The Church Militant :: :: University of Virginia Library

Where lay Our Church ere Wickliffe first arose:
By Prodigies Rome warn'd ere Luther rose.
No Tyrants Plots could let Our Churches Sound,
But Englands Queene did all her Foes confound.

From Age to Age I shew'd the Churches race,
Her Wane, her Wens, & her refulgent Face;
And some I nam'd for Prophetizing Wits
In Elder Times against our Belials Fits,

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Who goe about by asking with Proud Sence
Where was Our Church? to chaine Gods Providence,
Like to those Doctours and Mosaicall Scribes,
Who labour'd to suppresse what Christ prescribes?
Besides th' Abissines under Pretious Iohn,
Th' Armenians, Greekes, and Some in Babylon,
Or otherwhere. (For who dares bound our Guest?
Since we are ti'd likewise to Judge the Best?)
And not to bind Gods free unbounded Grace
To any certaine Climate, Times, or Place?)
Christ had his Church, a Remnant sav'd by Grace
Alwayes inspir'd in some or Other Place;
Whether our Scribes pretend them Coloieros,
Nestorians, Monkes, or Saint Iohns Cavalleros,
Whether they hold of Persian Iacobites,
The Hussites Forme, or of Georgiaes Rites;
Of Maronites or Cofties of the East,
Or Catholicks so craking in the West
Or Hermites, Nunnes and Voluntaries Poore,
Whose humbled hearts then Pomp Saints honour more

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Because they side with Christ, beare Christian Name,
Though much in Blame, yet I will spare their Fame;
And let our Weaklings know, that some were Wise,
And did of Old in Babel Sybillize;
By speciall Signes and Sympromes generall,
But most by Sacred Starres Authenticall,
Denouncing for her Slips Gods Wrath, her Fall,
Unlesse she would Repent her at their Call.
And so things came to passe, as they Divin'd,
Her Spires for Rookes we now demolisht find,
Some by the Force of furious Ottoman,
Some forfeited for what the Lawes did scan:
Her Chappels turn'd to Barnes, or Nests for Owles,
Her Nunneries first built for harmelesse Soules
Lye wast with her Rich Temporalls and Rents;
Yea, and Gods Tythes, Our Church-emoluments,
By what just Warrant let the Lawes dispute,
Some keepe away as yet; and I am Mute,
Because I see sometimes that Innocence,
Aswell as Vice, dies of the Pestilence,

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An Order laid Pope Alexander downe
For the New World. But shortly of his Owne
Most wretched States and Life shall be bereft,
And for Usurpers an Example left.
For after this usurpt Partition made,
His Bastard Sonne to try his Former Trade
Of Pois'ning Those, whom he suppos'd would barre
The Proud Designes of his complotted warre,
His Motto blaz'd, the Hazards Die is cast,
Cæsar, or Nothing, now by Poisons Tast
He meant to rid Suspected Cardinalls
Out of the way, but hereby both their Falls,
His Fathers and his Owne, he sodaine wrought,
For he soone as the Fatall Wine was brought,
Charged his Page, that he the Bottle watch,
And when he call'd for Wine, that he should reach
It for his Guests; the Pope came in the while,
And thirsty call'd for Wine: the Page the Wile

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Not knowing, thought the Wine reserv'd was Choise,
And without more adoe, or Answers Noise,
Fill'd him a Cup of the Empoisned Wine,
And by just Doome, as writeth Guiccardine,
Came in the Authour, his accursed Sonne
All thirsty too, and tasted thereupon
The Cup which he for Others brew'd, and lost
His Father out of hand, himselfe almost
Ran the same Fate, but that by Nature strong,
He for that time escap'd to doe more wrong,
Still quarrelling, till he was thrall'd and slaine.
So Cæsar Borgias liv'd and di'd a Caine.
Pope Julius now to Tiber slung his Keyes,
Then fought, and lost by French his Enemies,
A Token that Romes Church to wrack began
To fall, as you may by the sequele scan.

The Outward Crosse in Teutons Soile appear'd
Of Martyrs Forme, and with that Signe besmear'd

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Their Palaces, and Houshold Ornaments,
Their Windowes, Doores, and Bodies Vestiments;
A signe to shew the Fiery Trialls Doome
By Factious Gogs and Magogs Force to come,
Veil'd with the Crosse, the Keyes, with Peters Net,
With Iesus, with the Lawes, or Mahomet.
This Miracle in Maximilians Time
Fell out, not long before the Gospels Chime
At Wittemberge with Motions life began
By Luthers Zeale, that good Samaritan,
Who, when most shunn'd to helpe the wounded Man,
Cheer'd up, and Bath'd Christs Members pale and wan.

And after this another Prodigy
Befell to Rome, which no Apology
Of Idolists can cover the mis-hap;
When little Iesus from his Mothers Lap
Was in the Church remov'd, and Peters Keyes
Throwne from his Pictures hand, Both in a trice

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VVithout respect of Persons by the stroke
Of Thunders Crack and sacred Sulphures Smoake
Just in that Church, where One and Thirty Priests
VVith the Red Hat that Day, like Minstrellists,
Installed were by Leo there with state
In the same Yeare, when Luther to abate
His Loftinesse began with greater Fame
Then Cardinalls support, in Christ his Name.

Our Kings and States of Westerne Christendome
Complain'd and sought for some Redresse to come
Of Faiths abuse, and Romes Impiety,
But still the Head was deafe to Piety,
He would no Member be, but the Church whole,
Himselfe sole Iudge, and Church, without one Mole,
Or Sinfull Spot, by which Prerogative
He tyrannized so, that none could thrive;
He watcht with Vultures Clawes all Stakes to sweep:
He watcht to slay, but not to feed the Sheep,

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Like Maltaes Iew, or those of Lawlesse kind,
Who under Maske of Law cease not to grind
Christs Members, till they feele Hells measures heapt,
Or till they reape what Old Masse-mongers reapt.
So blinded were the Popes by Doome Divine,
Till a Poore Man, a Frier Augustine,
Since started up to doe that Glorious Deed,
Which Gregories, and Austines doth exceed,
Which Kings assay'd, but failed to performe:
Nay, Kings durst not what Luther did reforme.
Would God that some like Prophet took the Paines
To bring back Love for which our Church complains.
This Wonder God wrought in our Latter Dayes,
That before Doome he might recall some Strayes,
That Satans Pride he might by Sucklings tame,
And by the Weak the Worldly Wizzard shame.

Well neere upon our Luthers Sacrifice,
Grave Reuclin did and Valla breake the Ice,

279

As London was prepar'd by Golets Flame,
And Dutch-land by the Clerk of Rotterdame;
As Swizzer Land, when Luther first began,
By Zuinglius was stirr'd up Romes zeale to scan.
But none then our Iust Fast Men triumph'd more,
Whose Race had held full Sixscore Yeares before
VVith Faggots Fire, and Lollards branded Paine
Pursu'd till now, and now rejoyc'd againe,
To see that Faith, which with the Hussites they
Had long maintain'd, found out an open way
By Luthers Zeale, Stigelius ravisht Muse,
And by Melancthons Flowres with blooming Newes.

Babel her Fall in Henries Time foresaw,
VVhen Premunire Englands ancient Law
Her Clergy rackt. But most she quakt for Dread
To heare him styl'd the Churches Supreme Head:
For by that Style what Rome usurped heere
Of Aunates, Farmes, and Duties every Yeare,

280

Our Parliament had on the King conferr'd
To aide him in his Warres. These Spoiles transferr'd
From Forraigne use to help the Natives want:
'Tis strange to mark how soone men did recant
Their Carnall Dreames, and blind Idolatries,
To celebrate the New-mans Sacrifice.

Blest be Young Edward, Our Iosides Name,
Who next commenc'd this Work of Pious Fame.
But as the Former Brood, when Constantine
Deceas'd, then prou'd ingratefull, the Next Ligne
Of Cæsars fell to Arrian Heresie,
And their Old Vomits with Apostasie:
So wavering England in the Marian Raigne
Quickly return'd to Babels yoak againe,
Untill some Martyrs Blood, the Churches Seed,
True Members of their Head in time of Need
Had through Gods Grace behind them left a Fire,
As Latimer foretold, which would inspire,

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And never be extinct in Albions Ile,
Whilst that Our Kings beare Faiths Defenders Stile.

This by our Virgin Queene of Tydirs Race,
Great Debora, was since made good to raze,
And quite demollish here Romes strongest Fort,
And chiefest Nerves, which did her Pride support,
And surely, if Romes Tributary Thralls
Would take that Course, she on a sodaine falls.
Her Lofty Towres would yeeld so loud a Crack
That they, which Court her now, would soon go back,
When startled up at the New wondrous Sight,
They see a Church more Catholick of Light:
They would avouch no Advocate but One,
And build their Faith upon the Corner Stone,
That was hewne from the Mountaine without hand,
Male-borne without Male-Sire in Iewry Land.
They would exalt Our Church Apostolick
Above their Owne, the Carnall Catholick,

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And by Gods Word, Truths ground, the Churches note,
They would conclude what now they con by roat.

About the midst of this strange Century,
Iniquities prodigious Mystery
Began at Trent, or City Tridentine,
Againe to play upon the Word Divine
By Canons propt with Iulians Tyranny,
More fit for Moores then Councells harmony.
Least that the Gospel should Romes Captives free
From their Old doating Dreames, they did decree,
That all such Bookes, which Protestants had pen'd
To blaze Gods Word, they should in pieces rend;
Or if they toucht her Carnall Copy-hold,
To Martyr them, since Babel aimes at Gold;
And that who did gaine-say in Word or Deed,
Or tooke it not as Parcell of their Creed,
That the whole Masse both for the Dead and Quick
Suffic'd, those Men they doom'd no Catholick;

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That, who beleev'd not all the Romish Crewes
Traditions, they were worse then Turks or Iewes.
Such Acts at Trent were last determined
By the Fourth Pius, Romes most impious Head,
With Thundring Threats. Frō whence arose those Jars,
Combustions, Powder-plots, and Bloudy Warres,
Which ever since embroiled Christendome,
And will (I feare) untill the Day of Doome
Endure, unlesse our head-strong Strayes afford,
While Time remaines, more Passage to Gods Word.

None can deny, but that this Councell gave
More Liberty for Papists to out-brave
The Church Reform'd by Inquisitions strict
To rack poore Soules, and by severe Edict
On Forfeiture of Life and Goods Escheat,
If they would not adore the Papall Seat.
From hence began the Civill Warres in France,
Which ended not but by most Bloudy Dance.

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And various sort of Massacres and Spoiles.
They ended not for all their Leaguers Broiles,
Untill their Kings, the Guisians, and their Chiefes,
Who sided in the Quarrell, di'd in Griefes,
In Anguishes and Bloud. And this the Starre
In Seventy Two, which past all Comets farre
For strange Portent and Blazing-bearded Rayes,
Did then denounce with woes to stubborne Strayes,
For Belgiaes injur'd States did thereupon
Incenc'd by Alvaes Duke, and Austriaes Iohn,
Who would have forc'd to Masse mens Consciences,
Breake into warres against Spaines Out-rages;
Which last as yet. So likewise Portingall,
With her Sebastian did in Affrick fall,
Enduc'd to fight with Moores by Iesuites Traine,
That Philip by his Death might ceaze all Spaine,
Excluding Don Antonio and his Race.
Quite from the Sway of Lisbons Royall Mace.
But to retire to our French Leaguers back,
How Fatall prov'd their Plots? They thought to sack

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And ransack all the Townes, which Protestants,
For their Defence then held. But in their wants
God aided these, and on their Foes return'd
The Tragick Flames, wherwith they would have burn'd
Their Neighbors Roofes, Guise arm'd agaist his King,
The King, 'gainst him, till Both felt Judgments sting,
Both di'd in Bloud, yea, which appear'd most rare,
The King was caught in the same Bloudy Snare,
Where he in time fore-past had leagu'd the Death
Of Saints, whereby Catillion lost his Breath,
For in that very Roome the King was slaine
By Friers hands, where first was laid that Traine.

Long liv'd Our Queen to build things out of square,
A Virgin vow'd to Christ, of Dowries rare,
Excelling in the Gifts of Tongues and Arts;
But more then all shone her Diviner Parts.
Church-Elders She propt up, when Some their Fall,
As if their State toucht not the Temporall,

286

For Lucre sake had plotted to deface
Our Churches Forme, her Frame, and Outward Face,
Whereby her Sway had prov'd an Anarchy,
Of scorned stemme, the House of God a Sty,
And Learning held in vile Contempt for lack
Of Wages due; yea, all had gone to wrack,
If this Good Queene had not supported them,
Who holp to build our New Ierusalem.

In her Buddes-time, to counterpoize, or let
Our Churches Growth, or in her Tents beset
To ruine some of our good Souldiers, sprung
The Iesuites Sect with the False Serpents Tongue
Disguis'd with Zeale, and promising to Youth
Mountaines of Rules, New Documents for Truth.
Upon which Newes, and Newnesse of their Name,
Degrading Antioch, and the Christian Fame,
They wan Repute in Babel. But of late
Discreeter States their Bloudy Doctrine hate.

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Among these Frogs croakt Mariana first
Against all Kings, who were by Popes Accurst,
And by Blacke Rules deriv'd from Hells Abysse,
Dethron'd them of their States for their Amisse.
Yea, and their Lives subjected unto Slaves.
With such lewd Points, wherein this Jesuite raves,
He Campians Braine so stuff'd, that Irelands Realme
And Desmonds Crew he poisned with the streame;
For which his Plots and false Conspiracies,
Himselfe became a Damned Sacrifice;
As well deserv'd the Authour for his Bookes
Entangling Christians with such Hellish Hookes,
But all their Plots of Pistolls, Poison, Swords,
Nor Romish Bulls, nor Briefes lowd thundring words,
Could shorten or impeach Elizaes Raigne,
But that she thriv'd in spight of Rome and Spaine,
While they prevail'd with Fatall wound to sting
One whom they tooke for the most Christian King;
Which Deed so pleas'd Pope Sixtus, that he durst
With Iudith ranke the Malefactour Curst.

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This Sixtus dar'd to Excommunicate
Our Famous Queene, her Empire to translate,
As much as in him lay, and Leave to gore
Her Person gave, as Pius did before.
But all their roaring Bulls and Thunderclaps
With Interest return'd, with heavy Raps
Upon themselves, their Faction, and on those,
To whom they dream'd her Kingdomes to transpose.
Under his shrowd, who from a Fishes Craw
Did Toll for Christ and his owne Person draw.

In the meane time faire Englands Zealous Queene,
Like Char-coale sparks, contemn'd their flashing spleen.
And for her Zeale God blest her brave Attempts,
That she cri'd Quittance for his slight Contempts
Of Neighbours Love with the Great King of Spaine,
Who suffred still his Inquisitions Traine,
Under pretext of their Religions Lawes,
To prey upon her Merchants without Cause,

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And on their Goods: or sheading of their Bloud;
Or Galley-slav'd; or to weare Benets Hood.
These wrongs by Drake and Candish she redrest,
And fear'd not to encounter him at Best
With all his Navall Force in Eighty Eight.
And afterwards at Cales she shew'd her Might.
Nor went his Indies free from her Revenge,
Nor Belgiaes Soile, but that she did avenge
Her Quarrell full, by Force of Armes transverse
The Belgian State, and free the Hollanders
From th' Inquisitions Yoake by Alva laid,
And sithence train'd their Milk-sops by her Aide
To turne brave Souldiers both on Sea and Land,
To weary Spaine, and on their Guard to stand.

After that Bloudy Feast in Seventy Two,
When Sions Church French Herods would undo,
Besieged Rochell with Munitions store
By Sea she furnisht, and Reliev'd her Poore.

290

Againe, France tasted of her Lenity,
As Burbon tri'd and his Posterity,
Which but for her good Cares, and Troupes Supply,
Had stoupt unto Iberiaes Tyranny;
And Lorraines League then mammockt into Parts
Had thrall'd all France to Spaines Superiour Darts.

She planted Ireland, civilliz'd the Rude,
Rebellious, Wild, and Kernish Multitude;
And neere her Set by Valiant Mount joyes Cares,
With Triumph there o're Spaine she cloz'd her Warres.
So stood out State of Church and Common-weale,
In spight of Romish Bulls, Spaine, and Oneale,
Secur'd frō Schismes, Home-broyles, and Hostile Traine,
As long as Great Elizabeth did Raigne.

Hereby Our Strayes, who taxe the Gospels Sound,
May feare how they Gods Church do meere and bound

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Within Romes Fold by Popes Prerogative,
As if our Faith were pinn'd unto his Sleeve.
Here they may see what ignominious Spoiles
Romes Champions reapt for all their Bloudy Broiles;
Whilst that Our Princes in set Peace have stretcht
Their Limmes, in Bloud their latest Gasp they fetcht.
Not Austria, France, nor Rome with steely dint,
Nor Marian Fire could Christ his Gospel stint,
Nor could they raze the Name of Huguenots,
Or Protestants for all their Bloudy Plots.
Much lesse could their School-Doctors plead her Cause
Against the Brightnesse of the Spirits Clause,
Which by Saint Iohn had prophesied her Fall,
And likewise her forewarned by Saint Paul,
That she, whom for her Faith Renowned Fame
Then blaz'd, should be at last cut off with shame,
If she continued not, as she begun,
Chast to her Spouse the Great Iehovahs Sonne.
Gods Charter still goes with a whilest, or If
Thou honour me, I will remove thy Griefe.

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Not her Decline could all her Clergy stop,
Nor Canonists her Doctrine underprop;
Not Gratian, nor her Best, Panormitan,
Nor all her Routes of Thalmudists prophane;
Not Wolsey, Poole, nor learned Cajetan,
Kings-mating Cardinalls in Pomp Humane,
The Mystick Remnant of the Dragons Band,
Could vengeance stay, nor Iudgements Lees withstand.
Their Martyrs Urnes can no way paralell
Our Holy Ones, nor can their Legends tell
Five Bishops burnt for their Religions sake,
Where we can name consumed at the Stake
Great Cranmer, Ridley, Hooper, Latimer,
And Ferrar Sainted in our Register,
With many moe, whom the Force Secular,
Hells Magogs, hois'd to Martyrs Calendar,
Though them they knew to be the Churches Seed,
By hearing at their Death their Christian Creed:
Which Creed, lest it might move a Conscience soft,
Their Torturers have interrupted oft

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In midst of Flames, by hurling Staves or Stones,
To wound the more their Heads and broiling Bones.
O Valiant Men, true Members of our Head!
Who like to Him for Him to Death have bled!
O Glorious Saints, who left such Monuments
Surpassing farre the Seven-fold Wonderments!
Who to prevent Soules Dearth built Granaries,
Like Josephs store, inough for Sacrifice!
Whose Martyrdomes refulgent Memory
Puts downe Romes Palles, and Shrines Imagery!
Who have, like Starres deriv'd from Heavens Light,
Left Spectacles and Torches for our Sight!
God grant they may increase Devotions Flame,
And dul those Schismes, which the next Age wil shame.
In Briefe, no Age since Christ saw greater Change
Of Manners, Knowledge, States, and which is strange,
Great Rome twice sackt. The Cōmon Foe more bold,
Whilst our Chiefe West wav'd with the Spanish Gold.