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This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1887 Excerpt:... But now he sought in God's sweet ruth For all his great offences pardon, And warned all people not to harden With grasping avarice their hearts, For thereout sin of all sort starts. He warned all folk, too, as was meet, Against hell's spirits and deceit: With cunning malice evermo They seek and work to man much woe. With that to each and all he prayed That when in death he should be laid, His limbs they from his trunk would sever And lay them on a wain together, Drawn by four horses whom no hand Of man should guide or make to stand; Their course with good heed should be followed And where they stayed his grave be hollowed. And soon thereafter passed the Pope Out of this life, but strong in hope. Then did they sever, as he bade them, His limbs, and on the waggon laid them, Which by four unled horses carried Before St. Thomas' church-door tarried. They laid him there and held the token To mean his pardon had been spoken For the true sorrow he had shewn. Now from this tale it may be known That sinners--guilty howsoever--Should doubt of God's forgiveness never, Nor think that they are past his grace; God, ever and in every place, Is willing men should have salvation And save their souls from hell's damnation. But they must not in sin abide, Or be stiff-necked or full of pride, Or doubt if God have power or will, From such may God preserve us still! But may repentance fruit still wax To all men's profit, prays Hans Sachs. Anno salutis MDLVIII. This is better. True, it is not for knowledge that Gilbertus sells his soul, it is ambition that prompts him, but an ambition whose object is so great that we can conceive a great and even a good man being seduced by it. And there can be little doubt that Pope Sylvester was a good man--good beyond the power of calumny to...