University of Virginia Library

Verses upon the defacing of Cheapeside Crosse, with the Pictures of Christ and Saint Peter.

How? steale the leade from Cheapeside-crosse (O base)
I'le take my oath on't 'tis a heavy case:
Some say the Devill did it, and I graunt
The Devill is a mighty Puritant.
He never could endure the Crosse, because,
Man (on the Crosse) was ransomd from his claws;
But whosoe're 'twas, Brownist, Punk or Pimp:
If not the Devill, 'twas the Devils Impe,
What e're he may pretend, he is a Grosse
Dam'd Iew, that tortures Christ upon the Crosse.
I wonder why the watchmen did not scare Vm,
Sure 'twas some sleeping watch that lackt a larum
And so St. Peter (whom our Saviour chose)
One of his twelve Apostles, had his Nose,
And both his Armes knockt of, where was the Cock
That did not wake S. Peter at that knock?
Christ made him an Apostle, now who can
Without his Arms make him a Gentleman?
Some Crop-eare did it in revenge I feare,
Because St. Peter cut off Malchus eare.
What did the babe, what did our Lady do?
Poore Innocents alas, they suffered too.
This shews the Devils brood, like th'Irish wild,
Will spare no man or woman, maid or child:
Now my opinion of the crosse is this,
It is amisse to such as make't amisse.
To such as reverence it, or adore it,
Or say their prayers to it, or before it.
Such do pervert it from its proper use,
And turn an Ornament to an abuse.
Turks, Infidels, Moores, Pagans, Heathen, Iewes,
They know not Christ, therefore no Crosses use.
And no true Christian justly can repine,
To let a Crosse stand as a Christian signe.
Knaves may deface it, fooles may worship it,
All which may be for want of grace or wit,
To those that wrongd the Crosse this is my curse,
They never may have crosses in their purse.