The Burning

Burn…

Shall silence shroud such sin as satan seems to show

Even in his imps, in these our days that all men might it know?

And do not as this devil did, though shape of man he bare,

Denying christ, did silence keep at death, devoid of care.

Burn…

Yet did this wretch, most wickedly (John Lewes, who to name),

Full boldly speak, and brutishly god's glory to defame;

But he, despising reverence to prince or any state,

Not them regards, but used terms as each had been his mate.

For he did thou each wight the which with him had any talk,

Thus did his tongue, most devilishly, with defamy still walk.

That he should be burned to death, this justice did award:

Now mark what after did ensue, and there to have regard;

The time then of his death being come, which was the eighteenth day

Of September in 1583, this wretch wrought his decay.

For when he to the place was brought where he his life should end,

He forced was a time to stay, a sermon to perpend.

From preaching place unto the stake, they straight did him convey,

Where preachers two or three him willed unto the 'lord' to pray,

But he did speak just like a dog and did end his days with shame.

They who would seem to pull him to his knees, his sins to confess;

But he, full stoutly stood therein, not meaning nothing less:

Not bending knee, hand, heart or tongue to glorify god's name

Till one that was right earnest set, by these words, his assayed:

"As sure as thou shalt be burnt before us here at the stake,

So sure in hell thou shalt be burnt in that infernal lake…"

And when the fire did compass him about on every side,

The people looked he then would speak, and therefore loud they cried:

"Now call on christ to save thy soul, now trust in christ his death!"

But all in vain; no words he spake, but thus yields up his breath.

(…O woeful state he was drowned in…)

Burn…