Book XII, Chapter 76

ANon as Constantine left Rome, for Greece, to Sylvester,
(So cal'd of liuing in the Woods, whence earst he durst not ster)
For consecrating after. Popes they golden Rites prefer,
And, hansling Rome with Heresies, in factious Schismes did erre.
Scarse was it come vnto the Third, when those that liu'd before,
(But fewe escaping Martyrdome) in Deserts, meeke and poore,
Did wrangle for Saint Peters keyes, and Primacie of all
The christiā Church: which to their Sea, though long, at length did fal.
Hence Dispensations, Iubilees. Pardons, and such rack't geere,
Weare had at Rome: nothing, naught worth, theare had, not payd for deere.
Yeat not, till long, the Emperours they dared to prouoke,
That now in choyce of Emperours did labor greatest stroke,
And S[…]culers from church-Affayres in all did sequester,
But wrought that Seculers should all vnto the Church refer:
Effecting so, that Emperours and Kings did kisse their feete,
Deposing, and disposing, them, and theirs, as they thought meete.

Whē now the blind seduced World was brought vnto their bent,
And more their busie heads could not, ambitiously, inuent,
Was Pope, & Pope, & sometimes Three: Popes poysond, Popes exild,
Popes strangeld, cozen'd Popes, a Pope deliuerd of a Childe:
Was neuer heard such Tyrants, or of other Potentates
So many did miscarrie, through Ambition, and Debates.
But be obseru'd, in highest pitch of Pride in Cleargie-men,
God still hath wrought, Religion, Realmes, and all haue ruin'd then.
So, in her Roofe, it far'd with Rome: he whisel'd, and did swarme
From out the North Barbarians that gainst Italie did arme.
At sundrie times the Goth, the Dane, the Vandale, and the Hunne,
With others, foure times sacked Rome, and oft the Land ore-runne:
Nor only so, but there did raigne, in spight of who sayd nay:
Whence Cisalpine is Lumbardie vnto this present day:
And Rome, which since our Brennus, none durst enterprise, was made
A Bootie to each barbrous Force that would the same inuade.
In vaine the Romaine Emperors their ancient Right defend,
For through seditious Popes the French begun where Those did end.
From Pharamonds to Pepins House they foyst the Crowne of France,
And to the Westerne Empier then did Charlemaine aduance.
From France to Italie againe, to Germanie from thence,
Whereas the naked Title hath inured euer sence.

Thus erring Rome hath, doth, & wil, our christian World vnqueate:
May therefore Princes ioyne to race that Monster from his Seate.
What, will ye see a glorious God of earth? goe see the Pope:
Aspiring Lucifer? who els? Truth fals't? reuersethe Cope:
Queanes like to Queenes? There halfe-mile Streetes affoord no other Sort,
If Skarlet Hats meane while and Stoles haue not ingro'st the Sport.
Full fortie Thousand Cur[…]izans there, Ladies-like, doe liue,
That to the Pope for wantoning no small Reuenew giue.
Their wiues they mew frō churchmē there: whēce doth this By-word come?
More Priuiledged Harlots liue thā honest wines at Rome.
Well, by their Fruits ye may them know. Thus is cast vp this Some.

WHilst were those Broyles in Italie, did many there reiect
Obedience to the Emperors, who could not them protect:
So diuers Cities did themselues infranchize, growing States:
And each of them Dominion to her Common-wealth delates.
Weare ouerlong although we should but briefely ouer-ronne
The free-Italian States, of which the Spanyards part haue wonne:
As Naples, Myllaine, royall That, and Duchie This, both twaine
So peopl'd, fertile, pleasant, rich, as neither shew their waine.
But should we speake of Venic's Pompe, the Citie, and the Scite,
Too little should we speake, although too much we here should write.
But, Gallants, will you view the Courte of Venus, and not so,
But Myrrors too of Courtesie? to rich-built Genoa goe:
But farre from drifting Florence keep, least Machiuels yee groe.
Ferrara, Vrbine, Mantua, Placence, and Parma are
Braue Cities, great for State, and please those which to them repare.
I wot not what this spatious Land doth lacke that Man can wish:
Ayre tēprate, fertile Grounds, vnmatch't for fruits, beasts, fowles, & fish:
Men valiant, rich, kinde, courtly, and faire Academies many,
For braue and bewtious women doe, nor need they yeeld to any.

Now to our English Trinitie of Louers let's returne,
That still, in expectation of the Fourth, at Rome soiourne.
Theare, after Prayers, Church-times, Sights, & Stories sometimes read,
Amongst their merrie Tales was this, how one, inamour'd, spead.