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EBBA 34447

Houghton Library - Miscellaneous
Ballad XSLT Template
[The plucking down of the romish church]

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[?]
[?] Romish church is that cage alone
[?]e al filth and stinch doth smel very strong.
The Angel therefore cryeth to old and yong,
Saying: come away from her my people spedely,
Least ye be partakers of the beastes iniquity.

For this is even she, whych with her fornication,
Hath made almost all princes commit adultery,
And eke hath made them dronke with her superstition
Wherby she hath got up to great authority.
The blood of gods saints, she dranke plentifully.
Therfore as vengeance to you she hath shewed,
Double to her againe let the same be repayed.

Pul down her shop of wares, wherbi she hath got
Al the treasures on earth, and ruled the same,
Both Emperours & Kings this beast spared not,
But placed and displaced, as pleased thys Dame.
Therfore shal God now descry her whole shame,
And eke pul down her shop of marchandise,
With al her marchants, which therby did rise.

Wherfore O ye Marchants of the Romish Babell,
Weepe, howle, and wayle, for neare is your fall,
The blood of Gods saintes for vengeance crieth fel
And God now in wrath on you poure it shall.
Come away from her therfore Gods people all,
Least ye be partakers of her plagues and evyll
And so in fire & brimston be burnt with the devyl.

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Emprors & Kings with many a great kingdome
Entend to destroy us, and have no remorce.
Behold here our shop which enriched our purse,
How it to ruine begynneth to fall,
For the top thei have broken, & down thei wil have all.

Our pardons & relickes which was our beginning
Is nought now regarded, and found all but lyes,
Our masses & dirgies which kept us aloft raining
Are now not beleved, but al folke them despise.
The Lutherans at these did first enterprise,
And at them so pulled, that the top they have broken
Of our hie steple, which the same doth betoken

And now the Hugonites, with the Beggers together,
With al force they may are pulling at the rest,
Which is our authority, and punishment severe,
And eke our stout ruling from East unto West.
Thus al these three at our church before prest,
To shew their great power in pulling it down
Which out out alas, wyll be done to to soone.

Wherfore O romish Babilon, we now the bemone
And also our own selves which lived by thee.
Now wringing our hands, we wepe, sigh & grone
For this our destruction which draweth so nye.
All nations now playnly our falshood do spy,
And our great cruelty they do so detest,
That til we be destroyed they wil not be at rest


Imprinted at London by John Awdeley/dwel-
ling in litle Brittaine streete wythout Aldergate. The. xvii. of August. 1566

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