IN THE WRECKS OF WALSINGHAM
Attributed to Saint Philip Howard, the Earl of Arundel and English Martyr
(Screenshots from 'Our Lady of Walsingham DVD - © 2012 Mary's Dowry Productions)
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| The ruins of Walsingham Abbey © 2012 Mary's Dowry Productions |
A Lament for Our Lady's Shrine at Walsingham
In the wracks of Walsingham
Whom should I choose
But the Queen of Walsingham
to be my guide and muse.
Then, thou Prince of Walsingham,
Grant me to frame Bitter plaints to rue thy wrong,
Bitter woe for thy name.
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| Richeldis de Faverches was asked by Our Lady to build a replica of the house of the Annunciation on her grounds in Walsingham © 2012 Mary's Dowry Productions |
Bitter was it so to see
The seely sheep
Murdered by the ravenous wolves
While the shepherds did sleep.
Bitter was it, O to view
The sacred vine,
Whilst the gardeners played all close,
Rooted up by the swine.
Bitter, bitter, O to behold
The grass to grow
Where the walls of Walsingham
So stately did show.
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| A pilgrim statue of Our Lady of Walsingham © 2012 Mary's Dowry Productions |
Such were the worth of Walsingham
While she did stand,
Such are the wracks as now do show
Of that Holy Land.
Level, level, with the ground
The towers do lie,
Which, with their golden glittering tops,
Pierced once to the sky.
Where were gates are no gates now,
The ways unknown
Where the press of peers did pass
While her fame was blown.
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| Saint Philip Howard, Earl and Martyr © 2012 Mary's Dowry Productions |
Owls do scrike where the sweetest hymns
Lately were sung,
Toads and serpents hold their dens
Where the palmers did throng.
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| The lament features in our Walsingham DVD © 2012 Mary's Dowry Productions |
Weep, weep, O Walsingham,
Whose days are nights,
Blessings turned to blasphemies,
Holy deeds to despites.
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| A photo of The restored Slipper Chapel © 2012 Mary's Dowry Productions |
Sin is where Our Lady sat,
Heaven is turned to hell,
Satan sits where Our Lord did sway
-- Walsingham, O farewell!
-Composed by Saint Philip Howard during his visit to Walsingham with his cousin Queen Elizabeth I
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| Plaque to indicate where the Holy House once stood © 2012 Mary's Dowry Productions |
Our films:
Our Lady of Walsingham
and
Saint Philip of Arundel
are available on DVD worldwide from our online shops and through AMAZON
This poem is also often titled 'In the Wracks of Walsingham' - wracks is the old form of wrecks but it does its double duty in its association with 'racks'.
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