A Song, Song 1 – Poem 2
❧ A Song of Thankſgiuing for the laſting Remembrance of Gods wonderfull works, neuer to be forgotten.
1588.
FIrſt, Ile begin with Eightie eight,
That moſt admyred yeere,
When't was in king of Spains conceipt
Ore's all to domineere.
The Seas were ſpred with ſtately ſaile,
Their men and their Munition
Were all prepared, without faile
To bring vsus to perdition.
How many ſcores of Shipping-tall,
And of their Gallyes long!
How many Regiments withall
Of Souldiers ſtout and ſtrong!
How many hundred Horſe to praunce,
And Mules for carriage meet!
How many thouſand Ordinance
Were carried in the Fleete!
How many hundred thouſand pound
Of Powder and of Bullet!
How many millions were found
Of victualls for the Gullet!
Who ſo would make a iuſt account
Muſt reckon with the leaſt,
For to ſuch number all amount
As cannot be expreſt.
Beſides, great ſtore and company
Of tearing torturing whips,
And inſtruments of cruelty,
Prouided in their Ships;
As meaning not to be ſo kind,
Our blood at once to ſpill,
But by our lingring paine, their minde
And bloody luſts to fill.
From ſeuen yeeres old, (or if not ſo,
From ten and ſo forth on)
All had beene killd, both high and low,
Their ſword could light vponupon.
Virgins had dyde, when they had firſt
The Virgins honour loſt:
Women vnript, on Speares accurſt,
Had ſeene their Infants toſt.
The children, whom they meant to ſaue,
With brand of Iron-hot,
Were in their face (like Indian ſlaue,)
To beare a ſeared ſpot.
Their ſoule (alas) had beene a ſpoyle
To ſoule-deſtroying Pope;
Their bodyes ſpent in reſtleſſe toile,
Without all eaſe or hope.
There were but few that ſhould obtaine.
This mercy, which was ſuch
As if you reckon vp the gaine,
You'l ſay it was not much.
Yea, they that ſeru'd the Romiſh gods
Had beene within the hemme
Of Spaniſh ſword, which knew noods
(Or ſmall,) twixt vsus and them.
For death of Catholicks (quoth they)
We neede not to be ſory:
Their ſoules ſhall goe the Catholick way,
To Heauen or Purgatory.
As for their wealth and dignity,
All this for vsus doth make;
For all (how much ſo ere it be,)
Shall fall vntounto our ſtake.
Oh bleſſed foules! what better courſe
The higheſt heauen to merit,
Than if ſuch Catholicks, perforce,
Their lands and goods inherit?
Such Catholickes as had the Popes
Moſt ſolemne bleſſing paſt,
To all that would their wealth and hopes,
Into this Nauy caſt.
For (you muſt know) the Popes Cruſade
Was ſent, or gentle Bull,
To all that would this great Armade,
Enrich with purſes full.
Or, gaue a man a leſſer fleece,
Who ſo gaue what they could,
Were quit, for thirteene pence a peece,
of all ſinnes, new and old.
Thus went the Hoſt to ſea with fame,
Renowned there to braue it;
The Inuincible Nauy was the name
Their holy Father gaue it.
Nor doubted they to make their ſongs,
Of triumph before hand,
As if already Spaniſh throngs
Had conquered our Land.
(Mendoz' mendaciouſly begun,
In France to giuegive it out,
[England is won, All England won,
Their forces put to rout.]
Medyna was the Admirall
Of this new Chriſtned Fleete,
Who left his wife, friends, goods and all,
In zeale (but vndiſcreet.)
He ſought to Chriſt and Mary both,
And to all Saints beſide;
Sole Chriſt to credit very loth,
In doubtfull wind and tide.
Our little Fleet in Iuly firſt,
Their mightie Fleete did view:
She came but with a ſoftly courſe,
Though windes behind her blew.
Her front much like the Moone was crook't,
(The hornes ſeuen myles aſunder)
Her Maſtes like ſtately towers look't,
The Ocean groaning vnderunder.
And now, behold, they were at hand,
Daring our Engliſh Borders,
Making full ſure to bring our land
VnderUnder their Spaniſh orders.
But God aboue, laughing to ſcorne
Their wicked wile, and wealth,
To his Annointed rais'd an horne
Of hope and ſauing health.
Prince, Prophets, people, ioyntly cry'd
To CHRIST ALONE for ayd;
Whoſe power inuincible was try'd
With Banner all-diſplayd.
That noble Drake draue on apace,
And made the Spaniard diue;
And Hawkins follow'd hard the chaſe,
(As Hawke doth Couee driue.)
With theſe, well forbiſht Forbiſher,
Their Nauy did aſſayle:
All at her backe did thunder her
And ſwept away her tayle.
Thoſe were the Worthies three, which firſt,
(Next to their Admirall)
Ventur'd the hoſtile rankes to burſt,
(Spite of their Don-Recall)
And many moe of great renowne
Did brauely play their part,
In skill and valour putting downe
The Spaniſh ſtrength and art.
But why doe I record the men,
That fought with ſuch as brau'd vsus?
I ſaid, (and ſo I ſay agen,)
[It was the Lord that ſau'd vsus.]
He arm'd from heauen his mightie hoaſt,
To batter Babel-towers:
His Angels (though vnſeene) oppoz'd
Their ſide, and helped ours.
"They which to Creatures yeeld the truſt
"From the Creator taken,
"Of him and them it is moſt iuſt
"They ſhould be quite forſaken.
The bluſtring windes, the ſwelling waues,
The crackes of flaſhing fire,
Each in their turne did checke the braues
Of Spaines enraged Ire.
Eight of our Ships, of wilde-fire, pitch,
Roſen and brimſtone full,
And ſuch like other matter which
Was moſt combuſtible,
Were ſet on fire; and (guided well)
In ſecret of the night,
By helpe of wind, it them befell
On Spaniſh Fleete to light.
The Spaniards ſaw how neere they came,
(At Anchor as they lay,)
The Sea all-bright with ſhining flame
(As if it had beene day.)
Who fearing leſt our Ships (beſide
The hurt of fierie cracke)
Might with ſome deadly engines ride,
VntoUnto their vtter wracke:
All lifting vp with one conſent
An hideous wofull cry,
Did fill with bittereſt lament
The Ocean and the Skie.
Some pull vp Anchors, ſome for haſt
Their maſſie Cables cut:
They ſet vp Sayles, and all-agaſt,
Their hand to Owers put.
And, ſmitten with a pannicke terror,
Confuſedly they fled,
As whom their owne bewitching error,
To ſhame and ſorrow led.
They fled with ſhame, the way they came,
One from another ſcattred:
Their Shipping tall with Cannon ball,
Was ſoundly beat and battred.
Their reckning was, that Parmaes Duke,
Should helpe them with his force;
But God his courage did rebuke,
From taking ſuch a courſe.
Tis beſt, thought he, for me and mine,
To keepe vsus where we are;
For they (we ſee) are faine to whine.
That ventured ſo farre.
Our Holland-friends with vsus kept watch,
VponUpon the Coaſt of Flanders:
He might hauehave ſoone met with his match,
If not with his Commanders.
Yet at the laſt he was ſo ſtout,
(When to the Lady of Hall,
His vowes were payde on knees deuout)
His Armed troupes to call;
With whom he did to Dunkerk paſſe
(But later than was meete,)
So that by ſome he twitted was,
As falſe to Spaniſh Fleete.
Thus were they left of God and men,
To wrackes of wind and weather.
Their thoughts were high before; but then,
They fainted al together.
They came not forth ſo thick before,
But now they went as thin,
Their numbers were abated ſore,
That numberleſſe had bin.
"As Saul did Amalek, or worſe,
"They vowd vsus all to handle,
"As whom their Balaam did curſe
"With Booke, and Bell, and Candle.
"But they themſelues combining thus,
"Were the true Amalek-brood,
"Of God accurſt for curſing vsus,
"In their malicious moode.
"Themſelues were made a gazing ſtocke,
"A by-word and reproach,
"VponUpon the Iſraelitiſh flocke,
"Preſuming to encroach.
Thus might they ban their Idol gods,
With diſcontented lours,
And well perceiue the mightie ods,
Betweene their faith and ours.
"For though ſometime, the way is not
"Beſt, that hath beſt ſucceſſe;
"And 't may be holy Sions lot,
"To ſuffer great diſtreſſe:
"Nor is a Church prou'd good or ill;
"By any outward things;
"But that is knowne for Sion-hill.
"That Scripture warrant brings
"Yet ſuch as Idols do adore,
"Or Chriſt an Idol make,
"Preferring Idols him before,
"Or parting them a ſtake;
"What heauy doomes do them abide,
"Come from Gods wrath aboue;
"As what the Saints doth well betyde,
"Confirmes them in his louelove.
"Thus God in dayes of elder hue
"Did take his peoples part,
"When Egypts King did them purſue,
"Into the red Seas heart.
"Their wheeles fell off, and Chariots went,
"Full ſoft (for all their frowning)
"And then by flying backe they meant,
"To ſaue themſelues from drowning.
"They ſayd before, We will them follow,
"And take, and put to foyle;
"They are a prey for vsus to ſwallow,
"And for our ſword to ſpoile.
"But byand by they chang'd their ſong,
"Oh let vsus flee apace,
"God doth the Hebrewes fight among,
"To kill vsus in this place.
"For God with ſudden windes did blow,
"VponUpon the heaped waues,
"And made them ſoone to ouerflow,
"The proud in all their braues.
"They ſanke as led in waters gulfe,
"Horſe, Chariots, men, and all.
"The Sheepe eſcap't, the cruell Wolfe
"Himſelfe did get the fall.
"Then Moſes ſang victorioſly,
"And all his ſaued traine,
"Led through the Sea moſt gloriouſly,
"To the dry land againe.
"They looked backe, and ſaw their foes
"Floating ſome here, ſome there,
"Whom late and long they feared, thoſe
"They ceaſed now to feare.
"The women ſang with pleaſant voyce,
"At Myriams direction,
"With dance, and Timbrells merry noyſe,
"For this ſo rare protection.
What better type of Englands bliſſe,
Saued from Spaniſh furie?
The Sea, that was our ſafety, is
A graue our foes to burie.
Euen now, we heard of their approach,
(Who feared not that heard it?)
But by and by, to their reproach,
They fled before they feard it.
Not aboue fifteene of our Ships,
did beare the battels brunt,
Which, being light, with nimble skips,
Did theirs at pleaſure hunt.
Nor was there any ſhipping loſt,
Of ours, ſaue onelyonly one;
And that our enemies dearely coſt,
(Better they th'ad let't alone.)
When many hundreds had beene ſlaine
For one of ours, or leſſe,
Chaſed away with broken traine,
They wandred in diſtreſſe.
With tempeſts they were toſt and ſhaken,
(All Brittaine driu'n about:)
Some drowned in the deepe, ſome taken,
Where they could ill get out.
Some of them caſt on Scottiſh ſhores,
(And by the Kings releaſe,
More than ſeuen hundred ſouldiers
Were ſent away in peace.)
On Iriſh ſhores were others caſt,
(Who fared not ſo well,)
Wild Iriſh, Fowle, foule weathers blaſt,
VponUpon theſe fiercely fell.
Their Nauy, which with wondrous coſt,
Was full three yeeres preparing,
In one months ſpace was (wellnigh) loſt,
Without our coſt or caring.
(I ſay it was not coſt ſo much
Or care of ours preuaild,
But God would hauehave the pride of ſuch
As fought againſt him, quaild.)
Of all their goodly ſhips remaind
After this diſmall war;
Scarce fortie which at all attaind,
To their owne Hauens-bar.
And thoſe that with ſo much adoe,
At laſt arriued thither,
With heanie hearts needes muſt they goe
All rent with warre and weather.
No ſooner came this happie newes,
VntoUnto our liſtning eare,
But all our ſad laments and rues
Were turn'd to merry cheare.
Our VIRGIN-QVEENE with holy dance,
VntoUnto her Timbrell ſang,
Our land for this deliuerance,
With ſhouting-Ecchoes rang.
Her ſoule had marcht (like Deborah)
Amidſt the armed traine,
Her faith had ſcornd with holy laugh
The bragging Hoaſt of Spaine.
In hotteſt danger did ſhe reſt,
VponUpon the Lord ſhe ſeru'd;
And him in midſt of triumph bleſt,
As he had well-deſeru'd.
VntoUnto the houſe of God ſhe went,
In roy alleſt array,
With thankfull and deuout intent
Her promis'd vowes to pay:
The Nobles her accompaned,
Each Citizen in colour,
(The conquerd Banners fully ſpred,
To make the triumph fuller.)
The Preacher blaz'd with cheerefull voyce,
Our glorious preſeruation;
The Temple ſounded with the noyſe,
Of ioyfull acclamation.
King Philips friends did much condole,
To ſee his feates defeated,
True Brittayne lippes ſeem'd with a cole.
From heauenly Altar heated.
But, oh alas! the reall thankes,
(Which is our liues amending)
Was farre away; men of all ranke.
Their wicked luſts defending.
God waited long for our returne,
VntoUnto a purer ſtraine;
But we caſt off his Word with ſpurne,
And horrible diſdaine.
This made our God bethinke himſelfe,
How to correct our ſinne,
As father whips his peeuiſh elfe
That hath vnruly bin.
(When Pharaohs hoaſt was ouerthrowne,
Yet no due fruit returned,
The wrath of God againſt his owne,
Gaine-ſaying people burned.)
1603.
ANd firſt, our Queene Elizabeth
Ended her life and Raigne;
To ſhew, that all hope is a breath,
Soone come, ſoone gone againe;
Vnleſſe as children we depend
On God the ſureſt ſtay;
Vnleſſe our hearts we fully bend,
His pleaſure to obey.
Our griefe was great for her deceaſe,
No leſſer was our feare,
But God did ſoone our ſoules releaſe
And from all fainting reare.
Our Sunne was ſet, but roſe a freſh,
Our hearts were fill'd with laughter,
To ſee King Iames the Crowne poſſeſſe
So quietly, ſoone after.
No Speare againſt him lifted was,
At home nor yet abroad,
All as one man with common voyce,
His comming did applaude.
But leſt we ſhould be ouer-ioy'd,
And hope beyond all bounds,
Iuſt then; our kingdome was annoy'd,
With Plague that all confounds:
I ſay, all ſuch, in humane prop,
As dare to put their truſt,
Not caring all the while to lop,
Or leaue their wicked luſt.
Some three and twenty yeares agoe,
(Or there about) at leſt,
God ſmote the land withheauy blow
Of this contagious peſt.
In three months ſpace to death did pine
(Witneſſe the London-bill,)
Thirty foure thouſand ſeuenty nine,
Yet had not death his fill.
Three thouſand three hundred eighty fiue,
In one weeke did depart,
And many thouſands moe aliue,
Remained ſicke at heart.
And in each County, Citie, Towne,
Almoſt all England ouer,
Men of all ſorts were ſmitten downe,
Nor could themſelues recouer.
It ſhould hauehave then repented vsus,
Of our enormous life,
Whereby we forc't our Father thus
To wrath and anger riſe.
Though we would not repent, yet he
Repented ne're the leſſe,
His tender bowells yearn'd to ſee
The depth of our diſtreſſe.
His bow vnbent, his arrowes keene
Were caſt behind the backe.
The flames which long full hot had bin,
Were made ere long to ſlake.
We for all this, reſolued not
More purely God to ſerue,
Therefore our foes deuis'd a plot,
Such as our ſinnes deſerue.
A plot (to thinke on) ſo abhorr'd
As heart doth feare and quake,
A plot, that when I would record,
My pen and hand do ſhake.
1605.
FVll twenty yeare agoe it was,
One thouſand ſix hundred fiue,
When Papiſts, zealous for the Maſſe,
In England did contriue;
The King, Queene, Prince, and noble Peeres,
The Prelate, Iudge, and Knight,
And Burgeſſes, with pouder fire
All at a clap to ſmite.
At Dunkerk, and at Lambeth both,
They did of things agree,
With ſolemne Sacramentall oath,
Of deepeſt ſecrecy.
When Spaniſh Nauy had no force,
Nor plots of forraigne foes,
They meant to take a ſurer courſe,
The ſcap't bird to encloſe.
That is, with Art to vndermine
The houſe of Parlament,
(No fitter place to be the ſigne,
Of ſuch a damn'd intent.)
There had the cruell Lawes bin made,
Againſt their Romiſh Prieſts,
There will they dig with cruell ſpade,
And meate their mining liſtes.
But who would taxe (beſide themſelues,)
Of Rigour ſuch a law,
As gaue the vſe of life to Elues
That had ſo curſt a iaw?
A iaw ſo curſtly-wide, as would
hauehave ſwallowed at a bit,
Great Englands head and body, ſhould
The Lord hauehave ſuffred it.
After ſome digging, they deſcrie
A Cellar to be neere,
Which they reſolue to hire or buy,
Should it be nere ſo deere.
They laid their powder in this vault,
Full ſix and thirty barrels,
With one vnheard-of deepe aſſault,
To end their former quarrells.
(Note by the way the Romiſh Whore,
Hath barrels in her Cellar.
In March ſhe brewed, or before,
But Ile be bold to tell her;
Thy Chriſtmaſſe doth not yet approach
Why laiſt thou in ſo faſt?
Before thy time, thou mean'ſt …oach,
Thy brewing will be waſt.)
Billets and Faggots hid this ſtuffe,
Great ſtones and iron-crowes,
(To cauſe a more maſſacring-puffe
Were piled under thoſe.
Now was Nouembers fift at hand,
When ore this helliſh pit,
Both head and body of the land
Were all at once to ſit.
When furious Fauxe with matches three,
(For ſpicketts) was prouided,
The reſt of this fraternitie,
Were very cloſely ſided.
Monies they had good ſtore, and horſe,
(Some more than was their owne.)
And thought to gather mightie force,
By rouing vp and downe.
From Warwick-ſhire, to Woſter-ſhire,
From thence to Stafford ſhire,
Thinking ere this, all Weſtminſtire
Was ouer-turn'd with fire.
They made the world beleeue, they went
About a hunting match,
But for their ſpoyle and booty, meant
Our ſoules and liues to catch.
When firſt th'ad got, by force of Armes,
The Lady Elizabeths Grace,
Not doubting by their Popiſh charmes;
Her conſcience to deface:
And hauing blowne away the King,
And royall iſſue male,
They thought, by Crowning her, to bring
Her will in ſeruile thrall.
Then had they in her name forth ſent
Good ſtore of Proclamations,
Such as might fit with the intent
Of their imaginations.
Nor would they father by and by
The plot, (though 'twere their owne,)
But meant the infamy ſhould lie
Where it was quite vnknowne.
If you would know what kind of man,
They would hauehave thus traduced,
Forſooth, it was the Puritan,
(So in their ſtile abuſed.)
Indeed they meant the Proteſtants,
Should all be vnderunder guilt,
As if the blood of Popiſh Saints,
At once they would hauehave ſpilt.
A Gull without all wit or ſenſe
(What will not malice ſay?)
"The Wolfe can ſoone find a pretence,
"Why the poore lambe to ſlay.
No, no: it was the Ieſuit,
And Prieſts of Popiſh faction,
That brought them to this hideous pit,
Though they denie the action.
Our doctrine loyall is, and courſe,
Like to our doctrine, loyall;
They teach, (and put no leſſe in force)
To cruſh the Scepter royall.
Who ſo their Antichriſtian ſect
Will not with fauour crowne,
Let him be King, borne or elect,
They'l ſeeke to pull him downe.
And if their ſtrength be not enough,
To bring about the matter,
Then Dagger, Dag, Fig, Powder-ſtuffe,
Shall ſtab, ſhoote, poiſon, ſcatter.
Thus were their heads and hands at worke,
Our State to ouerthrow,
Suppoſing all the while to lurke,
VnderUnder ſome fairer ſhow.
But all this while they looked not
To God that view'd them well,
And layd all-ope their ſubtill plot,
Forg'd by the Diuell of hell.
Theſe priuy workes of wilie men,
So long and cloſe concealed,
By their owne letter, hand, and pen,
Were ſuddenly reuealed.
The hole was ſearcht of crafty Cubs,
And then appeared plaine,
The Wood, Stones, Iron, Gunpowder-tubs,
And all the powder-traine.
At this Hell-mouth, with triple match,
(Darke Lanterne in his hand,)
Stood Fauxe in dead of night, to watch,
And commers to withſtand.
His watching had but ill euent,
When from our watchfull King,
Thoſe noble Patriots were ſent,
To find the ſecret thing.
He was in Bootes and beſt array,
('Twas fit it ſhould be ſo,
Being to trauaile ſuch a way,
As he leaſt thought to goe.)
He was not vext ſo much about,
His taking, or his ſhame,
As for his happe to be without,
When the Kings ſearchers came;
Elſe, he reſolu'd, all voyde of grace,
(That might hauehave made him quake,)
Them, and himſelfe, with houſe and place,)
A ruinous heape to make.
About this time the hunting rout,
That were in Countrie mounted,
From Shire to Shire were hunted out,
And ſturdily afrounted.
Nor needed greater power riſe
Their mutinies to quaile;
The Sheriffes power did ſuffice
To fetch them to the Iayle.
They look't that all where ere they poſt
ſhould like and helpe the fact,
Their reckoning was without the hoſte
For all abhorr'd their Act.
Yea, marke: the houſe that they were in
(As in a harbour ſure,)
Might well conuince them of their ſinne,
And practizing impure.
For as their powder was too drie,
(wherein they put there truſt,)
They ſaw it was but vanity,
To hope in fickle duſt;
Which (touched with a ſparke of fire,)
Hurt them by ſudden flaſh,
That were inflam'd with hot deſire,
The higheſt Court to quaſh.
So their owne powder did 'em tell,
To their owne very face,
Their powder-workings were from Hell,
Moſt barbarous and baſe.
One of them dreamed ouer-night,
He ſaw ſtrange lookes and anticke;
Their morrow-faces in the light,
Proou'd this no fancie franticke.
He dream'd, at the ſame time, and place,
He ſaw ſtrange tottring ſteeple,
Which did preſage the tottring caſe,
Of this ſeduced people.
"They ſay our Churches are their owne,
"Our bells, and ſteeples tall,
"But, ſtriuing for poſſeſſion,
"They caught a fearefull fall.
"They builded Caſtles in the skie,
"(No maruaile if they wauer,
"The bird may build her neſt on high,
(Not high enough to ſaue her.)
And here it may not be forgot,
Catesby himſelfe was one,
(The firſt contriuer of this plot,)
Their powder flaſht vponupon.
In ſtead of whirling into sky
Our Parlament, their owne
Roofe (where they parl'd,) before their eye,
Into the skie was blowne.
And a great powder-bag, (entire,)
Was blowne vp therewithall:
Which neuer taking any fire,
Came downe full in the fall.
To ſhew, that God doth ouer ſway
Both fire and powder ſtrong,
And doth their ſtrength hold or allay,
As he ſees right or wrong.
Suppoſe the fire had toucht the traine
VnderUnder the Parlament,
God could hauehave made them both refraine
Their naturall extent.
Themſelues were forc't vponupon this ſight,
Heauens-anger to confeſſe,
And on bent knees (all in a fright)
Their ſorrowes to expreſſe:
"As they, that found the Shepheards rod,
"Their deuelliſh feats to quell,
"All-trembling at the hand of God
"From their preſumption fell.
Thus all their hopes were ouerthrowne,
And vtterly confounded,
And Popiſh-hunters in their owne
Moſt cruell pit were pounded.
Catesby and Percy, brethren ſworne,
Were caught and pierc't together,
Backe ioyn'd to backe, (and all forlorne,)
By one ſhot, reaching thither.
Two Wrights that with their open might,
Againſt their King rebelled,
Of roiſting rebells had the right,
By ſword of Iuſtice quelled.
Garnett's to Gallowes garded ſure,
[Nor th' ſtraw miraculous,
Where limmer drew his face demure,
Sau'd him from dying thus.]
Digby did for their digging pay,
On Gibbit mounted vp,
Two Winters went the ſelfe ſame way,
And Keyes dranke of this Cup.
Treſham had tred no other tracke,
If he had liu'd ſo long,
Grant had his grant, the rebell-packe,
To end his life among.
Rookewood, that would not better looke,
To hookes of baite-alluring,
Was faine like heauy doome to brooke,
(With ſhame for euer during.)
Fauxe like a Foxe, was hanged high,
And Bates his ſtrength abated:
"Thoſe that in treaſon ioyne, muſt die
"The death of traitors hated.
"They r' dead, we liue, euen in their ſight:
"They r' catcht, we ſcap't away;
"What ſhould hauehave bin their day, our night,
"Is now their night, our day.
"Euen as thoſe three renowned ones,
"In furnace ſeuen times fired,
"Were ſafe preſerued, (fleſh and bones,
"Skin, haire, and cloathes vnſeered:)
"The ſmoake deuouring at a licke
"All them (and all entire)
"Which in their malice were ſo quicke,
"To caſt them in the fire:
"And as when Daniell was throwne,
"Into the Lyons den,
"They ſpared him; but fleſh and bone
"All-tore thoſe wicked men.
"So when three kingdomes with a blaſt,
"From Babels flaming pit,
"Were like to come to woefull waſt,
"Before they dream'd of it:
"The Son of God (that in the middes
"Of burning buſh is dwelling,)
"Sau'd vsus, and kept his tender kiddes,
"From clawes of Lions yelling.
"Nay, (as if this vntounto his Grace,
"Had ſeem'd too ſmall a thing)
"He brought our foes into the place,
"Where they vow'd vsus to bring.
Alas! if they had brought to paſſe,
The things they tooke in hand,
For Chriſt, the Pope; for Goſpel Maſſe
Had raigned in our land.
And eueryevery where there had bin rife,
Rackes, halters, fire, and ſtake,
Or priuie dungeon deaths, by knife,
Hunger, and poyſon'd cake.
But God was pleas'd from bitter brunts,
Of Antichriſtian thrall,
To ſaue vsus, and to iuſt accounts
Thoſe bloody men to call.
Neuer ſince world began was thought
Plot more abominable.
Neuer deliuerance was wrought,
More ſtrange and admirable.
Our King was wiſe by a word to ſee
Their ſecret deepe intent,
Wiſer to ſeale that firme decree
In Court of Parlament,
That yeere by yeere, moſt ſolemne thanks
Might to our God redound,
Who did the Popiſh power and pranks
So mightily confound.
Heere, to inſert, is not amiſſe,
Another later doome,
Which did befall long after this
Some Romiſts in a roome,
Euen for this end, that all the land,
More freſhly might remember,
How God abhorr'd that plot in hand,
On fift day of Nouember.
"For he is priuie to the rotten
"Frame of our thank-leſſe minds,
"And ſees how all would be forgotten
"Without ſome freſher ſignes;
May't pleaſe you but to reckon by,
Gregorian Kalendar,
Then will you ſay as much as I,
Am here to Regiſter.
1623.
IN the one thouſand yeare of grace,
ſix hundred twentie three,
(VponUpon Nouembers fift it was)
Some Papiſts did agree,
To meete vponupon a Garret-flowre
within Black-friers range,
Neere which, the French Ambaſſadoure
Lodg'd, till this heauy change.
Two or three hundred thither flockt,
Crowding with eager luſt,
The roome was full (the doore vnlockt)
Some to the ſtaires were thruſt.
Who ſo repaire vntounto the yard,
Or garden where they went,
Of this ſad doome and veſper-hard
May ſee the monument.
For 'twas at Euen-ſong that they met,
VponUpon the Lords owne day,
Which by his ordinance is ſet,
To teach vsus in his way.
They came to heare Drury a Prieſt,
From Babell thither ſent,
Who in his Ieſuite-parrell dreſt,
Did there his matter vent.
Before his Sermon, on his knees
At his chaire feet he fell,
Which was rear'd vp by ſome degree,
That they might ſee him well.
There did he ſome ſhort praier mutter,
As 't were an Aue mary,
No vocall praier did he vtter,
(From vsus, perhaps, to varie:)
But preſently fell to his Text,
Which was about the King;
Who pardon'd much to him, that vext
His mate for a ſmall thing.
Out of which text he wringed this,
As ſome (that heard him) ſay;
Twould goe withall ſuch ſoules amiſſe,
As from their fold do ſtray.
Becauſe forſooth their Sacraments,
(As namely Penance doing)
To cancell, are the Inſtruments
What debts to God are owing.
He Preached by an hower-glaſſe,
(An Embleme very apt,
To ſhew how neere the period was,
Of life by death intrapt.)
Before the ſand had run its courſe,
His breath was to be gon,
He made ſome way to his diſcourſe,
But went no farther on,
The hand of God with ſudden ruſh,
vponupon the Chamber came,
And did the leſuite all-to cruſh,
Ith' ruines of the ſame.
His ſoule before that heau'nly King,
Did anſwer for this action,
There learning beſt, what is the thing,
That yeelds him ſatisfaction.
This ſure I am, vnleſſe he did
Sole Chriſt his pleader make,
And Popiſh merits farewell bid,
He could not chuſe but quake.
With him well nigh an hundred more,
Men, women, one and other,
By fall of beames, and vpper floore,
Were cruſhed in the ſmoother.
So much oth' Garret-flower fell,
As was aboue the place
Where father Rediate had his Cell
And Papiſts went to Maſſe.
But all their maſſing would not ſerue
Their Prieſt, or them at all;
"They that from Scripture Canon ſwerue,
"Muſt looke at laſt to fall.
Alas! what ſhreekes follow'd their mirth,
What cryes moſt pittifull?
Like theirs, whom once the gaping earth,
Into her wombe did pull:
Or like the dolefull noiſe of all
That worſhipt Dagons blocke;
On whom the houſe did ruſh and fall,
Whiles they did Sampſon mocke;
Or like that diſmall cry and groane,
Throughout the Egyptian coaſtes,
When, in one night each firſt borne ſonne,
Was ſlaine by th' Lord of hoaſts;
Or like the Galilean moane,
When in ſedition found,
The ſacrificers ſaw their owne
Blood ſpilt vponupon the ground.
This ſad diſafter might enforce
A ſtony heart to melt,
Which they in ſuperſtitious courſe
Strongly beguiled, felt.
"Secrets belong vntounto the Lord,
"This we may well proclame,
"What lies be damned in his word,
"His works confute the ſame:
They went about to blaze abroad,
As if moſt cruelly,
Some of the Proteſtants by fraud,
Had wrought their miſerie.
By ſecret drawing out of pinne,
Or ſawing halfe aſunder
Some of the timber, that was in
The houſe to proppe it vnderunder.
But this's a vaile that Satan caſt,
Before their eyes to blind them,
Thereby from ſight of iudgement paſt,
And due remorſe to wind them.
For plaine it was, in ſtricteſt veiwe,
That by the peoples preſſe
And ſommeyrs mortazing vndue,
They came to this diſtreſſe.
And that Gods finger may appeare,
More plainly, no foundation
Nor wall did faile, but all enteire
The ſeeld roofe kept his ſtation.
"Oh then, that thoſe which did eſcape,
"With feete out of the ſnare,
"Might learne no more to runne or gape,
"After ſuch Romiſh ware!
"And that we all might learne to flee,
"From Babell and her dung,
"Leaſt for our filthineſſe we be,
Into her ſorrows flung.
But to returne whence I digreſt,
(Take the old ſtile or new,)
Nouembers fift muſt be confeſt,
Worthy all-laſting viewe.
A day that iuſtlie was aſſign'd
To the Almighties glory,
A day when all ſhould call to minde,
The famous powder-ſtorie.
But this not all to God belongs,
Nor do we praiſe him beſt,
By Sermons, Prayers, or lowd Songs,
Bels, Bone-fires, or by feaſt.
All theſe are good, but ſomewhat elz
Is of far better note;
When heart, and life, our ſoules and ſelues,
To him are all deuote.
God looked for 't that all eſtates
Should mend what was amiſſe,
That truth and iudgement in our gates,
Should one another kiſſe.
But we, alas! did ſoone forgit
The mightie workes of God
Not growing better any whit
By ſhaking of the rod;
Nor by the wrack beyond the ſea
Of Chriſtian brotherhood;
Nor Banners that our foes diſpley,
Gainſt Brittaines royall blood;
Nor by the ſafe returne againe,
Of our then-royall-Prince,
From his great venture into Spaine,
Nor his deliu'rance ſince,
(When he was ſafe in falling downe
By gard of Angels tended);
Nor his ſafe comming to the Crowne,
Rightly on him deſcended:
Theſe workes of God could not ſuffice
To draw vsus from our ſinning,
But ſtill we kept the hue and ſize,
We had at the beginning:
This ſtirred vp the Lord of Hoſtes,
To ielouſie and rage,
And made him ſmite againe our Coaſtes,
Not ſparing any age.
1625.
IN the one thouſand yeare of God,
Sixe hundred twenty fiue,
Was ſent the Peſtilentiall rod,
Our rockie hearts to riue.
In the chiefe Citty of the Realme,
It had the chiefeſt ſeate:
There like a ſea to ouerwhelme,
Pride that was growne ſo great;
Or like a fire to purge away,
The droſſe of hatefull ſinne;
Or like a trumpet thence to fray,
The ſleepe that ſoules were in.
The Queene of Cities wont to ſit,
In Chaire of higheſt ſtate,
Now ſate in duſt and loweſt pit,
All ſad and deſolate:
The higheſt Court of Parlament,
To Oxford did remooue.
The Tearmers were to Redding ſent,
Their Titles there to prooue.
Nor were the ſtrangers ſtrange alone,
To the infected City;
But her beſt louers all were gone,
And left her without pitty.
I meane, the rich did flocke away,
And bad her ſtreetes adew,
Except the poore (which needes muſt ſtay)
There ſtayed but a few.
Nothing was heard but paſſing-bels,
And friends their friends lamenting,
Nothing but heauy dolefull-knells.
(Death not at all relenting)
Nothing was ſeene but heapes of dead,
To feede the hungrie graue;
Or others lying ſicke a bed,
(No way their life to ſaue.)
Some looked pale, and ſome with paine,
Were forc't to raue and roare,
Some did the deadly markes ſuſtaine,
And ſome the deadly ſore:
In one yeares ſpace, or leſſe then ſo,
(From time the Plague began)
To what a number did they grow,
That death grip't in his ſpanne?
Sixtie two thouſand at the leaſt,
Sixe hundred ſeuenty ſeuen,
Were made appeare by deaths arreſt,
Before the God of heauen.
Yea, do but from Iunes ſecond looke
VntoUnto Decembers laſt,
Scarſe ſhall you reade in Engliſh-booke
Of like doome euer paſt.
Within this three months ſpace alone,
As hath bin duly counted,
Fiftie three thouſand ninetie one,
By Bills report amounted.
In London and the Liberties,
(Sixe moe neere Pariſhes adde,)
All the forenamed clos'd their eies,
And made their friends full ſad.
More dyde in this than former peſt,
By th' heauy hand of God;
In thirteene weekes (to ſay the leſt)
Eleuen thouſand fortie and odde.
Of all which ſummes, the greateſt part
By death departed thence,
Were pearced through with fire dart,
Of raging Peſtilence.
If within and without one Cittie Walls,
Were found of men ſuch lacke,
More then ſix myriades of ſoules
Brought to ſo heauy wracke:
Oh then what was the wrecke and ſpoile,
Of all the land beſide,
In Cities and in Country ſoyle,
Throughout the kingdome wide?
Trading grew dead, and mony ſcant,
The rich doubting their ſtate,
The poore were pinched ſore with want,
All fear'd the diſmall fate.
Men from their dwellings fled apace
Where theſe night arrowes fell,
But picked halberdes in each place
Were ſet them to repell.
The high wayes vnfrequented were,
Men feared all they met,
And many keeping home, were there
Caught in this ſpreading net.
High time it was that when the Lord,
Was thus to fury bent,
All of their ſinnes, ſo much abhorr'd,
ſhould ſpeedily repent.
Our Royall King right humbly fell
Before the King of Grace,
In mourning weedes, becomming well,
This ſad and heauie caſe.
It pittied him to ſee his ſheepe,
By flockes to fall away,
It made his very ſoule to weepe,
To ſee their quick decay.
Himſelfe began, and then he made,
His ſubiects all to faſt,
Py Proclamation he forbade,
(So long as plague ſhould laſt)
All other workes, vponupon the day
To faſting ſet apart,
That all at once might weekely pray,
To God with broken heart.
Thus all at once powr'd out their groanes,
To God in this reſtraint;
Filling both heauen and earth with mones,
And cries of their complaint.
And God which euer keepes his word,
Soone pittied our woes,
Bidding the Angell ſheath his ſword,
And ſlake his murdring blowes.
When in one weeke of ſickneſſe wanne,
Fiue thouſan'a hundred fiue,
Dyde in the City, then began
The City to reuiue.
(Yet after this in ſixe weekes ſpace,
Of Plague and Feuers ſore,
Their died in the foreſaid place,
full ſeuenteene thouſand more.)
But oh! behold Gods mightie power;
To graue were carryed thence,
In Twelfe weeke, after this no more,
But One of Peſtilence.
Euen when the plague was ſpred at length,
Into the Cities heart,
Then did abate the raging ſtrength,
And poiſon of his dart.
"Right ſo the Iewiſh Church of old,
"For Dauids proud preſumption,
"And for their owne rebellions bold,
"falne in a quicke conſumption,
"Iuſt when the Angell ſtretch't his hand,
"Ieruſalem to ſtroy,
"It pleaſed God no more their land,
"with ſickneſſe to annoy.
Yea marke; when thoſe return'd agin
That from the Cite fled,
And when the Country thicke came in
To market, boord, and bed,
Who would hauehave thought but by and by
The plague ſhould be renewed?
Yet did it ſtill moſt quiet lie,
As in a corner mewed.
Neuer was heard of ſuch a change;
Twas but few daies before,
The ſickneſſe vp and downe did range,
Scarſe paſſing by a dore.
The very ayre it ſelfe might then
Seeme to be quite infected;
Now Churches, ſtreetes, ſhops, houſes, men,
All ſure and ſafe protected.
The eyes which had not before-ſeene,
The Cities deſolation,
Could ſcarſe beleeue that there had bin,
Such deadly viſitation.
Sixe monthes are gone about at leaſt,
Since that great ebbe and fall;
Few all this while dy'd of the peſt,
And ſome weekes none at all.
Nor was the ſickneſſe driuen out
Alone from London Citie,
But in all Countries round about,
Was ſhewed the like pitty.
For though ſome ſparkles here and there,
To awe vsus yet remaine,
Yet little breakes out any where,
To burne vsus vp againe.
Euen in our towne (ſo far remote)
When this diſmall diſeaze;
One place, and houſe, and man of note,
moſt dangerouſly did ſeaze:
When towne and Country were afraid,
It would hauehave further ſpred,
This deadly plague with dead was laid,
As in a reſting bed,
(And there it ſhould hauehave reſted ſtill,
As many weekes it did,
If men had not their doings-ill
With falſe pretences hid.)
As For this Pariſh (thankes to God,
By whom the lot is caſt)
To this day felt this heauy rod,
Not one from firſt to laſt.
Cry of our ſinnes and grace abus'd,
Did well deſerue the worſt,
But God to heare that crie refus'd,
(Elſe had we bin the firſt.)
Now what may be the Lords intent,
It is not hard to gheſſe,
Euen this; that we might all repent,
And his free grace confeſſe.
COnfeſſe we all before the Lord,
His grace and mercy then,
And ſhew his Acts with one accord,
Before the ſonnes of men.
In preſence of his holy ones,
praiſe him with ioy and feare
Who doth reuiue our wither'd bones,
And light from darkneſſe reare.
Man, woman, child, both old and yongue,
Rich, poore, the low and high,
Laud and extoll with hart and tongue,
The higheſt Maieſtie.
Yee bleſſed Angels honour him,
And all the heauenly band,
Yee byrds that flye, and fiſh that ſwimme,
And cattell of the land.
Let eueryevery Citie, Shire, and Towne,
Each Church, and houſe, and ſoule,
With thankfull pen write his renowne
In euerlaſting roule.
Let all that liues confeſſe his grace,
That ſaues their life and fame,
Let none by wicked life deface,
The glory of his name.
And thou my ſoule remember well,
The kindneſſe of the Lord,
Ceaſe not with thankfull lips to tell,
The trueneſſe of his word;
Who gaue thee pardon of thy ſinne,
And kept thee from the ſmart,
(For all the danger thou wertin)
Of the infectious dart.
THou Lord which from the Spaniſh yoake,
And from the powder blaſt,
And from that former ſicknes ſtroake,
And from this newly paſt,
Haſt ſaued vsus, and ours, and thine,
So many as ſuruiue,
Oh do not of thy Grace diuine
Our feeble ſoules depriue.
For we alas, are like to fall,
Into the ſame exceſſe,
If to thy workes thy grace withall,
Come not to worke redreſſe.
So are we wedded to the toyes,
Of our owne hearts deuiſing,
That we neglect the heau'nly ioyes,
From thy pure wayes ariſing.
(Euen when the ſcourge was on our back,
How few their life amended?
Our mending then muſt needes be ſlack,
When once the plague is ended.)
Nor Nauy, nor the powder Plot
Nor frightfull noiſe of war,
Nor roaring of the Cannon ſhot.
Nor all the plagues that are,
Shall ought preuaile, nor yet our ſtrange
Deliuerance from all,
Vnleſſe thy holy ſpirit change,
And draw our hearts withall:
Then draw vsus Lord immediately,
And we ſhall follow thee,
And make vsus ſuch effectually
As thou wouldſt hauehave vsus be:
So neede we not to feare the Turke,
Nor Pope, not Spaine, nor Hell;
For thou ſhalt eueryevery euill worke,
Reueale, defeat, and quell.
No ſickneſſe peſtilentiall
Shall ſmite our Tabernacle;
Or if there doe, thy mercy ſhall
Be our ſafe receptacle.
Lord ſaue thy Church, our King and State,
Lord purge out all our droſſe,
And ſuch as doe thy Goſpell hate
Infatuate and croſſe.
Lord bleſſe the Parlamentall Court,
(Vpper and lower Houſe,)
And when to Counſell they reſort,
In them remember vsus.
From King that ſits vponupon the Throne,
To begger in the ſtreete:
Let all their by-paſt ſinnes bemoane
Before thy mercy feete;
That we and our poſterity,
Safe-hid vnderunder thy wing,
May euer of thy verity,
And ſauing merciemercy ſing.
Amen.
FINIS.
DEO BIS-VLTORI SAXVM. Ad memoriam Claſſis Hiſpanicae, Anno, 1588. Submerſae, Subuerſae.
VIdimus (heutrepidicùm vidimus,) aequora Iberâ
Claſſe tegi:centū, et ſenas quater illa vehebat
Non Vincenda rates. Veteres ingentia nautae
Obstupuêre ratum noua corpora: Viderat illas,
Eſt que ſuas miratus opes Neptunus, & inſe
Adueniſſeomnes ridet Telluris honores.
Nos verò horruimus toti tot tympana, crebrae
Clamorem que tubae, ſtrictos ſuper omnia cultros,
Flagrorum que minas, quae barbarus omnia Iberus
Gentis in Exitium quaeſiuerat arma Britannae.
Nos lacerae viduae que rati ſpes credimus. Illa
Sulphure & igne grauis, ventis (ſpoliata magiſtro)
Traditur, & votis exit crudelibus; Hoſti
Mista, ſuis pereat flammis, ſed perdat et hoſtem:
Ventis vecta ſuis perit haec, ſed perdit et hoſtem,
Vidimus hîc laeti velis albentia primò,
Aequora, nunc ſanie et nigromaculata cruore.
Excutitur curſu Claſsis, pars aequore merſa eſt,
Inmedijs pars ardet aquis, pars flumine caeco
Errat, & ignotis vix tandem allabitur oris.
Ad memoriam proditionis Puluerariae Anno. 1605. Indicatae, Vindicatae.
VIdimus (ô laeti, cùm vidimus) eruta caeco
Roma tui ſceleris quanta, quot arma ſpecu!
Ferrum, ſaxa, faces, et dolia ſulphure foeta,
(Scilicet his Meretrix vina dat hauſta cadis.)
Haec latuêre diu magni ſub fornice Tecti,
Iuſſa manere manum, Fauxe ſceleſte, tuam.
Legibus illa olim penetralia ſacra ferendis
(Proh pudor!) horrendum penè tulêre ſcelus:
Rex, Princeps, Proceres, Patres, flos Plebis vt vno
Ictu corruerent, ipſa que Relligio.
Admotura ſacras aderat manus vltima flammas,
Prodit, diſperdit, vindicat iſta Deus.
Nil Erebū pudeat ſcelerum: Scelus hoc dabit vnum
Infandoſ que homines, Eumenidaſ que pias.
En Erebo acceſsit ſceleris noua forma, parem que
Huic Erebum ſceleri poſtulat illa nouum.
Par ſceleri dabitur pretium? Modus vnus vtri que ,
Nullus erit poenae: nullus eratſceleri.
Par merito laus danda Deo? Modus vnus vtri que ,
Nullus erit laudi: nullus erat merito.
Rite Deo Saxum que datum, nomen que Bis-vltor:
Vicerat hinc hoſtes, luſeratinde dolos.
Perditione priùs, nunc proditione petebant:
Perditaperditio eſt, prodita proditio.