SATAN

HIgh time it is for Me to stir about, And do my best, my kingdom to maintain, For why? I see of enemies a rought: Which all my laws, and Statutes do disdain: Against my state, worser fight and strive amain. Whom, in time if I do not dissipate, I shall repent it, when it is to late. My mortal foe, the Carpenters poor son, Against my Children, the Pharisees I mean, Upbraiding them, did use this comparison, As in the story of his life, may be seen, There was a man, which had a vineyard green: Who letting it to husbandmen unkind, In stead of fruit, unthankfulness did find. So that his Servants, firstly they did beat, His Son likewise, they afterwards did kill, And here upon that man in fury great: Did soldiers send, these Husbandmen to spill, Their Towue to burn, he did them also will. But out alas, alas, for woe I cry, To use the same, far juster cause have I, For where the kingdom, of this world is mine, And his, on whom I will the same bestow, As Prince hereof, I did my self assign: My darling deer, whose faithful live I know, Shall never fail from Me, but daily flow: But who that is: perhaps some man may doubt. I will therefore in brief; purtraict and paint him out. The mortal man by nature's rule is bound That Child to favour, more then all the rest, Which to himself in face, is likest found: So that he shall with all his goods be blessed: Even so do I esteem and like him best, Which doth most near my dealings imitate, And does pursue Gods laws, with deadly hate. As therefore I, when once in Angels state, I was, did think my self, with God as mate to been, So doth my son himself, now elevate, Above men nature, in rule and dignity. So that in terris Deus sum, says he: In earth I am a God, with sins for to dispense, And for rewards, I will forgive eke manet of offence. I said to Eve, tush, tush, thou shalt not die, But rather shalt as God, know every thing: My son likewise, to maintain Idolatry, Says tush what hurt can carved Idols bring? Despise this law of God, the heavenly King: And set them in the Church, for men thereon to look, And Idol does much good, it is a laymans book. Nemb oath that Tyrant, fearing Gods hand, By me was persuaded to build up high Babel: Whereby he presumed, Gods wrath to withstand: So hath my Boy, devised very well, Many pretty toys, to keep men's soul from hell: Live they never so evil here, and wickedly, As Masses, trentalles, Pardons, and Scala coeli. I egged on Pharao of Eg pt the King, The Israelites to kill, so soon as they were born: My darling likewise, doth the self same thing: And therefore cause Kings, and Princes to be sworn, That with might and main, they shall keep us his horn. And shall destroy with fire, Are and sword, Such as against him, shall speak but one word. And even as I was some what to slow, So that not withstanding, the Israelites did augment: So for lack of murdering Gods people do grow, And daily increase, at this time present: Which my son shall feel incontinent. Yet and other practice, this evil to withstand, He learned of , which now he takes in hand. For when as Moses, I might not destroy, Because that he was of the Lord appointed, To bring the people from thraldom to joy: I did not cease, while I had invented, And other means to have him prevented: By accounting himself the son of Pharao, To make him loath Egypt to forgo. The same advise I also attempted, Against the son of God, when he was incarnate, Hoping there by, to have him relented: And for promotion sake, himself to prostrate, Before my feet when I did demonstrate, The whole world unto him, and all the glory, As it is recorded in Matheus History. So hath the Pope, who is my darling deer, My eldest boy, in whom I do delight: Least he should fallen, which thing he greatly fear, Out of his Seat, of honour pomp and might, Hath God to him, on his behalf to fight: Two Champions stout, of which the one is Avarice, The other is called Tyrrannicall practice. For as I said, although I claim by right, The kingdom of this earthly world so round: And in my stead to rule with force and might, I have assigned the Pope, whose match I no where found, His heart with love, to Me, so much abound: Yet diverse men of late, of malice most unkind, Do study to displace my son, some way ward means to find Wherefore I marvel much, what cause of let there is, That hitherto, they have not their office put in use, I will go see, for why, I fear that somewhat is amiss If not, to range abroad, the world, I will them straight procure, But needs they must, have one to help, men's hearts for to allure: Unto their train, who that should been, I cannot yet espy, No meeter match I can find out, then is Hypocrisy. Who can full well in time and place, dissemble either's part, No man shall easily perceive, with which side he tooth bear. But when once favour he hath God, and credit in men heart: He will not slack in mine , I do nothing fear: But time does run, too fast away, for me to ary h re, For none will be enamoured, of my shape I do know, I will therefore, mine imps out, from hell their shapes to show.