Of the horyble and woeful destruction of jerusalem And of the signs and tokens that were seen before it was destroyed: which destruction was after Christ's ascension xlii years.  
To the tune of the Queen's Almaigne.  

AN Emperor Vespasian  
Some time in Rome there was,  
Through whom much dolours than be 'gan  
Of mortal wars alas,  
With in two years that he did rain  
He put the jews to myckill pain  
With fire and sword both take and slain,  
His power brought so to pass,  
His Sun Tytus having no dread  
His army over judae spread  
The people to the City flayed  
Hoping to have redress.   

¶ Before Titus Vaspasians son  
Unto this wars did go  
Was after Cristes' ascension,  
Long xl years and two  
Then did the romans with such pride  
Be set their land both far and wide,  
And hemmed them in, on every side  
To their great pain and woe,  
They brought the jews in such a case  
The prophesy, to bring to pass,  
Spoke by our Lord when he here was  
The scripture doth say so.   

That prudent jew josephus says  
Who did no write in vain,  
That he was present in those days  
And saw this mortal pain,  
When that Tytus both bold and stout  
Be set jerusalem a bout,  
That none mought in, nor Issue out,  
No way but to be slain.  
For Tytus his chief capteyn was  
The siege when he had brought to pass  
Great was the cry woe and alas,  
The story doth say plain.   

¶ He stopped their pipes and Conduyts all,  
That no water mought pass:  
With famine they were in great thrall,  
Most woeful was their case,  
They were constrained in such need  
With Horse, and Ass, themselves to feed  
Both Dog, and Cat, this do I read  
Most ougle meat it was,  
The hunger there it was so great,  
Ones vomit was another's meat  
There was no way for to entreat  
But present death alas.   

Six mounthes the siege it did hold on  
A bout that City great,  
Whearin was many a mother's son  
Did starve for lack of meat,  
The famous Ladies of that town  
That wear before of high renown,  
For fault of food fell in a sown  
Theridamas was nothing to get:  
The story this doth specify,  
The mother's most unnaturally,  
They slew their Children ruefully,  
And Rostyd them to eat.   

This Titus then of high renown  
Most valyently and bold,  
The walls so strong he did cast down  
resistance waxed cold,  
The people in the streets lay dead,  
They had no Succour drink nor bread  
Much was the blood that then was shed,  
Alas lament we should:  
The Romans entered with such might,  
With Polare, spears, & swords so bright  
They slew all that came in their sight  
No mercy they did hold.   

The Gates that covered were with gold  
They threw them to the ground,  
That famous City to behold  
For sin it was confound,  
A leaven honderid thousand slain  
Through hunger, sword & pestilent pain  
In this the story doth not feign,  
Of many a bloody wound,  
The stink of carcase in the street,  
The feeble souls that could not fleet  
For faint with hunger scarce could creep,  
Full heavy was their sound.   

Then Titus gave this sentence believe  
Which romans lykyd well,  
As many as you find a live,  
After this Rate them sell,  
As Crist was sold for thirty pence,  
By judas and his false pretence,  
So Titus made their recompense  
The story this doth tell,  
XXX. jews for a penny bougt,  
As many more were sold for nought  
There own confusion thus was wrought  
Because they did rebel.   

And many prisoners more I ween  
To Egypt they wear send,  
Fourscore thousand, and seventeen  
In prison all their end,  
And Titus in his company  
took many such as were worthy,  
And lead them bound all captivelie,  
To Rome with him to wend:  
There was no help for to revoke,  
As Ihosephus saith in his book  
His Chronicles who list to look,  
On truth they do depend.   

Thirty years God gave them space  
That they mought yet repent,  
Their lives amend and call for grace  
For them Christ did lament,  
This loving Lord oft did them call  
By sundry signs as hear you shall  
Before his wrath on them did fall  
Or anger fully bend,  
Twelve days eclipsed was the moon,  
That they mought be converted soon,  
But they witted not what to be done,  
But sin still did augment.   

Before the siege or any war,  
the space of all one year  
Over that town was seen a star,  
Most blazing bright and clear  
So like a sword in shape it was,  
Where at great fear and wonder was,  
Yet left they not their wickedness,  
when these signs did appear:  
More over in the air so light,  
In plate of mail and armour bright,  
Were seen men ready for to fight,  
To show their time was near.   

A festifall day, in Apriell,  
To hallow they were dight,  
And suddenly amongst them fell  
A marvelous strange light,  
So bright and clear with such aleame,  
Passing the son as it did seem,  
But what it meant no man could deem.  
But were all in sore flight  
And while the priests did this in dure  
To offer a Calf they did their cure,  
Which Calf a thing against nature,  
Brought forth a Lamb in sight.   

Such many tokens contrary  
Which doth Prognostikate,  
And to the jews did signify  
Their woeful fall and fate,  
Before that Titus war be 'gan  
Four years of space, this prove I can,  
How that the son of one rude man,  
Ananias low of state,  
He ran the streets in such a rage  
Being a child of tender age,  
To call and cry he did not suage  
Repent ear it be late.   

But for his pains he was well beat  
This had he for his hire,  
For truth they did him evil in treat  
Against him did conspire,  
But yet he cried and would not blen,  
While he was able yet to ren,  
saying woe be to jerusalem,  
For kindling of God's ire:  
Woe be to thee and to thy land  
Thou art be set in woeful band,  
Thy days of sorrow is at hand  
Of famine sword and fire.   

This was that famous City then  
Destroyed with fire and sword,  
That mighty town jerusalem,  
The City of the Lord:  
Because their God they would not know  
Christ being xxx years below  
His word to them plainly did show  
This scripture doth record,  
That they mought be his chosen first  
To live and reign a 'mongst the just,  
And to no other for to trust  
But to believe his word.   

Now seeing that this jerusalem,  
As scripture doth tell true  
Was plaguyd for the sins of men,  
Which Romans over threw,  
What shall that Lord to us express  
That so doth live in such excess,  
Of whoredom, Pride, and covetousness  
More now then did the jew,  
Therefore is our example this,  
A mend the thing that is a miss  
That we may have eternal bliss,  
By Christ our Lord jesue.   
Finis  
Qd. john Barker.   

¶ Imprinted at London, in Fleetstreet Beneath the Conduit, at the sign of S. john Evangelist, by Thomas Colwell.