University of Virginia Library

Io. Pannomus.

Once in thy Church, S. Peter, as we reade,

Fœmina Petre tua quondam ausa sedere Cathedra, &c.


A woman rul'd, and did possesse thy chaire,
Vntill a Frier her holinesse did leade
Into the Conclaue to the euening prayer:

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But her deuotion turnd to youthfull pleasure,
All are not Saints that outwardly seeme holy,
She in the sport did ioy beyond all measure,
Till time made vp the fruites of louing follie.
Then what a griefe procur'd the great disgrace,
To all who thought her father of the Saints?
She shamefully was hurled from the place,
And euer since Romes policie preuents
The like mishap; they now the Pope do place
In a rich chaire, hollow and bottomlesse,
Where priuately (to shun future disgrace)
By natures marks his manhood they expresse.
But some to cleare the doubt and shun suspects,
Before they come to climbe the Papall throne,
Giue full assurance of their manly sexe,
And make themselues first father of a sonne.