Then I Tradescant's rarities outdo,[1]
Sand's water-works, and German clock-work too,[2]
Or any choice device at Bartholomew.
Sometimes I utter oracles, by priest
Instead of a familiar possessed.
The church I vindicate, Luther confute,
And cause amazement in the gaping rout.
Such holy cheats, such hocus tricks, as these,
Por miracles amongst the rabble pass.
By this, in their esteem I daily grow,
In wealth enriched, increased in votaries too;
This draws each year vast numbers to my tomb,
More than in pilgrimage to Mecca come;
This brings each week new presents to my shrine,
And makes it those of India gods outshine;
This gives a chalice, that a golden cross,
Another massy candlesticks bestows,
Some, altar-cloths of costly work and price,
Plush, tissue, ermine, silks of noblest dies,
The Birth and Passion in embroideries;
Some jewels, rich as those the Ægyptian punk
In jellies to her Roman lover drunk;
Some offer gorgeous robes, which serve to wear
When I on holy days in state appear;
When I'm in pomp on high processions shown,
Like pageants of Lord Mayor, or Skimmington.
Lucullus could not such a wardrobe boast;
Less those of popes at their election cost;
- ↑ John Tradescant, usually called Tradeskin by his contemporaries, a celebrated collector of curiosities, originally gardener to the Duke of Buckingham, and subsequently to Charles I. He lived in South Lambeth, where he had his museum and botanic garden. His house, since known as Turret House, contained so vast a variety of rarities that it was commonly called Tradescant's Ark. Evelyn records a visit to him in 1557. After his death his son gave the whole collection to Elias Ashmole, who presented it to the University of Oxford, where it formed the foundation of the Ashmolean Museum.
- ↑ German clock-work was much in vogue in this reign. Pepys speaks of a ’brave clock,’ belonging to the King, that went with bullets; and describes another which, by its mechanism, displayed the various stages of man's life. This latter was made by an Englishman.
