Michael Drayton- Collected Poetical Works

by Michael Drayton

  Saint Gerrard, one of ours, (aboue the former grac’d)

  In such a sumptuous Shrine at Galinaro plac’d;

  At Sancto Padre so, Saint Fulke hath euer fame,

  Which from that reuerent man’t should seeme deriu’d the name,

  His Reliques there reseru’d; so holy Ardwins Shrine

  Is at Ceprano kept, and honoured as diuine,

  For Myracles, that there by his strong faith were wrought.

  Mongst these selected men, the Sepulchre that sought,

  And in thy Realme arriu’d, their blessed soules resign’d:

  Our Bernards body yet at Arpine we may find,

  Vntill this present time, her patronizing Saint.

  So Countries more remote, with ours we did acquaint,

  As Richard for the fame his holinesse had wonne,

  And for the wondrous things that through his Prayers were done,

  From this his natiue home into Calabria cald,

  And of Saint Andrewes there the Bishop was instauld,

  For whom shee hath profest much reuerence to this land:

  Saint William with this man, a paralell may stand,

  Through all the Christian world accounted so diuine,

  That trauelling from hence to holy Pálestine,

  Desirous that most blest Ierusalem to see,

  (In which the Sauiours selfe so oft vouchsaft to be)

  Priour of that holy house by Suffrages related,

  To th’Sepulchre of Christ, which there was dedicated;

  To Tyre in Syria thence remou’d in little space,

  And in lesse time ordain’d Archbishop of that place;

  That God inspired man, with heauenly goodnesse fild,

  A Saint amongst the rest deseruedly is held.

  Yet Italy, nor France, nor Germany, those times

  Imployd not all our men, but into colder Clymes,

  They wandred through the world, their Countries that forsooke.

  So Sigfrid sent fromhence, deuoutly vndertooke

  Those Pagans wild and rude, of Gothia to conuert,

  Who hauing laboured long, with danger oft ingirt,

  Was in his reuerent age for his deserued fee,

  By Olaus King of Goths, set on Vexouia’s See.

  To Norway, and to those great North-East Countries farre;

  So Gotebald gaue himselfe holding a Christian warre

  With Paynims, nothing else but Heathenish Rites that knew.

  As Suethia to her selfe these men most reuerent drew,

  Saint Vlfrid of our Saints, as famous there as any,

  Nor scarcely find we one conuerting there so many.

  And Henry in those dayes of Oxsto Bishop made,

  The first that Swethen King, which cuer did perswade,

  On Finland to make warre, to force them by the sword,

  When nothing else could serue to heare the powerfull word;

  With Eskill thither sent, to teach that barbarous Nation,

  Who on the Passion day, there preaching on the Passion,

  T’expresse the Sauiours loue to mankind, taking paine,

  By cruell Paynims hands was in the Pulpit slaine,

  Vpon that blessed day Christ dyed for sinfull man,

  Vpon that day for Christ, his Martyrs Crowne he wan.

  So Dauid drawne from hence into those farther parts,

  By preaching, who to pearce those Paynims hardned hearts,

  Incessantly proclaim’d Christ Iesus, with a crie

  Against their Heathen gods, and blind Idolatry.

  Into those colder Clymes to people beastly rude,

  So others that were ours couragiously pursude,

  The planting of the Truth, in zeale three most profound,

  The relish of whose names by likelinesse of sound,

  Both in their liues and deaths, a likelinesse might show,

  As Vnaman we name, and Shunaman that goe,

  With Wynaman their friend, which martyred gladly were

  In Gothland, whilst they taught with Christian patience there.

  Nor those from vs that went, nor those that hither came

  From the remotest parts, were greater yet in name,

  Then those residing here on many a goodly See,

  (Great Bishops in account, now greater Saints that be)

  Some such selected ones for pietie and zeale,

  As to the wretched world, more clearely could reueale,

  How much there might of God in mortall man be found

  In charitable workes, or such as did abound,

  Which by their good successe in aftertimes were blest,

  Were then related Saints, as worthier then the rest.

  Of Canterbury here with those I will begin,

  That first Archbishops See, on which there long hath bin

  So many men deuout, as rais’d that Church so high,

  Much reuerence, and haue wonne their holy Hierarchy:

  Of which he first that did with goodnesse so inflame

  The hearts of the deuout (that from his proper name)

  As one (euen) sent from God, the soules of men to saue

  The title vnto him, of Deodat they gaue.

  The Bishops Brightwald next, and Tatwin in we take,

  Whom time may say, that Saints it worthily did make

  Succeeding in that See directly euen as they,

  Here by the Muse are plac’d, who spent both night and day

  By doctrine, or by deeds, instructing, doing good,

  In raising them were falne, or strengthening them that stood.

  Then Odo the Seuere, who highly did adorne

  That See, (yet being of vnchristened parents borne,

  Whose Country Denmarke was, but in East England dwelt)

  He being but a child, in his cleere bosome felt

  The most vndoubted truth, and yet vnbaptiz’d long;

  But as he grew in yeares, in spirit so growing strong:

  And as the Christian faith this holy man had taught,

  He likewise for that Faith in Sundry bartels fought.

  So Dunstan as the rest arose through many Sees,

  To this Arch-type at last ascending by degrees,

  There by his power confirm’d, and strongly credit wonne,

  To many wondrous things, which he before had done.

  To whom when (as they say) the Deuill once appear’d,

  This man so full of faith, not once at all afeard,

  Strong conflicts with him had, in myracles most great.

  As Egelnoth againe much grac’d that sacred seat,

  Who for his godly deeds surnamed was the Good,

  Not boasting of his birth, though com’n of Royall blood:

  For that, nor at the first, a Monkes meane Cowle despis’d,

  With winning men to God, who neuer was suffic’d.

  These men before exprest; so Eadsine next ensues,

  To propagate the truth, no toyle that did refuse;

  In Haralds time who liu’d, when William Conqueror came,

  For holinesse of life, attain’d vnto that fame,

  That Souldiers fierce and rude, that pitty neuer knew,

  Were suddenly made mild, as changed in his view.

  This man with those before, most worthily related

  Arch-saints, as in their Sees Arch-bishops consecrated.

  Saint Thomas Becket then, which Rome so much did hery,

  As to his Christned name it added Canterbury;

  There to whose sumptuous Shrine the neere succeeding ages,

  So mighty offrings sent, and made such Pilgrimages,

  Concerning whom, the world since then hath spent much breath,

  And many questions made both of his life and death:

  If he were truely iust, he hath his right; if no,

  Those times were much to blame, that haue him reckond so.

  Then these from Yorke ensue, whose liues as much haue grac’d

  That See, as these before in Canterb
ury plac’d:

  Saint Wilfrid of her Saints, we then the first will bring,

  Who twice by Egfrids ire, the sterne Northumbrian King,

  Expulst his sacred Seat, most patiently it bare,

  The man for sacred gifts almost beyond compare.

  Then Bosa next to him as meeke and humble hearted,

  As the other full of grace, to whom great God imparted

  His mercies sundry wayes, as age vpon him came.

  And next him followeth Iohn, who like wise bare the name,

  Of Beuerley, where he most happily was borne,

  Whose holinesse did much his natiue place adorne,

  Whose Vigils had by those deuouter times bequests

  The Ceremonies due to great and solemne Feasts.

  So Oswald of that seat, and Cedwall sainted were,

  Both reuerenc’d and renown’d Archbishops, liuing there

  The former to that See, from Worcester transfer’d,

  Deceased, was againe at Worcester inter’d:

  The other in that See a sepucher they chose,

  And did for his great zeale amongst the Saints dispose,

  As William by descent com’n of the Conquerors straine,

  Whom ruling here did in his time ordaine

  Archbishop of that See, among our Saints doth fall,

  Deria’d from those two Seats, styld Archiepiscopall.

  Next these Arch Sees of ours, now London place doth take,

  Which had those, of whom time Saints worthily did make.

  As Ceda, (brother to that reuerent Bishop Chad,

  At Lichfield in those times, his famous seat that had)

  Is Sainted for that See amongst our reuerent men,

  From London though at length remoou’d to Lestingen,

  A monastery, which then he richly had begun.

  Him Erkenwald ensues th’East English Offa’s sonne,

  His fathers kingly Court, who for a Crosiar sled,

  Whose works such fame him wonne for ho linesse, that dead,

  Time him enshrin’d in Pauls, (the mother of that See)

  Which with Reuenues large, and Priuiledges he

  Had wondrously endow’d; to goodnesse so affected,

  That he those Abbayes great, from his owne power erected

  At Chertsey neere to Thames, and Barking famous long.

  So Roger hath a roome in these our Sainted throng,

  Who by his words and works so taught the way to heauen,

  As that great name to him sure was not vainely giuen.

  With Winchester againe proceed we, which shall store

  Vs with as many Saints, as any See (or more)

  Of whom we yet haue sung, (as Hcada there we haue)

  Who by his godly life, so good instructions gaue,

  As teaching that the way to make men to liue well,

  Example vs assur’d, did Preaching farre excell.

  Our Swithen then ensues, of him why ours I say,

  Is that vpon his Feast, his dedicated day,

  As it in Haruest haps, so Plow-men note thereby,

  Th’ensuing fortie dayes be either wet or dry,

  As that day falleth out, whose Myracles may wee

  Beleeue those former times, he well might sainted bee.

  So Frithstan for a Saint incalendred we find,

  With Brithstan not a whit the holyest man behind,

  Canoniz’d, of which two, the former for respect

  Of vertues in him found, the latter did elect

  To sit vpon his See, who likewise dying there,

  To Ethelbald againe succeeding did appeare,

  The honour to a Saint, as challenging his due.

  These formerly exprest, then Elpheg doth ensue;

  Then Ethelwald, of whom this Almes-deed hath been told,

  That in a time of dearth his Churches plate he sold,

  T’releeue the needy poore; the Churches wealth (quoth he)

  May be againe repayr’d, but so these cannot be.

  With these before exprest, so Britwald forth she brought,

  By faith and earnest prayer his myracles that wrought,

  That such against the Faith, that were most stony-hearted,

  By his religious life, haue lastly been conuerted.

  This man, when as our Kings so much decayed were,

  As’twas suppos d their Line would be extinguisht here,

  Had in his Dreame reueald, to whom All-doing heauen,

  The Scepter of this land in after-times had giuen;

  Which in Prophettick sort by him deliuered was,

  And as he stoutly spake, it truly came to passe.

  So other Southerne Sees, here either lesse or more,

  Haue likewise had their Saints, though not alike in store.

  Of Rochester, we haue Saint Ithamar, being then

  In those first times, first of our natiue English men

  Residing on that Seat; so as an ayd to her,

  But singly Sainted thus, we haue of Chichester,

  Saint Richard, and with him Saint Gilbert, which doe stand

  Enrold amongst the rest of this our Mytred Band,

  Of whom such wondrous things, for truths deliuered are,

  As now may seeme to stretch strait beleefe too farre.

  And Cimbert, of a Saint had the deserued right,

  His yearely Obijts long, done in the Isle of Wight;

  A Bishop, as some say, but certaine of what See,

  It scarcely can be proou’d, nor is it knowne to me.

  Whilst Sherburne was a See, and in her glory shone,

  And Bodmin likewise had a Bishop of her owne,

  Whose Diocesse that time contained Cornwall; these

  Had as the rest their Saints, deriued from their Sees:

  The first, her Adelme had, and Hamond, and the last

  Had Patrock, for a Saint that with the other past;

  That were it fit for vs but to examine now

  Those former times, these men for Saints that did allow,

  And from our reading vrge, that others might as well

  Related be for Saints, as worthy euery deale.

  This scruteny of ours, would cleere that world thereby,

  And shew it to be voyd of partiality,

  That each man holy cald, was not canoniz’d here,

  But such whose liues by death had triall many a yeere.

  That See at Norwich now establisht (long not stird)

  At Eltham planted first, to Norwich then transferd

  Into our bedroule here, her Humbert in doth bring,

  (A Counsellour that was to that most martyred King

  Saint Edmund) who in their rude massacre then slaine,

  The title of a Saint, his Martyrdome doth gaine.

  So Hereford hath had on her Cathedrall Seat,

  Saint Leofgar, a man by Martyrdome made great,

  Whom Griffith Prince of Wales, that sowne which did subdue,

  (O most vnhallowed deed) vnmercifully slue.

  So Worster, (as those Sees here sung by vs before)

  Hath likewise with her Saints renown’d our natiue shore:

  Saint Egwin as her eld’st, with Woolstan as the other,

  Of whom she may be proud, to say shee was the Mother,

  The Churches Champions both, for her that stoutly stood.

  Lichfield hath those no whit lesse famous, nor lesse good:

  The first of whom is that most reuerent Bishop Chad,

  In those religious times for holinesse that had,

  The name aboue the best that liued in those dayes,

  That Stories haue been stuft with his abundant praise;

  Who on the See of Yorke being formerly instauld,

  Yet when backe to that place Saint Wilfrid was recald,

  The Seat to that good man he willingly resign’d,

  And to the quiet Closse of Lichfield him confin’d.

  So Sexvlfe after him, then Owen did supply,

  Her Trine of re
uerent men, renown’d for sanctitie.

  As Lincolne to the Saints, our Robert Grosted lent,

  A perfect godly man, most learn’d and eloquent,

  Then whom no Bishop yet walkt in more vpright wayes,

  Who durst reprooue proud Rome, in her most prosperous dayes,

  Whose life, of that next age the Iustice well did show,

  Which we may boldly say, for this we clearely know,

  Had Innocent the fourth the Churches Suffrage led,

  This man could not at Rome haue been Canonized.

  Her sainted Bishop Iohn, so Ely addes to these,

  Yet neuer any one of all seuerall Sees

  Northumber land like thine, haue to these times been blest,

  Which sent into this Isle so many men profest,

  Whilst Hagustald had then a Mother-Churches stile,

  And Lindisferne of vs now cald the Holy-Ile,

  Was then a See before that Durham was so great,

  And long ere Carleill came to be a Bishops seat.

  Aidan, and Finan both, most happily were found

  Northumber land in thee, euen whilst thou didst abound

  With Paganisme, which them thy Oswin that good King,

  His people to conuert did in from Scotland bring:

  As Etta likewise hers, from Malrorse that arose,

  Being Abbot of that place, whom the Northumbers chose

  The Bishopricke of Ferne, and Hagustald to hold.

  And Cuthbert of whose life such Myracles are told,

  As Storie scarcely can the truth thereof maintaine,

  Of th’old Scotch-Irish Kings descended from the straine,

  To whom since they belong, I from them here must swerue,

  And till I thither come, their holinesse reserue,

  Proceeding with the rest that on those Sees haue showne,

  As Edbert after these borne naturally our owne.

  The next which in that See Saint Cuthbert did succeed,

  His Church then built of wood, and thatch’d with homely reed,

  He builded vp of stone, and couered sayre with Lead,

  Who in Saint Cuthberts Graue they buried being dead,

  As his sad people he at his departing wild.

  So Higbald after him a Saint is likewise held,

  Who when his proper See, as all the Northren Shore,

  Were by the Danes destroyd, he not dismayd the more,

  But making shift to get out of the cruell flame,

  His Cleargie carrying foorth, preach’d wheresoere he came.

  And Alwyn who the Church at Durham now, begun,

  Which place before that time was strangely ouerrun

  With shrubs, and men for corne that plot had lately eard,

  Where he that goodly Phane to after ages reard,

  And thither his late Seat from Lindisferne translated,