The Church Militant Historically Continued from the Yeare of Our Saviours Incarnation 33. untill this present, 1640: By William Vaughan |
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| 10. | THE OCCVRRENCES OF THE TENTH AGE,
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 | The Church Militant |  |
169
THE OCCVRRENCES OF THE TENTH AGE,
From the yeere of our Lord 900. untill the yeere 1000. At which Time raigned Emperour Otho the Third, whom the Almaines call the Worlde Wonder. About which Time King Etheldred Raigned in England.
The Argument.
The Dulnesse of this Age. The Pope SupremeIn Rule unto the Latine Tongue binds them
Who are his Thralles. Yot to the Truth some stand
Most firme. Th' Electours now grace Teutons Land.
O who can count the Churches dolefull Teares,
Her Woes, Her Fits, and Manifolded Beares
By Saracens, the Popes, and Heathnish Bands,
Who forraged, and rackt all Christian Lands?
No sooner had Victorious Charlemaine
Parted with Popes the Scepter Soveraigne,
Adding unto the Keyes a Diademe,
But Rome grew proud of that brave State Supreme,
Although as then it was a single Crowne,
And not, as since, like Gerions, Triple growne;
So seem'd to have her former wound heal'd up,
Which Cæsars gave by their Remove; her Cup
O're-flow'd, her Mace renew'd, which Gothes had rent.
She frolicks now, forgets her Banishment;
She hopes, that the like Blow shall never light
Upon her Limbs, nor work her more despight.
She stands secure, and builds up Babels Walls,
And by New Kings, her Tributary Thralls,
Whom she hath train'd with Fetches into serve
Her Turne, and as their God, her to observe,
She stores her Palace with the price of Bloud,
With Sinnefull Spoiles vail'd with an Angels Hood.
While thus she vaunts of Carnall Dignities,
And slights the Serpent, which concealed lies,
Religion goes to wrack: and few there be,
Which will, or dare the Gospels Splendour see.
Dumbe are her Priests, and muffled are the Flock;
Both Honour Stocks more then the Living Rocke.
Instead of Scriptures now, Traditions strange,
The Divels Huskes, disperst. Lord! how those range!
Which though but light at first in Wise mens Eyes,
None fannes them, lest they might disgrace the Keyes
Usurping Lord, who, whilst he grac'd those Toyes,
Stopt Strangers murmure at the Latine Noise.
Her Woes, Her Fits, and Manifolded Beares
By Saracens, the Popes, and Heathnish Bands,
Who forraged, and rackt all Christian Lands?
180
Parted with Popes the Scepter Soveraigne,
Adding unto the Keyes a Diademe,
But Rome grew proud of that brave State Supreme,
Although as then it was a single Crowne,
And not, as since, like Gerions, Triple growne;
So seem'd to have her former wound heal'd up,
Which Cæsars gave by their Remove; her Cup
O're-flow'd, her Mace renew'd, which Gothes had rent.
She frolicks now, forgets her Banishment;
She hopes, that the like Blow shall never light
Upon her Limbs, nor work her more despight.
She stands secure, and builds up Babels Walls,
And by New Kings, her Tributary Thralls,
Whom she hath train'd with Fetches into serve
Her Turne, and as their God, her to observe,
She stores her Palace with the price of Bloud,
With Sinnefull Spoiles vail'd with an Angels Hood.
While thus she vaunts of Carnall Dignities,
And slights the Serpent, which concealed lies,
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Which will, or dare the Gospels Splendour see.
Dumbe are her Priests, and muffled are the Flock;
Both Honour Stocks more then the Living Rocke.
Instead of Scriptures now, Traditions strange,
The Divels Huskes, disperst. Lord! how those range!
Which though but light at first in Wise mens Eyes,
None fannes them, lest they might disgrace the Keyes
Usurping Lord, who, whilst he grac'd those Toyes,
Stopt Strangers murmure at the Latine Noise.
O tyranny, worse than Our Norman Kings!
Such was Great Henries Spleen, and such his stings
Towards the Welsh or Brittish Nation bent,
Because they had by their Troupes Ambushment
Neere Snowdon Hills defeated in their Woods
And Straights his Forces, in his angry Moods
He meant, if hesped in a Victours way
Old Cambers Tone quite to exile away,
And force the Vanquisht from their Native Tongue
To learne the English Tone. But of this wrong
Consulting with an Hermite, when he heard
How hard that Plot would prove, he seem'd afear'd:
That though their Persons he might subjugate,
Yet he could not that Tongue obliterate,
Which was so Ancient, but it should endure
Till Doomesday came, the Pure from the Impure
To separate, and that this Sound among
The Chiefe should vent Allelujaes Song.
Such was Great Henries Spleen, and such his stings
Towards the Welsh or Brittish Nation bent,
Because they had by their Troupes Ambushment
Neere Snowdon Hills defeated in their Woods
And Straights his Forces, in his angry Moods
He meant, if hesped in a Victours way
Old Cambers Tone quite to exile away,
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To learne the English Tone. But of this wrong
Consulting with an Hermite, when he heard
How hard that Plot would prove, he seem'd afear'd:
That though their Persons he might subjugate,
Yet he could not that Tongue obliterate,
Which was so Ancient, but it should endure
Till Doomesday came, the Pure from the Impure
To separate, and that this Sound among
The Chiefe should vent Allelujaes Song.
Much then hath Rome to answer for this wrong,
And they have Cause to waile, who were so long
Barr'd from Soules-Comfort in the Mother-Tongue
By Rapsodies unknowne, or Parrats Song.
Before this Ninth Centurian Age began,
Although the Head turn'd giddy, the New-man
Forsooke not to reclaime the Chiefest Parts
Of the Church-Body from the Serpents Arts.
In all the Course of the Church-Pilgrimage,
From the Apostles Time untill this Age,
I apprehend no Pleas in that long Tract
Of Time, nor reall Motives to substract,
(Some Schismaticques excepted, and some Few,
Who seiz'd on Rights to their Creator due)
From her Essentiall Worth, and Purity;
But that Romes Church leagu'd in Integrity
With Cyprian, Ambrose, Ierome, Augustine,
For the Resolve of Mysteries Divine;
And that with those, whom I have named last,
We hold True Faith in spight of Babels Blast,
The Faith, which they did Catholicke professe;
Yea, and the very same untowardnesse
Of Factious Spirits, which they scorn'd, we scorne,
Hating to see our Masters Rayment torne.
And they have Cause to waile, who were so long
Barr'd from Soules-Comfort in the Mother-Tongue
By Rapsodies unknowne, or Parrats Song.
Before this Ninth Centurian Age began,
Although the Head turn'd giddy, the New-man
Forsooke not to reclaime the Chiefest Parts
Of the Church-Body from the Serpents Arts.
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From the Apostles Time untill this Age,
I apprehend no Pleas in that long Tract
Of Time, nor reall Motives to substract,
(Some Schismaticques excepted, and some Few,
Who seiz'd on Rights to their Creator due)
From her Essentiall Worth, and Purity;
But that Romes Church leagu'd in Integrity
With Cyprian, Ambrose, Ierome, Augustine,
For the Resolve of Mysteries Divine;
And that with those, whom I have named last,
We hold True Faith in spight of Babels Blast,
The Faith, which they did Catholicke professe;
Yea, and the very same untowardnesse
Of Factious Spirits, which they scorn'd, we scorne,
Hating to see our Masters Rayment torne.
Did any Famous Writers from Christs Age?
Or in Eight Hundred Yeares since Christ engage
Their Auditors to credit those lewd Points,
Which with lewd threats Trents Councel late appoints
Did either Popes, or Councels then ordaine
From Wedlock Bonds the Clergy to refraine?
Did they compell their Flockes Gods Word to heare
In a strange Tongue, as if they sencelesse were?
Did they without their Troupe Communicate?
Or let them without Wine participate
The Holy Bread alone? with curst intent
So maiming halfe our Christian Sacrament?
Did they kneele downe to Images or Shrines?
Or offer Bribing Gifts? Or pay them Fines?
Did they believe the Pope dispenc'd with Oathes?
Or could dispose of Realmes to Franks or Gothes?
Did Popes within sev'n Hundred Yeares exempt
States from their Kings, or Kings hold in contempt?
Did they beleeve that Popes could Pardons sell?
And ransome Soules from Purgings Flames of Hell?
Or do the Greeks, the East, or Abissine
Hold to this day, like Rome, their Rites Divine?
But rather joyne with us in most of these.
Holding her Sick of Schismaticqués Disease?
Did they before the Councell Popes preferre?
As though, like Other Men, they could not erre?
No Romainist, although he loves the Pope,
Unlesse he rackes too much, will prove I hope,
That any Doctours broacht that Doctrine out
Untill the Sunne the Ninth Age brought about;
Or till indeed long after by degrees
Popes thundring Spells forc'd Monarques on their knees
Against Christs Rule, who never grudg'd to pay
Cæsarean Toll, nor Pilate did gaine-say.
And if they should by Romes Type patronize
Those Errours, which the True Church doth despise,
Let them looke backe upon the Word Divine,
And see if there they can such Points define;
Or if before, or after Constantine,
Till this Tenth Age from Purenesse did decline,
They apprehend that Saints did Sympathize
With those grosse dreams, which now they dearly prize.
Or in Eight Hundred Yeares since Christ engage
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Which with lewd threats Trents Councel late appoints
Did either Popes, or Councels then ordaine
From Wedlock Bonds the Clergy to refraine?
Did they compell their Flockes Gods Word to heare
In a strange Tongue, as if they sencelesse were?
Did they without their Troupe Communicate?
Or let them without Wine participate
The Holy Bread alone? with curst intent
So maiming halfe our Christian Sacrament?
Did they kneele downe to Images or Shrines?
Or offer Bribing Gifts? Or pay them Fines?
Did they believe the Pope dispenc'd with Oathes?
Or could dispose of Realmes to Franks or Gothes?
Did Popes within sev'n Hundred Yeares exempt
States from their Kings, or Kings hold in contempt?
Did they beleeve that Popes could Pardons sell?
And ransome Soules from Purgings Flames of Hell?
Or do the Greeks, the East, or Abissine
Hold to this day, like Rome, their Rites Divine?
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Holding her Sick of Schismaticqués Disease?
Did they before the Councell Popes preferre?
As though, like Other Men, they could not erre?
No Romainist, although he loves the Pope,
Unlesse he rackes too much, will prove I hope,
That any Doctours broacht that Doctrine out
Untill the Sunne the Ninth Age brought about;
Or till indeed long after by degrees
Popes thundring Spells forc'd Monarques on their knees
Against Christs Rule, who never grudg'd to pay
Cæsarean Toll, nor Pilate did gaine-say.
And if they should by Romes Type patronize
Those Errours, which the True Church doth despise,
Let them looke backe upon the Word Divine,
And see if there they can such Points define;
Or if before, or after Constantine,
Till this Tenth Age from Purenesse did decline,
They apprehend that Saints did Sympathize
With those grosse dreams, which now they dearly prize.
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Onely some Shrines in Austins Time began
To be in some request, by their Old Man
Devis'd to soile the New, but not, as since,
That they might from Gods Adoration flinch,
With an All Haile to the Triumphall Wood,
To Martyrs Ashes, or Saint Benets Hood.
Though in our West Some us'd thus to comply,
The East remembred yet Saint Anthony,
Who at his Lives last gaspe, Sinne to prevent,
Requir'd his Friends, that not with Monument
They would enclose his Corps, but secretly
Conceale the same, lest men might foolishly
It Idolize in Zeale to doe him grace,
Which would redound at last to their disgrace.
To Iohn the Twelfe now Cæsar Homage swore,
And that the Mid-time of this Age did gore.
To be in some request, by their Old Man
Devis'd to soile the New, but not, as since,
That they might from Gods Adoration flinch,
With an All Haile to the Triumphall Wood,
To Martyrs Ashes, or Saint Benets Hood.
Though in our West Some us'd thus to comply,
The East remembred yet Saint Anthony,
Who at his Lives last gaspe, Sinne to prevent,
Requir'd his Friends, that not with Monument
They would enclose his Corps, but secretly
Conceale the same, lest men might foolishly
It Idolize in Zeale to doe him grace,
Which would redound at last to their disgrace.
To Iohn the Twelfe now Cæsar Homage swore,
And that the Mid-time of this Age did gore.
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Of all the Ages since the Word made Flesh
First rose on Earth none for the Church had lesse
Of Learnings Light then this Tenth Century,
Dull'd through the Damps of Hells great Mystery.
Full Fourescore yeares so Ignorance prevail'd,
That Knowledge seem'd extinct, the Gospel fail'd.
Who could repeat the Pater-Noster, Creed,
And Ave Maries oft, though with small heed,
Or gloss'd on Shrines, or mumbled Latine Masse,
In Schooles he did for a good Graduate passe.
But if he made Monastick Legends knowne,
A Doctours Cap became his shaven Crowne.
Whether this chanc'd by Romes deep Policie,
That none might dive to her Supremacie,
Which she had newly Crown'd, or that the Warres,
Anxiety embroyling Soules with Cares
Prevented Learnings Growth, we find small Signes
In that tempestuous Time of Vertuous Lines,
Or Monuments to move Posterity
Not to accuse them of Impiety.
Such was the Blindnesse of this darkned Age,
That none scarce acted on the Muses Stage
Parts to be seene of Gotams Auditours;
So busie were Old Fooles in building Towres
And strong Monastick Cells, where they found Peace,
Or to defend their Reliques from the Prease
Of Souldiers stormes, which from the North did fall,
Norwegians, Danes, and Pirates robbing all.
Onely some Foppish Tales they left behinde,
Thereby to cheat, not edifie the Minde:
What Miracles were wrought in such a Place,
Which they conceiv'd their Monkish Haunt to grace,
How Dunstan hookt, catcht Satan by the Nose,
With many moe absurder Lyes then those;
Like Oberons imagin'd Fairy Dance,
Or Arthurs Knights, or the Twelve Peeres of France;
How Patrick kill'd Five Hundred Yeares before
Thousands of Irish Kernes by Charmed Lore;
How David did a mighty Mountaine move,
And by his Word the Massy Earth remove.
With such Fond Tales they gull'd the Multitude,
That 'tis no marvell we account them rude.
First rose on Earth none for the Church had lesse
Of Learnings Light then this Tenth Century,
Dull'd through the Damps of Hells great Mystery.
Full Fourescore yeares so Ignorance prevail'd,
That Knowledge seem'd extinct, the Gospel fail'd.
Who could repeat the Pater-Noster, Creed,
And Ave Maries oft, though with small heed,
Or gloss'd on Shrines, or mumbled Latine Masse,
In Schooles he did for a good Graduate passe.
But if he made Monastick Legends knowne,
A Doctours Cap became his shaven Crowne.
Whether this chanc'd by Romes deep Policie,
That none might dive to her Supremacie,
Which she had newly Crown'd, or that the Warres,
Anxiety embroyling Soules with Cares
Prevented Learnings Growth, we find small Signes
In that tempestuous Time of Vertuous Lines,
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Not to accuse them of Impiety.
Such was the Blindnesse of this darkned Age,
That none scarce acted on the Muses Stage
Parts to be seene of Gotams Auditours;
So busie were Old Fooles in building Towres
And strong Monastick Cells, where they found Peace,
Or to defend their Reliques from the Prease
Of Souldiers stormes, which from the North did fall,
Norwegians, Danes, and Pirates robbing all.
Onely some Foppish Tales they left behinde,
Thereby to cheat, not edifie the Minde:
What Miracles were wrought in such a Place,
Which they conceiv'd their Monkish Haunt to grace,
How Dunstan hookt, catcht Satan by the Nose,
With many moe absurder Lyes then those;
Like Oberons imagin'd Fairy Dance,
Or Arthurs Knights, or the Twelve Peeres of France;
How Patrick kill'd Five Hundred Yeares before
Thousands of Irish Kernes by Charmed Lore;
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And by his Word the Massy Earth remove.
With such Fond Tales they gull'd the Multitude,
That 'tis no marvell we account them rude.
Yet o're his Church the Spirit vigilant
Neglected not their Dreames extravagant
To interrupt, by raising up the Wit
Of Ælfrick to reforme their raving Fit,
Which worke perhaps not usefull for that Age,
But for our Doubts we doe conceive them sage,
I meane for Christ his Body in suspence
With Some, which till this Age in Ghostly Sence,
I dare be bold to say, Saints ever tooke,
Not Carnall-wise, but by the New-mans Booke.
This Reverend Clerk in ancient Saxon Style
Describes what Blots the Sacrament defile,
And proves the Sence and Manner of the Feast
To suit with None, but with the Spirits Guest.
From the tenth Chapter of the Corinths First
He thus compares: The Israelites a thirst
Dranke of Christs Rock with a Spirituall Tast,
And on his Flesh, though Clouded, brake their Fast.
As our New-man, or zealous Catechist
Admires Christs Body in the Eucharist:
So they prais'd God for Manna and Rock-water,
Types of the Churches Twinnes, how he begat her.
Neglected not their Dreames extravagant
To interrupt, by raising up the Wit
Of Ælfrick to reforme their raving Fit,
Which worke perhaps not usefull for that Age,
But for our Doubts we doe conceive them sage,
I meane for Christ his Body in suspence
With Some, which till this Age in Ghostly Sence,
I dare be bold to say, Saints ever tooke,
Not Carnall-wise, but by the New-mans Booke.
This Reverend Clerk in ancient Saxon Style
Describes what Blots the Sacrament defile,
And proves the Sence and Manner of the Feast
To suit with None, but with the Spirits Guest.
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He thus compares: The Israelites a thirst
Dranke of Christs Rock with a Spirituall Tast,
And on his Flesh, though Clouded, brake their Fast.
As our New-man, or zealous Catechist
Admires Christs Body in the Eucharist:
So they prais'd God for Manna and Rock-water,
Types of the Churches Twinnes, how he begat her.
Out of the Forrest of this Century,
Excepting, Rudenesse, Broiles, and Butchery,
I apprehend no memorable Course
To beautifie my Lines; But worse and worse
All things decline. This onely I conclude
Imperiall Otho to extinguish Fieud,
And mortall Jarres for Chusing Emperours
On Sev'n conferr'd the first Elective Pow'res,
Eternizing the Period of this Sceane,
Whose Former Acts we count Rude and obsceane.
This Otho by Pope Gregories Assent
Did to assure the Almaines Government,
And to content the Rhines Count Palatine,
Because he next of Charlemaine his Ligne
Deserv'd that Honour, which his Race hath held,
Till Force of late the Golden Bull expell'd.
For this brave Act the Authour got the Praise,
To be enstil'd the Wonder of those Dayes,
As they, who do that Order violate,
Shall be proclaim'd Usurpers of the State.
Excepting, Rudenesse, Broiles, and Butchery,
I apprehend no memorable Course
To beautifie my Lines; But worse and worse
All things decline. This onely I conclude
Imperiall Otho to extinguish Fieud,
And mortall Jarres for Chusing Emperours
On Sev'n conferr'd the first Elective Pow'res,
Eternizing the Period of this Sceane,
Whose Former Acts we count Rude and obsceane.
181
Did to assure the Almaines Government,
And to content the Rhines Count Palatine,
Because he next of Charlemaine his Ligne
Deserv'd that Honour, which his Race hath held,
Till Force of late the Golden Bull expell'd.
For this brave Act the Authour got the Praise,
To be enstil'd the Wonder of those Dayes,
As they, who do that Order violate,
Shall be proclaim'd Usurpers of the State.
For an Appendix to my Register,
I must not over-passe Pope Sylvester,
Who by Hell-Charmes, Spells, Negromantick Lies,
And Magick Arts defam'd the Papall Keyes,
Preparing roome by that Catastrophe
To the Next Age tost with a Sinnefull Sea.
I must not over-passe Pope Sylvester,
Who by Hell-Charmes, Spells, Negromantick Lies,
And Magick Arts defam'd the Papall Keyes,
Preparing roome by that Catastrophe
To the Next Age tost with a Sinnefull Sea.
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