[Sidenote: * _At Basing-Chapel, sold_ Dec. 29, 1643.]
Robb'd of their brass, the * coffins of their lead; Not the seventh Henry's gilt and curious screen, Nor those which 'mongst our rarities were seen,
The * chests wherein the Saxon monarchs lay, But must be basely sold or thrown away. May in succeeding times forgotten be Those bold examples of impiety, Which were the Ages' wonder and discourse, You have their greatest ills improv'd by worse. 180
No more be mention'd Dionysius' theft, Who of their gold the heathen shrines bereft; For who with Yours his robberies confer, Must him repute a petty pilferer.
[Sidenote: _Julian, Praefectus Aegypti. Theodoret_. l. 3, c. 11.]
Nor Julian's scoff, who when he view'd the state Of Antioch's Church, the ornaments and plate, Cried, Meaner vessels would serve turn, or none Might well become the birth of Mary's Son:
Nor how that spiteful Atheist did in scorn Piss on God's Table, which so oft had borne 190 The Hallow'd Elements, his death present:
Nor he that foul'd it with his excrement, Then turn'd the cloth unto that act of shame, Which without trembling Christians should not name.
Nor John of Leyden, who the pillag'd quires Employ'd in Munster for his own attires; His pranks by Hazlerig exceeded be, A wretch more wicked and as mad as he,
[Sidenote: _The Carpet belonging to the Communion Table of Winchester Cathedral_, Dec. 18, 1642. _Adrian Emp._]
Who once in triumph led his sumpter moil Proudly bedecked with the Altar's spoil. 200 Nor at Bizantium's sack how Mahomet In St. Sophia's Church his horses set. Nor how Belshazzar at his drunken feasts Carous'd in holy vessels to his guests: Nor he that did the books and anthems tear, Which in the daily Stations used were. These were poor essays of imperfect crimes, Fit for beginners in unlearned times, Siz'd only for that dull meridian Which knew no Jesuit nor Puritan 210 (Before whose fatal birth were no such things As doctrines to depose and murder kings). But since your prudent care enacted well, That there should be no King in Israel, England must write such annals of your reign Which all records of elder mischiefs stain. Churches unbuilt by order, others burn'd; Whilst Paul's and Lincoln are to stables turn'd; And at God's Table you might horses see By (those more beasts) their riders manger'd be, 220