 | A transcript of Edward Taylor's Metrical History of Christianity by Donald E. Stanford |  |
145
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
147
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.
148
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,
149
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,
150
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
151
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.
152
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.
| A transcript of Edward Taylor's Metrical History of Christianity by Donald E. Stanford | |