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. 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. 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. THE BLACK BASTEL. THe thousand year, six hundred & eleven. When as the Sun entered in sagittary, Orion rising in the east of heaven, Diana's court than Gemini did carry, And jove in the Meridian did tarry, Saturn severely rolling o'er 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 been built a castle, 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 coloured contrary her desire▪ A heavy yoke upon her neck and lyre, Of Reed a sceptre in her hand she boor, Rich in attire, yet silly, lean, and poor. Raised up on high upon a royal Throne, Did awful sit above the woman's head, Commanding every thing for to be done, As pleased him, a rampand Lion red: This Lion crafty Foxes two did lead, ●ow 14. And round about him thirteen wolves did dance 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 mien, But could not help, so many couched for fear Of Wolf and Lion, or were snared 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 Lion fell to roar, Which did affright that Lady's 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, Me thought assembly summoned was & called, Glasgow assembly 1610. Of huble bubble shepherds hired and thralled. Apes, horses, hounds met there, with many a rod, The Leopard with aromatic smell, Du●bar. As Lion's 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, & sound be corrected. Then stood there up a Wolf all clad in silk, Spois●●● 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 Lion there should win the game. Causing all beasts and sheep for to believe, Nought could be done without the lion's leave. And then forsooth the Wolf's must be advanced, Seeing it was the Lion's will and pleasure: To sheep no greater curse there could have chance● Yet did the Lion 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 contradict, For hirelings rends the Lion 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 Lion what he would enjoyed. The dogs shall have their wont coats in cure, The wolves above the dogs high shall be placed, To make the Lion's crown stand firm and sure. This being done, & wolves thus greatly graced, Reeled to and fro till they had all defaced. The woeful woman in her bitter passion, Poured 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 rend 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 scare all fiends fell, My Bruce, my Rollock with a heavenly smell Of fervent zeal and true sanctification, Perfumed the hearts of many in that nation. My Presbytries had such a comely order, That all light Levits, and the lewdest limmer, Either in Hieland, or the utmost border, Did them regard: yet was it not fare trimmer, When Synods met in winter and in summer? Tried Presbytries, and if peradventure, Aught was amiss, redressed it by their censure. My general assemblies terrible, Like to an army with displayed Banners. Controlled all were incorrigible In lower Synods for their vicious manners, With care suppressed all corrupt explainers Of Scriptures; Papists, and all heretics Were kerbed, and contending schismatics. With wine & honey did my Schools o'erflow. 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 stipends 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 Lords 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 serge is turned in scarlet, Not like myself, but like to Babel's harlot. My crown and solid sceptre 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 from heaven to tumble Some seeming stars, & made them change their tongue, My weakling hogs & lambs are made to stumble, 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 under foot 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 profaned, And hireling pastors love to live at ease, Sincerity and zeal all where disdained, Who is not lukewarm nicknamed is precise, Or not conform unto the Kirks decrees. Say libertines, although their cause be wrongous, The rod is rend 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 Elies' 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 carried 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 fare; Yea many of them are become reprovers, They turn aside, and glance on me a scar, And some, like barking dogs, begin to gnarre, By craft, by coin, by King's 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. Wild 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 honour and enrich, Wild wolves well wrapped in a weather's skin, Have dealt by craft till I fell in the ditch: Now on my belly they their tents do pitch, And reign like lions o'er 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, o Lord, have unto wrath commoved; And have brought on these fearful desolations, Pastors for gain and glore have left their stations. Their wealth and honour 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 vowed 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 knavery Hath spoilt thee of thy magnanimity, And brought thee under this servility. No Kirk so glorious was in any land, But now it seems it builded 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 o'er my head to reign. CONCLUSION. Now certainly I thought she would have spended More 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 naught spoke, 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 felon 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 salted streams of tears, thy thraldom to deplore, Mine heart doth bleed, my lungs do leap, and all my bowels roar, My Diadem 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 rend from them, and fettered fast into hard iron bands. Thy golden rod changed in a reed. by humane 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 bitesheepe wolves into thine ears with uncouth howl 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 reigned, Now poisoned are with these fowl dregges, from Romish Bitch are strained. Prince, People, Peers, and Prelates all, awake, awake in time, With tears, and sighs, and sobs strive still to expiate this crime. Mr. ANDREW MELVINS EPIGRAM 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 cultumque 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.