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Pride leads the Van, and to the March doth drum,
Contentions take th'alarm and on do come.
Phillippicus a prudent man's head achs,
He dreams the Eagle it a Cover makes.
A monke interprets it, the Empire shall
(Whose Ensign is the Eagle) to him fall.
Then Absimare him takes, did scourge, and Shave
And him in iron Chains Exile, poore knave[.]

706

Justinian to his throne returns again.
Claws Absimare, Leonore, Heraclius then
And direfully afflicts his Enemies,
Plucks out the Patriarch Callinichu's Eyes
Doth banish him to Rome. And the other sent
To Reconcile the Churches which dissent
Two Bishops with his faith fair pend out to
Pope John the Seventh whom he crav'd also
To call a Synod and approve the Same
This should damp out the West, and Eastern flame.
The Proud pope huffs, what nosed be must hee?
I scorn your words. Ile not soe novic'de bee.
The legat, and the Libells back he sends.
Poore Emperour go bite thy fingers ends.
Soon after Constantine the Mitre wares.
The Emperor him invite[s], hence he repares
Unto him in his glory 'fore whose feet
The Emperour falls prostrate him to greet
Begs pardon of his Sins. Confirms also
The Priviledges of Romes Church that flow.
Felix Ravenna's Bishop also snarles
Against Romes Lordship nothing yield by parls.
Justinian Swops his Side. Ravenna Crouch
Is made against his Will to th'Roman Pouch.
Sisinny and Diascorus in Ruffs
Do for the Popedom fallen fall to Cuffs
Dioscorus poore man is Soundly soucde
Sisinny wins the day, yet soons unhousd.
Dioscorus then, hardy Sir, again
Fell s[c]uffling for't, and now it doth obtain.
Then Boniface did wring him by the eare
And boxt him soundly, drove from the Chair[.]

The Eagles Egge she laid within the nest
Built on Phillippicus his Pate undrest

713

Now hatcht indeed: He Emperor is made.
Constantinoples Image Synod paid.
Pluckt down the Picture in the Church wall, which
Containd the Acts whereon these Sirs did Pitch.
Cast Cyrus out of his Paternall Chaire.
And made John Monke to be its worthy heir.
Pope Constantine began to brissle then.
In Synod John and Philipick doth hem
About with his Anathemaes, untill
Lievetenant Peter by defensive skill
Endeavourd to defend th'Imperiall right
Against the Pope, much blood did fall in fight.

715

When Theodosius filld th'Imperiall Throne,
Millan and Ticine Churches proude now grown,
Ticine will not to Millan subject bee.
The Pope then Claims her his. Good pope you see[.]

718

Leo Isaurus gains th'Imperiall Wreath
Seing Mahometans blasphemies breath
Cut much against the Christians, who adore
Did Images and Dead mens bones, grew sore
A Synod calls, the Matter treats, Condemns
All Image worship. Relicks Deadmens Stems.
And Statues made of Silver, Gold, and Wood,
He purgd away by fire: made Statutes good
Against the Same: admonisheth the Pope
To do the Same. Pope German then sets ope
His hellish mouth asserting Antichrist
Shall Images destroy, Christians up hoist
To whom his Ecumenicall Caball
Subscribe their Itaes: Gregory's rich Pall
Entreates th'Emperiall favour t'lend his Smile
Upon these pretty things: but frowns yet Spoile
Them, wherefore he in Synod doth the Wreath
His Excommunication it bequeath
And doth absolve Rome, Italy, and th'West
From all Obedience to him, and his Chest
Shall not Contain any more tole or Rates:

723

Seing he Images thus antiquates
And Covenants with French him to defend
Against th'Imperiall Lion not his friend.
John Damascen a Champion rose, well mand
With Eastern bishops: and the Emperour damnd
Because these pritty knick knacks he destroi'd:
And Image Worship would not let abide,
Amator Bishop too, of Forojule,
Is drove from home by Calist who did rule
The Aquileian Church. Duke Pemno, and
The Long'bard Nobles could not beare this hand:
But Calist take, in Potius Castle Cast.
Then Luitprand did Pemno treats at last.

Ceol fride the Abbat by his wile, and ly,
That the Apostles Order all men eye,
Out of the Gospell, where he Enter layes
Upon the first Lords day, the third week payes
That all true Catholicks, ought to be put:
Into a Shav'de Crown of Saint Peters Cut.
Whereas the Brittains did the fashon ware
Of Simon Magus in their Poled hair.
Brought Naiton King over the Picts, unto
The Roman Ceremonies. Dumchad who

728

Was Abbot, brought his Monks Rome marke to bare
But still the Brittains do dispise this fare.

741

Copronymus, who tawe the Font when hee
Baptized were, Shines with imperiall glee
Now Winofrid an English man, who drew
At Cridon Devonshiers, his first breath, grew
Unto great fame, was Legate Boniface
Under three Popes or more and had the Place
Of Men t'his Bishoprick, With Colen jars
For the Trajectine Church and upstarts wars.
Mannagd by Tongue, and Teeth, Colen thus Cries
King Dag'bert gave it me. Th'other replies,
It was to propagate the Gospell to
The Frisers which not done, you lost it so.
And Willibrord sent by the Pope did soon
Build its Church ruind up, hence't fell to Rome.
The matter's brought to th'Pope who gave the Case
And Colen Church also to Boniface[.]

An Unlearnd Priest now in Bavaria found
He in babtizing, thus his tongue did sound
In Nomine Patria, and Filia
Et Spiritus Sancta did begin afray.
For Boniface would have them thus babtizd
Be rebaptizd, this trick of his devisd,
Sidony, and brave Virgil did withstand.
And so the Case came to Pope Zachary's hand.
Who did decide against his Legate 'prentice
That Lapsus linguae non est Error mentis.

Now Boniface at Virgill shews his teeth,
Who in his Sermon to the Legats griefe,
Asserts there are Antipodes, hence he
Reviled is as if more Worlds there bee
As other men under the Earths greate space,
Another Sun, and Moon. Hence Boniface,
Comands him openly his Error gross
For to Confess. And to retract as dross.
But Virgill him Confutes, and out doth go
And him accuseth to King Utilo
But Boniface doth Zacharias Pope
Stand at his Elbow who heard, (gave his rope
I mean his Bull) to Utilo to fling
Out Virgill if he don't recant this Sin.
And send him unto him: he too Commands
Sidony too, With Virgil to the hands
Of Boniface to yield subjection good.
Thus se the boiling of the Legats blood,
Albertus, Clement, Samson others more
Did Boniface oppose would not come o're.
Nor yield their Churches to the Pope of Some.
G--- that he had the Crown of France in fume
Turnd from Merobiu's lawfull race (strang tune)
To Pipin's bastard progeny: and that
He preacht Saints Worship, Purgatory-brat,
And offerings for Dead men, and forbad
Priests marriage and usd Exorcisms gad.
And Women with him led about which brought
In many persons many a jealous thought.
But for their pains the Popes black Bull did low.
They're damnd as Hereticks: presst by his brow.
Thus Constantine a Synod calls Condemns,
All Image Worship, Praying to dead men,
And worshipping of Relicks: and Exiles
From all Church fellowship men of such wiles.
John Damascen doth go to pot indeed
And other such ranck bishops: bishop weeds.
He makes monks marry, and live honestly.
And such doth claw who worship foolishly
Contrary to Gods, and his Synods Law
And pleade for Images, this vext Romes paw.

752

A broile sprung up at Bandave all in feude.
For Image worship. Some for Cesar stood
Accurst them as shafts of Idolatry.
But Hildebert the Blandine Abbat high
And those with him mentaind them, to be grac'd
With worship, and in temples to be plac'd.
The Dispute grew so sharp that in the Close
Hildebert's slain, and many a bloody nose.

757

Pope Stephen peuks his Soule out, and there sprang
Another bussle for a Pope (good man)
Cannot be spar'd. Some like Theophylacy.
And some Paul Deacon, now which side imbrace yee.
Hence to't they go by th'ears and bang it out:
And Paul comes in: His blades the other rout.

767

But being dead another bout began
In their Pope Choosing worke, do what they can.
For Toto the Nepesine Duke too soon,
With valient souldiers, coming unto Rome
Strappadoed such as stood for Philip, and
Made Constantine the Pope by might of hand.
Whom when the Romans saw his stomach peukt
'Gainst Image worship him of's Popedom rookt.

777

The Eagle, when Copronymus lay dead
Shifts from his, to his Son, young Leo's head.
And now two Abbats in Saint Vincents Hive
How they might Charles the Great destroy Contrive.
The Monks them take and unto Charles them send,
Who doth them to Pope Adrian commend.
But Autbert one kicks up in's walk to Rome.
And Potho th'other comes and doth presume
To purge himselfe of all he's Chargd withall
And's set free thus: Sons of the Church! and fall!

782

Constatine and Irenee now by hap
Hav'ng th'Imperiall Crown dropt in their lap.
Tarase the Bishop of Constantinople
Late Constantine, whom Mary's wife did hopple
Mew her up in a monastry, and wed
One called Theodatee to his bed.
Commands Monke Joseph, and the Abbate down
And Theodatee decke with th'royall Crown.
But Plato Abbate of Saccidio
Abstaind hence from his Fellowship: but loe
The Emperour him, and his monks exild
And by this Persecution which them spoild
A florid peace between them two sprung out:
And Image Patriots they rose up Stout.
But when Tarase observ'd that Images
Among the Grecian Churches did displease
And quarrells bredd, he of the Wreath obtains;

788

An Universall Synod, which he names
The Second Nicen, or the Seventh, which
On Image Worship they did joyntly pitch.
And so shake hands with Rome. And peace make, though

794

Charls Magnus calld the Franckford Synod, who
Did all the Pleaes this mongrell synods store
Untruss, whip one by one all out of doore.
It granted Images: but did forbid,
Them with adoring Worship to be rid.
And thus we see that Image mongers fling
Out firy brands: and so Contentions spring,
Ore all the Christian World: and make it fume.
Things thus are wove in Superstitions loome
The web is full of knots, Ends, Galls and Frets.
And all the while Patience with tears bewets
And wash her face therewith doth, till the shine
Of Glory is grown great, upon her Shrine.