A web-based edition of early seventeenth-century political poetry from manuscript sources. It brings into the public domain over 350 poems, many of which have never before been published.
Nii6 Religion the most sacred power on earth
Notes. This poem, primarily concerned with the continental wars of religion, and reflecting in its course both on perceived threats to English Protestantism and on the inherent corruption of princely courts, is dated 1623 in one source (BL MS Stowe 962), and stated in another as having been “Writen after the beginning of the Bohemian war” (Bodleian MS Eng. Poet. c.50). In the source used here, it is placed between poems on “A Papist” and “A true Puritan without disguise”, which are both taken from Leighton(?), The Interpreter.
“Religion”
Religion the most sacred power on earth
reviv’d, and formd in our blest Saviours birth
trew cherrisher of peace why should theys warrs
tearme thee the author of theys civill Jars
whilst under thy white Banner they with blood
5pollute those places wheer thine alter stood
O Princes leave to use theyse wicked artes
Religion’s in your eyes not in your harts
yett your high purple Preist bids yow proceede
tis merritorius for the church to bleed
10what though tenn thousand perrish, soe you win
a stinking hole to thrust this doctrine in
it is enough, O that this Papall beast
should drive yow thus on slaughter, make a jeast
att your lost lives, laughing to thinke how hee
15can make yow runn on danger himselfe fre,
yett safe he is not for the powerfull God
will whipp his pride with his omnipotent rodd
but he doth stay his vengeance & doth cherishe
his proude ambition till hees fitt to perrish
20and his deare sone (that Catholicke Monarchie
that would grasp all within his empiry)1
why with intestine arms doth he oppress
the trew religion? when his rich excess
of riott, spoyle, & rapine doe abound
25great King beware least thou thy selfe confound
in thy ambitious thoughts; strive to be good
not greater then thow art, tis durt and mudd
make up a vitious Prince, when verteous Kings
are Gods on earth holly & glorious things
30enough of this, but, poore religion, thow
that are more happy wheer the labouring plough
doth teare the earth then in great Princes Courts
wheer nought but high impyety imports
wheer vertues never raysd for vertues cause
35wheer will & power doth make & forfeit Lawes
wheer flattery rules & pride doth governe all
wheer nothings good, but what is bestiall
wheer wilt thow goe in safty? England, no
Spanyne theer doth plott thy utter overthrowe2
40Fraunce will in peces teare the, the Rich states3
will the but coldly use, fly to the Gates
of Heaven & enter: O most wretched times
when wee must loose religion by our Crimes.
Source. Huntington MS HM 198, 1.84-85
Other known sources. Bodleian MS Ashmole 36-37, fol. 76v; Bodleian MS Eng. Poet. c.50, fol. 29r; BL MS Stowe 962, fol. 142r
Nii6
1 His deare sone...his empiry: the King of Spain. Protestant polemicists argued that the Spanish aimed at a “Universal Monarchy”. <back>
2 Spanyne theer...overthrowe: allusion to fears that the Spanish planned to overthrow English Protestantism and reestablish Catholicism in the wake of the Spanish Match treaty. <back>
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