An answer at large, to a most hereticall, trayterous, and Papisticall Byll in English verse, which was cast abrode in the streetes of Northampton, and brought before the Judges at the last Assises there [by Thomas Knell] |
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The Christian answer.
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 | An answer at large, to a most hereticall, trayterous, and Papisticall Byll |  |
The Christian answer.
Like matter, like conclusion.Who warning lesse leades all his life,
as he at randon liues.
I might no lesse geue warning to,
to you of Baalams sort,
Which do belye Gods litle flocke
to make your selues a sport.
That you would haue some more regard,
both for you and your wyues:
Which lyue now most laciuiously,
and lead most wicked lyues.
And some which most vnwisely leaue,
their Children, wyues and all:
And run like traytours from the land,
to serue the Romish Ball.
But of your wyues I do not speake,
your lyues I touch in deede:
Whom I do wish in IESVS CHRIST
repentant faith wyth speede.
Or els to shift and leaue this soyle,
it is no place for such:
As do at Christes Gospell kicke,
and at Gods truth so grutch.
Your time is come, I warne you now,
most friendly to beware:
Least that you finde it come to passe,
when halter is your share.
And when we see your daies preuayle,
Which day shall be euen shortly now,
Post calendas græcas.
That Papists rule, and popery raignes
and truth is layd in dust:
Then weele begin still come the time,
your warning for to trust.
And leaue our wiues at your curtsy,
and shift our selues to saue:
But till that day, I leaue thee still,
a very traitrous knaue.
And God preserue our noble Queene
Elizabeth ech houre:
That she by drawne sharpe sword may quite
cut downe the Papistes power.
And GOD enlarge her noble raigne
lyke heauens daies to bee:
That all the Papists hope by her,
cleane spoiled we may see.
That Gods true word she may defend,
and all her foes deface:
Which enmies be to Christes truth.
and traitours to her Grace.
AMEN.
| An answer at large, to a most hereticall, trayterous, and Papisticall Byll | |