〈◊〉 Apoc. 4. As the prototypoÌ„ is honoured in the vvorsip of the Picture so is it dishonoured in the contumelious abuse of it 1. Reg. The Albigenses affirmed our bles sed Ladie to haue bene agreat sin ner S. Austen The Coun cels of ClaramouÌ„ Basil TreÌ„t c. alvvaies except the B. Virgin vvheÌ„ they treat of sin Lu. 1. Gne 4 Tit. 3. Ps. 1. The Angels Mat. 16. Io. 21. Luc. 5. Ps. 19. The Apostles Mat. 7. Of the Sacrament of Confession Luc. 10. Ps. 107. 144. Leuit. 14. Luc. 17. Io. 20. Mat. 16. Of the traditions of the church Baptizing of Infants is an Apostolike tra dition as also the 40. daies fast of Lent and the vvorshipping of holy Images according to the 2. General Coun cel of Nice The Martirs The true Catholike Church increaseth by Persecutions Three hun dreth thou sand Martirs put to death in the Citie of Rome And thir Popes Ioh. 15. Dioclesiâ—◠〈◊〉 〈…〉 an though they pretended satiecie of honours and imperial dignitie to be the cause of their resigning the regal state yet they priuatly confessed to their nee rest friends that the true reasoÌ„ vvas the flourisshing and increasing of the ChristiaÌ„ church vvhich mageâ— their tyrannie more and more through out the vvorld dilated it selfe Act. 8. 10. It is a vvonderfull thing that the vvorkes of Arch heretikâ—s though most learned after some years all perish The Ar 〈…〉 aÌ„s Donatists NestoriaÌ„s ManicheaÌ„s and other sects haue vvritten bookes for the establi shing of their here ticall opinions and yet none of their vvorkes are extant as if they vvere sub iect to that curse Sâ—p 4. Spuâ—â—a vitulamina non agent altas radices And verily arch heretiks are the first begotten bastards of the Diuel as Policarpus called MarcioÌ„ A description of Virgins vvho to their crovvne of Virginitie haue added the lavvrel of Martirdome Apoc. 14 Can. 2. Apoc. 4. Iud. 5. A relation of the glorious Martyrdome of S. Ebba an Dom. 870. burnt vvith her holy Virgins by the Danes for the defence of their Virginitie Eccles. 10. Dan. 13. The OratioÌ„ made by S. Ebba to her Nuns Lucretia so generally commended for killing her selfe is much reprehended by S. Austen in his first book de Ciuit. Dei Margarit Middleton Promartir of her sexe in the last reuolutioÌ„ Cornelius 〈◊〉 Lapide of the Societie of Iesus a man famous for his profounde knovvledge in holy Scrip tures and languages makes honorable mention of her amongst the most glorious Martirs of the Primatiue Church in his CoÌ„mentaries vpon Gen. cap. 1. I haue here also made meÌ„tion of her at the vrgent request of a vvorthy personage in these partes vvho though a stranger to our Countrie yet is singularly deuoted to our couÌ„ trie vvomaÌ„ this holy Martyr The Doctors and holy Fathere of the Catho lik church Humilitie a speciall signe of the Catholike Church and it is vvorthy to be obserued that the greatest Doctors most learned in the Catholike Church haue bene most humble S. Norbert an Apostolike maÌ„ sounder of the order of Praemonstratenses by his holy labours he freed Antvverp from the heresie of Tanchelinus His vvhite order hath heretofore much flourished in our Countrie Fiftie Orders in the Church of God obserue the rule vvritten by 〈◊〉 Austen Ios. 7. Of the English Nuns of S. Monica in-Louaine liuing vnder the holy rule of S. AusteÌ„ The three Vovves 1. Pouertie 2. Chastity 3. Obedience The acts and exercise of a religious life Iob. Iob. 16. Of the buil ders of the church Mat. 22. Col. 2. Apoc. 21. A description of the foure Cardinal virtues Temperance Fortitude Iustice. Prudence The follie vnlavvfulnesse of single com bates The holy Councel of Trent sess 25. c. 19. ExcoÌ„municateth both fighters in single com bats as also the beholders 3. Reg. 13. Sap. 8. Apoc. 12. 1. Cor. 15. S. Xauerius conuerred aboue three hundreth thousand Infidels to the faith of Christ. A parenetical apostrophe to the married and schismatik Church-men of the greeke Church Act. 2. Ierem. 16. Io. 21. Mat. 12. Neuer any conuersions of Nations haue bene performed by heretikes Io. 19. Ep. Io. 13. Sir Thomas More Mat. 5. An Apostrophe to the clergie labouring in England Agge 2. 〈◊〉 Mac. 4. 2. Paral. 36. 2. Esd. 2. Of some principall Orders of Religion Luc. 6. 1. Cor. 3. Innocentins the 3. savv in vision S FraÌ„ cis holding vp the Laterane Church by vvhich vision God vvould de monstrat the benefite vvhich the Catho lik church by the pious labours of this holy man and his of spring in aftertimes receiued Of Orders of Religious vvoemen in the Catholik Church Mat 5. Of the relligions vveomen of Saint Benets order The Quire of our Church Ierem. 9. Zach. 12. S. Gregorie a Monk of S. Bennets order and aftervvardes Pope for his great zeale and labours in the coÌ„uersion of our countrie stiled the Apostle of Enland hee ordained the manner of sing ing which is stil retained in the Church of him cal led Cantus Gregorianus Gen. 3. Iud. 5. Purity ofâ— intention Leuit. 5. Luc. 2. Ierem. 8. Esai 49. 1. Reg. 16. Apoc. 12.
spiteful Ievv more svviftly flings a stone Then his loue-darts ascend to Heau'ns high Throne VVhere falling lovv before the seate of grace They humblie beg that mercie may haue place And hovv they speed vv'eele aske of furious Saule VVho shall hereafter be a Preaching PAVLE SEBASTIAN eke shot through vvith many Dart Instructeth Gentlemen to plaie a part In true-loues stage that others fall not dovvne He labours and so gets a Martyrs Crovvne Neere to SEBASTIAN seeing a voyde place VVee aske vvho they are shall haue so much grace To stand nigh IESVS champion and are told Our English Noble men that roome shall hold As no goods losse no deaths feare could them quayle No dangers make in IESVS faith to fayle For though not equall vvith the Martyrs rovve Yet as stout Squires of Martyr-Knights they goe As vvee these Champions vievv vvith curious eye Amongst them vvee a Ladie doe espie VVhose Crovvnes proclayme shee ruled sundry lands But historie complaines of sauage hands The Armes of Scotland and French Lilies teach That o're these Kingdomes her commaund did reach VVritten in bloudie Characters vvee read Heauens vveepe vvhilst I recount so foule a deed That shee vvhose head vvee see on this sad stage From body cut to satisfie the rage Of barb'rous foes vvhilst shee did liue had been FRANCIS of France his vvife and Scotlands Queene And though her stile of Majestie vvas such Yet prophane hands durst Gods anoynted touch As if no sacred Oyle had bene shed By holy Prelate on her Princely head Vnto the Scaffold brought ô cruell deed By the sharpe Axes blovv shee there doth bleed Heau'ns did yee shine vvas there a vvicked Sun To lend a daie vvhil'st such a deed vvas done Surely all things as rul'd by a nevv force Did goe retrogradate to Natures course And as vvhen Man Iehouah did offend The vniuers for Mans offence did end Againe so many Lavves in one foule fact Being infring'de in pennance of the Act All things are taught to goe an other vvaie In the accustom'd order nought doth staie The pious Spartans euermore deni'de In battaile Theopompus to haue di'de They thought though millions of meane persons die Yet death durst not approach great Monarchs nigh And deem'd his Kingly Majestie a sheild Able to saue his life in bloudie field And can it bee a person of such state Amongst her friends should finde so hard a fate Tiberius fearefull of his after fame Hated Historians vvho vvould blase his name And teach posteritie in this and this Tiberius vvhil'st he liu'd did doe amisse That yeare vvhen this vvas done ye learned Men Forget to handle an Historians Pen. Doe not instruct the vvorld that England durst Performe a Deed of all bad Deeds the vvorst Not but I read that Monarchs haue bene kil'd And the Majestike blood vnjustly spil'd But still the Murderers haue carefull been That such impietie should not be seen VVhen vvee in Counsell sit and in cold bloud Deliberate as if the Act vvere good The sentence giu'n vvee justifie the fact By publike execution of the Act. But vvhat 's the cause for vvhich they shed her bloud This one for-sooth because shee vvas so good And the vvorld knevv vvhat right shee had to raigne These are the reasons vvherefore shee vvas slaine Should Herod knovv that IESVS is Gods Son VVould hee doe lesse thinke you then he hath done Curst be ambition vvhich vvill knovv no lavves Curst be suspition in a Kingdomes cause But as proud Iades shall trample vvith their feet Good Seruius carcase in the VVICKED STREET And Tullia hasting to set on her head Romes Diadem on Fathers corps dares tread VVee vvill not vvonder vvhen for Kingdomes crovvne VVee see the Lavves of God and Man cast dovvne That vvaters doe not ouer-vvhelme our land And Neptune svvim vvhere Englands Ile doth stand That yet no greater vengeance hath bene seene VV'eele thanke thy prayers vntimely butcher'd Queene Shall vvee vvith teares bedevv thy Royall Hearse Blame the too-hastie fates vvith mournefull verse The Sisters aske hovv they durst vse a Knife So soone to cut thy golden thread of life VVee vvould doe thus but that faith makes vs knovv Glories rich Crovvne vvas giu'n thee by that blovv VVhich tooke thy life avvaie so Ammons pride Prepares a horse for Mordechee to ride Our teares vvhich els should alvvaies flovv are done VVhen vve behold our IAMES thy glorious Son VVho as just NOAH amongst mortalls best Shall giue our sorrovves end our labours rest His Parent LAMECH did of him fore-tell That in his blessed time things should goe vvell Renovvned PRINCE so vse thy Royall Pen That vve may place thee 'mongst these learned Men punc Our Churches Doctors vvho next Martirs stand A siluer Pen each hauing in his hand Aboue their heads houers a holy Doue VVhich dictates lessons full of vvitt and loue If to thy Harpe vveare added one more string Then thou no Svvan could more diuinely sing But vvee haue hope all numbers novv shall meet To make thy Musique absolutely svveet Thou DELOS Oracle of thy life time Thou Sun thou starre of parched Afriques clime Our Churches Pearle bred in thy mothers eyes Againe begotten by a sea of cries Great AVSTEN shall I vvith more vvondring eye Behold thee vvhen thy Muse doth mount on high Or loue thee more vvhen thou dost creepe so lovve As doe thy humble Retractations shevv To thinke amisse is fraile-Mans common case To change for better is a speciall grace And can vve thinke more forcible more good The teares of loue then a best Martyrs bloud The Desert Citizens vveare also there Some cloth'd vvith leaues others vvith shirts of hayre Their visages all pale their bodies thin Proclayme their greatest glorie is vvithin Their simple out-sides giue aboundant shevves That they to vvorld and flesh vveare alvvaies foes Heere also vvee our English EDVVARD knovv Mongst formest plac'de in the Confessors rovv A scepter in his hand o' ns head a Crovvne Yee gentle Heau'ns raine manie EDVVARDS dovvne VVho to our Britaine vpright lavves may giue And teach their People as they doe to liue Great CHARLES the second Hope of Northern clime Ordain'd by God to blesse the present time Of EDVVARD learne that subjects best obey VVhen they see Majestrates first doe then saie Such Edicts moue Mens harts though vvritten short VVhich first are practi'zd in the Princes Court Of EDVVARD learne that only hee 's a King VVho doth his Passions in subjection bring Princes Dominions may from Parents take To be a Saint virtue alone can make In that strange statue vvich great Babels King In vision sees each lim each part each thing As they grovv higher so in goodnesse grovv VVhich Potentates and greater men doth shevv That vnto honour should be joynd this grace To grovv in goodnesse as they grovv in place The head vvas best of mettals purest gold You the heads place amongst your subjects hold Be gold in loue be better
nam'de A bodie of the selfe-same substance framde VVith my claie Carcase haue not I a share As-vvell as he in a Caelestiall ayre This soule vvhich in my house of durt doth dvvell Doth aequall his that it doth not so vvell Performe her functions I my selfe must blame VVho so vvith svveets effeminate the same Had hee as I in Tauerns spent his daies The vvorld had bene noe Eccho of his praise Had he as I bene daily drovvn'de in vvine His statues had no other bene then mine His statues vvhich are objects of my eies His statues vvhich are causes of these cries Let me be good and valiant as hee The vvorld vvill statues consecrate to mee As it hath done to him heere heere shall stand My follies period vvith a drunkards hand I 'le vvrite no more an ignominious booke VVherein the after-times my shame shall looke But vvith Heroike deedes and vveapons dinte My name on front of Athens foes I 'le print There there the vvorld vvhi'lst lasteth the worlds frame In glorious Characters shall read my name You my youths deities I bid adievv I meane no more to sacrifice to you For drunken Bacchus cups I 'le vse the speare For Venus fauours in my helme I 'le vveare Deaths grizly face I 'le goe the vvorld about But I vvill finde a nevv Marathon out Novv is conceiu'd a Salaminian fight So much mooues virtue virtues painted sight The hauty CAIVS CAeSAR cannot sleepe Nay ALEXANDERS statue makes him vveepe Quoth he and sighs at my yeares PHILIPS son Conq'uerd the vvorld and beast vvhat haue I done Shall I at home alvvaies ignobly rest And like a babe sucke milke at my Mam's breast No no as he my Monuments of fame I 'le raise or die in persuite of a name His son the Portratures of vvorthy Knights Sets in his Pallace that their very sights May moue himselfe and the succeeding Kings To the attempting of heroicke things As I behold my IESVS on the Rood VVith armes extended shed his pretious bloud Hovv am I moou'd and vvhen I knovv for me My God vvas nayled thus vpon a tree Doth he not Preach although he make no noyse His only Picture is a Preaching voice The Sermon thus beginnes behold Gods Son Hath so much suff'red and hath so much done For thy soules health that thou shouldst enter in Heau'ns gates and freed be from hell and sin That thou eternally shouldst vvith mee raigne I for thy sins am as a victime slaine This Picture represents vnto thy sight My loue to thee in Golgoth's bloudie fight VVhere although in the battaile I did die Yet made I sin vvith death and hell to flie VVeare thou the spoiles of that tryumphant daie The spoyles are grace and glories Crovvne for aye As I this vvofull spectacle doe vievv VVhat actes must follovv vvhat affects ensue Doe not I IESVS loue vvho shed his bloud To take avvaie the lets vvhich 'gainst mee stòod In my pretension to the promist land And di'de to abrogate that vvriting hand Of Gods decree and should haue had its course Had not great IESVS disannull'd his force Doe I not vveep yes yes not cruell Ievves But my transgressions IESVS did misuse I I vyld vvretch vvith vvickednesse and sin His temples crovvn'd and vvith faults tore his skin As I see IESVS oft faint in the vvaie And CYRENEVS helpe him I thus saie No vvonder that our IESVS cannot goe The vveight of my transgressions load him soe Shall I not sin detest vvhen Gods sole son Sin only to destroie so much hath done And knovv hovv hatefull sin is in Gods eyes VVhen to appease him no Host can suffice No victime make him his dravvne vveapon sheath But his Sons sacrifice and ISAACS death Iulian deface that Portraiture vvhich shee Erects vvhom IESVS from the fluxe set free That so the memorie might alvvaies stand Of benefit receiu'd by IESVS hand At foote against Iconoclasts shall preach An herbes rare virtue vvho vvhen it shall reach To IESVS garments hemme IESVS shall daine VVith virtue of it to cure eu'rie paine Cast dovvne this statue renegate and so In IESVS picture shevv thy selfe his foe And vvhen thou hast it broken in disgrace Erect thine ovvne foule Picture in its place That from heau'n comming dovvne a firie blast May burne thy Portrature and to earth cast Shall vvee haue Iulians in our vvretched age Shevv against IESVS Crucifixe their rage These Pictures vvhich in such fayre order stand Must they be vvith a sacrilegious hand Cast out our Church Shall Gentle-men no more Behold SEBASTIAN shed his manly goare For IESVS cause and vvith the Martyrs sight Be animated manfully to fight For IESVS faith shall they not ALBAN see Beheaded by sterne Emperours decree For hiding in his house 'gainst Kesars lavves Iehouas Priest and making here a pause Incourage thus themselues this is our case Vilde Pursiuants haue IESVS Priests in chase VVe vvill them intertaine and if vvee die VVith vvinges of blest eternitie vvee le flie To highest heau'n and there vvith ALBAN raigne VVho for like cause vvith ALBAN haue bene slaine Had thy great house faire ESTHER bene so good If Leopoldus had not pictur'd stood Telling his Nephevves ti 's a Princes grace To be as high in Sanctitie as place Each virtue in a Monarkes brest must dvvell He must as SAVL the multitude excell By shoulders then the rest he must be higher Carried aloft vvith a Caelestiall fier Take Pictures hence vvhere is the idiots booke Our Faith 's deepe Mysteries therein to looke In Images the vn-taught svvaine shall read That CHRIST for him is borne for him doth bleed Hee shall as he sees IESVS borne so poore Conceiue that pouertie in it hath more Then the vvorld thinkes affection shall him make Loue the svveete babe borne poorely for his sake VVhen Ianus double fac'de the nevv yeare brings Hee shall behold the off'rings of the Kings And learne those Kings vvho offer presents are First fruits of Gentiles guided by a starre If God vvould not haue holy Pictures stand To grace his Church vvhy vvas the cut off hand of Damascene restor'd by MARIES praire VVhose Pictures in his bookes defended are If vvorshipping of Images be nought I 'le taxe thee Angels Empresse vvith a fault VVhy didst thou giue him his hand backe againe VVho Images Relligion did sustaine Can such a one finde fauour in thy sight VVho for Idolatries defence doth vvrite If vvorshipping of Images be ill Heau'ns Queene let me aske thee vvhy dost thou fill The vvorld vvith miracles and no vvhere more Then vvhere thy statues Catholikes adore Had not vouchsafe to ansvveare mightie Queene Aegyptian MARIE thy faire picture seene And praid before it should not her blest soule Haue still remained as a Blacke-more foule From IESVS Mother I 'le goe to her son And humbly aske of him vvhat he hath done As he the Messenger made backe to beare His holy picture to Edessas Pere As he
vvith Virtue vvonderfull did place In Berenices hand-kercher his face Each follovving age vvill reuerence the same And he for superstition must haue blame Pictures he saith are good but they are nought VVho haue their goodnesse into question brought Shall not our English Queenes see HELEN make A holy journey for deuotion sake To Salem tovvne vvhere miracles forth-bring The scepter of our vvith-thornes Crovvned King As on King SALOMON the daughters stand Of Sion gazing this vvas in his hand This scepter long time hid in holy ground Is by deuotion of this Empresse found Part of it she vnto Byzantium brings So much that age did esteeme holy things Part vnto Rome vvhere pietie doth build Marmorean Temples and deuotion yeild Iust honours to those Reliques vvhich did beare IESVS as hee o're hell did Tropheies reare Doth not this Queene of those foure nayles make much VVho holied vveare by IESVS bodies touch In her Sons Diadem she placeth one VVhich giues more grace then any Iaspar stone And teacheth CONSTANTINE although he raine That hee 's his substitute vvhom Nayles did paine Tvvo shee doth in his bridle raines inclose To keepe him safe from menaces of foes As IVSTINE on his head these raines vvill vveare The Feindes of Hell him dare not once come neare Hell as yet mindfull of Caluaria fight Is daunted vvith these reliques only sight VVho hath not hard of angrie ADRIAS vvaues VVhere millions of ships haue found their graues But novv that passage shall no more be so For HELEN the fourth nayle vvill in it throe And hee vvho vvith his death made all things eu'n Firming a lasting peace t'vvixt earth and heau'n VVill giue the sanctifyed Nayle a force To make the billovves leaue their vvonted course Neptune appeaseth euery troubled vvaue So great a virtue holy Reliques haue On euery vvall vvhy should not Ladies see Such stories and by them instructed be VVhat vveare the actions of renovvned Dames In antient times vvhere-vvith they made their names In catologue of Saints to be enro'lde And by Fames trumpe in after-times extold VVhy should not euery vvall and corner Preach And vvhat religion HELEN vvas of teach Oh vvicked daies of ours vvhen Danaes rape And naked Goddesses immodest shape As for an Apple they contention had To be descided by the Phrygian lad VVhen vvorkes of Aretines lasciuious hand Shall curiously in chambers painted stand Casting lust darts through vvindovves of the eie And vvith luxurious thoughts make the soule die But Images of Christ his Mother Saints VVhom pietie and true deuotion paintes VVith sacrilegious hand shall be defa'st In peeces broake and out of Churches cast In darkest shades let Manes euer bide And his tvvo impious sons on either side VVho vvorship due to Reliques first did blame And pietie fond superstition name Let them make Hell resound vvith vvofull plaints For their impietie 'gainst God and Saints It is enough that Infidels and Ievves VVho Gods and his Saints Images abuse Doe euerlasting pennance for their fault But let our Christian vvorld be better taught Let none vvho in our common vvealth doe dvvell For such impietie goe dovvne to Hel. Let all vvho are vvasht in great IESVS name VVith bended knee humblie adore the same Let all vvho IESVS and his friends affect The Tabernacles of his Saincts respect Surely blest Nymph errours detested night Thy happie times shall turne to faire daie light Thy Hymenaean Torches are the Sun By vvhich this good to Britaine shall be done For Gods Eternall vvisdome by vvhose hand The vvorld is gouern'd as it first did stand By a proportion'd meanes vvill bring to passe VVhat but in vaine by force attempted vvas VVee joye to read as sacred stories count That Clodoue vvas to the holy Font By his Clotilda brought the Lombards King Doth Ledolinda to the true faith bring Thy Auncestors the Gothes are likevvise seene Reuok'd from Errors by their pious Queene VVho vvounded vveare by great Achilles speare By the same vveapon to be cured vveare Against a Scipio vvho vvas Caesars foe In Caesars armie doth a Scipio goe VVhen as Melania by her blinde guide taught Errors of Origen to great Rome brought VVhere-vvith opinion of an holy name Shee and Ruffinus did dilate the same As Debora did not Marcella rise And make the erring Romaines ope their eies Made shee not Barach to stretch out his hand And put to flight the nevv-sprung errors bands The Lyons vvhelpe of Iuda shall oppose His force against that Lyons force vvho goes About the vvorld seeking each vvhere to eate The soules of men are this fierce Lyons meate In Edens Garden the curs'd tree did grovv VVhose fruit vvas death leaues sicknesse branches vvoe In top of Golgotha must spring a tree VVhich from these miseries shall set vs free â—nne vvas the EVE vvhich gaue vs our deaths vvound MARIE the vvoman is shall make vs sound A lavvlesse Mariage ENGLAND did vndoe Thy vvish't for Mariage ENGLAND shall renue Against their King vvhen ABSALON vvas slaine Rebellious SEBA moues the Tribes againe But a vvise vvoman in Abela tovvne Doth SEBAS head from Cittie vvalles cast dovvne And by the death of a seditious Knaue From IOABS furie doth her people saue Shall vvee be troubled vvith eternall jarres VVill no ALCIDES giue end to the vvarrs And Hollands many headed HYDRA kill VVhich doth vvith tumults our North-climate fill This Monster hath a Cockatrices breath Threatning to Monarkes and all Kingdomes death No DIONS novv no BRVTI liue againe Detesting lavvlesse tyrannie should raigne But Athens thirtie tyrants and Romes ten VVill change a Monarchy for diuerse men Religion is too poore a Maske to hide Their Treason that it should not be espide The vvorld be taught that breach of Faith to Kings First Heresie then Atheisme then Hell brings VVho doe contremne the Church their Mothers lore VVill at the last acknovvledge CHRIST no more And vvee haue seene them count it a small losse For Turkish Moones to change the Christian CROSSE My vvorthy Countrie-men vvhy are you slaues To Brevvers Coblers Basket-making Knaues VVhy doe you voluntarie your selues thrust To patronize a cause as Hell vn-just You ansvvere that you part of Holland take For the Lords vvord and for his Gospell sake The Gospell saies let CAeSAR haue his due Hovv for the Gospell fight you then thinke you Thieues their Kings rob and you against all lavv That thieues may keep stolne goods your vveapons draw But if you nearer to their Gospell looke You le finde it is a Matchiuilian booke VVherein each leafe containeth damned things Conspiracies and treasons against Kings Sovving sedition amongst other men That they may sleepe safe in their Cacus den Let vvartes destroie France Germanie and Beme VVhat doe they care so vvarres be far from them VVhat Gospel can they haue vvhere Turks vvhere Ievvs Their Synagogues and prophane Mesquits vse Is not their Amsterdam the drugs the fex The sinke of all impuritie and sects Could Hannibal
plac'te If Vincent Menas of the true Church bee Like cause like virtue rings that so is shee The holy Fathers vvho had vvitt at vvill And vvith a Pen made of an Eagles Quill Diuinely vvrit for IESVS common vveale To Martyrs next ring in this sorte a peale VVhere Doctors teach of admirable vvitt In eu'ry science deepely learned yet As vvas their Maister IESVS humble knovv There IESVS dvvels into that Temple goe VVee of our Fathers mysteries did learne And vvhen vvee vvould faiths Articles discerne For feare of our great Maister to be shent Like Children vvee vnto our Mother vvent And although vvee ' boue other men did soare Yet did vvee listen to the Churches lore Knovving that truth vvas promist vnto it But priuate men may erre for all their vvitt Yea these vvise men in vvrangling fashion chime And make complaints against some of our time VVho pulling them from heau'n vvhere they do dvvel Rancke them vvith Heretikes condem'd in hell Saying that they did teach the same vvith those To vvhose opinions they vvere alvvaies foes Saint IEROME yet is full of holy Gall And vvho saie so he Heretikes doth call Haue I quoth he so labourd vvith my Quill To fence a Cittie built vpon a Hill Haue I so many Virgins taught to tread The Counsailes path and to perfection lead And must I novv bee reccond'e amongst svvine VVho nothing holy haue nothing Diuine VVho more then I against Iouinian vvritt And must I novv'mongst his Disciples sit By mee just honours vveare to Reliques giu'n And doe I novv contemne the same in heaun Saint Austen vvonders men can so much straine His Orthodoxal sentences and faine That hee vvhil'st in our Region hee did dvvell Held such opinions vvhich hee hates as hell VVhat Church I vvas of quoth hee vvho vvill knovv Vnto the Rule vvritt by mee lett him goe In that I counsailes of perfection giue And teach a life vvhich I my selfe did liue This as to Greate Norbertus I appeare Antvverpes Apostle in my handes I beare And promise that my rule obserued vvell His Canons shall secure from feare of Hell VVhen IESVS shall to stricter iudgment come And as they haue deseru'de giue soules their dome Noe lesse then fifty holy Orders stand Obseruant of this rule vvritt by my hand Daily fresh vvreaths adorne my glories crovvne As I behold from high heau'n looking dovvne My English Daughters keepe vvith holy care Those statutes vvhich by mee ordained vveare They piously obserue vvhat I haue vvritt For Nuns and solitarie liuers fitt These Virgins neuer call this or that mine But alvvaies vse this phrase vvhat 's mine is thine As longe agoe in the Apostles time VVhen Christian feruour vvas in cheifest prime From Mothers knovvledge the least thing to hide They thinke a trespas for vvhich Achan d'ide Each Virgin IESVS for her husband hath To vvhome shee keepes infallibly her faith Betvvixt Greate IESVS and each holy Nun As shee is vested fiances are done The Matrimoniall knot is t'ide vvhen shee Vovveth obedient chast and poore to bee Heau'n is the chamber vvheare in ioyful blisse This holy marriage consummated is Then their superiors they doe knovv noe vvill For they abjured haue their ovvne as ill They Angels vvings haue vvhen they should obey And forthvvith flie if Mother once doe saie At midnight they for sometime leaue their Cell And come to Church cald thether by a Bell VVhere they doe pray vvhilst vvorldly people sleepe And Vigils vvith the vvatching Angels keepe VVhen flesh against the spirit entreth field VVith prai'rs and fasting they make the flesh yeeld They oft are guests at that Caelestiall board VVhich IESVS hath vvith his ovvne bodie stord There are they strengthened vvith heau'nly grace Their ghostly enemies avvay to chase If the least spot contaminate their soule Confession doth expiate vvhat is foule I taught these Maides to treade the milken path Their Church is mine as theirs so vvas my faith Shall vve discend from heau'n to our earths frame From earth to hell and demaund of the same VVhat tune it rings vvhat battailes haue bene fought Tvvixt light and darkenesse betvvixt good and naught Ievves Pagans Turkes our Region lovv Hell And all the Damned ghoasts vvho therein dvvell Shall ring that they 'gainst that Church spit their splene VVhich in my verses is described seene Gainst PETERS seate against the Church of Rome Did Heresie in battaile arraie come Great Behemoth that Monstrous oxe did dreame To svvallovv vp delightfull Iordans streame But PETER cunning Fisher-man vvith hooke Out of the sea Leuiathan hath tooke Chiefely by PETERS heau'nly guided arme Ievves Pagans heretikes haue receiud harme Still PETER doth in his successor fight And triumph ouer gates of horrid night Therefore of Stygian feindes the hate is great VVhich they to PETER beare and PETERS seate But IESVS doth make e'un Tipheus pride To shovv this Church so hated is his bride Thus God Christ MARIE Angels Saints Earth Hell Ioyntly concurre to make our Church a Bell. It remaines only novv vvee should declare Of this faire building vvho the vvorkemen are The chiefest Architect vvho guides them all And giues directions hovv they labour shall Is IESVS selfe he did deuise the frame And learnes the Craftes-men hovv to vvorke the same Best vvorkemaister for hee vvhen ends the daie VVith glories penie doth the vvorkemen paie Novv you must knovv there dvvels in IESVS hart The fulnesse of each science and each art VVith great election he his choise doth make And of a multitude some fevv stones take And those of vvhich he meanes his Church to build He vseth curiouslie vvith loue to guild And by the vvay obserue there can be none Fit for the building but a fowresquare stone A figure richly gracd ' no fortunes frovvne No Crosse no miserie can cast it dovvne And therefore NOAH fouresquare vvood did take Thereof his all-containing Arke to make And Sions Cittie as no Hellish storme Can it annoy is built in this same forme In eu'ry stone he doth foure virtues carue Assisting man least hee from reason svvarue Hee maketh temp'rance sit in pleasures vvaine Curbing the sensuall Iades vvith a strong raine Teaching amidst a vvorld of sugred svveetes To take no more then vvhat vvith reason meetes Next Fortitude vvhom dangers cannot quaile Nor vnexpected casualties make pale This virtue of meane men createth Kings VVhilest it excites them to attempt great things Iustice vvhose faire integritie is knovvne In dealing out to eu'ry man is ovvne Shee holds a ballaunce vvhich is alvvaies true And vveighs to God our selfe our friend vvhat 's due He lastly prudence carues of the foure best As being sole directrix of the rest This Ladie rides by Fortitude her side And tels her as t is follie and rash pride In deaths occasions vvilfully to run So is it crauen covvardise to shun All dangers vvhere renovvne and lasting fame May purchast be though pale death buy