An Askew, Intituled, I am a Woman Poor and Blind.
|
I Am a woman poor and blind,
|
and little knowledge remains in me,
|
Long have I sought, but fain would fain,
|
what Herb in my Garden were best to be.
|
A Garden I have which is unknown,
|
which God of his goodness gave to me
|
I mean my body, where I should have sown
|
the seed of Christs true verity.
|
My spirit within me is vexed sore,
|
my spirit striveth against the same,
|
My sorrows do encrease more and more,
|
my conscience suffereth most bitter pain.
|
I with my self being thus at strife,
|
would fain have been at rest,
|
musing and studying in mortal life,
|
what things I might do to please God best,
|
With whole intent and one accord,
|
unto a Gardiner that I did know,
|
I desired him for the love of the Lord,
|
true seed in my garden for to sow.
|
Then this proud Gardener seeing me so blind,
|
he thought on me to work his will,
|
And flattered me with words so kind,
|
to have me continue in my blindness still.
|
He fed me then with lies and mocks,
|
for venial sins he bid me go:
|
to give my money to stones and stocks,
|
which was stark lies and nothing so.
|
with stinking meat then was I fed,
|
for to keep me from my Salvation,
|
I had Trentals of mass, and balls of Lead,
|
not one word spoke of Christ's passion.
|
In me was sown all kind of feigned seeds,
|
with Popish Ceremonies many a one,
|
Masses of Requiem, with other juggling deeds,
|
still Gods Spirit out of my garden was gone.
|
Then was I commanded most strictly,
|
if of my Salvation I would be sure,
|
To build some Chappel or Chauntry,
|
to be pray'd for while the world doth endure.
|
beware of a new learning, quoth he, it lyes,
|
which is the thing I most abhor,
|
Meddle nor with it in any manner of wise.
|
but do as your Fathers have done before.
|
My trust I did put in the Devils works,
|
thinking sufficient my Soul to save,
|
being worse than either Jews or Turks,
|
thus Christ of his merits I did deprave.
|
I might liken my self with a woful heart,
|
unto the Dumb man in Luke the Eleven,
|
From whence Christ caused the Devil to depart,
|
but shortly after he took the other seven.
|
My time thus good Lord so quickly I spent,
|
alas I shall die the sooner therefore.
|
O Lord I find it written in thy Testament,
|
that thou hast mercy enough in store.
|
For such Sinners as the Scripture saith,
|
that would gladly Repent, & follow thy word
|
Which ile not deny whilst I have breath,
|
for prison, fire, faggot, or fierce sword.
|
Strengthen me good Lord in thy truth to stand,
|
for the bloody butchers have me at their will,
|
with their slaughter knives ready drawn in thei[r] hand
|
my simple Carcass to devour and kill.
|
O Lord forgive me my offence,
|
for I have offended thee very sore,
|
Take therefore my sinful body from hence,
|
then shall I vile Creature offend thee no mor[e]
|
I would wish all creatures and faithful friends
|
for to keep from this Gardeners hands,
|
For he will bring them soon unto their ends,
|
with cruel torments of fierce fire brands.
|
I dare not presume for him to pray,
|
because the truth of him it was well known,
|
But since that time he hath gone astray,
|
and much pestilent Seed abroad he hath sow[n]
|
because that now I have no space,
|
the cause of my death truly to show,
|
I trust hereafter that by God's holy Grace,
|
that all faithful men shall plainly know.
|
to thee O Lord I bequeath my spirit,
|
that art the Work master of the same,
|
it is thine Lord, therefore take it of right,
|
my carcass on earth I leave, from whence i[t] came
|
Although to ashes it be now burned,
|
I know thou canst raise it again:
|
In the same likeness as thou it formed,
|
in Heaven with thee evermore to remain.
|
|
|
|
|
|