University of Virginia Library

Strange Worship blossoms much, like new Cloaths put
Upon Gods Service of the Cony Cut
Such as the other Centuries invented
Are still in use: and yet as not contented
New fashions more are Still attended on.
And borrowd of the Whore of Babylon.
That fills with grieving tears, the gracefull Eye
Of Bleeding Patience such new modes to Spy.
As here to fore so now, they on do go
To overlay, or other wise ore throw
Gods Worship Choice with Silver, Gems, and Gold
Agnet the Emperess, Saint Benits Fold
In which Monks of Cassina make their nest,
With Gold, and Purple Garments did invest.
The Gospell Booke with Silver Covers all
Ore laid with Gold. Two Silver Cups not Small.
Henry the Second Mersburgh Church consignd
A Cup of Gold of eighteen Mark, refinde
And Henry the Lame gave to the Same
A Table all adornd with Gems of Fame
Orelaid with wealthy Gold. And Henry who
Was fourth so nam'd did on the Abby throw
At Spires a golden Table bravely wrought
The Fulda Abbat Rotingus when Caught
By death, was making for the flock, its said,
A Table Stuck with Gems. Also its laid
In history, a Table all of Gold
With Gems, and Various worke rare to behold
Was at Constantinople made most bright,
And else w[h]ere was a Silver Piller dight
In part with gold, Six Cubets high displaid,
And Set upon a Porphyry base there made.
The bald gave to Saint Saviours Church Cassine,
Two Silver Censars, one all guilt most fine.
A Beame of molten brass with Candle sticks
Ten fives he made, Wax tapers in them fix
And Six greate Candlesticks three Cubits high
Of Silver plate he formed Curiously.
Henry the fourth gave to the Church of Breme
An hundred Palls, three Silver Cups full clean
A Silver Vessell for the Chrism: yea
A guilded Silver Scuthin, Psalter gay
With golden letters flourisht Censare and
Rich Candlesticks of Silver highly Stand
Moreover Image glory too they get
Within their temples They at Cassine set
Three Silver Crosses upon marble Steps.
Christs picture hanging on the Cross him frets.
The places neer to Rome paint Christ out cleare
With Paul on's Right Peter his left hand there[.]

Besides all this you'l see another kind
Religious Adoration too designd
Hellbrand did pray to Peter and to Paul
When he with Curse the Emperour did mall
Relicks they do adore. They of Cassine
Saint Maarus Arm bone whole (as a rich Shrine)
Shut in a Silver box most neatly made
Like to a Tower compleat, receive arraid
In Solemn Robes, with Candles in their hand
With Frankincense, and prostrate to the land
Adore, and kiss the Same religiously,
The Cluniak Monks Saint Peters haire up cry.
They at Cassine after this sort adore
A Shread of th'towell which our Lord once bore
And dri'de th'Apostles feet withall. The Clerk
Two Candles lights unto it. (else all's darke)
And then in order it is given to
Each person to adore, and kiss. And so
For this brave Worship we are told they keep
In gold, and Silver Chests their Relicks, deep.
Some also Studded are with Pretious Stone
In Eyes of gold. Malfitan Such an one
Brought to Cassin made of a bit of Wood
Of Christ one Cross on which he nailed Stood.
Baldwin Barbate the Earle of Flanders gave
Th'Tronchin Monks John Baptists Tooth to have.
Here gaudy Worship plated up with gold
And Silver deck with Gems, yea manifold,
Of bits of Bones, Blood, Clouts, Wood, Haire, a Tooth.
How long shall Patience Sacrifice in truth
Her pretious teares, to see things thus to rise?
What difference, pray you, can you e're devise
Between these men, and them of Ceilan; who
Greate Veneration on a Tooth bestow?
What though John Baptist's Tooth is yours? he's dead;
And theirs an Apes tooth bee? out of their head
Both knockt are, and are both of equall bone.
Both are alike Divine: if either one,
It's worse than apish to adore a tooth
Whether John Baptists or an Apes in truth[.]