space of the Next Ages Rowle All bent the Praise of Babel to enrowle The Dominiâ—ks Cartbusians Augustines The Carmelites Capouchins Iacobines Besides the Order of the Ierome Crowd To whom of late Castiles great Monarch vow'd His Marbled Palace of th' Escuriall Mount Whose Structure cost him many Millions Count. These Orders though of despicable Forme In Beggers Rags yet holp they to reforme Some things amisse at their first shooting up Or else the Whâ—res Abominations Cup Had quickly been by Kings descri'd and spilt Her Flock had flinch'd and soone espi'd her Guilt But the Conceit of these Mens Sanctity And manner of their Lives Austerity Gain'd them Repute of Wiss Propheticall Whose Vowes would shrowd Sinnes ne'r so Capitall Yea though a man had both his Parents slaine Romes Pardons and their Vowes salv'd all againe THis blindnesse lasted long till Christ his Spouse Returned from the Desart Soules to rowze From Superstitious sleep and Ignorance To brighter Light and a more Lively Trance Like Ravens Frogs Scritchowles and Dismall Fowle Whose Auguries type Weather Faire or Foule So did those Flying Spirits of that Age Seale up Dark Minds a Prey for Satans rage And on th' Elect betoken Calmer Gales To blow when tir'd with Old fanatique Tales They should in Time to come Gods Spirit see The Martyrs slaine reviv'd from Sodome free WHile Canonists the School-men and those Swarmes Of Lawyers rose the Romaine Popes with Armes And Curses still leaving the Lawes dispute To spurre their League did Caesars persecute No Treaties Wars nor Spoiles the Popes could tame ' Till One of them of Alexanders Name On Caesars humbled backe got on his Mule As Foot-stoole to a a Lord of mad Mis-rule Detracting from Christs Power Thou shalt tread On Basiliskes and bruize the Serpents Head I doe to Peter this and not to thee Said Caesar Both to Peter and to me Repli'd the Mounted Priest for Peters Throne On Earth I hold and he and I are One O where was then Romes Boast of Innocence Of Catholick Consent and Penitence Their Actions shew what Spirit raignes in them Who durst assume the Triple Diademe And manage both the Swords with more disdaine Then Bajazeth complain'd of Tamberlaine But had not Caesars Sonne in Navall Fight By the Venetians been Captiv'd such spite He could not have endur'd so patiently Nor let such wrongs long unrevenged lye NOw for this Age to winde up Babels height One Thousand and one Hundred Eighty Eight About that Yeare the Machiavellian Pope To settle surer his Imperious Hope And to confirme his proud Investiture Found out a Plot his Rapines to assure And to employ his Neighbours farre from Rome Lest they more pry into his Arts at home By his Croisadoes Charmes Cri'd Sanctifi'd In Christ his Name but by his Word untri'd He packt from hence many a Valiant Band Under pretence to Conquer Iewries Land And there to build Jerusalem againe Like Iericho sometime not Curst in vaine And to regaine it back from Saladine Who late had won the Land of Palestine But as no Good flowes from a Tainted Spring So hence then Losse ensu'd no other thing CAESAR Romes Curses thinking to compound Took up the Crosse and by the way was drown'd Yet could not so the Fathers Death appease The Popes his Sonnes by Curses barre from Peace And to redeeme their Bloudy Spoiles with Deedes Of Merit they spread Meritorious Seedes As that Fond Age then dream'd they prostitute To Meloch first and then they institute The Orders of the Begging Friers so To calme Gods Wrath which kept such lowd adoe At Rich mens Doores that Superstition more And more confirm'd Baals Power then before About this Time my Learned Country-man Archdeacon Girald wrot by whom I can Disprove out of his Bookes of Pilgrimage Which he set forth of Cambria in that Age The Wonders of the Well of Winifride Which Friers Braines in After-times discri'd When the Fourth Henry raign'd that then ev'n then They coin'd those Tales to gull poore Simple men To haunt their Cells and impious Sacrifice Grac'd from the Pope with Novell Liberties And Leave to build a Chappell or a Fane As Men were wont for the like use profane And as they did in this Fond Age erect Most Stately Shrines to Becket and his Sect. BEcause some Monkes Night Apparitious saw Which Kâ—aves or Fiends invented there to draw Concourse of Pilgrims and Oblations store They built such Shrines and nois'd their Dreames the more But Our New-man slights all such Miracles As derogate from Scriptures Oracles Not ignorant of the Old Serpents sleight That he may seeme an Angel of the Light Because Men loved Lies more then Gods Word And tri'd them not by the Spirituall Sword He suffered Satan to pervert their Will That they believ'd what did the Spirit kill To let our Blinded Strayes to know their Crimes Derived from the Course of faultring Times I warne them to looke back into this Age And there to waigh what Cunning mixt with Rage Popes practiz'd then by more of Councels store To raise their Crest then in the Times before How many Councels did the Romish Clerks Assemble in our West for their vaine Quirkes Support what Age before hath ever seene Of Councels held One Hundred and Fifteene For just so many did this Century Produce Some to confirme Sinnes Mystery With Attributes of the Divinest Style That as the Head conspired to enstyle A Wafer Cake a God so they likewise As Members would a God him solemnize With Power rais'd above the Caesars farre Since he could Soules from Purgatory barre Some Councells leagu'd to send Croisadoes out To Palestine against the Persian Rout. Others were call'd the Married Priests to curbe And some were held the Caesars to disturbe Exempting from their Lawes the Clergies Crew Though nere so faulty whence great scandalls grew Some Councells did against all Kings contest Of Bishops their Investiture to wrest Unto the Popes And some Pluralities Of Popes restrain'd and their Enormities And which seemes most uncharitable foule And Schismatick some Councells did controule Nay put to silence the Reformed Flock Who built their Faith upon the New-mans Rock I meane that Flock which Lions Waldus won From Darknesse to look on the Gospels Sun Such Acts above One Hundred Councells Tomes Contain'd to please the Popes like Hecatombs Within the space of the Twelfe Century And all to prop Great Babels Empery THE OCCVRRENCES OF THE THIRTEENTH AGE From the yeere of our Lord 1200. untill the yeere 1300 At which Time King Edward the First raigned here in England The Argument The Waldois and Albigians Rome oppose Caesars with Popes for Râ—le contesting lose The Gransire Sire and Nephewes feele the Smart Pope Celestine is gull'd by Waly Art IN wofull Case remain'd the Church of Christ Through Bloudy Broiles that how she could subsist On Earth while this Age lasted it might dull A Sparkling Muse but that I learn'd at full The Cause of her Retire the Difference Betwixt her Wane
err'd yet Saints by Union Calm'd their stings While Arrians Rage Chiefe Rulers of the Rost The Orthodox proclaime the Holy Ghost While Capernaites Christs Flesh most grossely take True Saints by Faith that Mystick Food partake Where Ebionites and Manichees taxe Marriage There Gods Elect dissolves so strict a Carriage Where Montanists for Merit Fasts erect At Times prefixt there Saints a snake suspect Priscillians teach men to Equivocate But Christian Saints all Double-dealing hate Caianes Sect did Angels Help implore And with fond Vowes their mystick Shapes adore As likewise did those doating Heretickes Whom some in Austines Time term'd Angellicks But Saints Christs Father serve that Mighty One In Persons Three and three in One alone Not Creatures nor the Members but the Head Of Creatures Life the Iudge of Quick and Dead All others Help they utterly disclaime Save that which they through Christ his Merits claime Some to Our Lady offer'd Sacrifice But Epiphane blames them of Heath'nish vice Suites Womens Cakes for her Idolatriz'd With Trash which to Heav'ns Queen were sacrifie'd Equalls their Deed to that which snared Eve Yea to the Serpents which did Eve deceave And likewise teares the Vaile where Christ was painted Forbidding Dead Mens Pictures to be Sainted Wherewith by Letter he upon this Theame Acquaints the Bishop of Ierusalem Advising him not to endure the like Scandall or Crime within his Bishopricke This of the Veile at Anablata hung Was then from Greek turn'd to the Latin Tongue Novatus damn'd men after Baptismes Breach But no Despairing Fate Mild Christians teach They rather will raise up the Brâ—ized Reed Then Thunder out what is not in their Creed SUch Lamps this Holy Worke of Ancient Date Exemplifies for us to imitate Such Damps likewise expressed in that Work May warne th' Elect where doth the Dragon lurk There Heretickes in sundry Formes appeare There Christ his Church you may discerne most cleare And how good Christians liv'd in Dayes of Yore With what they taught before that Rome turn'd whore Or which of Either Church are growne of late In Faith or Manners more Adulterate There with some Paines we might gaine knowledge more Which Worke I wish but want the Lydian Lore To touch to try the Spirits and apply The Extracts to the Moderne Policy Let some Grave Elder with Seraphick Love Indifferent Just and Mild the Spirits prove Let Usher Hall or Learned Montague My Mate sometimes in Eaton those renew Which if my Mindes presaging Augury Faile not will yet to us more Newes discry Or if Affaires afford them not the leasure To levy rate and draw the hidden Treasure Some Good Professour of Judicious Braine Which wants a Flocke may undergoe the straine Orsome brave Spirit of our Academes Start up blaze those sacred Theoremes Which adding wings to our Reformed Flights Would serve to guard our New-born Lambs from Kites And shew them Gentle Bathes when to the Brim Old Tiber fill'd cause Elephants to swim While Honest Swains them greet God blesse the weak And grant they not their Christian vowes do breake While Saints doe Saints salute God speed the Plow And make us all content with what we sow So that their Seed be pure full well we know They with Increase and Peace shall reap and Mow. The Harvest great no doubt but Christ enow Of Workemen will provide though I be slow I now review another Century About the Sev'nth of Christ the Mystery Of Ghostly Sinne began to domineere And here-hence-out a Pilot false will steere The Churches Ship exalted by his Mace Who durst usurpe his Lords Imperiall Place Bereaving Him his Wife and Babes of Life An Omen sure portending future Strife From Phocas first receiv'd Pope Boniface Investiture of his Supremest Place And to be styl'd The Churches Soveraigne Lord Which some have wrested since to Peters Sword Which smote off Malchus Eare. In the meane while Hypocrisie did all the World beguile For from the Yeare since Boniface began The Dragon wrought upon the Braine of Man With more sly Trickes then in the Times before On Hereticks or Wits of weaker Lore Pope Gregory fore-saw this Mystick Cloud And New Romes Patriarch therefore warn'd aloud That who aspir'd to be the Soveraigne Priest He was fore-runner of False Antichrist THis Gregory fore-told although himselfe Had left his Ship on a suspected Shelfe When here in England he gave Austine leave To winke at Heathen Feasts to interweave Their Stuffe with Faith which some resemblance had With Christian Formes to weane them form their Bad And damned Garbes that so by Easie steps They might ascend and not by sodaine Leapes These Pagan Rites by Saints conniv'd at first Like tainted Vessels savour'd of the Worst And long retain'd their mixt Religions Taint Till the Last Age on the New mans Complaint Had purifi'd what the Good Spirit knew Expedient in the Church Christ to renew THat Monster which since the Apostles Age Crept Mysticke-wise grew big began to rage And Raigne soone after Gregories Decease Under the Keyes pretence disturbing Peace And shall for Gold assume Iehovahes Might To Thunder Blesse or Curse each Mortall wight For now henceforth a Mixt Religion flowes To marre Good Seed the Tempter Darnell sowes With Dreggish Dreames which here Pelagians first And Monkish Braines had brew'd they quench their Thirst. With Reliques Shrines and Lies Monastick Cells Abound and Darknesse now the Light expells Foule Sodomy instead of Lawfull Flames And now our West Blacke Superstition shames As Mungrells of Samaria Sacrific'd Some unto God some Creatures Idoliz'd Some this besaint that Image they observe But really the Most Part Mauzzim serve On Creatures they the God-heads Right conferre And while they kneele to Shrines most grossely erre The Sunne 's Eclips'd The Gospel they misprise And slight the Crosse the New-mans Sacrifice The Fiery Crosse they slight and hope by Deedes And Humane Craft to blot out all Mis-deedes BOth East and West since Mahomeâ— began Since Mecha roar'd the Moorish Alcoran Find much adoe their Credit to excuse But must confesse the New-man they abuse While the Old Man with his Voluptuous store Traditions and his Trident they adore While Dust and Ashes they extoll too much Gods Word concealing where they inly grutch At Him who did Poore Fishermen inspire With sundry Tongues appearing then like Fire Unlesse they will mad Iulians cause support Restraining Light from all the Vulgar Sort Who burnt the Scriptures interdicted Zeale And forbad Schooles to Christians Common-weale As from the Yeare Six Hundred Sixty Sixe Rome did obscure Gods Word to raise her Pixe And what more Signe of a Tyrannick Sway Could be then with One Tongue to oversway The Christian Church compos'd of many Sounds The Catholick of unrestrained Bounds Within this Age likewise the Agarens By changing of their Names to Saracens Intruded on the Right of Abrams Heire On Christs as Moses Lawes and on the Faire Possessions of the Church in Siriaes Land With Aegypt which to his Arabian strand Now Mahomet
Thousands let them Bloud or tooke their Cures This Quarrell made all Germany to quake With Rodolfe Some with Henry more partake The Crosse and Eagle rear'd for Bloudy Signes Yet Caesar foil'd Saint Peters false Assignes And Rodolfe in the last great Battell fought Lost his Right Hand which to him dying brought He shew'd it to the Bishops standing by Lo here the Guerdon of disloyalty That Hand quoth he which did to Caesar vow I lost by your Advise Behold it now But notwithstanding all these cruell Broiles Proud Hildebrand late Gregoriz'd embroiles Himselfe againe will hazard Soule and Body But he will prove the Emperour a Noddy His Soveraigne Selfe comparing to the Sun And Caesars Person to his Vassall Moone So long he play'd till Caesar sacked Rome Doom'd him and set another in his roome As Others his Successours Herods Sword Drew out so oft crosse to their Masters Word That now of late Popes odious in their place Twice Burbon did and Alva Rome deface ABout this time our Rufus to enlarge New Forrest there to have a Chase more large Pull'd many Churches downe But while he plies The Game into his Heart an Arrow slies ERâ— I proceed to the Next Ages Stemme I must reflect upon Ierusalem Our Westernes now by Romes Croisadoes spurr'd Made a brave League and like good Brethren stirrd With Christian Zeale they having Antioch won To Salem went and took that Famous Towne Mauger the Forces of the Saracens Erected there the Crosse for Christian Mens Encouragement then living in those dayes Wherewith the sight they might as Star-like Rayes Behold a glimpse of some Pathetick Love Home-frozen there renew'd of force to move Compunction in their hearts on Calvaries And Olivets survey a Sacrifice Well pleasing unto Christ while they with Teares Mus'd on his Griefes his Bloudy sweat and Feares His Passion undergone for their Amisse His Fathers Wrath for Sinne appeas'd and Blisse Restor'd to them and to the Penitent By his Deserts alone and Punishment Who without help the Bloudy Wine-presse trod And seal'd for us a New Contract with God THis Citty by victorious Godfrey gain'd When all his Host would have him there constrain'd As King to weare a Golden Crowne Shall I Most Sinnefull Man quoth he unworthily Yeeld to be Crown'd with Gold in that same Towne Where Christ was forc'd to weare a Thorny Crowne Farre be that Thought from me weak Mortall Clod To slight his Crosse my Duty unto God Such Carnall Pomp I utterly contemne Pitch we our Thoughts on New Ierusalem Where every Saint the Vassall as the King Shall Crown'd with Blisse Alleluiaes fing The New-mans Complaint in the Name of Our Saviour Christ for the Romaine Churches Apostasie and Adulterate Religion WHilst in thy Name I vent this just Complaint Beare with my Song O Christ my Soveraigne Saint But thou Romes Cause of Sinne thou Dotards Clod Pack hence or humbly waigh the Word of God I am Truths Light yet None from râ—aming cease I am the Prince of Peace yet None loves Peace I am the Hill yet None climbes Sions Mount I am the Spring yet None drinks of my Font I am the Shepheard yet None heares my Call I am Gods Priest yet None heedes me at all I am Sinnes Death yet None from Sin will rise I am Soules Health yet None me gratifies I am the Way yet none will tract my Pace I am Lifes Vine yet none affâ—ords me Place I am Faiths Quintessence yet none partakes me I am Soules Manna yet aright none takes me I am Most true to Man None true to me I am Rais'd up yet None my Forme will see I am Mans Baile yet None doth con me Thankes I am Hells scourge yet None hates Satans Prankes I am the Golden Meane None waighes my Center I am Heavn's Doore yet None the doore dares enter I am Gods Word yet None will heare his Word I am their Iudge yet None regards the sword I am Heavens strength yet None sticks to my Fame I am Zeales-Mover yet None heedes the Flame I am the Starre of the New-Eastern Morne I am the New-mans Head yet None 's new-borne I am the Thundrer yet None feares my stroake I am Free-hearted yet None beares my yoake I am the Lambe None will my Nature take I am the Sunne yet None Sinnes Cloudes forsake I am Truths Rock yet None will now believe me I am Mens Hope yet None will cease to grieve me But in these Times with coulour of my Rock The Dragons seed doth persecute my Flock And all Romes Clergy now doe listen more Unto the Popes Decrees then to my Lore No wonder with Hells Plague that Soules are stung When such foule Mists rise from the Monsters Dung O wretched Man whom neither Christ his Path Nor Gospel moves nor yet his Threatning Wrath Nemo Yet if the Romaine None thou backward spell Omen I may to thee a Converts LUCK fore-tell Thou soone shalt chase our Aiery Foes to Hell If thou by Faith seekst in the Heavens to dwell And by the Crosse the Old Man to expell Here lyes our Task think on it and Farewell The same Complaint reiterated in Latine Measures DUm novus erumpo vates sub nomine Christi Da veniam justae Rex Sacrosancte Querelae Sed Romae Terrene Senex tu causa malorum I procul aut humili pende haec Oracula mente Sum Lux sed Nemo Tenebras Latebrasque relinquit Sum Rex Pacificus sed nemo est Pacis amicus Sum Mons sed Montem conscendit Nemo Sionis Sum Fons sed potat Nemo de Fonte Pereâ—â—i Sum Pastor sed Ovilis adest mihi Nemo vocanti Sum Mystes sed Nemo tenet mea Mystica mente Sum Mors Peccati Nemo expergiscitur insons Sum Rediviva Salus sed Nemo rependit amorem Sum Via sed Nemo sequitur vestigia nostra Sum Vitis vitae sed Nemo hanc Corde reponit Sum Liquor at Nemo me spiritualiter haurit Sum Panis Coelestis edit sed Pectore Nemo Sum Fidus sed Nemo fidem mihi praestat ad-â—â—â—â— Sum Sursum positus sed me vult Nemo videre Sum Datus Obses agit mihi Grates Nemo libeâ—ter Sum Satanae Domitor sed vitat Nemo Gehennam Sum Modus CentruÌ„ tamen hac duo Nemo revolvit Sum Pia Porta Poli sed Nemo precatur ut intâ—et Sum Praeco sed Nemo sacris accommodat aures Sum Judex sed Nemo fugit modò vindicis Ensem Sum Coeli virtus sed adhaeret Nemo vigori Sum Zeli Motor sed flammis Nemo movetur Sum Matutinum Sidus vates que Diei Sum Restaurator Populi sed Nemo renatâ—â— Sum Deus Altitonans melior sed Nemo fitâ—ictu Sum Mitis sed molle jugum fert Nemo modernus Sum Patiens Agnus sed me vult Nemo Patronum Sum Sol exoriens sed nubila Nemo retractat Sum Rupes Fidei sed Nemo sideliter orat Sum Spes sola hominum sed Nemo lacessere probris Meque meumque Gregem
there they burned Husse That Husse who sung that tho they broil'd the Goose Within One Hundred Yeares should be let loose A Swan out of those Flames as white as Snow Whose pow'rful Tune wuld make more Earâ—â— to glow Which Prophesie fell true for the Events Gamaliels-like since answered the Contents Yet did that Councell doe one piece of Worth For they depos'd Three Popes and chose a Fourth BUt afterwards the Caesar Sigismond For Breach of Faith by deare Experience conn'd That though as Toyes wrongs Mortalls over-passe Yet God will them not unrevenged passe For of the Breach soone as Bohemia heard The Safe-conduct infring'd the Cause unheard And that the Councell had condemned Husse And Ierome to be burnt without discusse Of the maine Points of Faith for which they 〈◊〉 By Safe-conduct sign'd in th' Imperiall Name And now affronted with this fond Reply Or rather jeer'd with a Priseillian Lye That Promise Faith and Vowes to Hereticks Were voyd in Law if made by Catholicks The Taborites repin'd faire Prague laments And all Bohemia moves with sodaine Rentâ— For their late Prophets Death and Guilâ—l◠〈◊〉 Bloâ—d Shed for no cause but that they Rome withstood Then Valiant Zisca like the Sonne of Nun Heads against Caeser many Battels won And with small Numbers to all the Papists Wonder Great Armies daunts as stâ—ook with claps of Thunder The Bohemes so against their Foes prevail'd That they their Losse and Breach of Faith bewail'd And to this day those Rites in Boheme last Which first to Husse from English Wickliâ—â—e past NOr was that Doctrine in Bohemia close And England kept alone but to oppose The Romish Sidâ— by Vertue of the Light Deriv'd from thence there daily came more Might The Bishop of Crâ—atia then did rise By Wickliffes Lamp and did Romes Fall comprise In Measur'd Lines which with Prophetick Glosse 〈◊〉 did for that Dark Age disclose Cameracums Good Cardinall then wrot And laid on Rome an everlasting Blot As others in those Dayes the like reveal'd What from Old muddy Pates stood long conceal'd So Mâ—ntuan did and Savonarola Clemangis and the Count Mirandola Boldly declaime against Great Babels Pride Ere Luther rose to write against her Side For now had God in his appointed Time Refin'd more Wits the Gospel out to chime THough for their Sinnes he Pius tooke away The Best of Popes who whilst he liv'd gave way Some Errours to reforme and meant that Wives Should licenc'd be to Priests yet still he lives For his Good Will enrowl'd in Lines of Fame That Silvius thought to cover Babels shame FOr like Effect God sent the Printers Presse That with Good Bookes we might his Truth confesse For till this Age faire Printing lay unknowne And so for want of Workes Truth was prest downe Gunnes likewise came within this Ages List Invented by by a Frier Alchymist Now Beades came up where Sixtus was not wary For Penance sake to linke the Ave-Mary And after him by the next raving Pope Who for his Fact was worthy of a Rope Romes Stewes came up for whom he builded Roomes And got the Whores to pay him Yearely Summes Under pretence to keep some Women Chaste But more for Gaine and for his Priests unchaste As though the Brothels could Knaves temptings let By suffring Ill Sinne Hidraes to beget WHat now hath Rome to plead what Colour Shift Or false Demurre to cloak her wanton drift That she be not indited hereupon A Baud and styl'd the Whore of Babylon Not onely Ghostly but a Carnall Whore She stands arraign'd for as yee heard before A Whore indeed a Woman Moguntine Sate Pope in Rome and acted Rites Divine If this be not sufficient Evidence Examine well their Lives and Frâ—â—dulence What Paramours Popes keptd what Bloudy Daâ—ce They led what Plutâ— their Bastards to advance That very Pope which shall cloze up this Age Can restifie with what tumulâ—uous Rage He rais'd his Sonne and Daughter to great States Caesar made Duke a Duke Lucretiâ— mates About the Yeare Six Hundred Sixty Six The Antichristian Fiend began his Tricks And Lullabies to act through Carnall Ease That men might fall to Scorbuts Foulâ— disease Or to some Prantick Fits Nor was it long But at the Time foretold who did belong To the Great Cities Dâ—â—â— by Sea and Land Playd the fond Bedâ—ems at their Heads command Her huge Impostume broke out at the last That is Five Hundred Yeares she made â—uch wast Of Ragges for Tenes to keep her Issuer running To serve her still it past our Westernes cunning The Prince of Fiends such Humours Spleen and Gall Envenom'd had this Mystery withall That for Guâ—iatâ—m she must India riste For Europes Drugges seem'd to her Lims a Trifle Who durst oppose her what she went about She had the Keyes of Heaven and Hell to boot Of all the World she was Chiefe Governesse And of what Christ scorn'd in the Wildernesse Only there wanted to supply her State The Genâ—â—es Map and Isabellaes Fate BEfore her Wane Gods Glory to extend It chanc'd about this Ages Latter End That Gama first from Lisbon tri'd the Course To passe by Sea to the East-Indian Shores Where having found the Load-stone since in use He Pilots did from the Pole-starre reduce By which and Printing was the Gospels sound Dispers'd and Both within this Age New-found West-India then was was by Columbus seene At the Expence of that Castilian Queene Who pawn'd her Jewels for the finding out Of those New Lands whose Gold made Spain so stout That aiming at the Westerne Monarchy She Musters Fights holds Kings in Jealousies And Babels Whore hopes in that New-found Soilo By Mart of Soules to keep more revell Coile And what She here hath by the Gospel lost That to repaire in Indiaes Sun-burnt Coast. Our Seventh Henry might have made his Boast Had he but been as prone as Ferdinand To take the tendred Map of that New Land But though the Tract was large yet Portingall And Castiles King contended till the Brawle By the High Priests Imaginary Lines Umpir'd they claim'd more then their Right confinâ—â— And so Romes Rites erected in that Coast. Satan repaires what he in Europe lost Unlesse our Ile to countepoise his Craft Had lately aim'd into that North a Shaft Which may perhaps some Consciences so wound That Savages may heare the Gospels Sound Which others Damps with Superstitious Fire Have there conceal'd and hindred to inspire THE OCCVRRENCES OF THE SIXTEENTH AGE From the yeere of our Lord 1500. untill the yeere 1600. The Argument Where lay Our Church â—re Wickliffe first arose By Prodigies Rome warn'd ere Luther rose No Tyrants Plots could let Our Churches Sound But Englands Queens did all her Foes confound FRom Age to Age I shew'd the Churches race Her Wane her Wens her rèfulgent Faâ—e And some I nam'd for Prophetizing Wits Times against our Beliâ—ls Fitâ— Who labour'd to suppresse what Christ prescribes Besides thâ— Abissines under Pretâ—ous Iohn Th' Armenians Greekes and Some in
and her Lights excellence Her Catholick and her Subordinate Commanion which false Rome would faine perswade That she alone doth owne without respect Unto her Matâ—s or Betters growne by Grace Where none can see her Universall Face Save God himselfe The World is large our skill At stint How then know we her Spatious Hill The Waldo is and th' Albigians in our West The Aâ—issines and Others doe suggest That they partake her Influence and her Head Ev'n Him that shall dispose of Quicke and Dead Peter and Paul we know But who are yee Who Meere the Church of Nembrods proud degree POpe Innocent in the last puddled Age By Canons strict but neither wise nor sage Our English Clergy now did here so gore As Hildebrand and Lanfrank did before That they without more Shifts Delayes Dispence Or hopes to calme Romes Spleen through bribing peÌ„ce Must turne away their Plighted Mates to grasse Or be Accurst and to refraine from Masse A heavy Doome and not to be recall'd This made our Clergy winch when they were gall'd And causelesly thus curb'd without remorce Of that which Christ condemned the Divorce Against this Flash Walter de Mapes wrot Oxfords Archdeacon stout he tax'd the Blot And Scandall which the Romaine Church encurr'd He shew'd the Flames which her poore Guard endur'd By such unlawfull Acts those very Flames Which Popes themselves not without branded Names Could well avoid in their more youthfull Yeares Nor Cardinalls nor any of their Peeres They did enjoyne for tolerable Paine This moved Mapes in Old Romaine Straine To gird and nip the Popes usurp'd Decree And to prove Marriage for the Clergy free But now my Muse more Bloudy Deedes must tell Which then the Church endur'd from Fiends of Hell About the Yeare Twelve Hundred Thirty One The Greek and Latine Church could not attone Their Diff'rence new sprung up for Christian Rites But a sore Schisme then chanc't for Romish Kites Would rake ev'n to the bone all Churches else They would yoake to Romes Soveraignty excelse The Easterne Church and force investiture Of all their Bishops and their Ghostly Cure Under the Keyes pretence to Romes proud Mace But they would not subject nor so abase Their Pastours Staffe alleadging Old Decrees Of Synods made for ordring of their Fleece And Liberties in their prefixed Spheare At Chalcedon at Nice and other where That every Patriarch in their proper Charge Should onely deale and their owne Place discharge Not medling with Anothers stinted Cure But watching still their owne Flocks to secure Not striving for high Seates of Prelacie As Gregory then did for Primacie To this Effect Bizantiums Patriarch wrot To Gregory the Ninth that he could not Consent to thrall his Church unto his Will Which as a Tyrants Law might spill or kill At which Resolve Romes Lofty Prelate frown'd And by his lowing Bulls accursed Sound Anathemated him and all the East Because they would not bow to his behest And there withall proclaim'd the Crosse to fight And to deprive them of Gods Blessings quite According to his Will false Christians went And Martyrs did with Cypriots Bloud augment Before this Rupture both the East and West Till then agreed on Union fixt their Rest And though for Clericks Wives and Masses Rites They varied yet Romes Popes play'd not the Kites Till then on them as in our Westerne Spheare From whence they rak'd much Treasure every yeare They Both agreed acknowledging One Head One Christ One Faith One Iudge of Quick and Dead One Universall Church One Bond of Love And that One Spirit ought them all to move All Patriarchs linkt in mutuall Amity Coequalls grac't with Honours Parity But through this Rent by Babels Whore begun A Bloudy Flag was for Both Churches spun THis Schisme 'twixt East West obscur'd the Crosse And to them both fore-doom'd a two-fold Losse Of Worldly States to Greece in time to come But Losse of Ghostly Gifts to haughty Rome Together with the Losse of Both the Swords As Bernard to Eugenius well records When she shall see how many Potentates Will flinch from her and free themselves and States When she shall heare One with a Dreadfull Tone Proclaime the Fall of Whorâ—sh Babylon WHen Babel saw that her Croisadoes mist Ierusalem to win againe for Christ As she but in Disguise suggested then Now she proclaimes them against Christian Men The Waldois and Alb gians feele her Spite For against them she is resolv'd to fight Some yeeld unto the Fiery Crosse. Some stay Some stray recant and Others fly away With all their Kinne into Calabriaes Soile Where till of late they liv'd safe from Romes Broile Nor could that Age nor yet the Ages since Extirpe their Seed nor cause their Faith to flâ—nch Yee Darkned Ghosts of those inveagled Times Who merit well Damnation for your Crimes Doe what yee can these New-sprung Waldois shall With their good Mates Albigians you appall And shall out-last your Cursing Thunder-blasts Till Luther comes and gives you more distasts At which appointed Time with lowder Crack Your Camerades shall tremble or fall back From Ralaams League unto a Nobler Head Whose Spirit them will into Sion lead WEll neere 300. Yeares the Popes have fought With Emperours and Kings their downefall sought Depos'd the Sire and rais'd a Rebell Sonne Unnaturall the Father to dethrone They poyson'd some and Others by degrees They forc'd to cry Peccavi on their knees And all for worldly Rule Nay Kings durst not Curbe Homiâ—ides such was the Clergies Loâ— In those Dayes that if they to Rome appeal'd They were exempt and had their Pardons seal'd While Rebell Beâ—ket for poore things withstood His King the Pope his Shield most firmely stood And Others of his Ranke hal'd to their Nets Two English Kings of our Plantagenets WHen Milan rose against the Emperour With other Townes though not to Babels Towre Subject at all yet did Pope Gregory Because the Rebels sought his Amity Accurse the Third Time Caesars Majesty And though some pleaded then a Nullity Yet no submission served Frederick But he stands barr'd from the Church Catholick About the Yeare Two Hundred Thirty Eight With the one Thousand past for his owne Right The Emperour was then compell'd to Fight The while the Pope all Caesars League did smite With Thundring Darts pretended from Saint Paul And from Saint Peter to affright them all But seeing that such Blasts small terrour strooke He then proclaim'd the Crosse and thereby shooke Th' Imperiall League yet not so fatally But that his Gibellines stood really As with the Pope remain'd the Guelphian Side Which Two did long all Italy divide HEere ends not all this Centuries Complaint With farre more dismall Stirres the Pope did taint Those Cloudy Times The Father dead he shootes Upon the Sonne his Bolts It little bootes Him to submit The Sonne alike must beare His Fathers Curse and so to Sway forbeare Conradus dead he doth for Conradine As much and more for him he doth confine Not onely