living strove Arts to renew This moved Wainflet Wickam Chichesâ—ey And Others with more Fabrickes to supply That Nursery Some brought in Wood some Clay Some Stone aswell the Clergy as the Lay. Hence as from Sinons Horse Minervaes Knights Came forth well skill'd in Fences and in Fights Hence as from Saplings shot up Goodly Trees Hence as from Hives came up Industrious Bees Whereof some did the Conscience edifie The Common-wealth some Others beautifie Hence Wickliâ—se rose Bale and laborious Foxe Who holp to build Our Temple Orthodoxe Though not in Zeale to match the Primitive thrive Yet by such Good Mens Cares through Grace wee By Martyrs Acts fetcht from Old Registers To stop the Mouthes of false Interpreters As by those Wits nurst up with Food Divine On Oxfords Paps which now in London shine And likewise by a Thousand Other Starres Whose Radiant Rayes excell the Sunny Carres At whose rare Gifts and Voyce our Brittains wonder When they strike Sinne like to the Sonnes of Thunder THE OCCVRRENCES OF THE TENTH AGE From the yeere of our Lord 900. untill the yeere 1000. At which Time raigned Emperour Otho the Third whom the Almaines call the Worlds Wonder About which Time King Et heldred Raigned in England The Argument The Dulnesse of this Age. The Pope Supreme In Rule unto the Latine Tongue binds them Who are his Thâ—alles Yet to the Truth some stand Most firme Th' Electours now grace Teutons Land O Who can count the Churches dolefull Teareâ— Her Woes Her Fits and Manifolded Feareâ— By Saraceâ—s the Popes and Heatâ—nish Bands Who forraged and rackt all Christian Lands No sooner had Victorious Charlemaine Parted with Popes the Scepter Soveraigne Adding unto the Keyes a Diademe But Rome grew proud of that brave State Supreme Although as then it was a single Crownc And not as since like Gerions Triple growne So seem'd to have her former wound heal'd up Which Caesars gave by their Remove her Cup O're-flow'd her Macâ— renewe'd which Gorhes had rent She frolicks now forgets her Banishment She hopes that the like Blow shall never light Upon her Limbs nor work her more despight She stands secure and builds up Babels Walls And by New Kings her Tributary Thralls Whom she hath train'd with Fetches into serve Her Turne and as their God her to observe She stores her Palace with the price of Bloud With Sinnefull Spoiles vail'd with an Angels Hood While thus she vaunts of Carnall Dignities And slights the Serpent which concealed lies Religion goes to wrack and few there be Which will or dare the Gospels Splendour see Dumbe are her Priests and muâ—fled are the Flock Both Honour Stocks more then the Living Rocke Instead of Scriptures now Traditions strange The Divels Huskes disperst Lord how those range Which thâ—ugh but light at first in Wise mens Eyes None fannes them lest they might disgrace the Keyes Usurping Lord who whilst he grac'd those Toyes Stopt Strangers murmure at the Latine Noise O Tyranny worse than Our Norman Kings Such was Great Henries Spleen and such his stings Towards the Welsh or Brittish Nation bent Because they had by their Troupes Ambushment Neere Snowdon Hills defeated in their Woods And Straights his Forces in his angry Moods He meant if hesped in a Victours way Old Cambers Tone quite to exile away And force the Vanquisht from their Native Tongue To learne the English Tone But of this wrong Consulting with an Hermite when he heard How hard that Plot would prove he seem'd afear'd That though their Persons he might subjugate Yet he could not that Tongue obliterate Which was so Ancient but it should endure Till Doomesday came the Pure from the Impure To separate and that this Sound among The Chiefe should vent Allelujaes Song MUch then hath Rome to answer for this wrong And they have Cause to waile who were so long Barr'd from Soules-Comfort in the Mother-Tongue By Rapsodies unknowne or Parrats Song Before this Ninth Centurian Age began Although the Head turn'd giddy the New-man Forsooke not to reclaime the Chiefest Parts Of the Church-Body from the Serpents Arts. In all the Course of the Church-Pilgrimage From the Apostles Time untill this Age I apprehend no Pleas in that long Tract Of Time nor reall Motives to substract Some Schismaticques excepted and some Few Who seiz'd on Rights to their Creator due From her Essentiall Worth and Purityâ— But that Romes Church leagu'd in Integrity With Cyprian Ambrose Ierome Augustine For the Resolve of Mysteries Divine And that with those whom I have named last We hold True Faith in spight of Babels Blast The Faith which they did Catholicke professe Yea and the very same untowardnesse Of Factious Spirits which they scorn'd we scorne Hating to see our Masters Rayment torne DId any Farnous Writers from Christs Age Or in Eight Hundred Yeares since Christ engage Their Auditors to credit those lewd Points Which with lewd threats Trents Councel late appoints Did either Popes or Councels then ordaine From Wedlock Bonds the Clergy to refraine Did they compell their Flockes Gods Word to heare In a strange Tongue as if they sencelesse were Did they without their Troupe Communicate Or let them without Wine participate The Holy Bread alone with curst intent So maiming halfe our Christian Sacrament Did they kneele downe to Images or Shrines Or offer Bribing Gifts Or pay them Fines Did they believe the Pope dispenc'd with Oathes Or could dispose of Realmes to Franks or Gothes Did Popes within sev'n Hundred Yeares exempt States from their Kings or Kings hold in contempt Did they beleeve that Popes could Pardons sell And ransome Soules from Purgings Flames of Hell Or do the Greeks the East or Abissine Hold to this day like Rome their Rites Divine But rather joyne with us in most of these Holding her Sick of Schismaticques Disease Did they before the Councell Popes preferre As though like Other Men they could not erre No Romainist although he loves the Pope Unlesse he rackes too much will prove I hope That any Doctours broacht that Dostrine out Untill the Sunne the Ninth Age brought about Or till indeed long after by degrees Popes thundring Spells forc'd Monarques on their knees Against Christs Rule who never grudâ—'d to pay Caesarean Toll nor Pilate did gaine-say And if they should by Romes Type patronize Those Errours which the True Church doth despise Let them looke backe upon the Word Divine And see if there they can such Points define Or if before or after Constantine Till this Tenth Age from Purenesse did decline They apprehend that Saints did Sympathize With those grosse dreams which now they dearly prize ONely some Shrines in Austins Time began To be in some request by their Old Man Devis'd to soile the New but not as since That they might from Gods Adoration flinch With an All Haile to the Triumphall Wood To Martyrs Ashes or Saint Benets Hood Though in our West Some us'd thus to comply The East remembred yet Saint Anthony Who at his
doth adde that by those Three The Hornes in Daniel might accomplishe be With Hodgepodge-Dreames Cookt for a Fairy Feast And so himselfe of those Three Realmes possest Dar'd to spue out the most Presumptuous thing The Alcoran I meane against our Christ Whereby he grew One of Great Antichrist His Chiefest Limbs to Lord it in the East As Popes already crept into the West And save for Christian Name which they doe beare Shall over-match him in our Worldly spheare For as the One himselfe styles Lord of Lords So Ours shall goe beyond him by lowd Words And Thundring Bulls accursing men to Hell Dethroning Kings and seating Soules aswell In Heaven as in Purgatory-Cells In which Attempts the Pope the Turk excells BUt whether for Pelagian Heresie Or for her Fraud Romes great Apostasie Fell out For though Pelagius she may blame Yet his Conceptions with implicite Flame She hugges Or when she turned Courtezan Or when was Satan curb'd I leave to scan Loath to resolve such Questions Scrupulous Till Fresher Gales for their more cleere discusse Shall quicken up my gravell'd Intellect From Ancient Scribes the Truth to recollect I Had almost forgot here downe to quote Among these Broiles one memorable Note About the Yeare Six Hundred Sixty Foure When Sarasens and Popes began to rore A Female-Saint of Yorke did Prophetize And speake against Romes New Enormities She stood against the Shaving of the Crowne Which then the Romish Church to know her owne False Prophets by as Publike Mark or Seale Had forc'd on Priests with a lowd thundring Peale Against the same and Easters Romaine Date Good Hilda spake but Popes said she did prate For since they durst the New-mans Course exchange Why might not they all Ancient Orders change Adde to the Church New Sacraments as Lights And alter Times aswell as Outward Rites He that presumes above all Councells Kings And States will do farre more prodigious things Thus Popes have done Therefore I strongly fixe Upon the Yeare Six Hundred Sixty Sixe When Gog with Force advanc'd the Alcoran When Magogs wiles set up the Outward Man Then did those Foes though diffâ—ring in their wayes Begin with Filth to soile the Churches Rayes THE OCCVRRENCES OF THE EIGHTH AGE From the yeere of our Lord 700. untill the yeere 800. At which Time Irene raigned Empresse of Constantinople being the Mother of Constantine and Nicephorus About which Time Ecbert began his Monarchy in England The Argument The Churches Brood seduc'd with Monkish Lies And Mechaes Dreames the Gospel they misprize Mungrells themselves then Mixt Religions flow Yet some reclaim'd their Mothers Voyce did know ABout the Yeare Six Hundred Sixty Sixe Strife dimm'd the use of the true Crucifixe For Pictur'd Saints the Greek Imperiallists Began to taxe our Westerne Latinists Whose Right or Wrong Serenus Gregory And Epiphane did long afore descry Some priz'd those Types like Bookes to edifie Some them defi'd least Gulls them Deifie Some thought their sight did quicken much the sence Whilst others held they dull'd the Conscience But to summe this we must our Bodies yeeld As Mindes to serve the Lord or lose the Field We outwardly must to Gods Rites attend As inwardly on his Good Gifts intend For what the Heart adores the Tongue sounds out The Knee bowes to the Sight puts out of doubt Then Agars seed prevail'd to Tyrannize Popes to usurpe and both to Sympathize With Satans Genius by false masked zeale To over-sway Christs Church and Common-weale Fraud taught them first to crouch and to dissemble Then Fiends train'd theÌ„ to make their Foes to treÌ„ble Thus darkned stood our Westerne Hemisphere Till She that 's with the Sun cloth'd did appeare By Trumpets sound and Printings Mystery Recalling home her Strayes from Pâ—pery Among which Lutes harmoniously Divine Would I could thrust this Oaten Pipe of Mine BUt was Our Church on Earth invisible Till Luthers Time No sure Most visible She lay to Saints though to some Romish hid Like Diamonds in Mines yet clearly did She breath in Christ although not eminent To Carnall Eyes or on a Hill transparent Yet Catholick and through the World diffus'd She sojourned with Holy Rayes infus'd Like a Poore Pilgrim one while in the East She liv'd retir'd Another while the West She put in mind of Jeremiaes Threnes Anon the Northerne-Iles and Isters Fennes She visited and oftentimes the South Or all at once she wakened from their Sloth Which â—ruitfull Greece and rich Arsaces Land Could testifie with Ethiopiaes Strand Which Câ—â—ms Tartaria and the Moguls Ground Could blaze how she Nestorians did confound Which Snowâ— Mosâ—hoâ—s Clime could justifie Yea many in our West could verifie That she Good Soule with Teares and Doctrine sounâ— Sought to redâ—â—me them in Hells Fetters bound And on Christs Merits onely to rely Without Distrust or Ambiguity Tendring her Glosse Christs Gospel to expound But most were deafe or would not heare her Sound For either in a Tongue unknowne by roat Or â—arnally they would her Dâ—ctates note Nay when she would indifferent things to use Pâ—rmit her Bâ—bes her Love they would abuse And for her Care her Champions they would raze Out of their Files with Curst Anathemaes Yet some of better Mould attentively Gaâ—e â—are and these I praise deservedly SOme Godly Moâ—kes and the Old Saxon Bede Shew us what Life a Christian ought to lead He dâ—ing wisht aâ— Cutberâ— wrote that Men Would read Gods Word and humane dreams contemn To which Good End himselfe in English Toâ—e Christs Gospel left according to Saint Iohn Those Holy Monks liv'd not on others sweat Nor idly did by Strangers Tythes get Meat But earn'd repast in Gardens by the Spade Or in foule weather by some Houshold Trade To keep their thoughts froÌ„ sensual Plots they wrought And on High Dayes or Festâ—â—als they taught Their Auditours what sence Christs Mystery Beares to imprint his Passions Mâ—mory Or Catechis'd the weake and tender Braine With Scriptures Text and intelligible straine But when the Lumbards were by Chaâ—lemaine Represt then Popes rais'd up their Peâ—cocks Traine With Carnall Sence and Carnall meanes support Transforming Rites ingrosse stupendioâ—s sorâ— And by Degrees transferr'd to Catholickes Traditions hatcht by Former Heretickes What Wheele is this what strange Extravagance Religious Rome like Dina gads to Daunce Nay more she paints her Face like Jezabel Darkning those Gifts wherein she did excell She that most Honour'd was next Salems Church Spreads Lying Dreames and now lives by the lurch She that was once the Westernes sacred Dame Converting Heathen Soules unto the Lambe Usurps Saint Peters Place with Lofty Style Depraves Gods Gifts and reares up Babels Pile She that was Chast delights to play the Queane And more then Good to practize Deeds obsceane But these are Triâ—les in respect of those Great Sinnes to which she will henceforth dispose Her Whâ—â—rish will for wicked Sodoâ—y She will commit cheat men with Alchimy She will proud Nembrâ—d from Damnation free And will besamt false Magus for
a Fee She will Create New Christs burn Saints force Hell Mew up Gods Word and Vertue quite expell She Christendome will topsie-turvie turne Dethrone her Kings and make their Subjects mourne But here the Comfort lyes though Rome playes false And Nero-like debauch'd yet all her Brawles Plots Menaces and Tortures cannot stop The Pens of Some the Truth to underprop With Learned Workes to blaze in every Age Her Breach of Faith and tyrannizing Rage THe strong Conceit of the States Holinesse Saint Peters Keyes and Shrines did so possesse Remoter Braines that Rome they did prefer Before all Climes Thither Cadwallader Our Brittish King for Refuge in Distresse And sundry Others went for Happinesse As they then dream'd Some for Monastick Rest Some to become there by such Merits Blest And if Ravennaes Feare and Lumbards Sway Had not then blockt them in their Pilgrims way With dangers by Banditi in some Straight About the Alpes where Theeves for Preyes awaite Such was the Blindnesse of that Ages Zeale Romes Mart had greater been more lowd her Peale As sithence for her Marchandize encreafe Fell out though to their Losse of Inward Peace WHile Rome thus vaunted of Imagery Greece seconded her Sinfull Mystery And though New Rome long struggled with the Old Yet now her Keyes then Ice become Cold And so prevail'd damn'd Errour at the last That Nicens second Councell made agast Our Christian Church when that Romes glorious Head She saw Accurst and yet themselves mis-led Would set forth Acts for Images Adore Which their Greek Church condemned had before Honorius was most justly Censured But Idolls use they ill determined For Heresie the Romaine Pope they quail'd Yet Heresie within themselves prevail'd And what the Former Age brookt as a Booke An Image now like to a God they tooke And held an Idoll in no lâ—sse esteeme Then Pagans did to honour Dagon seeme This Ages Griefe I point at that the East We may conclude as faulty as the West None can excuse themselves Aswell New Rome As did the Old for Antichrist made roome Because like Rome a Mungrell Faith they those The Greeks their Fame of Iconomaches lose Yet this stole in but like an Ague Fit They soone recover'd and confounded it THey did not since so Superstitious grow To vow that Service which to Christ they owe They kneel'd not downe nor orav'd dâ—aâ—â— Idollâ— aydâ— As if their Church to Baal they had betray'd They minister the Cup unto the Lay Their Clergy-men doe Marry to this day And in the Mother-Tongue the Gospel read Not like the Westernes Rome so much misled ANd yet no doubt their Church went much astray In many points though not so grosse away As Rome They held and made apparant Boast Of idle Quirkes about the Holy Ghost That they might share and be in tangled in The Mystery of the Lewd Man of Sinne. For which Foule Crime and Dâ—pravation Christ Did then with-draw his Grace and in that Mist The Dragon did worke on their Enemies As on their Wiâ—â— their Empire to surprize And to prey on their Chiefe Metropolis As Turkes still doe And all for their amisse ERe I conclude this Ages Century I must not over-slip how Zachary The Romaine Pope against Gods Word gave way From Childerick the Crowne to put away And to Depose the French Mens Lawfull King On Pipins Plea and for no other thing Then for a slothfull Life and that a Bee Was fitter then a Drone to Over-see And Rule a Realme that he tooke all the Care While Childerick lay still in Pleasures Snare Or lull'd a sleep not caring but for Ease Whereby he did the Common-wealth displease On this surmize the Pope gave his Assent That the Poore King be to a Cloister sent And shorne a Monke that Pipine weare the Crowne The lawfull Heires from Native Right quite thrown For this good Turne the Pope to gratifie The Franks New King combin'd to fortifie Saint Peters Seat against the Lumbards strength That he Ravenna forc'd to yeeld at length The Yeare of Christ Seven Hundred Fifty Sixe When men did much on Outward Objects fixe Then Constantine to Pipine in the West Sent first the use use of Organs from the East In imitation of King Davids Harpe A Godly Use though Some thereat doe carpe Which though Pope Paul the First did not abhorre Yet afterwards he dar'd that Emperour With Curses for opposing Images On these Popes doated so with Passages Of Glorious Shewes that Adrian Peter all In Silver cloath'd and Paul with Golden Pall. THus by Degrees Rome that was fam'd for Chaste Began to paint her Face and prove unchaste But though Popes daub'd were more proud become Others went Plaine like Old Religious Rome And in Our West will so continue still Till to adore False Christs Fiends bane their Will All were not Bad although the Head was craz'd The Lord yet some of Romes poore Members grac'd No doubt He blest some of the Romain Brood Caiphas was Bad but Nichodemus Good When that Elias thought the Church downe reel'd Sev'n Thousand were to Baal that never kneel'd As in the East so in the West there were Thousands which then from Idolls did forbeare Fixing their onely Faith on Maries Seed The Churches Head which ransom'd Evaes Deed. Now the first use to Christen Bells began Whereby I thinke they Baptisme did profane When they deprav'd the Rites of Sacred Font Wherewith to type the New-man we are wont THE OCCVRRENCES OF THE NINTH AGE From the Yeare of our Lord 800. About which Time Charles the Great of France after his Conquest of the Lumbards was Crowned by Pope Leo the Third Emperour of the West untill the Yeare 900. About which time the Danes sore afflicted England The Argument Charles builds New Schooles subjects the Westerne Broiles And with the Pope shares Faire Ravennaes Spoiles Though some rare Wits renowned then that Age Two Monstrous Deeds yet shame the Romaine Stage BRave Charlemaine like Romes bifronted Sire Whom Pagans at the Former Yeares expire And at the Newes Approach renew'd with Bayes So merited this Prince redoubted Praise For clozing up in the Last falling Age Our Westerne wounds made by Barbarian Rage No Fate of Worldly Wheeles nor length of Yeares Shall cancell Martells Deedes nor the Twelve Peeres Dimme nor expunge from Honours Calendar For their Exploits and Memorable Warre Against the Moores with whom they did so cope That they quite lost their proud Ambitious Hope Of Conqu'ring France as they subjected Spaine But left behinde Two hundred Thousand slaine Of Moorish Coarses for a Pawne or Signe That none shall France but Christians make to whine CHarles after Broiles in this Ninth Age began Three Academes to found for the New-man To propagate in France and Italy By whose faire Patterne Moe did fructifie In other Christian Lands from whence Some rose Some Rome to ayd and some her to oppose For though the Head of the Vertigo wheel'd Some Members yet there were which never reel'd ANd surely
Lives last gaspe Sinne to prevent Requir'd his Friends that not with Monument They would enclose his Corps but secretly Conceale the same lest men might foolishly It Idolize in Zeale to doe him grace Which would redound at last to their disgrace To Iohn the Twelfe now Caesar Homage swore And that the Mid-time of this Age did gore OF all the Ages since the Word made Flesh First rose on Earth none for the Church had lesse Of Learnings Light then this Tenth Century Dull'd through the Damps of Hells great Mystery Full Fourescore yeares os Ignorance prevail'd That Knowledge seem'd extinct the Gospel fail'd Who could repeat the Pater-Noster Creed And Ave Maries oft though with small heed Or gloss'd on Shrines or mumbled Latine Masse In Schooles he did for a good Graduate passe But if he made Monastick Legends knowne A Doctours Cap became his shaven Crowne Whether this chanc'd by Romes deep Policie That none might dive to her Supremacie Which she had newly Crown'd or that the Warres Anxiety embroyling Soules with Cares Prevented Learnings Growth we find small Signes In that tempestuous Time of Vertuous Lines Or Monuments to move Posterity Not to accuse them of Impiety Such was the Blindnesse of this darkned Age That none scarce acted on the Muses Stage Parts to be seene of Gotams Auditours So busie were Old Fooles in building Towres And strong Monastick Cells where they found Peace Or to defend their Reliques from the Prease Of Souldiers stormes which from the North did fall Norwegians Danes and Pirates robbing all Onely some Foppish Tales they left behinde Thereby to cheat not edifie the Minde What Miracles were wrought in such a Place Which they conceiv'd their Monkish Haunt to grace How Dunstan hookt catcht Satan by the Nose With many moe absurder Lyes then those Like Oberons imagin'd Fairy Dance Or Arthurs Knights or the Twelve Peeres of France How Patrick killâ—d Five Hundred Yeares before Thousands of Irish Kernes by Charmed Lore How David did a mighty Mountaine move And by his Word the Massy Earth remove With such Fond Tales they gull'd the Multitude That 't is no marvell we account them rude YEt o're his Church the Spirit vigilant Neglected not their Dreames extravagant To interrupt by raising up the Wit Of Aelfrick to reforme their raving Fit Which worke perhaps not usefull for that Age But for our Doubts we doe conceive them sage I meane for Christ his Body in suspence With Some which till this Age in Ghostly Sence I dare be bold to say Saints ever tooke Not Carnall-wise but by the New-mans Booke This Reverend Clerk in ancient Saxon Style Describes what Blots the Sacrament defile And proves the Sence and Manner of the Feast To suit with None but with the Spirits Guest From the tenth Chapter of the Corinths First He thus compares The Israelites a thirst Dranke of Christs Rock with a Spirituall Tast And on his Flesh though Clouded brake their Fast. As our New-man or zealous Catechist Admires Christs Body in the Eucharist So they prais'd God for Manna and Rock-water Types of the Churches Twinnes how he begat her OUt of the Forrest of this Century Excepting Rudenesse Broiles and Butchery I apprehend no memorable Course To beautifie my Lines But worse and worse All things decline This onely I conclude Imperiall Otho to extinguish Fiend And mortall Jarres for Chusing Emperours On Sev'n conferr'd the first Elective Pow'res Eternizing the Period of this Sceane Whose Former Acts we count Rude and obsceane This Otho by Pope Gregories Assent Did to assure the Almaines Government And to content the Rhines Count Palatine Because he next of Charlemaine his Ligne Deserv'd that Honour which his Race hath held Till Force of late the Golden Bull expell'd For this brave Act the Authour got the Praise To be enstil'd the Wonder of those Dayes As they who do that Order violate Shall be proclaim'd Usurpers of the State FOr an Appendix to my Register I must not over-passe Pope Sylvester Who by Hell-Charmes Spells Negromantick Lies And Magick Arts defam'd the Papall Keyes Preparing roome by that Catastrophe To the Next Age tost with a Sinnefull Sea THE OCCVRRENCES OF THE ELEVENTH AGE From the Yeare of our Lord 1000. untill the Yeare 1100. About which time Godfrey of Lorraine became King of Ierusalem and Henry the First Raigned King of England The Argument Hells Highest sleights a Thousand Yeares restrain'd Breake out when Priests the Searlet Hat had gain'd The Clergy barr'd of Wives The Masses Cake Turnes Flesh. The Holy Land now Christians take NOw to glance on the Churches Darken'd wane Who can deny but Rome became profane When Satan was let loose a Thousand Yeares After St. Iohns Prediction as appeares Even till these Times with Curses Fire and Sword And secret Slights to martyrize Gods Word Both Sun and Moone stood then eclips'd of Light And Starre-like Men from Grace declined quite The Heav'ns were mov'd Strange Meteors scar'd the East But Earth-quakes most appall'd the troubled West Mens Consciences o're-clouded were with Mists When Satan rang'd from his Confined Lists With leave to prey upon those Romanists Who had forsooke Christs Word for Antichrists In giving heed unto Erroneous Spirits Cashiering Marriage and their Saviours Merits Yoaking their Flockes not of Necessity But to subvert true Christian Liberty I meane the Spirits Freedome and Gods Word Not that which Fooles do to the Flesh afford By Pilgrimage to Saints Idolatry With wonders wrought by Fiends their Faith to try By Lies and Dreames bred in Scholastick Braine For Belly-work Ambitious Ends or Gaine With Carnall Sence advancing Superstitions And spotting Faith with needlesse Mens Traditions With such Flim-Flams since Satan was let loose And since Romes Clergy Christ his Rivall chose Were there False Church possest and to this day Some goe in those strange Labyrinths astray Not willing to be won nor to decide By Scriptures Light the Quarrells of their Side ABout this Time the Cardinalls arose Unto their Sway till then a Secret Close For though the Name were knowne of Cardinalls Yet were they rankt but Deacons Principalls Or Parsons of Romes Parishes to serve The severall Cures not Prelates to conserve The Papacies Resplendent Majesty As since they grew by Satans Subtilty On each of these his Holinesse conferres A Scarlet Hat to Higher Place preferres And amplifies with Bishopricks their State Whereby they might live eminent from Hate And Envy safe the better to support Their Princely Pompe and his Magnifique Port. At their Install he so much scarlet shares To cloth their Mules that by those Scarlet Wares Saints may divine where Babels Whore abides Which on a Beast of scarlet Colour rides THese Men shut up within the Conclave close And having by most Suffâ—ages him chose Who stands for Pope they then his usuall weare Pluck off and in their stead bring glorious Geare A Scarlet suit Red stockings and Red shooes On which because he claimes that he can loose Or bind mens Sinnes a
Babylon Or otherwhere For who dares bound our Guest Since we are ti'd likewise to Judge the Best And not to bind Gods free unbounded Grace To any certaine Climate Time or Place Christ had his Church a Remnant sav'd by Grace Alwayes inspir'd in some or Other Place Whether our Scribes pretend them Coloieros Nestoâ—â—nâ— Mâ—nkes or Saint Iohns Cavollâ—res Whether they hold of Persian Iacobites The Hiâ—â—ies Forme or of Georgiaes Rites Of Maronites or Coftics of the East Or Catbelicks so craking in the West Or Hermites Nunnes and l'olyntaries 〈◊〉 Whose humbled hearts then Pomp Saints honor more Because they side with Christ beare Christian Name Though much in Blame yet I will spare their Fame And let our Weaklings know that some were Wise And did of Old in Babel Sybillize By speciall Signes and Symptomes generall But most by Sacred Starres Authenticall Denouncing for her Slips Gods Wrath her Fall Unlesse she would Repent her at their Call And so things came to passe as they Divin'd Her Spires for Rookes we now demolisht find Some by the Force of furious Ottoman Some forfeited for what the Lawes did scan Her Chappels turn'd to Barnes or Nests for Owles Her Nunneries first built for harmelesse Soules Lye wast with her Rich Temporalls and Rents Yea and Gods Tythes Our Church-emoluments By what just Warrant let the Lawes dispute Some keepe away as yet and I am Mute Because I see sometimes that Innocence Aswell as Vice dies of the Pestilence An Order laid Pope Alexander downe For the New World But shortly of his Owne Most wretched States and Life shall be bereft And for Usurpers an Example left For after this usurpt Partition made His Bastard Sonne to try his Former Trade Of Poisâ—ning Those whom he suppos'd would barre The Proud Designes of his complotted warre His Motto blaz'd the Hazards Die is cast Caesar or Nothing now by Poisons Tast He meant to rid Suspected Cardinalls Out of the way but hereby both their Falls His Fathers and his Owne he sodaine wrought For he soone as the Fat all Wine was brought Charged his Page that he the Bottle watch And when he call'd for Wine that he should reach It for his Guests the Pope came in the while And thirsty call'd for Wine the Page the Wilâ— Not knowing thought the Wine reserv'd was Choise And without more adoe or Answers Noise Fill'd him a Cup of the Empoisned Wine And by just Doome as writeth Guiâ—ciardine Came in the Authour his accursed Sonne All thirsty too and tasted thereupon The Cup which he for Others brew'd and lost His Father out of hand himselfe almost Ran the same Fate but that by Nature strong He for that time escap'd to doe more wrong Still quarrelling till he was thrall'd and slaine So Caesar Borgias liv'd and di'd a Caine. Pope Julius now to Tiber slung his Koyes Then fought and lost by French his Enemies A Token that Romes Church to wrack began To fall as you may by the sequele scan THe Ourward Crosse in Teutons Soile appear'd Of Martyrs Forme and with that Signe besmear'd Their Palaces and Houshold Ornaments Their Windowes Doores and Bodies Vestiments A signe to shew the Fiery Trialls Doome By Factious Gogs and Magogs Force to come Veil'd with the Crosse the Keyes with Peters Net With Iesus with the Lawes or Mahomet This Miracle in Maximilians Time Fell out not long before the Gospels Chime At Wittemberge with Motions life began By Luthers Zeale that good Samaritan Who when most shunn'd to helpe the wounded Man Cheer'd up and Bath'd Christs Members pale and wan ANd after this another Prodigy Befell to Rome which no Apology Of Idolists can cover the mis-hap When little Iesus from his Mothers Lap Was in the Church remov'd and Peters Keyes Throwne from his Pictures hand Both in a trice VVithout respect of Persons by the stroke Of Thunders Crack and sacred Sulphures Smoake Just in that Church where One and Thirty Priests VVith the Red Hat that Day like Minstreâ—â—ists Installed were by Leo there with state In the same Yeare when Lutber to abate His Loftinesse began with greater Fame Then Cardinalls support in Christ his Name OUr Kings and States of Westerne Christendome Complain'd and sought for some Redresse to come Of Faiths abuse and Romes Impiety But still the Head was deafe to Piety He would no Member be but the Church whole Himselfe sole Iudge and Church without one Mole Or Sinfull Spot by which Prerogative He tyrannized so that none could thrive He watcht with Vultures Clawes all Stakes to sweep He watcht to flay but not to feed the Sheep Like Maltaes Iew or those of Laâ—lesse kind Who under Maske of Law cease not to grind Christs Members till they feele Hells measures heapt Or till they reape what Old Masse-mongers reapâ— So blinded were the Popes by Doome Divine Till a Poore Man a Frier Augustine Since started up to doe that Glorious Deed Which Gregories and Austines doth exceed Which Kings afâ—ay'd but failed to performe Nay Kings durst not what Luther did reforme Would God that some like Prophet took the Paines To bring back Love for which our Church complains This Wonder God wrought in our Latter Dayes That before Doome he might recall some Strayes That Satans Pride he might by Sucklings tame And by the Weak the Worldly Wizz and shame WEll neere upon our Luthers Sacrifice Grave Reuclin did and Valla breake the Ice As London was prepar'd by Golets Flame And Dutch-land by the Clerk of Rotter daâ—â— As Swizzer Land when Luther first began By Zuinglius was stirr'd up Romes zeale to scan But none then our Iust Fast Men triumph'd more Whose Race had held full Sixscore Yeares before VVith Faggots Fire and Lollards branded Paine Pursu'd till now and now rejoyc'd againe To see that Faith which with the Hussites they Had long maintain'd found out an open way By Luthers Zeale Stigelius ravishâ— Musâ— And by Melancthons Flowres with blooming Newes BAbel her Fall in Henries Time foresaw VVhen Premunire Englands ancient Law Her Clergy rackt But most the quakt for Dread To heare him styl'd the Churches Supreme Head For by that Style what Rome usurped heere Of Aunates Farâ—â—s and Duties every Yeare Our Parliament had on the King conferr'd To aide him in his Warres These Spoiles transferr'd From Forraigne use to help the Natives want 'T is strange to mark how soone men did recant Their Carnall Dreames and blind Idolatries To celebrate the New-mans Sacrifice BLest be Young Edward Our Iosiaes Name Who next commenc'd this Work of Pioâ—â— Fame But as the Former Brood when Constantine Deceas'd then prou'd ingratefull the Next Ligâ—e Of Caesars fell to Arrian Heresie And their Old Vomits with Apostasie So wavering England in the Marian Raigne Quickly return'd to Babels yoak againe Untill some Martyrs Blood the Churches Seed True Members of their Head in time of Need Had through Gods Grace behind them left a Fire As Latimer foretold which would inspire And never be extinct