ROBERT WISDOM
Was rector of Settrington in Yorkshire, and was presented to the archdeaconry of Ely by Elizabeth the 27th of February 1559-60. In bishop Cox’s Certificatorium (MS. Bennet Col. Lib.) he is returned to the archbishop as “a priest and B. D. usually residing upon his living of Wilberton, appropriated to the archdeaconry, was qualified for preaching, and licensed thereunto by the Queen’s majesty.”
He died, and was buried at Wilberton the 20th of September, 1568.
He is chiefly memorable for his metrical prayer intended to be sung in the church against the Pope and the Turk, of whom he seems to have had the most alarming apprehensions; and in consequence of which he has been ridiculed by sir John Denham, Corbet, Butler, and others.
TO
THE GHOST
OF
ROBERT WISDOME[119].
Thou, once a body, now but aire,
Arch-botcher of a psalme or prayer,
From Carfax come;
And patch mee up a zealous lay,
With an old ever and for ay,
Or, all and some.
Or such a spirit lend mee,
As may a hymne downe send mee,
To purge my braine:
So, Robert, looke behind thee,
Least Turke or Pope doe find thee,
And goe to bed againe.