Bloudy news from Germany
Bloudy news from Germany or The peoples misery by famine,
Being an example of Gods just judgement on one Harte a noble man in Germany of the town of Ments who when the people were decayed (by reason of a hard famine) he gathered the poorer sort into a barn, and burned them (saying these are but as rats that eat up all and do nothing else) but the allseeing God left not this wickedness unpunished; for he was so sore beset and beat with rats, that his castles top was never after free of them, and at last devoured by them.
Tune of, Chievy Chase.
PUBLISHED FOR Philip Brooksby
1670-1696
1.
1.1.
[Page 38]
WHen as my mind was fully bent
some story for to rhime,
Amongst all others none I found
so fitting for the time,
That which hereafter you shall hear
may well compared be,
Unto a Song of joyful news
in pain and misery.
Some write of Cupid and his bow
with arrows sharp and kéen,
To pierce the tender hearts of them
that are but young and green,
Another loves of War to prate
which is by Weapons done,
And acted is by Sea and Land
by Ship and roaring Gun.
Another saith he was in love
once with a dainty Maid,
But now he hates her cruelty
when's got her maidenhead,
Another muse with Hand and Pen
describes a baudy rhime,
But I will tell by true report
what's done in former time.
One Harto that in Mentz did dwell
a Clergy Man was he,
In that same Town Arch Bishop was
of famous Germany.
His charity was too to cold
and nothing did abound,
He to the poor a Miser was
which made a rumour sound.
[Page 39]
Now in his days there happened
a famine on the earth
And after that there did ensue
a very pinching dearth
This cruel man began to think
he wanted his revennue,
And many a Noble Man there was
that was not worth a penny.
He sent for all the Beggers round
and put them in a Barn,
And set them all in order strait
as though he meant no harm,
He sent his servants fire to bring
for quickly they should burn,
They with a howling noise cry'd out
and dolefully did mourn.
What ail the men (quoth he at length)
like Rats and Mice you be
That eat up all my sustenance
and nothing give to me,
When all my friends through famine (want
and are gone to decay
Why should I give you any more
but burn you quite away.
These harmless men he put to death
as Cain with Able did
But from the Lord full true it is
there's nothing can be hid:
Their bloud did call unto the Lord
out of the ground and dust
The Lord he hard attentively
In judgement pure and just.
He burnt them all both young and old
both man and Wife likewise,
He spared none nor did respect
the foolish or the wise,
For why his mind was satisfi'd
and bloody mind content,
To see them all thus on a flame
tho others did lament.
Yet God above did not forget
this wicked unjust deed,
For after that from Rats and mice
he never could be freed,
his Castles top no service did
no Cats nor cruel Dogs,
For why they came abundantly
much like theEgyptian Frogs.
They wasted all his cash and pelf
which he laid up in store,
Tho he so surely locked up
by dosen and by score,
These Vermine so did multiply
encreasing day by day,
They haunted all the rooms about
the Chamber where he lay.
Nay more then that himself was slain
as he lay on his Bed,
And when his Friends all did come in
they found him to be dead,
Thus God did punish him at length
That was so bad and cruel
he put their Bodies in the fire
and used them for fewel.
And they did gnaw his Coat of Arms
out of the graven Stone,
and ever where they found his name
of Letters they left none,
This I do wish may be a guide
to them that are so high,
That never think upon the poor
that are in misery.
Nay were it but that they were so
like Niggards in their Wealth,
So they would not defraud the poor
or put them unto death,
Wherefore let all with one accord,
think good for to amend,
So shall my Pen begin to rest
and lastly make an end.
Printed for Philip Brooksby near the Hospital gate.