sore upon them bring
Prusium besiegd, the Bishop Herculane
Upon the Citie walls beheads when ta'ne
And fleys from Head to hell his skin off quite
And held his hide out for a shew or sight.
One of the soldiers, Arian wretch, slew all
Both Monks and Clericks in his hands that fall.
Cerbon Bishop of Populone because
He hid some Gottish souldiers, to the paws
Of a mad bare is Cast which did not bite
But lickt his feet spite of Totilas's spite.
172
Which ragde against Christs saints in King Alboine
Who entred Italy, swore he would put
All Christians to the sword, and them off cut
And fell upon the same, Temples destroy'd
Slay all the Priests, Hangd Monks on trees up tide,
Besiegd Millain, and taking it down fell
All Christian Citizens that in't did dwell.
Illyrian Christians now to feel this Lash
Against the Bishops of their Churches pass,
And Sicily is made to smart and Cry
Many a worthy saint in jayle did lie.
A third bright scutchon hung in Patience's Hall
Tost by the Westgoths Horn in Spain I shall
A little View as follows, For we finde
Almerick king in Arrian Cups unkinde,
Clotild his Queen of Faith true, Orthodox
He doth with various sorts of torments box
Whom as she often went to Christian Rites
With dung and all bad nasty things bedights.
At length he stripes her with such Cruelty
His handcarchief did in his Wife blood dy
Which he to Childebert her brother sends
Which bred a bloody war between them friends.
Tost by the Westgoths Horn in Spain I shall
A little View as follows, For we finde
Almerick king in Arrian Cups unkinde,
Clotild his Queen of Faith true, Orthodox
He doth with various sorts of torments box
Whom as she often went to Christian Rites
With dung and all bad nasty things bedights.
At length he stripes her with such Cruelty
His handcarchief did in his Wife blood dy
Which he to Childebert her brother sends
Which bred a bloody war between them friends.
A Pagan Prince in Spain Abdila calld
To bitter persecuting Christ upcalld
An hundred armed ships at sea whose Chiefe
Commander Manucha a vile Catiefe
A most infested Enemy of Christ
Who to give idoll worship now an hoist
And root the name of Christ quite out of earth
The Abby of Casina stroys. Here birth
Is given to his works. All towns thereto
Belonging doth with fire and sword out do.
The Priests with various torments doth destroy
Placid the Martyre with two brethren ly,
One Virgin sister, three and thirty more
All at Massane most Cruelly in gore.
To bitter persecuting Christ upcalld
An hundred armed ships at sea whose Chiefe
Commander Manucha a vile Catiefe
A most infested Enemy of Christ
Who to give idoll worship now an hoist
And root the name of Christ quite out of earth
The Abby of Casina stroys. Here birth
Is given to his works. All towns thereto
Belonging doth with fire and sword out do.
The Priests with various torments doth destroy
Placid the Martyre with two brethren ly,
One Virgin sister, three and thirty more
All at Massane most Cruelly in gore.
Hermingild too, King Lenichilds Choice Heire,
Wedding Jugund Segiberts daughter fair
Whom Eroiswinth the grandam kindly seems
To Welcom now with a pomp meet for a Queen
Yet when her Arrian flattring tongue doth meet
A Pious answer that her Faith should keep
Saying it me sufficeth once that I
Have in the Laver which doth purify
Of sacred Baptism from all the blot
Originall and have Confess'd (why not?)
The Holy Trinity in Unity
And in Equality, Her rage grew high
(I say now Hermingild) doth trouble Finde
For Eroiswinth as one of Venom minde
Doth snatch the Damsell by the hair and fell
Her to the ground, and playes the Jezabell
Doth spurn her, makes her all goar blood and bid
Strip, drown her in the fish poole and her rid.
But being saved by an hand divine
Her husband doth Convert by pious shine
Of Jugunds and Leanders sermons now
Bishop of Sevill from the Arrian slough.
Hence Levigild his Arrian Sire doth rage
By Threats and Promises to disingage
Him from the truth of Christ, all rotten twine
That Can do nothing. Then he takes this line
Doth abdicat him from the Kingdom and
Of all his goods doth spoyle him out of hand.
Invalid argument, hence on he goes
His neck and hands with irons loaded throws
Him into Prison very cruelly
And sent an Arrian Bishop to untie
His Arrian Points unto him preaching now
But all this Rhetorick he with his brow
Doth beate away (Dozde wood no building makes)
His Cruell Fathers Axe (Steele without flakes)
Is stronger argument. He gave Command:
And out he's brought at Easter (heavy hand)
To waite Christs passion, to the Scaffold led
The Fathers Axe Cuts of the Sons green head.
Oh! Cruell Father! Cruell Heresy!
Patiences Cheeks grow red and blush hereby
And Good Leander feels the Crabbid Claws
Of the old Lion, falling in his paws
And brave Jugund seing this tragedy
Attempts for France, doth to her Father fly.
But falling in the solders hands that kept
The Frontiers 'gainst the Goths, that 'gainst them stept:
By whom she with her babe is banished
To Sicily, which held her dying head,
Which being laid, her babe was had away
To Maurice, who his sun shine on't did lay,
But on the stage did at this season peer
A dismall rage against true Christians here,
In Spain raisd Exoiswinth who's otherwise
Calld Goiswint, author of these Miseries.
Wedding Jugund Segiberts daughter fair
Whom Eroiswinth the grandam kindly seems
To Welcom now with a pomp meet for a Queen
Yet when her Arrian flattring tongue doth meet
A Pious answer that her Faith should keep
Saying it me sufficeth once that I
Have in the Laver which doth purify
Of sacred Baptism from all the blot
Originall and have Confess'd (why not?)
The Holy Trinity in Unity
And in Equality, Her rage grew high
173
For Eroiswinth as one of Venom minde
Doth snatch the Damsell by the hair and fell
Her to the ground, and playes the Jezabell
Doth spurn her, makes her all goar blood and bid
Strip, drown her in the fish poole and her rid.
But being saved by an hand divine
Her husband doth Convert by pious shine
Of Jugunds and Leanders sermons now
Bishop of Sevill from the Arrian slough.
Hence Levigild his Arrian Sire doth rage
By Threats and Promises to disingage
Him from the truth of Christ, all rotten twine
That Can do nothing. Then he takes this line
Doth abdicat him from the Kingdom and
Of all his goods doth spoyle him out of hand.
Invalid argument, hence on he goes
His neck and hands with irons loaded throws
Him into Prison very cruelly
And sent an Arrian Bishop to untie
His Arrian Points unto him preaching now
But all this Rhetorick he with his brow
Doth beate away (Dozde wood no building makes)
His Cruell Fathers Axe (Steele without flakes)
Is stronger argument. He gave Command:
And out he's brought at Easter (heavy hand)
To waite Christs passion, to the Scaffold led
The Fathers Axe Cuts of the Sons green head.
Oh! Cruell Father! Cruell Heresy!
Patiences Cheeks grow red and blush hereby
And Good Leander feels the Crabbid Claws
Of the old Lion, falling in his paws
And brave Jugund seing this tragedy
Attempts for France, doth to her Father fly.
But falling in the solders hands that kept
The Frontiers 'gainst the Goths, that 'gainst them stept:
By whom she with her babe is banished
To Sicily, which held her dying head,
Which being laid, her babe was had away
To Maurice, who his sun shine on't did lay,
But on the stage did at this season peer
A dismall rage against true Christians here,
In Spain raisd Exoiswinth who's otherwise
Calld Goiswint, author of these Miseries.
I to a fourth horn come on which doth ride
A glorious shine standing by Patience side
France Calleth Patience for her Garden breeds
This shining flower nigh smootherd 'mongst her Weeds.
And in the present limits up there buds
More horns than one (though they're hardly knubs)
But though they now finde one hath stumpt so wide
As in its bottom all the rest do hide
Yet then they sevrall were (though in the maw
Of one they ly as eaten Corn i'th'Craw)
And thus they on did go, and with their horn
Did fan the aire, as they Christ sheep have torn.
These with the Almans (two horns now) do joyn
With Gotths, have Captains Leuthar and Bultine
Two Almans, Italy invade, destroy
Their Temples; take their golden vessell, fy,
Defile their Temple do with Crhistian blood
Their bodies ly unburide (Judgments bud.)
A glorious shine standing by Patience side
France Calleth Patience for her Garden breeds
This shining flower nigh smootherd 'mongst her Weeds.
174
More horns than one (though they're hardly knubs)
But though they now finde one hath stumpt so wide
As in its bottom all the rest do hide
Yet then they sevrall were (though in the maw
Of one they ly as eaten Corn i'th'Craw)
And thus they on did go, and with their horn
Did fan the aire, as they Christ sheep have torn.
These with the Almans (two horns now) do joyn
With Gotths, have Captains Leuthar and Bultine
Two Almans, Italy invade, destroy
Their Temples; take their golden vessell, fy,
Defile their Temple do with Crhistian blood
Their bodies ly unburide (Judgments bud.)
Chilperick king of France doth pitch his nets
Hating his Brother Sig'bert king of Metz,
Commands his Eldest son Theodobert
By Andover his wife him up to girt,
And to invade his Kingdom which he did
And Tours, Pictou, and other Countries big,
He cruelly oppresses, Churches burns,
Their Abbies stroys, Monks from their lives he turns,
Their Virgins ravishes, days as bad sprang
As Diacletians or Maximians,
Did put away his Queen Andover cause
She was her Daughters godmother 'gainst Laws
Of Antichrist: which do forbid to ly
With goddam of her own posterity,
Did bannish too the Bishop who baptizd
The Child: this causd was by his harlot prizd,
Commanded t'kill King Sigibert his brother,
Is stild a Nero, Herod or such other;
His Cruell Tyranny on Christians fell
Full many like a flake of fire from hell.
The Bishops and the Ministers of Churches
He did revile and with all sort of lurches
And torments great did vex them as was wild
By Fredigund his Harlot therein skilld.
This Fredigund in boyling Malice steept
Gainst Wise Pretextate till its venom reeke
Did poyson so the King, that his hot ire
Him prison'd then exild him: and yet higher
For when, after some years, he was restord
To Rothomag his holy Zeale implor'd
Her in his Sermons to Repent which lance
Upon her perboild Envie's bag did chance
To let it out so that she hireth some
The next Lords day to stob him which is done,
While in Gods worship he engagued was
Which being done it also came to pass
The Church at Rothomag is all in black
And one Chief senator smites on her back
Her bloody fact, whose tongue to silence she
Prepares a glass of wine for, th'Feate you see.
Hating his Brother Sig'bert king of Metz,
Commands his Eldest son Theodobert
By Andover his wife him up to girt,
And to invade his Kingdom which he did
And Tours, Pictou, and other Countries big,
He cruelly oppresses, Churches burns,
Their Abbies stroys, Monks from their lives he turns,
Their Virgins ravishes, days as bad sprang
As Diacletians or Maximians,
Did put away his Queen Andover cause
She was her Daughters godmother 'gainst Laws
Of Antichrist: which do forbid to ly
With goddam of her own posterity,
Did bannish too the Bishop who baptizd
The Child: this causd was by his harlot prizd,
Commanded t'kill King Sigibert his brother,
Is stild a Nero, Herod or such other;
His Cruell Tyranny on Christians fell
Full many like a flake of fire from hell.
The Bishops and the Ministers of Churches
He did revile and with all sort of lurches
And torments great did vex them as was wild
By Fredigund his Harlot therein skilld.
This Fredigund in boyling Malice steept
Gainst Wise Pretextate till its venom reeke
Did poyson so the King, that his hot ire
Him prison'd then exild him: and yet higher
For when, after some years, he was restord
To Rothomag his holy Zeale implor'd
Her in his Sermons to Repent which lance
Upon her perboild Envie's bag did chance
To let it out so that she hireth some
The next Lords day to stob him which is done,
While in Gods worship he engagued was
Which being done it also came to pass
175
And one Chief senator smites on her back
Her bloody fact, whose tongue to silence she
Prepares a glass of wine for, th'Feate you see.
In Child'berts reign, Divamius President
At brave Marselles who his fury spent
Against their Bishop Theodore who now
Sought succour from the King, but yet must bow;
Poore man! is snapt up in his journy and
Tormented grievously by his hand.
The Clarks now laugh, whose sins his Checks did gall,
Like Wolves they on the Churches treasures fall
And with their burning tongues him slandering wound
Yet he to Child'bert gets, begs help and sound.
He's sent with Gundulph the Lieutenant back
To Marselleis. But Divame with his pack
Keeping the gates reviles them both, buts strapt
By Gundulphs souldiers, yet by bribes well packt
Fair weather makes with this Duke Gundulph and
Swore to restore the Bishop out of hand
Unto his Charge. But then the Priests and so
The Abbat who had causd Theodore's woe
Under Divamius' wing harke as his Chicks
Some sureties give, and bring the King their tricks
And Gundulph being gone Divamius doth
Sent to King Gunthran, breaking of his Oath
He could not hold Marselleis. Theodore
Brought now to rase the Church was made the sore.
Gunthran inrag'd, the Bishops slips aside,
But is trapand 's thrown on a horse fast tide
And in disgracefull wise to th'king is brought.
Marsellies priests with Church Wealth now are fraught
But Gunthran finding him full innocent
Him back to his with gifts again soon sent.
These things a grievous fire 'twixt these two Kings
Gunthran, and Child'bert, raisd. Strife quickly springs
Another bone is thrown at Theodore
For Gunthran Base, a Courtier (such are store)
Of Chilpericks causd him in jayle to ly
Because he lodgd Gundoald the traitor, why?
Because he feignd himselfe the French kings son.
But now Good man, his ardent prayers do run
Unto the throne of Grace whence a most bright
And shining glory filld his Room as fright
His keeper did. He's to king Gunthran led
With Epiphane who from the Longbards fled
To void their persecution and back sent
Again thus by the King to prisonment,
Where Epiphanius dies but Theodore
Proovd innocent his freedom hath therefore.
But still the Pot doth wollop ore. Gunthran
Seeks now all mischiefe, though the Worthy man
Was in the Power of Child'bert, who t'allay
The fire from flaming draws the wood away.
Lieuetenant Rathare to Marseiles sent
Who treacherously doth faile the Kings intent.
He Theodore demands t'give Suretie
And packt him to Gunthran his Enemy
That he might charge him to appere before
The Matisconine Synod of the store
Of Bishops there to be adjudgd, mean while
Rathare the Churches Riches makes a spoile
Sells part and fills his purse with seals the rest,
And make them prisoners, which thing when Chest
In Child'berts Eare, he gave his fathers brother
A Charge to intercede, lest in this smoother,
Here Theodore should suffer any wrong
And thus the greate and open seeds up sprung
Of all intestine Quarrells and black jarrs
Twixt Child'bert and Gunthran of foolish wars.
At brave Marselles who his fury spent
Against their Bishop Theodore who now
Sought succour from the King, but yet must bow;
Poore man! is snapt up in his journy and
Tormented grievously by his hand.
The Clarks now laugh, whose sins his Checks did gall,
Like Wolves they on the Churches treasures fall
And with their burning tongues him slandering wound
Yet he to Child'bert gets, begs help and sound.
He's sent with Gundulph the Lieutenant back
To Marselleis. But Divame with his pack
Keeping the gates reviles them both, buts strapt
By Gundulphs souldiers, yet by bribes well packt
Fair weather makes with this Duke Gundulph and
Swore to restore the Bishop out of hand
Unto his Charge. But then the Priests and so
The Abbat who had causd Theodore's woe
Under Divamius' wing harke as his Chicks
Some sureties give, and bring the King their tricks
And Gundulph being gone Divamius doth
Sent to King Gunthran, breaking of his Oath
He could not hold Marselleis. Theodore
Brought now to rase the Church was made the sore.
Gunthran inrag'd, the Bishops slips aside,
But is trapand 's thrown on a horse fast tide
And in disgracefull wise to th'king is brought.
Marsellies priests with Church Wealth now are fraught
But Gunthran finding him full innocent
Him back to his with gifts again soon sent.
These things a grievous fire 'twixt these two Kings
Gunthran, and Child'bert, raisd. Strife quickly springs
Another bone is thrown at Theodore
For Gunthran Base, a Courtier (such are store)
Of Chilpericks causd him in jayle to ly
Because he lodgd Gundoald the traitor, why?
Because he feignd himselfe the French kings son.
But now Good man, his ardent prayers do run
Unto the throne of Grace whence a most bright
And shining glory filld his Room as fright
His keeper did. He's to king Gunthran led
With Epiphane who from the Longbards fled
To void their persecution and back sent
Again thus by the King to prisonment,
Where Epiphanius dies but Theodore
Proovd innocent his freedom hath therefore.
176
Seeks now all mischiefe, though the Worthy man
Was in the Power of Child'bert, who t'allay
The fire from flaming draws the wood away.
Lieuetenant Rathare to Marseiles sent
Who treacherously doth faile the Kings intent.
He Theodore demands t'give Suretie
And packt him to Gunthran his Enemy
That he might charge him to appere before
The Matisconine Synod of the store
Of Bishops there to be adjudgd, mean while
Rathare the Churches Riches makes a spoile
Sells part and fills his purse with seals the rest,
And make them prisoners, which thing when Chest
In Child'berts Eare, he gave his fathers brother
A Charge to intercede, lest in this smoother,
Here Theodore should suffer any wrong
And thus the greate and open seeds up sprung
Of all intestine Quarrells and black jarrs
Twixt Child'bert and Gunthran of foolish wars.
But now Poor Britain thou must have thy sup
As well as others of this bitter Cup
Thy Pagan Saxon that thy Christ disdain
When Octa and vile Cosa a new train
Of Cruell pagans bring from Germany
Thy Temples down are Cast, thy Saints dead lie
No age nor sex are sparde, grave Theonius
London's good bishop, And Thadiol thus
Bishop of Yorke seing their flocks destroy'd
The Ministers fall slain on every side
Retire to Wales and Cornwall: all the land
Save This, fall under cruell pagans hand
Who utterly destroy the Christians in't
Gurmund an Africk Pagan King did dint
His sword herein and so this land lay void
Of Christian Faith and on the Pagans side
Till Austin Came Palled from Rome to win
The Pagan Saxon unto Christ our King
And making gain of some, grew proud and huff
A Counsill calls, t'have Brittains use Romes Muffe.
They send then seven Choice Grave Bishops to't
And of the Wisest of all Banchors note
Whose eye beholding Austins pride so greate
As at their entrance would not from his seate
Once move his taile, they did disdain his pride
And did reject him and his stuff beside
Which set his Monkish lambkin in such rage
(As if a Wolfe was in't) he did presage
Or rather threaton them; seing they would
Not take peace with them; they in sharp war should
Fall by that People seeing to them they
Would not the Gospell preach, they should them slay,
But this they do not heed: they would as soon
Communicate with dogs as Anglish boon.
As well as others of this bitter Cup
Thy Pagan Saxon that thy Christ disdain
When Octa and vile Cosa a new train
Of Cruell pagans bring from Germany
Thy Temples down are Cast, thy Saints dead lie
No age nor sex are sparde, grave Theonius
London's good bishop, And Thadiol thus
Bishop of Yorke seing their flocks destroy'd
The Ministers fall slain on every side
Retire to Wales and Cornwall: all the land
Save This, fall under cruell pagans hand
Who utterly destroy the Christians in't
Gurmund an Africk Pagan King did dint
His sword herein and so this land lay void
Of Christian Faith and on the Pagans side
Till Austin Came Palled from Rome to win
The Pagan Saxon unto Christ our King
And making gain of some, grew proud and huff
A Counsill calls, t'have Brittains use Romes Muffe.
They send then seven Choice Grave Bishops to't
And of the Wisest of all Banchors note
Whose eye beholding Austins pride so greate
As at their entrance would not from his seate
Once move his taile, they did disdain his pride
And did reject him and his stuff beside
Which set his Monkish lambkin in such rage
(As if a Wolfe was in't) he did presage
177
Not take peace with them; they in sharp war should
Fall by that People seeing to them they
Would not the Gospell preach, they should them slay,
But this they do not heed: they would as soon
Communicate with dogs as Anglish boon.
Hence Ethelbert the King of Kent the Saint
Of Austins mint, who dented (oh brave paint)
With Austin for his Faith (Its handsell rich)
Up stirs Ethelfride King Northumber which
Joyns with him and a mighty power do raise
Who take the war upon them, fly delayes,
And draw their Pagan swords against all right
Upon the Brittains and in Cheshier fight
To Chester come Whose Consull Bremell there
Assisted with an Army Christian, Clear,
With many monks and Students worthy who
Came most from Banchor Colledge him unto
Which all Unterm'd three dayes stood praying out
For Good Success: but yet the Pagans rout
Stout Bremell and his army save a few
That with him fled away, they slay, then flew
Upon th'unarmed monks or students Rather
Which Dinoth sent and do hew down together
Twelve hundred on the spot. (Good Austin! thanks)
This Pagan sword by Austins sparks them flanks.
But alls not o're; though Dinoth and his Tribe
Of Pupills martyrde are, the Pagans side
Bought not the day ore Cheape; they many lost.
More ore the Brittain Knights, to pay the Cost
When that the tyrant drew his army up
To Banchor do on every side him Cup
With flames and scars that make his spirits faile.
The Chiefe Blederick Duke then of Cornwale
(Slain in the way) And Margabad the King
Of Westwales, Cadwan King of Guinith, him
Assault, wound, put to flight, and down destroy
Ten thousand sixty six of th'Enemy.
And though this somewhat runs beyond the line
Of this sixt Century, yet in the time
Of Maurice that Choice Emperour I hope
I wrong not Patience here to lay it ope.
Of Austins mint, who dented (oh brave paint)
With Austin for his Faith (Its handsell rich)
Up stirs Ethelfride King Northumber which
Joyns with him and a mighty power do raise
Who take the war upon them, fly delayes,
And draw their Pagan swords against all right
Upon the Brittains and in Cheshier fight
To Chester come Whose Consull Bremell there
Assisted with an Army Christian, Clear,
With many monks and Students worthy who
Came most from Banchor Colledge him unto
Which all Unterm'd three dayes stood praying out
For Good Success: but yet the Pagans rout
Stout Bremell and his army save a few
That with him fled away, they slay, then flew
Upon th'unarmed monks or students Rather
Which Dinoth sent and do hew down together
Twelve hundred on the spot. (Good Austin! thanks)
This Pagan sword by Austins sparks them flanks.
But alls not o're; though Dinoth and his Tribe
Of Pupills martyrde are, the Pagans side
Bought not the day ore Cheape; they many lost.
More ore the Brittain Knights, to pay the Cost
When that the tyrant drew his army up
To Banchor do on every side him Cup
With flames and scars that make his spirits faile.
The Chiefe Blederick Duke then of Cornwale
(Slain in the way) And Margabad the King
Of Westwales, Cadwan King of Guinith, him
Assault, wound, put to flight, and down destroy
Ten thousand sixty six of th'Enemy.
And though this somewhat runs beyond the line
Of this sixt Century, yet in the time
Of Maurice that Choice Emperour I hope
I wrong not Patience here to lay it ope.
And now behold these gleanings twisted in
A garland well and hung on Patience bring
Her glory out so bright rubd up hereby
As to behold the same will breake the eye
I therefore pass unto another shine
Evn Justices, to decorate my rhime.
A garland well and hung on Patience bring
Her glory out so bright rubd up hereby
As to behold the same will breake the eye
I therefore pass unto another shine
Evn Justices, to decorate my rhime.
| A transcript of Edward Taylor's Metrical History of Christianity by Donald E. Stanford | |