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 find,
|
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 myself 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 Gardener that I did know,
|
I went and 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 Christs 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 lies,
|
which is the thing I most abhor,
|
Meddle not 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 then either Jews or Turks,
|
thus Christ of his Merits I did deprave.
|
I might liken myself 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 dye 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 will gladly repent and follow thy word
|
Which I will not deny whilst I have breath,
|
for prison, fire, faggot, or fierce sword.
|
Strengehen me good Lord in thy truth to stand,
|
for the bloody Butchers have me at their will,
|
With their slaughter knives ready drawn in their hands,
|
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 more.
|
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 pay,
|
because the truth of him it was well known,
|
But since that time he hath gone astray,
|
and much pestilent seed abroad he has sown.
|
Because that now I have no space,
|
the cause of my death truly to show,
|
I trust hereafter that by Gods 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 it came.
|
Although to Ashes it be now burned,
|
I know thou can'st raise it again:
|
In the same likeness as thou it formed,
|
in Heaven with thee evermore to remain.
|
|
|
|
|
|