And mice, which oft might unprepared receive,
And to lewd scoffers cause of scandal give.
Here are performed the conjurings and spells,
For christening saints, and hawks, and carriers' bells;
For hallowing shreds, and grains, and salts, and balms,[1]
Shrines, crosses, medals, shells, and waxen lambs:
Of wondrous virtue all (you must believe)
And from all sorts of ill preservative;
From plague, infection, thunder, storm, and hall,
Love, grief, want, debt, sin, and the devil and all.
Here beads are blest, and pater nosters framed,
(By some the tallies of devotion named)
Which of their prayers, and orisons keep tale,
Lest they and Heaven should in the reckoning fail.
Here sacred lights, the altar's graceful pride,
Are by priests' breath perfumed and sanctified;
Made some of wax, of heretics' tallow some,
A gift, which Irish Emma sent to Rome;
For which great merit worthily (we're told)
She's now amongst her country-saints enrolled.
Here holy banners are reserved in store,
And flags, such as the famed Armada bore;
And hallowed swords, and daggers kept for use,
When restive kings the papal yoke refuse;
And consecrated ratsbane, to be laid
For heretic vermin, which the church invade.
But that which brings in most of wealth and gain,
Does best the priests' swollen tripes and purses strain,
Here they each week their constant auctions hold
Of reliques, which by candle's inch are sold:
Saints by the dozen here are set to sale,
Like mortals wrought in gingerbread on stall.
Hither are loads from emptied channels brought,
And voiders of the worms from sextons bought,
Which serve for retail through the world to vent,
Such as of late were to the Savoy sent;
- ↑ Balsams used in embalming.
