 | A transcript of Edward Taylor's Metrical History of Christianity by Donald E. Stanford |  |
Patience Exercised by Persecution.
Schisms farewell, and Persecutions nextCome in from them, as Doctrines from the text.
In Viewing which we quickly come to th'Use
They brighten Patience up, so sings my Muse.
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Under Phocas, who began 604
Phocas that Butcher, boiling in his lust,
And Cruelty, his Nobles greatly crusht,
Virgins, and Matrons too did vitiate,
The Lombards many Christian Crucidate.
The Jews at Antioch tumult, destroy
By Fire, and Sword the Christians cruelly.
Take Bishop Anastase and off they slam
His secret members, in his mouth them cram
Drag by a Cord ats leg him through the town,
Then burnt him in the fire to ashes down.
And Cruelty, his Nobles greatly crusht,
Virgins, and Matrons too did vitiate,
The Lombards many Christian Crucidate.
The Jews at Antioch tumult, destroy
By Fire, and Sword the Christians cruelly.
Take Bishop Anastase and off they slam
His secret members, in his mouth them cram
Drag by a Cord ats leg him through the town,
Then burnt him in the fire to ashes down.
In England Edbald, Edilburt his Son
Now King of Kent, from's Father's vertues run
Did into Luxury, and's step mam weds,
Meeting the Gospell Checks for't lifts his head
Against the Godly, Sparkles flash like fire,
The Gospell flies his Coasts, Idols aspire
And Idol-Worship, things then runing thus
The Gospell ministers he down did Crush.
Now King of Kent, from's Father's vertues run
Did into Luxury, and's step mam weds,
Meeting the Gospell Checks for't lifts his head
Against the Godly, Sparkles flash like fire,
The Gospell flies his Coasts, Idols aspire
And Idol-Worship, things then runing thus
The Gospell ministers he down did Crush.
Under Heraclius, begining 611.
Heraclius rose a Monothelite
Wedding his Neece, the Church did sorely bite,
Some say his Daughter Epiphania.
The Persian 'saile the Empire, Christians slay:
Destroy Jerusalem: give to the Jews
There ninty thousand persons to abuse.
Take Zachary the Patriarch captive
And a Vast multitude away alive.
The banner of Christs Cross too, and the rage
Of King Chosroes flew against all age
Of Christians. He all terms of peace doth fly;
Unless they'l promise first Christ to deny,
And that they worship will the Sun his god.
They take one Anastase (to feel his rod.
He was a Persian monk) and down him throw
Upon his back, and ore his Shins place do
A timber log, upon whose Ends do stand
Two stout men leaping up and down there fand
As in a balance; then they up him high
Do by one hand, and at his legs do ty
A mighty Stone: and then with seventy more
He's hang'd, and's head unto the King they bore.
Th'Arabian dogs, and Mahomet destroy
The Africk, and Asian Churches nigh.
Wedding his Neece, the Church did sorely bite,
Some say his Daughter Epiphania.
The Persian 'saile the Empire, Christians slay:
Destroy Jerusalem: give to the Jews
There ninty thousand persons to abuse.
Take Zachary the Patriarch captive
And a Vast multitude away alive.
The banner of Christs Cross too, and the rage
Of King Chosroes flew against all age
Of Christians. He all terms of peace doth fly;
Unless they'l promise first Christ to deny,
And that they worship will the Sun his god.
They take one Anastase (to feel his rod.
He was a Persian monk) and down him throw
Upon his back, and ore his Shins place do
A timber log, upon whose Ends do stand
Two stout men leaping up and down there fand
As in a balance; then they up him high
Do by one hand, and at his legs do ty
A mighty Stone: and then with seventy more
He's hang'd, and's head unto the King they bore.
Th'Arabian dogs, and Mahomet destroy
The Africk, and Asian Churches nigh.
Theodorick doth rage in France, and sent
Abbat Columban twice in banishment.
He slew his Brother Throdobert the King
Of Mets with thirty thousands who hid him
Vienna's Bishop Desiderius
Exiles, then ston'd to death, but why Sir thus?
Because he did reproove him for his Sin.
An[d] Dagobert did Churches spoile, like him.
Abbat Columban twice in banishment.
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Of Mets with thirty thousands who hid him
Vienna's Bishop Desiderius
Exiles, then ston'd to death, but why Sir thus?
Because he did reproove him for his Sin.
An[d] Dagobert did Churches spoile, like him.
In England Wicked Penda, and Cedwald
Who slew King Edwin, greatly them up halld.
Men, Women, Children too slew Cruelly,
In Countrey and in Cities all destroy.
Towns, Towers, and Temples burnt, Christians do fall
And Idoll Worship up again they hall.
Who slew King Edwin, greatly them up halld.
Men, Women, Children too slew Cruelly,
In Countrey and in Cities all destroy.
Towns, Towers, and Temples burnt, Christians do fall
And Idoll Worship up again they hall.
Under Constantine/Heracles/Constance beginning 641/641/642
Constantine by his Step dam's poisoned
Her Son Heracles lifts up his head
Six months, wherein th'Arabians hem in
Cesaria Palestine, seven years, and bring
Seven thousand Christians to be tortur'd there.
Constantinople's Senate too that year
Cut out Dam'd Martin's tongue, Heracleo's nose
And them exild. And Constance Emperour chose.
Who sprang indeed, a keen Monothelite,
And did Pope Martine, who this sect did smite
In its Chiefe fautors great, with Peters Keyes,
Take Captive, Cut his tongue and hand off: payes
Him then with Banishment to Thrace, where he
By want doth perish, though Romes head he bee.
Did Persecute the Bishops, who appear
In Africk, in Numedia, and there
In Mauritania and did Condemn
His Heresy. His fautors play such men.
Her Son Heracles lifts up his head
Six months, wherein th'Arabians hem in
Cesaria Palestine, seven years, and bring
Seven thousand Christians to be tortur'd there.
Constantinople's Senate too that year
Cut out Dam'd Martin's tongue, Heracleo's nose
And them exild. And Constance Emperour chose.
Who sprang indeed, a keen Monothelite,
And did Pope Martine, who this sect did smite
In its Chiefe fautors great, with Peters Keyes,
Take Captive, Cut his tongue and hand off: payes
Him then with Banishment to Thrace, where he
By want doth perish, though Romes head he bee.
Did Persecute the Bishops, who appear
In Africk, in Numedia, and there
In Mauritania and did Condemn
His Heresy. His fautors play such men.
In England Wicked Penda Oswald slew
Hence up a further Persecution grew.
He raves towards East-Angles. Sig'bert here
With mighty pains had gaind his Subjects there
Christ to imbrace, comes with them out t'oppose
Him. but a mighty slaughter then the foes
Do make of Christians, and their King destroy.
And now their Churches feel his Cruelty.
Hence up a further Persecution grew.
He raves towards East-Angles. Sig'bert here
With mighty pains had gaind his Subjects there
Christ to imbrace, comes with them out t'oppose
Him. but a mighty slaughter then the foes
Do make of Christians, and their King destroy.
And now their Churches feel his Cruelty.
Under Constantine Pogonate beginning 670
Pogonate with his brethren two arose
Who equalld him. Hence he Cut off their nose
And Empires it alone, the Churches shine
He them did from Monothelites refine.
Things ill do jog in France, Lothair their King
Lurks in Domestick luxury: doth fling
All matters on the Prince in Court Ebroine,
A Spunge of Blood, di'de ore with basest Crime.
Who under Theodorick next King there
Did rule the roast, by whom oppressed were
Each vertuous man, afflict the Churches; spoiles
The Temples, slays some Doctors, some exiles.
Leodigar August Odanum's light
He Prisons, Pines, Plucks out his Eyes, doth smite
With Wounds upon the sole of's feet; off fley
His Lips, and Tongue, then him with sword did slay.
Gerinus then he stones to death; and sent
Lambert, Amate, and more, to banishment.
Who equalld him. Hence he Cut off their nose
And Empires it alone, the Churches shine
He them did from Monothelites refine.
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Lurks in Domestick luxury: doth fling
All matters on the Prince in Court Ebroine,
A Spunge of Blood, di'de ore with basest Crime.
Who under Theodorick next King there
Did rule the roast, by whom oppressed were
Each vertuous man, afflict the Churches; spoiles
The Temples, slays some Doctors, some exiles.
Leodigar August Odanum's light
He Prisons, Pines, Plucks out his Eyes, doth smite
With Wounds upon the sole of's feet; off fley
His Lips, and Tongue, then him with sword did slay.
Gerinus then he stones to death; and sent
Lambert, Amate, and more, to banishment.
In England hard things bud: the Scots, and Picts
And Britains will not on Romes Easter fix.
They out do rush, kill Oswies Son Egfride:
And by greate slaughter th'Angli they destroy'd.
And now their Churches were in troubles greate.
Among the Gevesi, Cedwald, in heate
Returnd from Exile, killd their King whose name
Was Evildack. And all this Contrey baine,
There's not a bishop in't for many years.
Then all the Isle of Vecta, wholy clears.
Yet lets some noble youths and others, ('cause
They know not Christ), before his sword he draws,
To cut them down, babtized be, if they
Desired the same: as histories do say.
And Britains will not on Romes Easter fix.
They out do rush, kill Oswies Son Egfride:
And by greate slaughter th'Angli they destroy'd.
And now their Churches were in troubles greate.
Among the Gevesi, Cedwald, in heate
Returnd from Exile, killd their King whose name
Was Evildack. And all this Contrey baine,
There's not a bishop in't for many years.
Then all the Isle of Vecta, wholy clears.
Yet lets some noble youths and others, ('cause
They know not Christ), before his sword he draws,
To cut them down, babtized be, if they
Desired the same: as histories do say.
Under Justinian 2/Leontius/Absemarus begining 687/697/699.
Justinian in the Throne can ne're abide
The Roman Prelates Haughtiness, and Pride.
Did Cruell grow. Lievetenant Stephen, and
One Theodore a monke, under him stand,
And Exercise Unheard of Tyranny:
Command the Army on a night that they
Constantinoples Citizen all slay.
Which to Prevent, Leontius Master once
Of th'Eastern forces, with the people bounce
And a few Captives, rout them: and Captive
Justinian; of's tongue, Nose, Eares him shrive
Sits in the Throne three years. Then Absimare
Doth Empire and his Nose too from his pare.
Justinian banis[h]t, treats Prince Cajane's aide.
Whom Absimare by Coine his Friend had made.
Hence he smelt danger, and to Terbell flies,
Lord of Bulgaria, and gets supplies.
Constantinople gets, and Captive takes
Leontius, Absimare treads on them, spakes
This song, Thou'st on the Asp, and Adar tread
The Lion and the Dragon trample, read
Their fatall Sentence, and they headed are.
Seven of the Chiefe, on Wooden Stakes (hard fare)
He Spits, and Rosts: and twenty more he drowns:
And multitudes by Cruel Deaths Confounds
Provides a Fleet their Infants to destroy.
Wherein were seventy thousand of his fry
Sent by a Storm to pave the Sea's broad floore.
Nay, and as oft as he (who'de gaind a Cure)
Did wipe his Snotty nose's place, he flew
On some, or other, and in vengeance slew.
The Roman Prelates Haughtiness, and Pride.
Did Cruell grow. Lievetenant Stephen, and
One Theodore a monke, under him stand,
And Exercise Unheard of Tyranny:
Command the Army on a night that they
Constantinoples Citizen all slay.
Which to Prevent, Leontius Master once
Of th'Eastern forces, with the people bounce
And a few Captives, rout them: and Captive
Justinian; of's tongue, Nose, Eares him shrive
Sits in the Throne three years. Then Absimare
Doth Empire and his Nose too from his pare.
224
Whom Absimare by Coine his Friend had made.
Hence he smelt danger, and to Terbell flies,
Lord of Bulgaria, and gets supplies.
Constantinople gets, and Captive takes
Leontius, Absimare treads on them, spakes
This song, Thou'st on the Asp, and Adar tread
The Lion and the Dragon trample, read
Their fatall Sentence, and they headed are.
Seven of the Chiefe, on Wooden Stakes (hard fare)
He Spits, and Rosts: and twenty more he drowns:
And multitudes by Cruel Deaths Confounds
Provides a Fleet their Infants to destroy.
Wherein were seventy thousand of his fry
Sent by a Storm to pave the Sea's broad floore.
Nay, and as oft as he (who'de gaind a Cure)
Did wipe his Snotty nose's place, he flew
On some, or other, and in vengeance slew.
The Lombards Tyrant Alachis, Exiles
King Cuniberd; in Christian blood much guiles
Threats when he's King, he'l fill his well, and trim,
With Clergy's Testicles unto the brim.
Whom he asserted, filthy Breeches wore.
King Cuniberd; in Christian blood much guiles
Threats when he's King, he'l fill his well, and trim,
With Clergy's Testicles unto the brim.
Whom he asserted, filthy Breeches wore.
The Arabs lay Armenia in gore.
Ulid their King the Christian Temples burns
Now at Damascus, Charges too to turn
Their Bookes into Arabian Language, and
To write no more in Greek, was his command.
The Sclaves, Avares too, the Churches wast
And Christians into bondage bring, defac'de
Ulid their King the Christian Temples burns
Now at Damascus, Charges too to turn
Their Bookes into Arabian Language, and
To write no more in Greek, was his command.
The Sclaves, Avares too, the Churches wast
And Christians into bondage bring, defac'de
The Eastern French do murder Chilian
And his brave sociats Tholman, Doloman.
Who did the Duke of Herbople with all
His Dukedom unto Christ Convert and call.
And his brave sociats Tholman, Doloman.
Who did the Duke of Herbople with all
His Dukedom unto Christ Convert and call.
Pipin Commands, or did permit the thing
To slay Lampert, who did reproove his Sin.
To slay Lampert, who did reproove his Sin.
Landobert follows Heimeranus cleare
Of Reignsburge in Bavaria, who were
By's harlot Sister Charg'd, ore tooke, and splits
Him on the Rack, and Cuts him all to bits.
Of Reignsburge in Bavaria, who were
By's harlot Sister Charg'd, ore tooke, and splits
Him on the Rack, and Cuts him all to bits.
In England the Picts getting the day
Down go the Churches, Doctors fly away.
Down go the Churches, Doctors fly away.
Evald the White, Evald the Black who, went
From England to Saxony, intent
To preach Christ there, were martyrde nigh to Breme.
The White they quickly slew, the Black a Stream
Of tortures did endure. And so they take
And Cut him all to bits as authour spake.
Now view this thrid, and tell me what you think
Is Justice Dead? Doth Patience make her Winke?
But what a Patience doth this Stage unfold?
Surely it writes her Fame in Liquid Gold.
From England to Saxony, intent
To preach Christ there, were martyrde nigh to Breme.
The White they quickly slew, the Black a Stream
Of tortures did endure. And so they take
And Cut him all to bits as authour spake.
225
Is Justice Dead? Doth Patience make her Winke?
But what a Patience doth this Stage unfold?
Surely it writes her Fame in Liquid Gold.
| A transcript of Edward Taylor's Metrical History of Christianity by Donald E. Stanford | |