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70
The sixth muse
And to be short, for this we may not tarie on,
Of that old town this nought is but the carion.
Monsier, said Gall, that for a truth I know
These Kirks and Cloisters made a goodly show;
But this as truely I dar well alleadge,
These Kirkmen usde the greatest cousenage
That ev'r was seene or heard. Good Gall, quoth I,
How can that be? Monsier, if you will try,
Too much true shall you finde. Pray thee, good Gall,
Your speach to me seemes paradoxicall;
Therefore I would it know: Monsier, quoth he,
And shall I show what such Idolatrie
Hath brought upon that town? The many closters
VVhere fed there was so many idle fosters,
Monks, Priests, and Friers, and multitude of Patrons,
Erected in their queires; th'old wifes and matrons
Gave great head to these things, which they did say,
And made their horned husbands to obey;
And mortifie so much unto this Saint,
And unto that, though they themselves should want
Yea twentie Saincts about one tenement,
Each one of them to have an yeerlie rent,
And all to pray for one poore wretched soul,
VVhich Purgatorie fire so fierce should thole.
So these annuities, yeerelie taxations,
Are causes of these wofull desolations
VVhich we behold. The ground of all these evils,[1]
VVhat to these Saincts they gave, was given to Divels.
God made them Saincts, men set them in Gods stead,
Gave them Gods honour; so them idols made:
Of that old town this nought is but the carion.
Monsier, said Gall, that for a truth I know
These Kirks and Cloisters made a goodly show;
But this as truely I dar well alleadge,
These Kirkmen usde the greatest cousenage
That ev'r was seene or heard. Good Gall, quoth I,
How can that be? Monsier, if you will try,
Too much true shall you finde. Pray thee, good Gall,
Your speach to me seemes paradoxicall;
Therefore I would it know: Monsier, quoth he,
And shall I show what such Idolatrie
Hath brought upon that town? The many closters
VVhere fed there was so many idle fosters,
Monks, Priests, and Friers, and multitude of Patrons,
Erected in their queires; th'old wifes and matrons
Gave great head to these things, which they did say,
And made their horned husbands to obey;
And mortifie so much unto this Saint,
And unto that, though they themselves should want
Yea twentie Saincts about one tenement,
Each one of them to have an yeerlie rent,
And all to pray for one poore wretched soul,
VVhich Purgatorie fire so fierce should thole.
So these annuities, yeerelie taxations,
Are causes of these wofull desolations
VVhich we behold. The ground of all these evils,[1]
VVhat to these Saincts they gave, was given to Divels.
God made them Saincts, men set them in Gods stead,
Gave them Gods honour; so them idols made:
Thus
- ↑ Saints how made idols, and devils.