A New Yeares Gifte, dedicated to the Popes Holinesse and all Catholikes addicted to the Sea of Rome: preferred the first day of Ianuarie, in the yeare of our Lorde God, after the course and computation of the Romanistes, one thousand, fiue hundreth, seauentie and nine, by B. G. [i.e. Bernard Garter]... In recompence of diuers singular and inestimable Reliques, of late sent by the said Popes Holinesse into England, the true figures and representations whereof, are heereafter in their places dilated |
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Ad Archipapistam
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 | A New Yeares Gifte, dedicated to the Popes Holinesse |  |
Ad Archipapistam
If
in the sight of Saintes and men, Ingratitude be nought,
If friendly acts, with friendly mē, in frendly wise be wrought:
If interchanged Gratitude, be natures sole desire,
If good for good in man and beast, dame Duetie do require:
If enterlaced Loue be it, that ioyes the haughtie minde,
If Bountie be the only badge, to vertuous wightes assignde:
If mutural trade in traffique aye, be stil maintayned so:
Ingratitude to Uertue then, must needes be greatest foe.
If friendly acts, with friendly mē, in frendly wise be wrought:
If interchanged Gratitude, be natures sole desire,
If good for good in man and beast, dame Duetie do require:
If enterlaced Loue be it, that ioyes the haughtie minde,
If Bountie be the only badge, to vertuous wightes assignde:
If mutural trade in traffique aye, be stil maintayned so:
Ingratitude to Uertue then, must needes be greatest foe.
Who then can take a benefite, and not requite the same?
What vertue great did euer die without reward of fame?
Why should we then forget our selues, to him that is so kinde?
Awake for shame, and at the least retourne a thankfull minde.
Is it not much, that he shoulde thinke to raise thee from thy fall,
And haue a care to see thee safe, which is the Lord of al?
Oh humble then, thy haughtie harte, cut of thy crooked scope,
Returne againe, and yeelde thy selfe vnto the holy Pope.
Whose fatherhood hath great regard, to win, that else were lost,
Who spareth neyther day nor night, nor any worldly cost,
To sende a heape of heauenly things from royall Rome to thee.
Do turne the booke, pervse them wel, and marke thē what they be,
And buy them whiles they may be had, and way not of the charge,
Their grace is gret, their power is strong, their warrāt very large.
For, helth of minde and bodie both, they bring, and feare thy foe:
Ech thunder, lightning, rage, and storme, they quickly ouerthrow.
And what annoyaunce is in man, they take it quite away.
And this is true, if al be true the Pope himself doth say.
Be thankeful then vnto the Pope, cast of thy care of welth,
And gladly giue thy glistering gold, to buy this happie helth.
For so before thy corps be colde, thy soule shal scale the skye,
And thou thy selfe shalt be a Saint, or else the Pope doth lie.
Then neyther wey the Queene, nor lawes, but cleaue vnto ye Pope,
And thou shalt be his sacred sonne, adopted by the rope.
As Storie was, and many moe (I trust) shal be agen,
Which God vouchsafe the obstinate, for Christ his sake, AMEN.
What vertue great did euer die without reward of fame?
Why should we then forget our selues, to him that is so kinde?
Awake for shame, and at the least retourne a thankfull minde.
Is it not much, that he shoulde thinke to raise thee from thy fall,
And haue a care to see thee safe, which is the Lord of al?
Oh humble then, thy haughtie harte, cut of thy crooked scope,
Returne againe, and yeelde thy selfe vnto the holy Pope.
Whose fatherhood hath great regard, to win, that else were lost,
Who spareth neyther day nor night, nor any worldly cost,
To sende a heape of heauenly things from royall Rome to thee.
Do turne the booke, pervse them wel, and marke thē what they be,
And buy them whiles they may be had, and way not of the charge,
Their grace is gret, their power is strong, their warrāt very large.
For, helth of minde and bodie both, they bring, and feare thy foe:
Ech thunder, lightning, rage, and storme, they quickly ouerthrow.
And what annoyaunce is in man, they take it quite away.
And this is true, if al be true the Pope himself doth say.
Be thankeful then vnto the Pope, cast of thy care of welth,
And gladly giue thy glistering gold, to buy this happie helth.
For so before thy corps be colde, thy soule shal scale the skye,
And thou thy selfe shalt be a Saint, or else the Pope doth lie.
Then neyther wey the Queene, nor lawes, but cleaue vnto ye Pope,
And thou shalt be his sacred sonne, adopted by the rope.
As Storie was, and many moe (I trust) shal be agen,
Which God vouchsafe the obstinate, for Christ his sake, AMEN.
| A New Yeares Gifte, dedicated to the Popes Holinesse | |