A song of deliverance for the lasting remembrance of Gods wonderful works never to be forgotten. Containing in it the wonderful defeat of the Spanish-Armado, anno, 1588. the woful plague, anno, 1603. soon upon the entrance of King James of famous memory, unto the Crown of England. : With the discovery of the Povvder Plot, anno, 1605. and the downfall of Black Fryers, when an hellish crew of papists met to hear Drury a popish priest, anno 1623. Also the grievous plague anno, 1625. with poems both Latin and English, and the verses of that learned Theodore Beza.
Wilson, John, 1588-1667.
1623.
IN the one thousand year of grace,
six hundred twenty three,
(Upon Novembers fifth it was)
some Papists did agree,
To meet upon a Garret-flowre
within Black-friers range,
Near which, the French Ambassadour
lodg'd, till this heavy change.
Two or three hundred thither flockt,
crowding with eager lust,
The room was full (the dore unlockt)
some to the stairs was thrust.
Who so repair unto the yard,
or garden where they went,
Of this sad doom and vesper-hard,
may see the monument.
For 'twas at Even-song that they met,
upon the Lords own day,
Which by his Ordinance is set,
to teach us in his way.
Page 26They came to hear Drury a Priest,
from Babel thither sent,
Who in his Jesuit parrel drest,
did there his matter vent.
Before his Sermon, on his knees
at this chair feet he fell.
Which was rear'd up by some degrees,
that they might see him well.
There did he some short prayer mutter
as 't were an Ave-mary,
No vocal prayer did he utter,
(from us, perhaps▪ to vary:)
But presently fell to his Text,
which was about the King;
Who pardon'd much to him, that vex
his mate for a small thing.
Out of which Text he wringed this,
as some (that heard him) say;
'Twould goe with all such Souls amiss,
as from their sold do stray.
Because forsooth their Sacraments,
(as namely Penance doing)
To cancel, are the Instruments
what debts to God are owing.
He preached by an hour-glass,
(an Embleme very apt,
To shew how near the period was,
how life dy death intrapt.)
Before the sand had run its course,
his breath was to be gone,
He made some way to his discourse,
but went no farther on,
Page 27The hand of God with sudden rush,
upon the Chamber came,
And did the Jesuit all to crush,
I'th' ruins of the same.
His Soul before that heav'nly King,
did answer for this action,
There learning best, what is the thing,
that yields him satisfaction.
This sure I am, unless he did
sole Christ his pleader make,
And Popish merits farewel bid,
he could not chuse but quake
With him well nigh an hundred more,
men, women, one and other,
By fall of beams, and upper flore,
were crushed in the smother.
So much o'th' Garret-flore fell,
as was above the place.
Where Father Rediate had his Cell
and Papists went to Mass.
But all their massing would not serve
their Priest, or them at all;
"They that from Scripture Cannon swerve,
"must look at last to fall.
Alas! what shrieks follow'd their mirth,
what cryes most pittiful?
Like theirs, whom once the gaping Earth▪
into her womb did pull:
Or like the doleful noise of all
that worshipt Dagons block;
On whom the house did rush and fall,
whiles they did Sampson mock;
Page 28Or like that dismal cry and groane,
throughout the Egyptian coasts,
When, in one night each first born son,
was slain by th' Lord of Hoasts;
Or like the Galilean moane,
when in sedition found,
The sacrificers saw their own
blood spilt upon the ground.
This sad disaster might enforce
a stony heart to melt.
Which they in superstitious course
strongly beguiled, felt.
"Secrets belong unto the Lord,
"this we may well proclaim,
"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 misery.
By secret drawing out of pin,
or sawing half asunder
Some of the Timber, that was in
the house to prop it under.
But this's a vaile that Satan cast
before their eyes to blind them,
Thereby from sight of Judgement past,
and due remorse to wind them.
For plain it was, in strictest view,
that by the peoples press
And Sommeyrs mortazing undue,
they came to this distress.
Page 29And that Gods finger may appear,
more plainly, no foundation
Nor Wall did faile, but all entire
the seeld Roof kept his station.
"Oh then, that those which did escape,
"with feet out of the snare,
"Might learn no more to run or gape,
"after such Romish ware!
"And that we all might learn to flee
"from Babel and her dung,
"Lest for our filthiness we be,
"into her sorrows flung.
But to return whence I digrest,
(take the old stile or new,)
Novembers fifth must be confest,
worthy all lasting view.
A day that justly was assign'd
to the Almighties glory,
A day when all should call to mind,
the famous powder story▪
But this not all to God belongs,
nor do we praise him best,
By Sermons, Prayers, or loud Songs,
Bells, Bone-fires, or by Feast.
All these are good, but somewhat else
is of far better note;
When heart, and life, our Souls and selves,
to him are all devote.
God looked for't that all Estates
should mend what was amiss,
That Truth and Judgement in our Gates,
should one another kiss.
Page 30But we, alas! did soon forgit
the mighty works 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 display,
'gainst Brittains royal blood;
Nor by the safe return again,
of our then royal-Prince,
From his great venture into Spain,
nor his deliv'rance since,
(When he was safe in falling down
by guard of Angels tended);
Nor his safe coming to the Crown,
rightly on him descended:
These works of God could not suffice
to draw us from our sinning,
But still we kept the hue and size,
we had at the beginning:
This stirred up the Lord of Hoasts,
to jealousie and rage,
And made him smite again our Coasts,
not sparing any Age.
