A description of the Roman Catholick Church wherein the pretentions of it's [sic] head, the manners of his court, and principles, and doctrines, the worship and service, the religious orders and houses, the designs and practises of that Church, are represented in a vision / by Iohn Barclay, minister at Cruden ; written in the year 1679.

A description of the Roman Catholick Church wherein the pretentions of it's [sic] head, the manners of his court, and principles, and doctrines, the worship and service, the religious orders and houses, the designs and practises of that Church, are represented in a vision / by Iohn Barclay, minister at Cruden ; written in the year 1679.

Table of contents

Title page

To The Right Honourable My Very Noble LORD John EARLE OF ERROLL LORD HAY and SLAINS &c. Great Constable of SCOTLAND, AND His Truly Noble and Religious LADIE Anna COUNTESS OF ERROLL

To the Reader

THE ROMAN CATHOLICK CHURCH Described in a VISION.

[Page]

THE ROMAN CATHOLICK CHURCH Described in a VISION.

I Find I'm haunted with a busie mind,

Swift as the Clouds, unstable as the wind,

It sometimes gets it Wings, and soars aloft,

Anon it steeps into delights more soft,

It's sometimes serious, and it's sometimes vain,

Sometimes it's thoughts do please, and sometimes pain;

On while they'r dark, and then they clear again;

Sometimes they'r cheerfull, sometimes they are sad;

They'r sometimes good, and often they are bad;

Sometimes, my self, my self's their only Theam,

Sometimes, they grasp at more then Caesar's claim:

They bring forth Ioy, they nowrish Fear,

They Towers into the Air do rear,

All things do seem within their Sphear:

O what a wandring thing's the Mind!

What Contrares are there combin'd?

HOw shal't be held, or where confin'd?

[Page] O what a Web's a busie Thought!

Where is it made? whence is it brought?

How is it warpt, how is it wrought?

While thus my Mind was in this roving plight,

I did it chide, for it's uncertain flight,

I strove to settle it with all my might:

At length we did some composition make,

And it began some rest to take,

To be more plyant for good manners sake:

I firmly with my self did then conclude,

I would repair unto some solitude,

Beneath a pleasant Tree my Lodge I made,

Became the Tennant of it's cooling Shade,

Here (said I) I my self will shroud,

From scoarching Beams, from dropping Cloud,

Here shall I rest; and shall be free

From this Earth's noise, which seems to me

A blunt, a dull, ill-acted Comedie:

It's Pleasnres I'll not prise,

It's Honours I'll despise,

And all it's Wealth, as Dross I will disdain,

My Mind Religious Thoughts shall intertain.

RELIGION (thought I) is the way to Rest,

RELIGION is the choise that's surely best,

It raiseth no Commotions to infest,

It stills the noise of Passions and of Rage,

And turbulent Affections doth asswage

It cooleth Youth, it's Comforts warm Old-Age:

But lo again my Thoughts did range,

This lovely thing it's shape did seem to change,

In many Formes it did to me appear,

And many various Garbs I saw it wear,

I saw it fight in Fields, and making Warres,

I heard it scold in Schools, and raising Jarres:

[Page] A thousand different Parties cry'd, lo here

Thou'l't find the thing, should be to thee most dear,

Whom shall I hear? where shall I go?

What shall I chuse? what shall I do?

I'm puzled, and amazed too,

I love RELIGION, and I would her serve,

But while I seek Her, fear from Her to swerve.

While I am in this Labirinth involv'd,

The more I por'd, the less my Doubts were solv'd,

And to make yet more serious search resolv'd:

Sleep, (that great lovely thief, which often robs

Mine Eyes of vexing Sights, mine Heart of Sobs,

Which from my Books doth steall away mine Eie,

And often from my Prayers stealeth me)

Came gliding on, and did me quite o'r shade,

With a thick Cloud of misty Vapours made:

Mine Eyes were shut, mine Ears were stopt,

My Hands were ty'd, my Senses lockt,

The House was silent, Gates were blockt:

And now WILD FANCIE did begin her Game,

And playes her self, with things I cannot name,

Things so many, and so strange,

Things that Shape and Colour change,

Things which without Order range;

Yet still me thought RELIGION I did view

And did Her with some amorous thoughts persue,

'Mongst all that Croud, I knew Her lovely hue.

She did Her self shift from among the Crowd,

I saw Her go, cry'd after Her aloud,

I call'd to Her, For Love and Pitty stay,

Besought Her that She would not say me Nay;

But Wind, bore Her and my lost words away:

And when She's gone, I found into Her room

A throng of wild, unruly things did come,

[Page] Roving Fancies, Horrid Sights,

Dismall Places, Uncouth Wights

Which put me in a wondrous plight

I'll tell what I can mind, and it's no Crime,

Of incoherent things to speak, in incoherent Rhyme.

I saw A CITY, very Great and Fair,

With which, scarce any other might compare,

Whose proud Walls, did all Batteries defy,

Whose prouder Towers, seem'd to affront the Sky;

To him I first did meet What CITY'S this, said I?

A Question indeed said he! For this

No single CITY, but the whole World is.

I saw A MAN, in more than Kingly State,

And thousands, did his dread Command await,

Yet did his grifly Face, his panting Breath,

His failing Limbs, bewray th'approach of Death:

But soon I found, that he was vile and proud,

He rais'd his Eyes, and spake odd Words aloud

Of BULLS, and BRIEVES, and CANONS, and CROISADES

And whispered some Tales of WHORES and BAUDES,

And Stories, which imported nothing less

Than that He was grow'n old in Wickedness:

I ask't, What wretch was that who passed by?

And presently they made a dreadfull Cry,

And said, I did blaspheme,

And spoke prophanly of an Heavenly Name,

Since Divine Honours were his rightfull Claim.

I saw some YOUTHS; for I could guess

No other, by their beardless Face,

I heard them talk what I thought hardly Sence,

Yet talk; with an unblushing confidence:

What Striplings (said I) do yonder walk?

What new, unheard of Stories do they talk?

[Page] They call'd me mad, and said, they were

All REVEREND FATHERS I saw there,

And that the things they gravely told,

Were Mysteries, delivered of old,

Which the Apostles left them to unfold.

A PACK of IDEOTS next I saw,

For so I thought them; but I stood in awe

To call them so, till I did see

Them at their Childish playes to be,

Some were dandling painted babies,

Some numbring BEEDS, and telling GADIES,

Some mumbling GIBBERISH and such uncouth leid,

As no where else did I e're hear or read,

Alace what do these poor Fools? did I say,

Vile man (said they) they worship and they pray,

See what Devotion their looks do bewray.

To them some HELL-HOUNDS did succeed,

Their eyes were sunk, their hands were red,

Their words were dreadfull, threats were loud,

Their looks were grim, they breathed blood,

I saw them bring forth from dark Shopes,

Wheels and Racks, and Cords, and Ropes,

They gathered fewell, kindled fire,

And fastned stakes, I did enquire

What all these dreadfull things did mean?

More dreadfull then mine eyes had ever seen:

They told me, these were persons, whose great zeall

Did alwayes levell to the Churches weall,

And that these Tools, whose sight did shake mine heart,

Were instruments, by which they did convert

Men to the Faith: So they and I did part.

Sure (said I) I'm in some enchanted land,

Of all I see, I nothing understand,

[Page] What shall I think! O that some Angell would

These hidden wondrous things to me unfold,

For it's a work above all humane reach

Mine eyes to open, or my mind to teach.

While thus I'm wondring, and am bath'd in tears,

A Gentle voice arrived to mine Ears,

From whence I know not; but the words were these,

Young man, thy wonder, and thy weeping cease,

What thou shalt see, shall serve well to explain

What thou hast seen: A little while again

It silent was; At length did only say,

Take Heed, Take Heed, see that thou watch and pray,

I heard no more, it vanished away.

I quite confounded lay, my mind was vex't

With thoughts confus'd, and with dark fears perplext;

When lo, I wildly roll mine eyes, and see

That which a little calm'd and cheered me;

A LADIE, walking with a comely grace,

All beauties seem'd combined in her face,

She courteously approached to the place,

Where I did now my self repose,

Which when I saw I humbly arose.

I am perswaded, that in man must be

An untaught skill of PHYSIOGNOMIE;

For when I at a distance did behold

This sumptuous DAME, attyr'd in Pearles and Gold,

I thought, such beauty was unseen before,

And that mine eyes should see the like no more,

I would have nam'd all things in Heaven and Earth,

All that is pryz'd by Fancie, Wit, or Dearth,

To see if any thing I could compare

Unto a Creature, whom I thought so fair;

[Page] But as I did Her more distinctly view,

I thought my self deceiv'd; sure (said I) now

Their's no such substance here, as there is shew,

I know not what displeas'd me; but I wot

Something was in her face I liked not.

Yet wisely I concealed my distaste,

And seem'd, mine Eyes upon her Eyes to feast,

At length I said GREAT LADY, pardon me

If I so rude, or so uncivill be

As to enquire your Name and Qualitie.

She courteously and modestly reply'd,

In this demand thou shalt not be deny'd,

I all mens good and happiness intend,

To this, my thoughts, to this my aims I bend,

If thou be wise, and hearken unto me,

Thou seem's perplex't; but thou may'st happy be.

Her words did charme me so, that I began

To chide my self, and say, Untoward man,

This is an ANGELL; what ill GENIUS brought

A disesteem of Her into thy thought?

I work my woe, shee's fond to have me blest,

I toile for Cares, she comes to give me rest,

She loves me; I distaste her in my mind,

How bold our passions are, and yet how blind!

These were the secreet workings of my breast,

My longings now to hear Her, were increast,

And she went on

And thus she spoke in an alluring tone:

I am THE HOLY CATHOLICK-CHURCH (said she,)

The porch of Heaven; none go there but from me:

And now I come to be A Guide to thee:

[Page] I saw thee lately cast thine Amorous eyes

Upon RELIGION, and I heard thy Cryes,

She seem'd to leave thee, and would make no stay,

Went out of sight, thou knowest not what way,

I know her path, to Her I will thee lead,

I listened well to all that she had said,

I Bow'd mine Head, and low obeysance made,

Bless'd now (said I) the day that I was born,

No longer will mine heart be rack't and torn,

With doubts and Scruples, and with anxious cares,

With sinking fears, and languishing despaires.

Mine Eyes again I lift unto her face,

To fix them ever in that lovely place;

I rub'd mine Eyes, I thought they were diseas'd,

The more I look't, the more I was displeas'd:

I thought Her sometimes too Gay, to be Good,

Her Brow Imperious, and Her Looks too Proud,

Her Colour oftner chang'd, then I can tell,

Her Breath (I judg'd) had an invenom'd smell:

These things did somewhat cool my confidence,

And brought me in a very great suspence,

It is not good to be too Rash (said I)

It's Good before I trust too much, to try.

She was sagacious, and soon found me out,

Uncertain Breath, and Looks bewray'd my doubt,

What means this Coldness (said she) Youth? mine hand

She grasp't, and ask't what mean't I thus to stand?

Did I not to thee joyfull tydings bring?

Is happiness to thee so small a thing?

Just now thou seem'd inflamed with desire

To learn the way to Bliss, who quench't that fire?

Thy sails were hoysed, and thou seemed clear,

Unto RELIGION as thy port to steer,

[Page] I who esteem thy happiness my gain,

To be thy Pilot, I did not disdain.

I'm for the Voyage (said I) But it is fit

To know my Pilots skill, for fear I split,

For in RELIGION there are many Cheats,

No fewer then their are in Courts and States,

Each painted HARLOT, calls her self the Spouse,

And with the name of CHURCH, doth Men amuse,

And therefore I again would hear your Name

And by what Right, you to that Honour Claim:

My Warrines She seemed to applaud,

And said, I might suspect from others Fraud;

But that HER WORD, might be sufficient,

To clear my mind, to clear her just intent,

For others do acknowledge they may Erre;

But I my self Infallible averre,

And that thou may the more assured be,

I am the ROMAN CATHOLICK CHURCH, (said She)

That is my Name: (said I) their's on Word more

Now in your Name, then I did hear before,

And that same Word, (which makes me yet more Shy)

Doth seem a Contradiction to imply:

Roman and Catholick, how can that consist?

In diff'rent Categories they themselves do list.

She froun'd, and then disdainfully. She smil'd,

And said Poor Man, how far ar't thou beguil'd,

Thy throat's too narrow, and thy Wit's too shallow,

If thou one Contradiction can not swallow;

That's but a Gnat; go with me silly fool,

And I again will set thee to the School:

Once learn but to beleive, I cannot Err,

A thousand Contradictions then Infer,

These triffles, will thee never more Deter.

[Page] My Pleas are great, for all I doe pretend,

Mine Arguments are Infinite, without end,

Without beginning; then She stretch't Her voice,

And made into mine Ears a dreadfull noyse;

What (said She) knowes thou not mine Unity,

My SANCTITIE my great ANTIQUITY

My MULTITUDE, My VISIBILITY,

My MIRACLES, SUCCESSION, yea my Name

Of CATHOLICK, doth justifie my Claim,

And therefore, now will I

I'll make the World, and thee to hear, I'll Cry

I'll thunder my INFALLIBILITY

But lest my words doe not affect thine Heart,

That I more knowledge may to thee impart,

Make no delay; but quickly follow me,

And thou shal't be instructed by thine Eie,

Thou'lt see RELIGION in her Glorious dress,

And by that sight, thy Love will much increase.

I'll lead thee first unto my Glorious HEAD,

In whom what Glorie dwells, cannot be said,

Thou'lt see, Thou'lt wonder, thou shal't hear his words,

They'l charm thine Ears, they'l pierce thine heart as swords,

They are all Oracles. O my Glorious HEAD?

I found She still inclined to proceed

Into his praise: And therefore I

Who had enough of curiosity,

To see Gay sights, did passionatly cry

O Lead me, I will follow instantly.

We spoke no more, but in a little space,

She bid me look to that resplendent place,

Lo that's the Palace, unto which we go,

It's Name She told me was SAINT ANGELO.

Thither we came, and quickly entrance got,

[Page] MY GUIDE was there well known, tho I was not,

To Her they Bow'd, to Her all homage pay'd,

And to the Palace we were streight convey'd:

I looked with a curious Strangers Eie,

Observing all things which I there did see,

The rooms, were stately which I did behold,

All pav'd with Marble, and all siel'd with Gold,

Which Struck with rayes, reflected such a light,

As did at once please and confound my sight:

But that wherewith mine eyes I longest fed,

Was pictures wherewith they were garnished,

And these were draw'n and were coloured so,

I doubted if they were alive or no.

Here was a judge, who on his bench did sit,

A mightie throng of men encompass'd it,

I saw them gape, perceiv'd they cry'd aloud

Away with him, and on us be his Blood;

I saw the man 'gainst whom they were so bent,

His looks, bespoke him wholly innocent;

They told me that was IESUS, whom I spy'd,

And these were Jewes who thus against him cry'd,

I well took heed to all,

And thought, I'm now in Pilates Iudgement-Hall:

The manner of Christs death, I saw so plain,

How he was mock't, how men did him disdain,

How he was strip't, and scourg'd, and crown'd with thorn,

How he came forth, and how his Cross was born;

How he was pierc'd, and how he bow'd his head,

That to my self with confidence I said,

Or here's the place in which my Lord was slain

Or else I'm sure he's murthered here again.

I was the more confirmed in this thought,

[Page] When to another little room I'm brought,

They shew'd me there, the tree that once him bo [...]

The Nails, and Spear, which did his Body gore,

And all the cruell instruments of death,

By these (said they) he was bereav'd of Breath:

I made no doubt, when I saw all intire,

But that the Executioner was also here.

MY GUIDE bids me go on, at length, did bring

Me, to her so much celebrated King;

He smil'd on Her, and though he knew not me,

All's welcome whom ye bring with you said he.

She told him that I was a Stranger, whom

She had desir'd along with her to come,

And to be bless'd by seeing of his face,

And by his words to be inspir'd with grace;

Knowing, my doubts should be dispell'd that hour,

That I shoud be informed of his power:

He bids me then draw neer,

And thank the Heavens, and her who brought me here,

And as an introduction to my bliss,

He stretched out his foot to me to kiss.

To say the truth when I observ'd his face,

I thought it boaded very little grace;

His eyes were loftie, sparkling, full of wrath,

Upon his brow (me thought) at rage and death,

For he was very wrinkled, very pale,

His hands did tremble, and his limbs did faill.

A saw A TRIPLE CROWN upon his Head.

With some Inscriptions, which I long'd to read:

Which that I might the better understand,

I did presume to draw some nearer hand:

What see I now?

[Page] It's Holiness, that blurred word I trow,

It's Blasphemie fair written on the brow,

It's written here, SERVUS SERVORUM,

It's written there DOMINUS DOMINORUM,

And 'twixt each word was written MYSTERIE,

And Reason for't; for so was all to me.

Some while, I nothing did but look't, and gaz'd,

The more I look't, the more I was amaz'd;

He did interpret this my deep suspence,

To be the fruit of profound Reverence:

Some words at length he did begin to mutter,

But for some space, no sentence might he utter,

So Violent a cough did him assaill,

As stop't his speech, and made his breath to faill,

Which when it ceas'd, he made no longer stay,

But rais'd his head, and Eyes, and thus did say.

I'm He, that makes my dreadfull Curses fly

Throughout the Earth, and penetrat the Sky,

Through Walls of stone these furious bullets may

Without controull force their impetuous way:

When I proclaim a Jubilee, all sin

Is quite discharg'd, and wealth to me comes in:

I can dispence with all the Lawes Divine,

Cause sons 'gainst Parents fearlesly combine,

I say, and many swear that all the world is mine:

When I in Pomp do go,

Poor Kings, as pageants do attend the show:

When I decree, soon does a busie swarm

Of Black, White, Gray-Friars take allarme,

Men of all Colours, who can open breasts,

And creep into the most retired rests.

They cry, Thus hath our HOLY FATHER said,

Who trembleth not? who doth not bow the Head?

[Page] Who doeth not profoundest homage pay?

Who dare once doubt the truth of what I say?

Garments of richest crimpson I do wear,

And Crownes of purest beaten gold I bear:

Heaven and Hells gates, it's vaults, and Cells all be

Shut or made open, as it pleaseth me:

None, dare be so presumptuous or bold

'Mongst Mortalls, to repine, or to withhold

From me their Conscience or their Gold:

If to infernall flames I thousands lead,

What doest thou? should by no man be said:

If Vertues, Sins, or Sins, I Vertues call,

My words should firmly be believ'd by all

I can make Saints, I can make Kings,

I can make Him who made all things,

I can give others power to make him,

And give to thee the priviledge to take him:

Blood I can make of Wine, and Flesh of Bread,

When I have but a very few words said,

I squeeze the living, to releive the dead.

I Hallow all things with my words

I Hallow Helmets, Hallow Swords,

I Hallow Trees, I Hallow Stones,

I Hallow dry and rotten Bones;

I Hallow Meddalls, Hallow Oyle,

I Hallow Water, Hallow Soyle,

I Hallow Salt I Hallow Cells,

I Hallow Kirks, I Hallow Bells,

So strong and mighty are my spells,

That I with very little adoe

Could Hallow Brothell-Houses too.

Commit thy self to me, then do not fear,

No Oath shall ty thee, thou may'st freely swear,

[Page] And freely break, this shall be thy defence,

How oft thou swears, so oft I can Dispence:

Be thou once mine, and from that happie time

Thou needst not stand in dread of any crime;

The greatest sins thy bliss shall not prejudge,

For my INDULGENCE shall be thy Refuge:

But as thou wouldst avoid my heavy Curse,

Come never to me with an empty purse.

I long'd to hear him speak; but longed sore

To hear him make an end, and speak no more:

At length, he fell a Coughing once again,

And only spoke these broken words with pain;

Shrew on this Phlegme, that dare assault my throat,

And stop my sacred breath; for did it not,

I've more to say, and thou should hear a shoure,

Of mighty words, to shew my mighty power.

I stood a while, Heart, Hand, and all was gone

I fear'd me transubstantiat to a stone,

My tender Stomach turn'd to see him spit,

My tender Conscience was fright out of wit;

I found my self in an unusuall stirre,

At last I modestly did say, Great Sir,

If Greater Titles I do not bestow

On you, I hope your Clemencie you'l show,

For that's the Greatest Title, that I know

Due unto men below:

Fellow (said he) thou should have called me

A GOD ON EARTH, for no less will I be,

I Am CHRIST'S VICAR, and who dare say less

To me, then, May it please your Holiness?

I as a wretched Heretick should thee use;

But Ignorance shall thee this once excuse:

I would I were away (thought I)

I fear hee'l force to Blaspheme, or dy.

[Page] I spoke no more, untill he gave command,

And bids me boldly propose my demand;

For now I'm in my SACRED CHAIR (said he,)

All's Oracles▪ that now does flow from me:

The thing (said I) which I would gladly know,

Is, who did this great power on you bestow?

Some will deny't and some perhaps will flout it,

And how shall I convince one, who doth doubt it?

I do not (said He) things uncertain boast,

I have convinced many to their cost

Of my great power; But would thou know it's spring,

I from SAINT PETER, He from Christ did bring

This Priviledge; and did thou never read

That Christ bid him, His Sheep, his Lambs go feed?

Is not this in the Bible? Ah said I,

Upon that Book I dare not set mine eye,

Lest it pervert me into Heresy:

It's true (said He) it's dangerons for thee;

But yet thou sees, this Text doth speak for me,

Hear, I'll expound it now Infalliblie.

By SHEEP and LAMBS, all Men are understood,

Kings, Subjects, Church-men, Lay-men, Bad, and Good:

To Feed them, Is a word, will comprehend,

As much as thou can think or I intend:

First it imports, that I must Rule them all,

And they must Trust me, and obey my call,

They'r not right Sheep, if they once think they'r free

To question mine INFALLIBILITY:

If Emperours, or Kings, shall disobey

These Rams-Horns, then its just that I should fray:

Then, all their Fleeces do to me belong,

And though my Sheirs goe neer, I do no wrong;

Yea I may some not only Fleece; but Flay,

And what's not fit to live, may justly Slay:

[Page] Such as I please I Weddens may create,

This warrants; well the Clergies Celibate:

And to conclude; for thou shalt not be vex't

With all that may be said from this on Text,

If any do deny the power I claim,

I may send out my Dogs to worry them.

When thus he had me taught, he did expect

That I should thank him with profound respect;

And so I did: For gravely I did seem

To have each word he spake in great esteem:

I told him I was rap't in Admiration,

(I had no will to call it Veneration)

Of all I saw and heard, and well I wot

I spake even as I thought, I lyed not:

For wondrous was the preaching I did hear,

Th'Inscriptions wondrous which his Crownes did bear,

The Garb was wondrous which I saw him wear,

And wondrous were his Boasts, and wondrous was his Chair:

I well remember, of THE CHAIR I said

That of the Tree of Knowledge it was made,

It's Back, and Boughs, did such learn'd notions give,

It's Seat and Stoops were so Demonstrative:

He smil'd at this, and nothing more did say,

I humbly took my leave, and went away.

MY GUIDE perceiv'd, I did not well digest

The scalding dishes of this sumptuous feast,

She told me, that She well in mind did bear

The words, I uttered of the SACRED CHAIR;

And what I spake of the forbidden Tree,

Assur'd her that the fruit displeased me:

Yet ceas'd she not, HER HEAD still to commend,

And bid me mind, how he did condescend

To teach poor me; She praif'd his Majestie,

And much applauded his Humility,

[Page] And said, I should be with much knowledge fraught,

If I remembred well what he had taught.

I promised that I should all retain,

And then I said, this GREAT KING I have seen,

But yet I would see more, theirs much report,

That to his COURT, all Nations doe resort,

If there be great, Good, Wise men any where,

I am assured that they must be there;

And I am fond to see such Glorious sights,

May now mine eyes be bless't with those great lights▪

She much applauded this my good designe,

And promised, she would me thither bring,

I was well pleas'd to find her so benigne,

Ready to humour me in every thing.

She brought me to a GLORIOUS COURT indeed,

In all things corresponding to it's HEAD,

Each Man was more then princely whom I saw,

And every object there, mine eyes did draw,

To all I crieng'd, of all I stood in awe:

Some had most sharp and piercing looks,

Some, Tongues more eloquent then Books,

I never saw, untill that day,

So many in such gorgeous array,

I madly said, O that it might be ay

My Lot into this Paradise to stay.

Thus brain sick was I, thus my thoughts did roam,

And I had much adoe to force them home,

I could not think, but men in such a state

Must surely be as good as they are great,

Or that unto the Bad, Wise Providence

Should all that's goodly in the Earth dispense.

It's easie, when a man's in solitude,

To slight the gaudy World, to conclude

[Page] That all it's pomps, and Riches, are but lies,

An heap of gilded worthless vanities

And to contemn the flatt'ring breath of fame,

The foolish whistlings of an honoured name,

And hate that wild ambition, which with force

Doth ride, and spurus, like unruly horse,

And these imperious lusts, which often cause

Men break all bonds, and trample on all Lawes;

But things, we at a distance can despise,

When they approach us, doe bewitch our eyes,

And charme our hearts, so strong's the snare,

So weak our minds, so faint our care,

So soon our resolutions doe impair,

That were intangled, e're we be aware.

The scattered beams of my power reasons light,

At length united, and did Shyne more bright;

E're I my self should with these men imbark,

I did resolve their manners well to mark:

Each of them did RELIGION much commend,

And in Her service vow'd their lives to spend,

They said She taught them on such wealth to seise,

She did them to so great preferments raise,

She did procure them all these golden dayes:

Is't so? (thought I) then sure She is become

A kinder mistris, then she was to some

Who serv'd her very faithfully of old,

To whom Shee gave no scarlet, gave no Gold,

But set them unto harder tasks then so,

All scorn, and all reproach to undergoe,

Into all tempests, and rough seas to rowe,

Unto all wants, and to all death's to bowe;

But since She useth these her Minions better,

Doth with silk cords them to her service fetter,

If they deserve these favours, surely then

Their lives will prove, they are the best of men:

[Page] But when I had discovered their way,

By curious search, I to my self did say,

Is this THE HOLY COURT, where I have been?

Are these RELIGIONS DARLINGS, I have seen?

All here, are Masters of the art of sin,

They scarce have more of men, but shape and sikn;

They seem to be incarnat Furies all,

Or by what other name shall I themcall?

Gain, Honour, Pleasure, I see them implore,

No other Gods I think they doe adore,

They look't not up to Heaven; but when they swore:

They often met, did often counsell take,

How they might all men their own subjects make,

And in their Consultations, did pretend,

That to advance RELIGION was their end:

RELIGION'S sacred name did cloak all things,

And they made it a Stall to all designes:

I mark't them well, I found they were a Crew

Whose Eyes and Faces, were of yellow hue,

The love of Gold, (That jaundise of the Soul)

Had made their Visage odiously feul:

Vices I never heard of here I found,

Men who unto their pleasures set no bound;

With Flouds of Wine, they drowned all their cares,

And did with Musick over-noyse their feares:

Some the Buffoons here did play,

Some, poor Orphans did betray,

Some, projected by each Cheat,

How they might be rich or great,

They nothing did account unjust,

Might serve their humour or their lust;

Freely their Souls and Consciences they sold,

To ly on Beds of Silk, and heap up Gold;

Vice seem'd to be their [...]lly occupation,

No word they loath'd so much as REFORMATION

[Page] The CARD'NALL VERTUES, I could tell before;

But CARD'NALL VICES, I found many more

Than I could number: Better be alone,

Then in this Court (said I) I will be gone.

MY GUIDE displeased was, to see, that I

So narrowly did into all things pry;

Some little Touch of Learning She did find

I had, and therefore to divert my mind,

Desir'd, that now I would HER SCHOOLS go view,

The Shops of Learning (said She) would me shew:

I lyk't the motion, and alledg't that She

No greater favour could procure to me.

This sight at first did give me great content,

I thought I was into myne Element:

Men of Prodigious Learning, I saw there,

Prodigious heaps of Books, lay every where;

I saw some writting Volumes (I confess)

Which I did judge, would over-load the Press;

Some scrap'd out lines, some rent out leaves of Books,

Which pleas'd them not, (as I thought by their looks)

What mean't that Havock I conceived not,

They said, THEY PURGED WHAT THE FATHERS wrote,

Because in many things, they well did see

Their Books inclyn'd to favour Heresie:

Some took Old Parchment and did write on it,

In Antique letters, what they judged fit,

I asked what they wrote? It was, (they said)

Grave Old Traditions, new come in their head,

And by these suddled Parchments, men would see

These were the Doctrines of Antiquitie,

For whatsoe'r the present Church doth hold,

Must be beleeved to be very old,

I did admire their Wit; but could not be

Well satisfied with their Honestie.

[Page] I left the SCHOOLS, and to MY GUIDE did say

That I inclin'd to go to CHURCH, and pray

It was a very Solemn Holy-Day;

And by my longing, thither was I led

To see the manner how they worsh ped.

The CHURCH was sumptuous, unto which I went,

No cost was spared for it's Ornament,

When I went in, about the walls around

Ca [...]ved and painted IMAGES I found

The Pictures of All Saints did here appear,

Yea even The Trinitie was painted here:

The People flocking came unto the place,

And to each Image they did bow their face,

Then every one, his Prayers did direct

Unto the Saint, he chiefly did respect:

Many did to The BLESSED VIRGIN croud,

Begg'd that She would their Souls protect, and shroud,

From all their foes, from all their feared harmes,

They kiss'd her feet, they hugg'd her in their armes,

They did bespeak Her in all flattering termes,

Said, that they did their whole trust in Her place,

Call'd Her A GODDESS, LADY of all Grace,

And when they thought Her by these whinings won,

They did beseech Her TO COMMAND HER SON:

In on thing many much themselves o're-shot,

They call'd Her LADY, yet Her Sex forgot;

For when they kneel'd, they gravely did accost Her,

First with an AVE then a PATER NOSTER:

I strang'd, to hear, that all that praying throng,

Did scorn to pray but in The Latin Tongue,

I thought they all were Clerks, untill I found

They did poor Priscian very rudely wound,

Yea they did use such uncouth Barbarous terms,

That I suspect'd their prayers smell'd of Charmes,

Some Wives intending to rehearse their Creed,

Did enterlac't with handsome words indeed,

[Page] They wrestled through it, with a deall of pain,

And ended it with Beitt-im and Turnim again.

Now comes the PRIEST and did himself address

With many Rites to celebrate the Mass,

I prysed much the Vestments which he had,

So rich they were, so well embroydered,

His Mystick Robes did make a splendid show,

And he did gravely to the ALTAR goe:

Sometimes He stood,

Sometimes He bow'd,

Now mumbled, then spoke aloud,

He crossed once, He crossed twice,

Then at a Bend He crossed thrice:

Uncouth were the mouths he made,

Uncouth were the words he said,

He often crienged, and he kiss't,

And turning next, the people bless't;

He turn'd his face, he turn'd his back,

We understood not what He spake;

But saw him toss'd to every Art,

Thus Antickly he act'd his part.

After He thus had been as one in throwes,

Had made strange gestures, and such warbling showes,

At length, FIVE WONDER-WORKING WORDS he saith,

Whose strange effects, doe far exceed all Faith:

That which just now, was only BREAD before,

He does assert, that it is Bread no more;

But did enjoyn, that it we should Adore;

Nothing but Bread did in his hand appear,

Nought (said he) but it's Accidents are here.

It's Bread we handle, Bread we taste, and see,

And yet we must believ't no Bread to be:

The people all upon the Wafer gaz'd,

They trusted all he said, and were amaz'd,

[Page] They kneel'd unto it, as a Deity,

They have a sturdie Faith, (in truth said I)

I made no Question next; but every Guest

Who was invited to this Holy Feast,

Should be admitted of the Drink to taste:

But that' sa favour which was quite deny'd,

He took THE CUP, but would it not divide,

He did alledge, that liquor must not be

Bestow'd upon the profane Laitie:

I asked what did aile the surly Priest

Thus to refuse, what was allow'd by Christ?

Why should he fear to give, since Jesus did it?

They said, A HOLY COUNCILL had forbid it,

Who Christ's appointment well did understand,

But what he bid, that it did counter-mand,

Behold the Canon is at hand,

Which with a NON OBSTANTE doth begin,

Read it, and then you'l see it is a Sin

For Laicks to desire to drink that Cup

The Priest himself must drink it every sip,

And that because, It's greatly to be fear'd,

Some Drops may stick unto a Lay-mans Beard.

Mass being done, the Priest with no mean grace

Himself into The Sacred Chair did place,

And frankly to his preaching work did fall,

The Text he chused, was Apocryphall,

(Tebit. 6. 7.)

Anent the Fishes Liver, and it's Heart

Which to Tobias th' Angell did impairt,

Whose dreadfull smell away the Devill did drive,

And so did keep the Young Bridegroom alive:

From this fair Text, he did discourse at length,

Of these Bad Spirits cunning, and their Strength,

He Marshall'd all the Devills in File and Ranks,

He told us Asmodeus place, and pranks:

[Page] How against Marriage he was so intent,

Because it is An Holy Sacrament:

Then had we such a talk of Holy Fish,

As did awake mine appetite to wish

I had some of them served in a dish?

He told us, how fit chear they were for Lent,

How sure a token of a penitent,

It was, with these his table for to cover,

And with large draughts of wine to swill them over:

I cannot well remember every part;

But much he spake of The Conjuring Art,

And much he prais'd the Holy Exorcists,

Who handle Devills as roughly as they list.

To shut up all, he told, that he had now

A worthy RELIQUE to us all to shew,

Which he had purchas'd with no small expense,

Which we must view, with profound reverence,

It was, One of that Sacred Fishes FINN'S,

Of force to fright all Devils, and purge all Sins,

Into a hole in Tygris Banks, he said

Tobias when he caught the Fish it laid,

And now An Holy Hermite had it found,

By many wonders done about that ground:

At last he did that goodly thing present,

About whose Vertues, many words were spent;

My Spleen with laughter I had almost rent,

Yet seem'd. in wond'ring with the rest to joyne,

For all he said, past here for goodly Coyne.

When to that preaching we had listened,

A Child is brought him, to be Christened:

Thrice did he blow into the Infants face,

As if his Breath could have conveyed Grace:

Some dreadfull Charming words, he then did say,

Meaning thereby to drive the Devill away;

[Page] As if the pain'd, and new delivered Mother

Had born a Child, and ugly Devill together:

With Holy Oyle, the Babe he did besmear,

And Hallowed Garments, put on him to wear;

Then Holy Salt, was put into his Mouth,

Sure (thought I) that will breed the Child a drouth:

A Holy Candle's then put in his hand,

The use whereof I did not understand;

And last of all, The Priest did think it fit

Gently To stroke the Child with what he spit.

When all was done, one did The Priest accost,

Saying, A man who now gives up the Ghost,

Doth for your presence earnestly intreat,

Now to assist him in his greatest strait;

He was not nice to go; and I

Resolved was to bear him company;

Not that I curious was to see

The poor man in his agonie,

But that I thought, I might instructed be

How I my self might learn betimes to die.

Being intent upon this good designe,

I very heedfull was to every thing:

The Dying man did earnestly request

The Father, to direct him, how he best

Might now arrive unto an happie rest:

The Priest sat down, and promis'd he should find

All ease, and satisfaction to his mind.

He first required, That he should confess

His Sins, and not conceall them more or less:

The house was usher'd, and when all were gone,

He, and the dying man were left alone;

But sneakingly I creep't beneath a bed,

That I might hear all that was done, or said:

[Page] Into the Priest, the man much trust repos'd,

And all the secrets of his Breast disclos'd:

Oft (said He) I have harbour'd flaming ires,

And often have I nowrish'd lustfull fires,

Sometimes have drunk, sometimes to excess eated,

And often have I excessively prated,

Not seldom have I also rashly sworn,

And the most sacred name profanely torn,

And many times when I have pray'd alone,

My lips have talked, when my heart was gone:

Officious lies made often he confess't,

As also lies, which he had made in jeast.

The Priest said, these were faults indeed; Yet all

Or most of them, were only VENIALL;

Some Doctors have averr'd no less, (said he)

Which doth suffice for PROBABILITIE:

And then what other guilt there was, did ask?

The man did thus again begin his task:

The Churches Lawes full often have I broke,

Against the Pope full often have I spoke,

The Holy days I carelesly despis'd,

And Holy Reliques have not duely pryz'd,

Often (said He) I grievously have fail'd,

Some faults from my Confessor hath conceal'd:

And then he made a very sad complaint,

That he had sometimes eaten Flesh in Lent,

And had on Friday's done so often times;

The Priest said, These were horrid MORTALL Crimes

Such as deserve Eternall punishment;

But now, By Vertue of the Sacrament

OF PENNANCE, This deserved suffering shall

Be changed unto one that's Temporall,

Lo. I ABSOLVE Thee from the Guilt of all;

[Page] This Absolution thou shalt boldly show,

And it shall be Thy PASS where thou dos't go:

But that no danger may thy Soul betide,

These Images, I lay down by thy side,

(Into these Guards thou safely may'st confide)

Here's One, of Christ upon the Cross; Another,

The Image of the Blessed Virgin Mother,

The Third's, The Saint's whom thou thy Patron chose;

In whose help speciall trust thou did repose:

Embrace thou them, To them thy self commend,

They no small comfort unto thee will lend.

Yet that thou may the more secured be,

It's fit; thou in Religious Habite die,

Put on this COU'L, put on this CLOAK,

Put on this HAIR-CLOATH, and this Frock

And gird this CORD about thy weast,

And ty this CROSS unto thy Breast;

This being done, take courage, and defy

All the black Guards of the Infernall fry,

They can not stand 'gainst this Artillery:

When they do see thee passing by their border,

They'l think thou hast been of Saint Francis Order,

They'l tremble all, and sculk away,

As Thieves are us'd to doe at break of day.

Thou art a man of Wit (thought I) indeed,

Fair fall that shaven, that Politick head,

That hath contriv'd and taught so fine a wile,

By which men may the Devill himself beguile;

In truth it is a prettie handsom fraud,

And (if it work) I doe it much applaud;

But for my very heart I can not think

That Couls and Chords, can make the Devill to shrink,

[Page] That Cloaths can hide vile souls and cover sins,

As they can hide and cover fouled skins;

Or that such dead and cold assistants, can

Comfort a dying and dejected man:

But well I found, the man who there did ly,

To be by far more credulous then I;

With this discourse he seem'd to be much cheer'd,

No further danger unto him appear'd;

Untill The Priest, did give new cause of fear,

And did put on a countenance severe.

For now he tells the man a dreadfull story,

That he must shortly land in PURGATORIE,

He so descriv'd that ghastly place, as might

The stoutest of all mortall men affright:

There is fire, and there is smoake,

There noysome heats, and vapours choake

There poor Souls are sadly toyled,

Some, in seething Caldrons boyled,

Some, in frying pans are broyled

Some, on spits are rost alive,

Some, the Fiends with Scourges drive,

Some, in streams of Brimstonly

There they Shreek, and there they cry,

Thus they suffer, thus they dye,

They'r confin'd into that Cage,

Some, a year; and some an Age,

Some for many Ages space

Stay into that dismall place:

And thou (said he) must still endure these pains,

Till thou be wholly purged from thy stains.

He then began the poor man to ANOINT,

Besmeard his Head, and Oyled every joynt,

He Oyl'd his Ears, he Oyl'd his Eyes,

He Oyl'd his Hands, he Oyl'd his Thighs,

[Page] I thought, it would be far from my desire

First to be flam'd, and then set to the fire.

The dying man did sigh, and weeping, say

How sad's my lodging! and how dark's my way!

What wealth would I not be content to give?

If wealth could from that Prison me reprieve;

Or if I can not from't be whollie free,

Oh that my stay therein might shortened be:

To hear of Ages, and of thousand years,

Doth rack my mind, and fill my heart with fears,

Each hour I must stay there, an Age appears,

The Priest at this discourse prick't up his Ears;

And said, if frankly thou thy wealth bestow

Upon the Church, her Charity she'l show,

The stock is great which she hath in her Trust

The treasure of the Merits of the just,

And for thy safety will thereof dispense,

That quickly thou may be dismissed thence.

Sacred Bells, shall oft be rung,

Many Masses shall be sung,

Holy Candles shall be lighted,

Whereby Friends are all affrighted,

All the Saints shall be Ador'd,

Holy Martyrs' all implor'd,

No endeavours shall be wanted,

Till thy free release be granted,

Prayers for thee shall not cease,

Till thy Soul be well at ease:

Some Holy Monk shall tell us in the end,

He in a Vision saw't to Heaven ascend,

And knew it's shape, when it did upwards tend.

The poor mans heart with this discourse was glad,

He bid him, if he pleas'd take all he had

[Page] And such a share he took, that they did find

There was not much to them that came behind.

No sooner came I out unto the street,

But that THE LADY did again me meet,

She ask't, if now I fully was convinc't;

Or if my mind was yet with scruples pinch't:

I told Her, that I still desir'd to see

Some further proofs, of that great Sanctitie

Which she at first discoursed of to me:

She did assure me, I should fully have

That granted, which I now did fondly crave:

And first (said She) to shew thee I'l begin

Men, who are Doing Pennance for their sin.

I saw some, who did Pilgrims Habites take,

And to the Shrynes of Saints long journeys make.

Some with cross'd armes did Cloath'd with Sackloth go,

Some with bare feet did walk among the snow:

Some Lash't themselves, untill their flesh did bleed,

Some only Strewed Ashes on their Head:

Some, did some Ave's, and some pray'rs rehearse,

As carelesly as ever I did verse;

They only seem'd concern'd to keep account

That they to such a number might amount:

Some said they Fasted, and no Flesh did taste,

And yet their meals lack'd nothing of a Feast:

The difference was great that I saw there.

Some Pennances were slight, and some severe.

These cruell whippers of themselves (said I)

Their sins must sure be of a double dy;

These other, who so lightly doe escape,

No sinners are, or else sin very cheap:

Thou much mistakes (said she) and seems to be

Ill versed in the Rules of Policie▪

[Page] Men in their tempers differ much, and I

With all of them endeavour to comply:

These whom thou thus torment themselves do'st see,

Thou must not think most Criminall to be;

They either fear the Divine Wrath, and find

That these their outward tortures, ease their mind;

Or else unto great Merit they aspire,

And I will not deny them their desire;

I bid them lash, till they make bare their Bones,

And fast till they become like Skeletones.

Others more joviall sinners are then so,

And will not such hard measures undergoe,

Unto all thought of Merit, they are freezed,

Are not ambitious, to be Canonized:

They would 'scape Hell; but not disturb their ease,

And them I also carefull am to please:

They have as easie Pennance as they wish,

I charge them sometimes to eat only Fish,

For change of Heart, prescrive them change of Dish,

Some prayers they'r appointed to say over,

No matter if their Hearts be fix'd, or hover:

I shew them very easie wayes to bliss,

Yet wayes so safe, that hardly they can miss

Of Heaven at last: And notwithstanding doe

Put them in fear of Purgatorie too;

But yet the fear is not so great; but they

Themselves indulge into their pleasures may;

They who are rich, if they a Pardon pryse,

And for't a little money can despise,

This will be sure at last to serve their turn,

Into these flames, they stay not long to burn:

They who to Sacred Chappells can but trot,

Indulgences in store may there be got,

Who can the Pilgrimes happiness define,

Who visiteth but once LORETTO'S Shrine?

[Page] Angels did bring the famed Chappell there,

They bore the Stones and timber through the Air.

She next desired that I those should see,

Who to Religious Orders fixed be,

These (said She) are the Men of whom I boast,

These (in a manner) ride to Heaven by Post,

And to make good their journey, spare no cost:

These, did She shew me, numerous as Bees,

All marshall'd into diverse Companies:

Some, BENEDICTINS were, some CARMELITES,

Some call'd CARTHUSIANS, and some JESUITES,

Some from SAINT FRANCIS did their honour claim,

And some were styl'd by SAINT DOMINICKS name:

Their way much differ'd from the common road,

They had strange names, and habites which were odde,

These Men (said She) on Earth live Angels lives,

Possess no Riches, and enjoy no Wives.

Some of them, Preaching in the streets did walk,

Some, often of their Extasies did talk;

And some, their bread by Begging only got,

That idle sort of life, I liked not;

Such lustie fellowes as these are (I said)

Should rather by their labour earn their Bread,

When this I spake, She did a little loure,

Saying, they begged to relieve the poor

Much (sayes She) get they; but doe little eat,

I know not, (said I) But they'r like their meat.

Some went about with Reliques, and did shew

What Miracles these hallowed things could doe,

And some of them, the people did acquaint

What Feats were wrought by every Countrey-Saint:

But above all, they did his praises sound,

Who did Their Order institute and found;

[Page] And all of them, profess'd themselves to be

Devoted Slaves unto the Romish see

And thundred fearfull Dooms 'gainst those who Cope

With their Un-erring Glorious Head the POPE.

I to RELIGIOUS HOUSES did repair,

That I might see what SANCTITIE was there:

Thither I found some Princes had retir'd,

And what had brought them thither I admit'd;

Untill I found by enquirie, that some

Had for one cause, some for another come.

The consciences of some were rack't with guilt,

Of Horrid crimes, and blood which they had spil't

On Beds of Silk, they could obtain no rest,

An Angry Conscience (that unwelcome Guest)

Came un-invited unto every feast,

Imbittered all things unto their taste,

And marr'd the mirth of many goodly jest

Untill at length, they'r taught this prettie knack,

Themselves unto some CLOISTER to betake

They lay aside the Purple, and the Crown,

They shave their Heads, put on the Hairy Gown,

They hide themselves among Religious Men,

And Conscience no more disturbes them then;

Their Crimes (they think) are expiat hereby,

Blood, and oppression will no longer cry,

Or if they cry, their cryes will not be heard;

Heaven's anger by a MONK needs not be fear'd.

Thus DIOCLESIAN, after he did stain

His Soul, with blood of thousands, by him slain,

To the SALONIAN Gardens did retreat,

Leaving his palace, and imperiall State,

And sought for ease into that lonely seat,

[Page] Ease which he could not in his triumphs find

Unto his frighted discontented mind.

Others were not so bad; but wearied were

Betwixt the various turnes of Hope and Fear;

Afrai'd to stand on tops of humane State,

Upon the slipperie pinacles of Fate,

They rather choos'd, to come down to the dust,

Of free accord, then be by others thrust.

Others unto these lowly CELLS did flee,

Not for RELIGION, but for LIBERTIE,

Finding that they could breath in free'r air,

Under an humble rooff, with homely fare,

Then those can doe whose choise it is to wait

Upon a life of Business and State:

They by this postern did escape, and shroud

Themselves from Warr, and from all noise and croud,

And all these inconveniencies, that doe

Attend on Great Ones, and confine them too.

Unto the meaner sort I looked then

Of those RELIGIOUS celebrated men,

Some of them, still did hatch mischievous things,

To imbroyle Kingdoms, and to murther Kings,

And for these ends, did with instructions load

The most Pragmatick and sent them abroad:

Some were for learning, and choos'd that retreat

As most convenient for the muses seat:

Some were Ambitious, and here courted Fame,

Fled from the world, to obtain a name;

Some Criminalls fled hither from the judge,

Fear of the Gibbet, made them take refuge

Into the CLOYSTER; Some their Discontent,

Rather then their Religion hither sent:

[Page] And some their were, who did indeed bewray

That in their minds DEVOTION carried sway;

And yet when for it's genuine Sp'rit I sought,

Even among them, I missed it, I thought.

Each of them did their ORDER magnifie,

And were too fond of their Austeritie,

They wanted not their factions, and much heat,

Their talking of their MERITS was too great,

The lives of others they too much disgrac'd,

Too much in FASTS, too much in HABITES plac'd,

Externall works, did for great matters pass,

And what was Sp'rituall, to much foundred was,

Except with very few; so that although

Their mealls were sparing, and their Garments rough,

And pleasures they unto themselves deny'd,

Yet here I found much of the life of Pride.

MY GUIDE said next, that now she would me call

To see the most alluring sight of all,

The HOLY LADIES, who no pleasures know;

But such as Contemplation doth bestow,

All unstain'd VIRGINS, who go not abroad;

But wholly are devoted unto God,

And their whole time doe in Devotions pass,

Disdaining to be trick't with combe and glass.

I who still entertain'd sincere respects

For vertuous persons of that lovely sex,

Made haste and to the MONASTRIES did hy,

And in their fashions curiously did pry:

Some did I see, into that homely place,

Whose sweet behaviour did it's meanness grace,

Their gestures and discourse, I found to be

All coyn'd, and stamp't with comely Modestie:

[Page] Beautie they had, whereby love might be warm'd;

But 'gainst it's darts invincibly were arm'd;

Whenever any softer pleasures knock't

Loud at the door, they keep't it fast and lock't:

I thought them wondrous good, and wondrous fair,

Their habite homely, and their dyet spare;

I judg'd they were so pious, and so grave,

They well deserved all the praise She gave:

Amongst them an Old Governess I see,

Commanding, with imperious tyrranie,

And they obey'd whatever She requir'd,

And they did yeeld, in all that She desir'd:

Only (poor Souls) I found they were oppress't,

Urg'd to Devotions formall at the best;

And taught, from true Humility to slide,

Taught, in their merits too much to confide:

Such things, I found did somewhat me displease;

But yet I HONOUR'D These:

Others I found, of melancholly looks,

Were often musing, often reading books,

Their Words and Gestures, well assured me

That they had strech't their Brains a pin too high:

With HARPIUS works, some entertain'd their sight,

Some SU [...]O, some RUSBROCHIUS did delight,

Some MOTHER JULIANA'S works did read,

Odd Notions, and wilde fancies fill'd their head;

Some MYSTICK words (I found) they learned thence,

Words strange to Scripture, and as strange to sense;

They talked of their Wondrous INSPIRATIONS,

Of PASSIVE UNIONS, and ANNIHILATIONS,

Of INTROVERSIONS, and IRRADIATIONS,

Of CONTEMPLATIONS Acted by the Will,

The Understanding mean while lying still:

[Page] They in GODS MID HEAD were beclos'd (they said)

And in his BUXOMNES and MEEK-HEID laid,

And that their Souls, did deeply in him Ground,

And knew him in the SPIRITS PUREST FUND:

In many words they talked at this rate,

Words, which I cannot in this place relate,

Such stubborn words as frowardly decline

With neighbour-words in verses to combine;

So that it to a Poet were a crime,

Once to attempt to fetch them into Rhyme:

I Grew impatient, and began, to huff,

To hear them rattling such non sensick stuff,

Yet when I did into their temper pry,

Observing, that their minds they did apply

Unto Religious thoughts; and were no Cheats,

But too much warm'd with Entbusiastick heats,

And that their heads were weak. their musings long,

The Wine, was for the Bottle much too strong,

I blam'd their Leaders, who did them abuse,

And suffered them to be too much Recluse,

And in their hands such Canting books did put,

Mean-while the Bible keeping from them shut,

'Gainst these impostors was my Choler mov'd,

But yet the harmless maids LOV'D

Others, were like poor Birds shut in a cage,

Still flightering, and still were in a rage,

Some at their cruell Parents, who to save

Their Portions, had sent them to that Grave;

Some at themselves, who had not been more shy

To take these VOWES which they could not unty;

For their Novitious fervour, now was gone,

They found, they were not fit to live alone;

And yet their OATHS, had all their hopes defeat,

Of ever living in a married state:

[Page] This did their minds continually racke,

If they shall keep what they have vow'd or break;

The thoughts of either, did them quite confound,

Both HORNES of this DILEMMA did them wound:

Their very frozen CELLS did nurse their fires,

Restraints, were fewell to their warm desires;

Yet Conscience, did put them still in fear,

Should they but once attempt these chains to tear:

Thus were they burthen'd; yet once being fast,

I found they were resolved to be chaste,

Their Lot was cast: They choosed to endure

Their angrie thoughts, and not to seek a cure,

They judg'd, it was a more Religious life

To be a vexed maid, then perjur'd wife:

Their case (I thought) did much compassion claim,

And I did PITTIE them.

Others, I could not judge what they did see,

So very pleasing in a MONAST'RIE,

To draw them thither; but their pranks did shew

They had no purpose to observe their Vow,

Or to die maids: it was their choise, or chance,

To be more vers'd in Love, then by Romance:

They did not on Religious scruples stand,

What they desir'd, they mean't to have in hand;

But I'le forbear, and will not imitate

The Satyrists, who whilst they smartly rate

Actions not to be nam'd, do never stay

Untill their pens be as profane, as they

Who are the Actors: What they did was bad;

But the effects thereof, were much more sad;

What dismall sights were there? mine heart yet shakes

To think, what was into the drained Lakes:

What wretched HEROD'S crueltie, did act

Against the BABES, these did renew the fact;

[Page] No sooner did the mothers give them breath,

But as soon did their hands procure their death,

The BABES, who did no ill, and fear'd no harm,

No pitty found, no breasts to keep them warm:

I much bemoan'd the Harmless Infants fate,

But did The GUILTY MOTHERS HATE.

Now said MY GUIDE, say now what is thy thought?

What happy change upon thy mind is wrought?

When thou amongst the HOLY MONKS hast been,

And when thou hast the HOLY VIRGINS seen,

Hast thou not look't with wonder, and delight,

Upon that pleasing and that Heavenly sight?

I answer'd Her more freely then was fit,

Bewray'd more Ingenuitie then Wit.

RELIGIOUS HOUSES such as these, (I said)

I think, might usefull in the CHURCH be made,

There might more rough undanton'd youth be tam'd,

And tender minds be to Religion fram'd,

And as the Prophets Schools they well might be,

To train men for the Heavenly Ministrie:

And thither Aged persons might retreat,

When they'r arriv'd at their decrepit state,

Have done their work, and now must leave the stage,

When storm'd with sickness, and besieg'd with Age:

There, persons of a sad dejected mind,

Or sore afflicted, might a refuge find;

But that it should be free to every one,

Each guilty Wretch, or every idle Dron,

Each humorous Maid, or Child that's discontent,

Or such, whose lives might usefully be spent

To publick good; For such in Cells to ly,

Is that wherewith my mind can not comply:

I care not much for all their fleshly shewes,

I most of all Hate their ensnaring Vowes,

[Page] Of Christian freedom I doe judg't a breach,

To bind some thus, to things beyond their reach,

Things, which at first doe with their minds agree;

But afterwards, doe make their lives to be

Nothing but constant toyle and drudgerie:

My mind was well affected long (said I)

Unto these things, till further I did pry;

But what I thus admir'd unknown, I more

Admire my self, for liking it before:

Nor can I think, but I have elsewhere seen

As much Religion, where less noise hath been:

Then freely I unto her did relate,

Whom I did HONOUR, PITY, LOVE, & HATE;

So that I said my thoughts were as before,

Nor could they change, unless I yet saw more.

In hearing this, SHE was impatient;

Yet did She smother all her discontent,

She only seemed to bewail my State,

That I so long should be so obstinate.

ONE HOLY PLACE, there is as yet said She,

And thither now I will they Leader be,

When other means for thy Conversion fail,

I'm well assured that this shall prevail;

Such HOLY FATHERS are into that place,

Their very looks will charm thee into Grace;

They'l urge thee with such Arguments, as are

More efficacious, and more pungent far

Then any thou hast heard: I none can name

Who unconverted did return from them:

'Gainst HERETICKS they with such reasons fight,

Each word they speak, is found a word of weight:

See how I doe sollicite thee for good?

I must not, nay I will not be withstood.

[Page] I thought SHE mean't, and I did fear no ill,

But readily I did obey her will,

I said, I in the search of TRUTH doe goe,

It's conquest, can not be my overthrow:

I ever much esteemed SANCTITIE,

Which in These FATHERS I did hope to see,

To Mighty Reasons keep't an open ear,

Which from their sacred lips I hop'd to hear:

I little did suspect (poor simple man)

How cunningly She mean't me to trepan;

But by fair words, I was entited so

As harmless sheep unto the slaughter goe.

Unto an House we came with Guards beset,

Where at the time some of These FATHERS met,

I thought them Reverend Men, long was their beard,

Their limbs were large, and grave their looks appear'd;

MY GUIDE did whisper, what I was; they frown'd.

And stamp't, and girn'd and did me quite confound:

I leave this man among your hands (said Shee)

I need not tell how he should used be,

They bow'd to Her, and did without delay

Command the Guards to carry me away.

With weightie chains my hands and feet were ty'd,

In vain I moan'd, in vain for help I cry'd:

I only did desire to understand,

Who't was that thus to use me gave Command?

Who but The HOLY FATHERS doth't? said one

THE FATHERS OF THE INQUISITION;

Alace (said I) am I among their hands?

I never should have felt these heavy bands,

Had I but heard that name a while before,

But it's in vain to speak, I'le say no more.

[Page] They threw me in a dark and noysome pit,

Which, of the Sun did no dear glimpse admit,

No Stars, did here display their sparkling light,

Nothing was here, but an unquestion'd night:

Here, all night's horrours did me still annoy;

But the night's silence I could not enjoy,

By Shreeks, and houlings they disturb'd my peace,

Doubling the native terrour of the place,

They did me from all humane converse keep

And as A Witch I was debarr'd from Sleep.

Some dayes I thus remain'd, on morn at last

The prison Doors were opened in haste

I first did see A Scent of juggling fires,

Then some appear'd in Devils shapes and attires

To me they came, and closs by me did sit,

Only (I think) to fright me out of Wit:

Their Hair, as curling Serpents down did hang,

And from their mouth great flames of fire there sprang;

With Hornes they often threatned me to push,

Their Cloven Feet they lifted, me to crush,

They roar'd aloud, they gnash'd their teeth with spite;

And gap'd, as if they would devour me quite:

I should have thought, that I in HELL had been,

Had I not found against these ills a Skreen,

That's wanting there, A QUIET CONSCIENCE,

Which was a witness of mine Innocence.

These SPECTERS being vanished and gone,

I was again for so ne few hours alone;

Thereafter, Some came in, who seem'd to be

More friendly and Compassionate to me;

Said, they would interpose to set me free:

They did pretend, that they were griev'd and sad

That I had met with usages so bad:

[Page] Thou art (said they) not far advanc'd in years,

No froward Symptome in thy face appears,

They bid me tell them, who my Parents were?

What was my Faith? who my Companions are?

What meanes I had? Or what Freinds in that place?

And if I would The ROMAN FAITH embrace?

They ceased not to urge me to confess,

We're Friends (said they) hide nothing more or less.

Fair were their words, and cunning were their arts,

Well had they learn'd to act The Traitors parts;

But I, who did not see within their mask,

Hop'd well and told them all that they did ask;

Mean while, A Clerk behind the door they had,

Who did observe, and write all that I said.

After a while, some Officers doe show,

That now The Judges call me, I must goe;

I am led out, and brought unto the Barr,

And there inditements fram'd against me are:

They said they were no time with me to lose;

But bid me Swear, whatever they propose

Or ask of me, that faithfully I shall

Without Dissimulation answer all:

Then, such ensnaring questions they did ask,

To find an answer, was a vexing task;

Which to be rid of, I said I would be

As plain, as any could desire of me,

So that they should not need, thus to go on

In making further Inquisition,

They all applaud my Resolution.

Were I of that RILIGION you are of

(said I) It casie were for me to Scoff

At all your questions; being in this strait,

Though I have Sworn, I might: EQUIVOCATE;

[Page] But now, I doe confess to you, that I

After that manner you call HERESY

So worship God: Doe now what ye think fit,

Your power is great; but Heaven can limite it:

But all this freedom, did not satisfie,

My cruell Judges: Still they urged me,

Some said, I did my complices conceal,

Others that I had wealth, and must reveal

Where it was hid; some said I must recant,

And some alledg'd I did already faint,

A little feeling of the WHEEL or RACK

(They said) would all my resolution break,

All engines they of torture did present,

And threatned all most cruell punishment,

And promis'd favour, if I would repent.

Then was I back unto the Prison sent.

But as I went, It was my chance to meet

A throng of angrie people in the street,

Some runn, some rail'd, some cudgell'd all about,

So raging, so tumultuous was the rout:

My Guards, did what they could to part the fray,

And often cryed to them to Make way;

But they were deaf to cryes, and we e're long

Were compass'd in the middle of the throng:

In this Confusion, they had need to see

To save themselves, who should have look't to me,

I did observe the opportunitie,

And thus escaped from these TYGERS hands,

And found the means to be fred of my bands,

I fled, and car'd not whether I did run,

So that I might The INQUISITION shun.

Wearie'd at length with my uncertain flight,

Toyling all day, and watching in the night

[Page] I did unto a desert place repair,

Freedom my Feast, contentment was my fare:

Now I began to think where I had been,

And to reflect on all that I had seen:

Thus (thought I) have I now a long time rang'd,

Shall my Profession, shall my mind be chang'd?

What have I heard, should thus me influence?

Have I not heard much talk, and little sense?

And seen much shew, which void of substance is?

RELIGION'S SHELL but did it's KERNEL miss:

When I return, each man will curious be

To ask, what I did in my travells see?

It's fit, my mind a little compend draw

Thereof, to tell them what it was I saw.

I saw A PRELATE meddling in all things,

Enslaving Kingdomes, trampling on Kings,

He did all Lawes, Divine, and humane tear,

Rant of his power, and boasted of his CHAIR,

Blasphemed all that's sacred without fear:

I saw HIS COURT, and there I scarcely spy'd

Any, but Children both of lust and pride.

LEARN'D MEN I saw, who clossly were combin'd

To shape and mould RELIGION to their mind,

They seam'd CHRIST'S COAT with gaudie Liveries,

They mix'd with wholesome Truths politick lies.

I saw RELIGION match't with POLICIE,

I saw A WORSHIP mostly PAGEANTRIE

I saw some maim'd profaned SACRAMENTS

I saw some wilde and wanton PENITENTS

They said their AVE'S, and their Prayers told,

Their pardons bought, and then to sin were bold:

I saw a crowd of FRIARS of many hues,

Craftie as Foxes, covetous as JEWES,

[Page] With Shaved Heads, and Cutted locks,

With Petticots, and Hoods and Frocks

With faces hard'ned more then any Rocks,

They preach'd the vertues of the painted Stocks:

They fed, and yet alledged they did fast,

Defiled Women, and swore they were chaste,

They raised in the world much commotion,

And swore they spent their time in great Devotion,

They heap'd up riches, and swore they were poor,

They blushed not to lie, and to perjure.

I saw some OVER-WEENING NUNS, who thought

By living Virgins, they Heaven over-bought:

And Some FANTASTICK ONES, who did omit

Nothing, to shew that they had lost their Wit:

I saw some Craftie, and RELIGIOUS WHORES

Lock't up in Sacred, (but profaned) Bowers,

Attending clink of Bell, and praying hours;

Yet setting friendly trysts with paramours.

At last, I did begin to think upon

The FURIES of the INQUISITION;

But a strange Horrour on my mind did seise,

I from my feat a little did me raise,

And look't about: Alace what doe I see?

Here comes THE LADY who betrayed me;

And have I found thee here again? (said She)

FEAR, RAGE, HATE, ANGER, all did now awake,

And in my breast did strange confusion make,

My mind, now with unusuall thoughts was fill'd,

Unusuall language from my lips distill'd;

O HERCULES (said I) who early kill'd

The hissing Serpents, which thy life assail'd,

Why hast thou not to me thy strength entail'd?

[Page] That I might at this instant it imploy

This folding, crooked serpent to destroy,

This forked tongue I would cut out,

Which doth all deadly poyson spout,

And thereby doth these simple souls annoy

Who doe not know Religion from a Toy.

She heard me, and She did begin to smyle,

And thus She answer'd in a jeering style,

I see thou art a convert now become,

Or hast of thine opinions changed some:

When we met last, thou ceas'd not me to taunt,

Because I bid thee pray unto a SAINT;

But now a Heathen champion thou adores,

Thou beg's his Strength, and for his aid implores.

I blush'd a little, when I heard that tale,

Thinking, perhaps my passion made me fail;

Recovering my self, I said, in vain

Thoul't think by jeers, to cheat me now again:

I lift no Hat, and I doe bow no knee,

No string of such Devotion touches me:

But could I for the strength and puissance call

Of all the Gyants, and the Hero's all,

That I might strike, thou with the stroke might fall;

And so might free the world from thy thrall;

Not all thy quick and nimble footed wit,

And smooth-pac'd Eloquence joyn'd with it,

Not all thy cheating FRIARS attyres,

Not all thy talk of Ancient Syres

Not all thy INQUISITION Fires

Should break me of from this designe,

Thy pride I'd crush, and I would end thy reigne.

Alace (vain man) what means this heat? said She,

[Page] What have I done that thus incenseth thee?

What done? (said I) thou hast betrayed me:

To HOLY FATHERS▪ thoul't me bring thou said,

And thou to HELLISH FURIES did me lead,

Thou said, by reasons they my mind would turn,

And they did mean to ashes me to burn:

She said all this was but my foolish thought,

And that they nought but my conversion sought.

What then (said I) did mean that noysome PIT?

Why did they throw me down to it?

Why sent they DEVILS to fright, me from my wit?

What mean't the RACK and WHEEL I there did see?

What mean't THE FIRE was kindling for me?

That Pit (said She) they onely put thee in,

That there thou might Doe pennance for thy sin,

These Ghastly Sights were sent, for frighting thee

Not from thy Wit; but from thine HERESIE;

They mean't to put thee on the Wheel and Rack,

Thy stubborn mind; but not thy Bones to break;

And Flames thou saw provided there that day,

Were only to consume thy Dross away.

Fair Tales (said I) but sure it's good for me

That from their hands I am escaped free.

O Fool (said She) thinks thou to keep the field?

Behold, What KINGS, What NATIONS to me yeeld?

And now I have a great designe in hand,

Even to subject The NOBLE BRITTISH LAND

Where once my power did uncontrolled sway,

Till from it's just obedience it did stray,

Can I endure to miss so brave a prey?

A while I have been hatching secret PLOTS,

But fy upon that cursed DOCTOR OATS,

[Page] And PRANSE, and BEDLO, DANGERFIELD, and such

Apostate Rogues, who have reveal'd so much:

These Gheating Villains, little were acquainted

With what I meant, they feigned, where they wanted;

They'r now confounded, I have found the way

To make men laugh at all that they doe say;

These PLOTS they talk't of, now are turn'd to PLAY:

Fy on them all that have me counter-wrought,

And have mine Agents unto Scaffolds brought.

But I am working still, and well I know

To catch my foes, whatever way they goe;

For if these mines of secret treason fail,

With open force I will ere long assail,

Whom I can not corrupt, I shall destroy,

Where Plots doe miss, the sword I will imploy.

Vain are the trusts, wherein they doe confide,

These HERETICKS themselves in NUMBERS pride,

In PARLIAMENTS, In TESTS, in PENAL LAWES,

In Learned CHURCH-MEN to defend their cause;

But all these things shall prove but broken reeds,

The times shall change, and they must change their Creeds

Their NUMBERS, I by ARMIES will o'rawe;

I'l raise a power, that shall DISPENSE with LAW

Their Parliaments Pl pack, their hands I'l bind,

Their Tests and Statutes, I'l cause them rescind:

Of mine own CLERGIE, I'l hiss for a Fry,

That shall out-dispute, or shall theirs out-cry;

These GOWN-MEN now look big, preach, write, & brag,

I'l quell their courage, or their mouths I'l gag.

No money will I spare, no pains, no cost,

And tho I will not of the issue boast

Too much afore hand, yet I'm confident,

At length I shall not miss of mine intent:

[Page] I'le them confound, Divide, I'le burn, I'le stay,

I'le overturn, I'le doe more then I say,

I may perhaps in one contrivance fail,

But in another, hope I shall prevail:

That ISLAND either shall take on my yoke;

Or else it shall in peices quite be broke,

Better it should an empty desert be,

Then that it be not subject unto me:

I will, I will Rule in that stubborn ISLE,

It's QUEEN it shall once more ere long me stile.

In speaking this, Her countenance was fierce,

Her words, as darts my very heart did pierce;

O HEAVENS (said I) This Furie disappoint,

My knees did shake, I trembled every joynt,

The mighty terrour, and the panick fear

That did o'r-flow my mind, I could not bear;

So often did I startle, weep so sore,

MINE EYES BURST OPEN, I COULD SLEEP NO MORE,

FINIS.

§

§

[Page] [Page] A DESCRIPTION OF THE Roman Catholick CHURCH; WHEREIN

The Pretensions of it's Head,

The Manners of His Court,

The Principles, and Doctrines,

The Worship and Service,

The Religious Orders and Houses,

The Designs and Practises of that Church, are Represented in A Uision.

By IOHN BARCLAY Minister at Cruden, Written in the Year 1679, Printed in the Year 1689.

[Page]

To The Right Honourable My Very Noble LORD John EARLE OF ERROLL LORD HAY and SLAINS &c. Great Constable of SCOTLAND, AND His Truly Noble and Religious LADIE Anna COUNTESS OF ERROLL

[Page]

May it please Your HONOURS,

I Know it is usuall in addresses of this nature, to those who court favour to themselves, or applause to their Books, to make the utmost stretches, in complementing those Persons of Quality whose patronage they claim, and to spend themselves in copious panegyricks fetched from all the Topicks [Page] of flattery, so far as they are capable to improve them: But I have the happiness of being fred from this trouble, you being such as neither need, nor desire to be caressed in that manner; And I may justly call this an happiness to me, since my naturall temper removes me to the greatest distance from the confines of that service vice. I can not indeed withold my self from acknowledging, that I owe you all the expressions of Gratitude which I can never be able to pay; and when I tell the world, that as you have honours entailed upon you from a long Series of Illustrious Ancestors, so you are like to transmit them unblemished to your Posterity, to whose honours it will be an addition, to have it remembered that they are yours; and that for your Noble Qualities and Vertues, you are justly esteemed and beloved of all who have the honour of your acquaintance, I am assured that I doe not transgress the Rules of the severest modestie, their is only one thing which I must utter to your commendation, because it ought not to be concealed, namely, your being faithfull to God and Conscience, in adhereing to the true Protestant Religion, in a time when many have made defection, and you have been assaulted with such tentations, as nothing but a brave Resolution, and a mighty grace could have enabled you to conquer: And tho you have been happily united, both in the conflict and Victory; yet let it not be offensive that I relate what part each of you have acted therein, and of this I shall say nothing but with the assurance of a Witness and with the Ingenuity becoming a man of my Profession.

Those who understood your Inclinations, knew, that you could have been well pleased, that the Romish Missionaries [Page] would have saved themselves the trouble of the Visits they made you, And it was the opinion of some who were sollicitous for your safety, that you should have rid your selves of them, by denying them access; but as the sweetness of your tempers, doth (as it were by an inevitable force) carry you to deport your selves with an obliging civility to all persons, so for other weighty considerations, you did not relish that advice.

Upon you (MY LORD) they did begin to make some direct attempts, to seduce you from your Holy profession; but Your Lo: took a wise and compendious method to avoid their snares, by giving them to understand, that your mind was fully satisfied of the truth of your Religion, and that you had something else to doe, then entangle your self in perplexing debates with them knowing no good fruit that was to be reaped thereby: This resolute answer, made them perceive, it was in vain to insist any further that way; but they hoped, by fetching a compass a little about, to gain more ground.

It hath been an old craft of seducers (considering what interest Ladies have in the affection of their Husbands, and what power with their Children) to make their utmost essayes to proselite them to their Errours, not doubting, but if they succeed, they shall quickly have the whole familie at their Devotion: And therefore You MADAM was the prize on which they set their eyes; But Your La: did for see the danger, and provided to encounter it. These Champions of the Romish Religion who were to make their addresses to you, were given out to be men of vaste learning and admirable parts (for that is one of the arts of Papists, as they boast that their Church is infallible, so they would [Page] have the world believe, that their Clergie are an invincible sort of men, that they may fright those whom they besiege upon the first summonds to make a surrender) you therefore applied your self to a diligent use of all means, for your establishment in the Truth, you Prayed, and Read, and conferred, and pondered deeply the matters of Religion, and thought, all you could doe in these wayes, no more then was needfull in so weightie an affair. Heaven hath endued you with a great stock of excellent gifts, a composed and comprehensive mind, a clearness and solidity of Iudgment, a deep reach, and readiness of expression, and these being joyned with singleness and sincerity of heart, are such ramparts and defences against seduction that they make the Soul almost impregnable: And that good God, who is never wanting to the assistance of his faithfull Servants, did furnish you with such light, and Grace, that your Faith hath remained unshaken. Those who designed to seduce you, soon percieved, that they had not to doe with a person of an ordinary capacity: Their usuall common places of arguments, they found you could easily answer; and your prejudices against their Religion though you proposed them only by way of Queries, and with the modestie of a Learner, were yet so framed, that it was evident to them, you had so penetrated into the controversies of Religion, that they thought it a sort of Victory to get of, without being at some visible disadvantages, and I hardly knew any of them who having once made an essay, were sond of a second encounter.

The Remembrance of the particular passages of your behaviour, is still very gratefull to me, and the relating of them would sure be very pleasing to others, but your modestie and humility is such, that I may not adventure to [Page] publish them: Onely give me leave to say concerning you both, that if either crastie insiauations, or the charmes of friendship, or worldly considerations, or long importunities, or any thing that could be projected by the wit and subtility of Seducers, could have corrupted or byassed your minds, none of these methods were left unessayed: And when all these efforts proved unsuccessfull, and all Topicks were exhausted; yet that they might be ever like themselves; they had the impudence to write, and spread reports to distant places in this Kingdom, that you were their Converts, or just at the turning point: Whether this was done out of spite, or to be an Argument, to prevail with others of a sequacious humour to imitate such noble Precedents I cannot determine; but this I know that Hell it self could invent nothing more false

The Gracious God hath in part rewarded your integrity, and constancy, and I hope will doe it yet more: Your saith is strengthned, by these winds of temptation, you have the joyes of a good Conscience, you are hereby endeared to all serious and Godly persons, and providence hath of late interposed to bring some secular affairs of great concernment to your Noble Familie to a confortable and desired period, and that at a nick of time, when it could searce have been expected, and a few days longer delay might have quite ruined them. I hope you will in all this observe the loving kindness of the Lord, and ever remember your engagements to Iesus Christ who hath interceeded for you, that your saith might not fail.

I have little to say concerning this Poem which I offer unto you, I confess it is a mean present, yet you know its offered from an affectionat mind: After I had write the first [Page] copie of it, I put it immediatly in your hands; and you were pleas'd to commend it, severall copies of it are since spread, of which some are very incorrect, to doe my self justice I have at length resolved to publish it: It cannot much serve the ends of my reputation, and so I may hope that it cannot be imputed to vanitie. My publishing it under your shaddow, can only signifie that which I am well enough pleased the World should know, namely, that you have a great goodness for me, when I can presume that you will favourably accept of such a trifile: Gratitude obligeth me to make you richer offerings, but I have them not to make; my Prayers to God for you, are the best compensations I can give for your favours to me, and these are, and daily shall be offered up unto Heaven, for the prosperitie of your Souls, the increass of your grace and the florishing of your Noble Family by

RIGHT HONORABLE,

(YOUR HONOURS) Most Affectionat, Most Oblidged and Humble Servant, IOHN BARCLAY.

To the Reader

[Page]

I Can not perswade my self that any have just reason to be offended with me, or to clamour, that it is a thing unsuitable to a man of my Profession to expose a Religion so Zealously mantained and propagated by so many great and learned men, in such a dress as this: All that I shall say for my own vindication is, that I am none of those that sport my self with the sins and miseries of Mankind, and I ever abborred these jests which idle and profane wits doe break upon serious matters, that are not to be jested with: Nevertheless, when a Partie of men have under the venerable name of the Holy Catholick Church so grossly abused the World, imposing on the belief of their credulous Disciples, so many Reverend Absurdities, and perspicuous falshoods, and recommending to their practise, such superstitious trifles, and ridiculous fopperies, unbeseeming the gravity of the Christian Religion, to give a just representation of them in this manner, is a thing that may have it's own usefulness, especially since it may be presumed, that many will read a Poem, who will not set their eyes on a more serious Book. I have only therefore a few things whereof to advertise thee concerning it.

Namely. That I have in a few passages of it taken a libertie to my self, in a Poeticall manner to intermix some of my own fancies, yet not without designe. As, when I produce an argument for the Caelibate of the Clergie, which I know they never made use of, but let it be remembred that this is a Dream, and the it were not, yet since they make such other inferences [Page] from that Text as I have there mentioned, I suppose they might draw this Conclusion from it, as well as the rest, and for any thing I know, it is an Argument against the marriage of Church men of as great force, as any that they have heretofore hit upon.

But in truth my aim is to show what ridiculous interpretations of Scripture these pretended infallible expounders of it, doe often make. He who will prove the Popes supremacie from Genes. 1. 1. Because it is there said In principio, and not in Principiis (as Pope Boniface doth) or his Precedencie to the Emperour from Genes. 1. 16 Where it is said, that GOD made two great lights, (as Pope Innocent 3) or his Civill and Ecclesiastick power, from Ecce duo gladii: or the necessity of the Celibate of the Clergie. From Rom. 8. 8. (as Pope Siricius) I think may prove Quidlibet ex Quolibet. I have mentioned a Relique which they pretend not to have; but in that I mean only to show in whole manner these litle wondrous things are usually alledged to be found.

All the Sirs which I say they call Veniall; are by their Casuists put in that rank: and that they account it much more Criminall, to neglect the observation of the Traditions of the Church, then to break the Commandements of GOD, is so well known, that it needs no prooff.

I have spoken at length of their Religious Houses and Orders, they being the only things they boast of that have any shew of Sanctitie, and to evidence that I meant nothing but fair dealing, I have not equally inveighed against all persons among them.

The words of their Mystick Divinitie that I have mentioned, are to be found every one of them in their own books, with a great many more which I could not get brought into verse. Thebodde talkings which they have of the Superessentiall Life. [Page] The State of Totalitie, The Union of Nothing with Nothing, The Dei-forme Fund of the Soul &c. I could no more make Rhyme, then they can make Reason of them.

When I reflect on the rude disorders of some who betake themselves to the Religious Houses. I doe not slander them, the Epistle of Huldericus Bishop of Augusta, to Pope Nicolas, wherein he tells of six thousand heads of Infants found in one Mote, gives sufficient ground for the reproach.

I wrote this Poem in the Year 1679. When these Nations were allarmed with the noyse of the Popish plot. And I thought to have enlarged more on that Subject, but ere I finished it, that began to be a suspect business, and it was come to that which on ingeniously expresseth thus.

That Shams with Shams, and Plots with Plots were cross't, And the true Plot, among the false was lost.

If any expect that I should make an Apologie for publishing it, the Common-Heads of excuse in these cases are well enough known, and I may pretend to have an equall right to them with other Men.

If their be any thing in it, that may be offensive to the severest modestie, I shall be readie (upon conviction) to acknowledge my faultiness therein; but for my litle extravagancies, that may be found here. I hope thy censure will be gentle, for it any sort of men have reason to expect some charitable allowance for escapes, it can hardly be denyed to A Dreaming Poet.

Farewell.

[Page]

Information about this book

Title statement

A description of the Roman Catholick Church wherein the pretentions of it's [sic] head, the manners of his court, and principles, and doctrines, the worship and service, the religious orders and houses, the designs and practises of that Church, are represented in a vision / by Iohn Barclay, minister at Cruden ; written in the year 1679.

Barclay, John, d. 1691.

Edition statement

1689

Publication

Publisher

Text Creation Partnership,

Place of publication

Ann Arbor, MI ; Oxford (UK) :

Date

2005-12 (EEBO-TCP Phase 1).

ID [DLPS]

A30891

ID [STC]

Wing B717

ID [STC]

ESTC R15131

ID [EEBO-CITATION]

12854585

ID [OCLC]

ocm 12854585

ID [VID]

94581

Availability

This keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the Early English Books Online Text Creation Partnership. This Phase I text is available for reuse, according to the terms of Creative Commons 0 1.0 Universal. The text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission.

Series

Early English books online.

Notes

(EEBO-TCP ; phase 1, no. A30891)

Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 94581)

Images scanned from microfilm: (Early English books, 1641-1700 ; 706:20)

Source

— A description of the Roman Catholick Church wherein the pretentions of it's [sic] head, the manners of his court, and principles, and doctrines, the worship and service, the religious orders and houses, the designs and practises of that Church, are represented in a vision / by Iohn Barclay, minister at Cruden ; written in the year 1679., Barclay, John, d. 1691..

Extent

[4], 59 p.

Printed by John Forbes],. [Aberdeen, Scotland :: 1689.. (Reproduction of original in Huntington Library.)

Creation

Created by converting TCP files to TEI P5 using tcp2tei.xsl, TEI @ Oxford.

Editorial practices

EEBO-TCP is a partnership between the Universities of Michigan and Oxford and the publisher ProQuest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by ProQuest via their Early English Books Online (EEBO) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). The general aim of EEBO-TCP is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic English-language title published between 1473 and 1700 available in EEBO.

EEBO-TCP aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the Text Encoding Initiative (http://www.tei-c.org).

The EEBO-TCP project was divided into two phases. The 25,363 texts created during Phase 1 of the project have been released into the public domain as of 1 January 2015. Anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source.

Users should be aware of the process of creating the TCP texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data.

Text selection was based on the New Cambridge Bibliography of English Literature (NCBEL). If an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in NCBEL, then their works are eligible for inclusion. Selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. In general, first editions of a works in English were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably Latin and Welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so.

Image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. Quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in Oxford and Michigan. 5% (or 5 pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet QA standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. After proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of 100 instances per text. Any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. Understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of TCP data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. Users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a TCP editor.

The texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level 4 of the TEI in Libraries guidelines.

Copies of the texts have been issued variously as SGML (TCP schema; ASCII text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable XML (TCP schema; characters represented either as UTF-8 Unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless XML (TEI P5, characters represented either as UTF-8 Unicode or TEI g elements).

Keying and markup guidelines are available at the Text Creation Partnership web site.