¶ The wonders of England. 1559.  

WHen date of (1553.) was expired full,  
And God's wrath ripped, ready to fall:  
His sword from sheath did fierce out pull,  
And to the heavens began to call.  
Saying: on England now I shall,  
Plague Prince, Prophet, and People all,  
For contempts sake.  
Go Death enclose their King in clay,  
And Sun withdraw the light of day,  
And darkness make.   

No sooner said, but strait was done  
The English King Edward God took.  
Light of soul from England gone.  
Darkness made them blindly look.  
Truth and Faith of People forsook.  
Their Prophets taken from the book,  
And prisoners made.  
The Bats & Owls from holes out came  
Wolves and Bears, and cruel Cain,  
Did England invade.   

When darkness thus eachwhere was sen  
And nightly Uermin ruled the roast,  
No Birds might sing in that late even,  
By land, by sea, or by the coast,  
But strait were brought to fiery post,  
Or else to Lolers tower tossed,  
And kept in cage,  
From meat and friend sometimes so barred  
That lomy wales they fed on hard,  
Hunger to suage.   

This darkness so extremely bode,  
That none from other scarce were known  
On Noble, Sage, Learned and Good,  
These worms of darkness spared none,  
And poured their poison abroad so flown  
On Prophet, People, & Prince their own,  
Which is by name  
Elizabeth, by God now Queen,  
To England's joy right well is seen,  
They sought to shame.   

The sun thus quench, & day made dark  
And Cocks in coops from croing kept,  
Then strait these Owls begun to wark,  
And to the Churches fiercely leapt,  
And with new broumes then clean out swept  
From God, from King and Scripture set  
Upon the wall,  
And in their stead set idols long,  
And made people with praise and song,  
On them to call.   

Thus Uermin dark the mastery had,  
Of Realm, of Prince, of Noble and all:  
And yet not here with fully glad,  
Away they sought to save their fall,  
And counsel gave a foreign to call,  
To match our Queen and Crown royal  
All for their Pope.  
To have their kingdom reign always,  
And they themselves to hear the sway,  
And blindly grope.   

All this not yet their minds filling,  
Nor no regard to Native land,  
Fearing again God's light should spring  
Brought Mershial law forthwith in hand,  
Against all such as would withstand,  
Their wicked reign and cruel band,  
And Gods part take.  
Or else in privy places found,  
Praying to God prostrate on ground,  
His wrath to slake.   

Thus ruling all in darkness blind,  
Came miseries with heap on heap,  
No lore was taught to fill the mind,  
Godly to live and good fruit reap,  
But all for Church they cried and threape  
Restore, restore even as good cheap,  
As ye did take.  
And be ye sure ye shall attain,  
To heavens bliss without more pain  
And so mends make.   

Losses of towns and Holds came on,  
Ruin of people began each where:  
Richmen made beggars, & Captain's bond  
Armour for war our enemies took clear  
When all this was seve in this realm here  
Yet (said these Owls) we need not fear  
For all was well.  
No loss have we by Heretics gone:  
Ne for Calis for which ye move  
Which here do dwell   

Yet God as God still always one  
though angry yet began to stay:  
Plaguing the Realm and People echeone  
At last with tears began to say:  
Oh England, England sore dost thou stray,  
My martyrs blood shed out this day,  
In woeful plight.  
The infant's young that fatherless be.  
With widows poor crying to me,  
wythdrawes my spite.   

With that the skies their hue did change  
And light out shone in darkness steed,  
Up (said this God with voice not strange)  
Elizabeth this Realm now guide,  
My will in thee do not thou hide,  
And Uermine dark let not abide,  
In this thy Land.  
Strait way the people out did cry,  
Praised be God and God save thee  
Queen of England.   
Finis.  
ꝙ I. A.   

¶ Imprinted at London by john Awdeley.