Lamentation in the Name of the Kirk of Scotland
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The source of this document is the Early English Books Online (EEBO-TCP) website. Those books were transcribed in a character for character manner and can be very cumbersome to read since there was no standard spelling during that time. Many spelling variations such as "unlesse", "vnlesse", and "vnles" regularly appear.
This project was conceived to clean up those books as much as possible and make them more accessible to the interested reader, leading to the creation of a massive list of variant spellings and their corrections. This was used to clean up the text, but is of course only as complete as the list itself. Because of the nature of the original transcription, some words have missing characters or places where the original language (e.g., Greek) was not transcribed. This effort does not change that. Be aware that the original transcription can also be faulty and in some cases entire sentences may be missing.
Although this is no substitute for a properly compared, proofed, and scholarly edition, I believe that the result is a document which is far more accessible, particularly for searching for terms using standard spelling. The document has been cleaned and presented in what I hope is a pleasing and useful format for the vast majority of Christian brothers and sisters who just want access to read these spiritually nourishing works.
However, a word of warning: The Puritans were a very diverse group of people and their age was characterized with godliness, but also much upheaval, disputation and strife. They disagreed on many doctrines and some of these works contain less orthodox or Scriptural views than others. The reader is strongly advised to read with discernment, particularly if it is unknown whether author is trustworthy.
This project took a huge amount of time and skill to bring to fruition. I would particularly like to thank David Jonescue for the initial list of Puritans he found on EEBO and the concept behind this project as well as the continuous, unceasing efforts toward seeing this complete. Without his labor, this would not be available. Alex Sarrouf was invaluable in providing the initial list of over 7,000 spelling variations he had identified and corrected, as well as continuing to review more than 16,000 additions to that list for any typos.
Logan West
(with David Jonescue and Alex Sarrouf)
www.puritansearch.org
THE BLACK BASTEL, OR, A LAMENTATION IN NAME of the Kirk of SSCOTLAND, composed by M. James Melvil, when he was confined at Berwick anno 1611. Abridged by N.
Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works, or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.
Rev. 2.5.
Rev. 2.5.
Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried, and ye shall have tribulation ten days, be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.
Vers. 10.
Vers. 10.
But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication.
Vers. 14.
Vers. 14.
THE BLACK BASTEL.
THe thousand year, six hundred & eleven.
When as the Sun entered in
Sagittarie,
Orion
rising in the east of heaven,
Diana's
court then
Gemini
did carry,
And
Jove
in the Meridian did tarie,
Saturn
severely rolling over the night,
Mars, Venus, Hermes
bringing home the light.
The air was cold, but calm, no cloud in sky,
The fields all white, and the great Ocean still;
Yet the hard frost making the ground as dry,
I quickly stirred myself to walk at will
Along the shore; at length I came until
A brave white place, where had ben built a castel,
And commonly is called, the
Black Bastell.
I took me to a cave where was some hay,
The mouth whereof lay open to the Sun,
There did I rest me warm, as into May:
And after some deep meditation,
I stepped, and thought I saw a vision,
A sight which grieved me at the heart right sore,
And unto death will ever more and more.
A woman of most comely countenance▪
With farded face, and garish in attire,
A crown of glass upon her head did glance,
Her clothes were color'd contrary her desire▪
A heavy yoke upon her neck and lyre,
Of Reed a scepter in her hand she boore,
Rich in attire, yet silly, lean, and poor.
Rais'd up on high upon a royal Throne,
Did awful sit above the woman's head,
Commanding everything for to be done,
As pleased him, a rampand Lyon red:
This Lyon crafty Foxes two did lead,
To keep her sheep, whom he was to advance.
Her shepherds all in hundreds stood near by,
With dog & staff, who sometime bold had been,
But now were careless, though they heard her cry,
And used just like to a captive Queen;
Her heavy case some few in heart did meen,
But could not help, so many couched for fear
Of Wolf and Lyon, or were snar'd with gear.
Her Torches, Tapers, Candles were put out,
And none there was that durst renew their light:
Great flocks of sheep lay folded round about,
Well plucked and clipped bare into my sight,
If once on them she cast her eyes full bright,
The Wolves to yell, the Lyon fell to roar,
Which did affright that Ladies heart full sore.
Upon a table spr
•••
〈…〉
green,
Did lie two books, all
〈◊〉
gilt, but closed,
That not one word within them might be seen:
For men's conceits were then to be imposed,
And that no good occasion might be loosed,
Of huble buble shepherds hir'd and thralled.
Apes, horses, hounds met there, with many a rod,
As Lions great Lieutenant with his nod,
And mangled speech, the Lions will could tell,
Fenced the court, threatened if any mell
With matters there, but as he had directed,
That they should rue, & soundly be corrected.
A Wolf indeed, yet lisping like a Lamb,
And made a sermon all of wool and milk,
To move the shepherds hired for the same,
Consent the Lyon there should win the game.
Causing all beasts and sheep for to believe,
Nought could be done without the lions leave.
And then forsooth the Wolfs must be advanced,
Seeing it was the Lions will and pleasure:
To sheep no greater curse there could have chance
•
Yet did the Lyon like them out of measure,
His royal crown, his dignity and treasure,
Without such statesmen could not stable stand,
Nor could he freely reign within the land.
With one consent the beasts about applauded,
None of the shepherds there would cōtradict,
For hirelings rents the Lyon was collauded,
No limitation, threatening was so thick:
Some for to say intended sick and sick,
But fear and gear, and falsehood all convoyed,
And so the Lyon what he would enjoyed.
The dogs shall have their wonted cotes in cure,
The wolfs above the dogs high shall be placed,
To make the Lions crown stand firm and sure.
This being done, & wolfs thus greatly graced,
Reel'd to and fro till they had all defaced.
The woeful woman in her bitter passion,
Powr'd out with tears this heavy lamentation.
I was of late a Queen of great renown,
My fame was spread abroad all
Europe
through,
In every province, and in every town,
I was well served both in land and Burgh.
No person high or low, so rude, so rough,
My laws or precepts rashly vilipended.
All stood such awe that I should be offended.
Through all the land my congregations
For to behold it was an heavenly sight,
The like whereof was not in other nations,
Such lively force, and such a lamp of light,
Such evidence of all spiritual might,
By divine doctrine throwing down the proud,
And feeding hungry souls with healthful food
A thunderbolt from pulpit, as from heaven,
You should have heard a fearful noise to make,
By force whereof a hard heart rent and riven,
The stubborn sinners stallward stomach quake,
The members tremble, and the head to ache.
With such a shout when doctrine was applied,
As would have made the stoutest courage flied.
Thus knocked first my
Knox,
and terrified
The
Zanzummins,
and all the hounds of hell,
My
Lowson, Craig,
and
Durie
magnified
That message which did scar all fiendes fell,
My
Bruce,
my
Rollock
with a heavenly smell
Of fervent zeal and true sanctification,
Perfum'd the hearts of many in that nation.
My Presbyteries had such a comely order,
That all light Levites, and the lewdest limmer,
Either in Hieland, or the utmost border,
Did them regard: yet was it not far trimmer,
When Synods met in winter and in summer?
Try'd Presbyteries, and if peradventure,
Ought was amiss, redressed it by their censure.
My general assemblies terrible,
Like to an army with displayed Banners.
Control'd all were incorrigible
In lower Synods for their vicious manners,
With care suppressed all corrupt explainers
Of Scriptures; Papists, and all heretics
Were curbed, and contending Schismatics.
With wine & honey did my Schools ore-flow.
When
Melvil
and his fellows had the charge,
Then did the youth in zeal and learning grow,
From thence I had
Barjona
and
Boanerge,
When shepherds stipēds were not half so large,
Such were preferred as rightly were affected,
But Dogs & Swine, if known, were all rejected.
That lownes are now made Lord's my heart it galls,
Worthies exiled, & the worst rewarded,
To see false knaves to govern, sore me thralls,
The grave and godly not to be regarded:
I mocked am while they me thus have farded,
My gold in glass, my searge is turned in scarlet,
Not like myself, but like to
Babels
harlot.
My crown and solid scepter they have re
•
t me,
And dressed me up in bruckle glass and reed,
And rest the rights wherewith my king infe
•
t me
Without the which my flock I cannot feed
As it becometh, with that heavenly bread.
They have upon me laid this heavy yoke
Of bite-sheep Bishops, as I were a stock.
This stumbling-block hath made frō heaven to tumble
Some seeming stars, & made thē change their tongue,
My weakling hogs & lambs are made to stūble,
Pastors to hear from point to point impugn,
That which before as truth from pulpits rung,
Are so offended, that in their hearts they murn,
Cast so in doubt, they know not where to turn.
Never was nation so solemnly sworn,
Under the pain of fearful condemnation,
To discipline defend, which now with scorn,
Is tramped underfoot with fierce oppression.
For perfidy, and for such foul defection,
I am so stonisht that I cannot stand
For horror, but do tremble foot and hand.
Prayer and preaching are they not prophan'd,
And hireling pastors love to live at ease,
Sinceritie and zeal all where disdained,
Who is not luke-warm nick-named is precise,
Or not conform unto the Kirks decrees.
Say libertines, although their cause be wrongous,
The rod is rent wherewith before they dang us.
O that my people their apostasy
Would yet perceive, & seek to God their guide,
Would yet confess their vile hypocrisy,
Foresee at last what shall at length betide,
Flourish shall popery in its greatest pride.
This is but doubt the foretold day of trial:
Lord save thine own from filthy foul denial.
Consider, Lord, with pity, my complaint,
My glore is gone, I mourn for
Eli's
fall,
And captive ark, I wish my life were spent.
Gone are the great assemblies general,
And few, or none, for their return do call.
The holy vessels are carri'd far away,
Wolf, hog and dog do what they please or may.
Me to comfort there is none of my lovers,
My friends are fled, and look to me a far;
Yea many of them are become reprovers,
They turn aside, and glance on me a skarre,
And some, like barking dogs, begin to gnarre,
By craft, by coin, by Kings authority,
What pleases men, is brought to pass on me.
I cry as if I felt some sharp incision,
When I behold the present misery,
I cry as if there were some great division
Into my bones, with pain to torment me.
Wilde Boars and swine dwell in the sanctuary
Even bastard Bishops, worse than
Moabites.
And more malicious than the
Ammonites.
Like subtle foxes they have entered in.
Pretending me to honor and enrich,
Wild wolfs well wrapped in a weathers skin,
Have dealt by craft till I fell in the ditch:
Now on my belly they their tents do pitch,
And reign like lions over my sheep and hogs.
Convert them Lord, or let them die like dogs.
My candlestick is like to be removed
For sins of Pastors and of Congregations,
Which thee, ô Lord, have unto wrath cōmoved;
And have brought on these fearful desolations,
Pastors for gain and glore have left their stations.
Their wealth and honor is not worth a louse,
If Christ with grace be banished from the house.
Are these the fruits, O
Scotland,
of thy field?
Are these the grapes of such a glorious vine?
Are these the captains cast away their shields?
Are these the soldiers vowd their lives to tine?
I am ashamed that they are called mine.
They feeble are, I cannot say bewitched,
That thus do faint & flee, when scarcely touched
It is well seen the dastard spirit of slavery
Hath made thee for to quite thy liberty,
It is well seen the crafty spirit of knaverie
Hath spoyld thee of thy magnanimity,
And brought thee under this servilitie.
No Kirk so glorious was in any land,
But now it seems it built was on sand.
Wilt thou return to beastly
Babylon?
Wilt thou return again to
Egypt
land?
Wilt thou forsake thy holy mount
Zion?
And join thyself unto that cursed band?
Shall Antichrist thus have the upper hand,
And all my faithful servants never see
Return again their late captivity?
Then wish I Lord, that thou shouldst make my head
A running well, whose waters ever grow,
Or that mine eyes were zetting spouts of lead,
Wherout my gushing tears may ever flow;
Yea some great flood, where barges great may row
That aye the earth may drink my tears as rain,
And aye my eyes may make it moist again.
O that I had the wings of some fair Dove,
That I might flee forth to the wilderness,
Lest I should seem their doings to approve,
Or bear with such professed wickedness;
But since (alas) I can it not redress,
I will go hence, and hide me in some hill,
Or in some hole where I may weep my fill.
Nor will I cease from sighs, O Lord, each day,
Till of my pains thou have compassion,
And do repair the breach and great decay
Of
Zion,
and her desolation,
And to my mourners send some consolation:
For I cannot permit an earthly King,
Or paughtie Prelates over my head to reign.
CONCLVSION.
Now certainly I thoght she would have spended
Moe days and nights into her lamentation,
If that a fiery dragon had not ended
Her mournful moan in a most ugly fashion,
With horrible and fearful perturbation,
He spouted flames, and troubled all the air,
That she noght spake, and I could hear na mair.
But suddenly down with a mighty host
Come MICHAEL with all his Angels clear.
And beat him down for all his fearful boast.
And carried thence with him his Lady dear.
Sure I was put into a fellon fear,
I found me faint, come home, and yet the vision
Made in my mind and heart a deep impression.
FINIS
ANOTHER DEPLORING of late the case of our Kirk.
NO pleasure of my pleasures all,
can pleasant be to me,
O dearest mother chaste, and all
for shame and skaith of thee.
Mine eyes pour out salt streams of tears,
thy thralldom to deplore,
Mine heart doth bleed, my lungs do leap,
and all my bowels roar,
My Diademe of gold and gems,
which did thy head adorn,
Is thrown to ground, in place whereof
thou crowned art with thorn.
Thy costly chains bestowed on thee,
by thy dear Spouse and Lord,
Are quite bereft, and thy fair neck
now compassed with a cord.
Thy royal robe embroidered fair,
and lined with Lucerve,
Is turned to sack, which to behold
doth make my flesh to starve.
Thy bracelets rich, which did of late
decore thy comely hands,
Are rent from them, and fettered fast
into hard iron bands.
Thy golden rod changed in a reed.
by human art compiled,
Thine holy Seals with papal stamp,
and Romish rites defiled.
Where faithful preachers with Christ's voice,
were wont to sound before,
Now bite-sheep wolves into thine ears
with uncouth howlings roar.
Arminianism
and Papistry,
now in thy pulpits sound,
Which like a daggers deadly dint,
doth cause my stomach stound.
I and my mates sometime refreshed
with dew from heaven that rained,
Now poisoned are with these fowl dregs,
from Romish Bitch are strained.
Prince, People, Peers, and Prelates all,
awake, awake in time,
With tears, and sighs, and sobbes strive still
to expiate this crime.
Mr. ANDREW MELVINS EPIGRAMME upon the English Altar in Latin, and translated.
CVr stant clausi Anglis libri duo regia in ara
lumina caeca duo, pellubra sicca duo.
Num sensum cultum{que} Dei tenet Anglia clausum
Lumine caeca suo sorde sepulta sua
Romano ac ritu dum regalem instruit
〈◊〉
Purpuream pingit religiosa lupam.
The same in English.
ON Kingly Chapels altar stand,
blind candlesticks, closed books,
Dry silver basins, two of each.
Wherefore? saith he who looks,
The mind and worship of the Lord
Dorh England so keep close
Blind in her sight, and buried in
her filthiness and dross.
And while with Roman rites she doth
Her kingly altar dress,
Religiously the purpled whore,
to trim she doth profess.
FINIS.