The Anatomie of the Romane Clergie or, a Discoverie of the Abvses Thereof. Written in Latine by sundrie Authors of their owne profession. And Translated into English verse by G. L. [i.e. George Lauder] |
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Cordus lib. 6. Epigram.
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 | The Anatomie of the Romane Clergie |  |
Cordus lib. 6. Epigram.
A countrie wench confessing once her sins,In time of Lent vnto a Cordelier,
And from a long concealed thought begins,
To speake, but hardly could she speake for feare:
He still exhorted her for to discouer
The secret secrecie of all her thought,
Affirming plainly, if she stroue to smother
The least offence, it would to light be brought.
The wench amazd, at last begins to say,
Last night, good Sir, at midnight I espi'd
One of your brothers as asleepe he lay,
A bed stretcht close downe by my mistris side.
The Frier mad to heare her speake so plaine,
Sayes, filthy hypocrite, dar'st thou this say,
Thy mistris reputation thus to staine,
It was S. Francis t' whom she then did pray,
He that makes all our suits in heauen go right,
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Who heares our cries by day, and sighes by night,
T'was he that in my brothers habit came.
The wench replied, then be what Saint he will,
He left his hose behind him in the place:
If Saints of heauen weare clothes, I haue no skill,
I'm but an ignorant in such a case.
Take heed (the Frier saies) thou do not touch
Those holy things, which relickes we do call,
And do pertaine but onely vnto such
As are confirmed in the Orders all.
To morrow to the Church they shall be carried,
As sacred relickes still to be adored,
By all such fruitlesse women as be married,
And haue no issue, then they shall be stored.
| The Anatomie of the Romane Clergie | |