XVIII.

THE DISTRACTED PURITAN,

MAD SONG THE SECOND,

Was written about the beginning of the seventeenth century by the witty bishop Corbet, and is printed from the 3d edition of his Poems, 12mo. 1672, compared with a more ancient copy in the Editor's folio MS.

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[This song was printed in _Le Prince d'Amour_, 1660, with three other songs entitled _Tom of Bedlam_. It was also printed in the _Rump Songs_, 1662, but not in the edition of 1660.

The copy in the folio MS. (ed. Hales and Furnivall, vol. iii. p. 269) has several alterations. Stanza 5 was taken by Percy from the MS., where it occurs as stanza 8.

Richard Corbet, successively Bishop of Oxford and Norwich, was born at Ewell in Surrey in 1582. He died in 1635. He was a humorous man, and many pleasant stories are told of him, but Aubrey describes his appearance as "grave and venerable."

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Am I mad, O noble Festus, When zeal and godly knowledge Have put me in hope To deal with the pope, As well as the best in the college? 5 Boldly I preach, hate a cross, hate a surplice, Mitres, copes, and rochets; Come hear me pray nine times a day, And fill your heads with crochets.

In the house of pure Emanuel[867] 10 I had my education, Where my friends surmise I dazel'd my eyes With the sight of revelation. Boldly I preach, &c.

They bound me like a bedlam, 15 They lash'd my four poor quarters; Whilst this I endure, Faith makes me sure To be one of Foxes martyrs. Boldly I preach, &c.

These injuries I suffer 20 Through antichrist's perswasion: Take off this chain, Neither Rome nor Spain Can resist my strong invasion. Boldly I preach, &c.

Of the beast's ten horns (God bless us!) 25 I have knock'd off three already; If they let me alone I'll leave him none: But they say I am too heady. Boldly I preach, &c.

When I sack'd the seven-hill'd city, 30 I met the great red dragon; I kept him aloof With the armour of proof, Though here I have never a rag on. Boldly I preach, &c.

With a fiery sword and target, 35 There fought I with this monster: But the sons of pride My zeal deride, And all my deeds misconster. Boldly I preach, &c.

I un-hors'd the Whore of Babel, 40 With the lance of Inspiration; I made her slink, And spill the drink In her cup of abomination. Boldly I preach, &c.

I have seen two in a vision 45 With a flying-book[868] between them. I have been in despair Five times in a year, And been cur'd by reading Greenham.[869] Boldly I preach, &c.

I observ'd in Perkin's tables[870] 50 The black line of damnation; Those crooked veins So stuck in my brains, That I fear'd my reprobation. Boldly I preach, &c.

In the holy tongue of Canaan 55 I plac'd my chiefest pleasure: Till I prick'd my foot With an Hebrew root, That I bled beyond all measure. Boldly I preach, &c.

I appear'd before the archbishop,[871] 60 And all the high commission; I gave him no grace, But told him to his face, That he favour'd superstition. Boldly I preach, hate a cross, hate a surplice, Mitres, copes, and rochets: 66 Come hear me pray nine times a day, And fill your heads with crotchets.

FOOTNOTES:

[867] Emanuel college, Cambridge, was originally a seminary of Puritans.

[Fuller has left us the following anecdote of Sir Walter Mildmay, the founder of Emanuel, in his _History of the University of Cambridge_. "Coming to court after he had founded his college, the queen told him, 'Sir Walter, I hear you have erected a Puritan foundation.' 'No madam,' saith he, 'far be it from me to countenance anything contrary to your established laws; but I have set an acorn, which, when it becomes an oak, God alone knows what will be the fruit thereof.'"]

[868] Alluding to some visionary exposition of Zech. ch. v. ver. 1; or, if the date of this song would permit, one might suppose it aimed at one _Coppe_, a strange enthusiast, whose life may be seen in Wood's _Athen._ vol. ii. p. 501. He was author of a book, intitled, _The Fiery Flying Roll_: and afterwards published a Recantation, part of whose title is, _The Fiery Flying Roll's Wings clipt_, &c.

[869] See Greenham's _Works_, fol. 1605, particularly the tract intitled, _A sweet Comfort for an afflicted Conscience_.

[Richard Greenham was born _circa_ 1531 and died in 1591. He was a singularly ardent preacher, and Brook, in his _Lives of the Puritans_, says, that "in addition to his public ministerial labours he had a remarkable talent for comforting afflicted consciences." His _Works_ were first collected in 1599.]

[870] See Perkin's _Works_, fol. 1616, vol. i. p. 11; where is a large half sheet folded, containing, _A survey, or table, declaring the order of the causes of salvation and damnation, &c._ the pedigree of damnation being distinguished by a broad black zig-zag line.

[William Perkins (1558-1602). Brook says of him, that he used to pronounce the word _damn_ with so peculiar an emphasis "that it left a doleful echo in the eares a long time after." His works were frequently reprinted, and, according to Fuller, were translated into Latin, French, Dutch, and Spanish.]

[871] Abp. Laud.