Bloudy news from Germany or the peoples misery by famine,
Being an example of Gods just judgement on one Harto a Noble man in
Germany of the town of Ments who when the people were decayed (by
reason of a hard famine) he gathered the poorer sort into a Barn, and
burned them (saying these are but as Rats that eat up all and do nothing
else) but the allseeing God left not this wickedness unpunished; for he
was so sore beset and beat with Rats, that his Castles top was never af-
ter free of them, and at last devoured by them.
Tune of, Chievy Chase.
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WHen as my mind was fully bent
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some story for to rhime,
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Amongst all others none I found
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so fitting for the time,
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That which hereafter you shall hear
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may well compared be,
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Unto a Song of joyful news
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in pain and misery.
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Some write of Cupid and his bow
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with arrows sharp and keen,
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To pierce the tender hearts of them
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that are but young and green,
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Another loves of War to prate
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which is by Weapons done,
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And acted is by Sea and Land
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by Ship and roaring Gun.
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Another saith he was in love
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once with a dainty Maid,
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But now he hates her cruelty
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whens got her maiden-head,
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Another muse with Hand and Pen
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describes a baudy rhime,
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But I will tell by true report
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whats done in former time.
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One Harto that in Mentz did dwell
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a Clergy Man was he,
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In that same Town Arch Bishop was
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of famous Germany,
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His charity was too to cold
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and nothing did abound,
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He to the poor a Miser was
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which made a rumour sound.
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Now in his days there happened
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a famine on the earth
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And after that there did ensue
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a very pinching dearth
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This cruel man began to think
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he wanted his revennue,
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And many a Noble Man there was
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that was not worth a penny.
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He sent for all the Beggers round
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and put them in a Barn,
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And set them all in order strait
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as though he meant no harm,
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He sent his servants fire to bring
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for quickly they should burn,
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They with a howling noise cryd out
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and dolefully did mourn.
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What ail the men (quoth he at length)
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like Rats and Mice you be
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That eat up all my sustenance
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and nothing give to me,
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When all my friends through famine want
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and are gone to decay
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Why should I give you any more
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but burn you quite away.
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These harmless men he put to death
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as Cain with Able did
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But from the Lord full true it is
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theres nothing can be hid:
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Their bloud did call unto the Lord
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out of the ground and dust
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The Lord he hard attentively
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In judgement pure and just.
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He burnt them all both young and old
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both man and Wife likewise,
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He spared none nor did respect
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the foolish or the wise,
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For why his mind was satisfid
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and bloody mind content,
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To see them all thus on a flame
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tho others did lament.
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Yet God above did not forget
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this wicked unjust deed,
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For after that from Rats and mice
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he never could be freed,
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his Castles top no service did
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no Cats nor cruel Dogs,
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For why they came abundantly
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much like the Egyptian Frogs.
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They wasted all his cash and pelf
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which he laid up in store,
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Tho he so surely locked up
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by dosen and by score,
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These Vermine so did multiply
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encreasing day by day,
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They haunted all the rooms about
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the Chamber where he lay.
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Nay more then that himself was slain
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as he lay on his Bed,
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And when his Friends all did come in
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they found him to be dead,
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Thus God did punish him at length
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That was so bad and cruel,
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he put their Bodies in the fire
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and used them for fewel.
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And they did gnaw his Coat of Arms
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out of the graven Stone,
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and ever where they found his name
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of Letters they left none,
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This I do wish may be a guide
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to them that are so high,
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That never think upon the poor
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that are in misery.
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Nay were it but that they were so
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like Niggards in their Wealth,
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So they would not defraud the poor
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or put them unto death
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Wherefore let all with one accord
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think good for to amend,
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So shall my Pen begin to rest
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and lastly make an end.
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