Charles H. Spurgeon on Psalms 11:1

"In the Lord put I my trust: how say ye to my soul, Flee as a bird to your mountain?" The holy confidence of the saints in the hour of great trial is beautifully illustrated by the following ballad which Anne Askew, who was burned at Smithfield in 1546, made and sang when she was in Newgate: —

Like as the armed knight,

Appointed to the field,

With this world will I fight,

And Christ shall be my shield.

Faith is that weapon strong,

Which will not fail at need:

My foes, therefore, among,

Therewith will I proceed.

As it is had in strength

And force of Christe's way,

It will prevail at length,

Though all the devils say nay.

Faith in the fathers old

Obtained righteousness;

Which makes me very bold

To fear no world's distress.

I now rejoice in heart,

And hope bids me do so;

For Christ will take my part,

And ease me of my woe.

Thou say'st Lord, whoso knock,

To them wilt thou attend:

Undo therefore the lock,

And thy strong power send.

More enemies now I have

Than hairs upon my head:

Let them not me deprave,

But fight thou in my stead.

On thee my care I cast,

For all their cruel spite:

I set not by their haste;

For thou art my delight.

I am not she that list

My anchor to let fall

For every drizzling mist,

My ship substantial.

Not oft use I to write,

In prose, nor yet in rhyme;

Yet will I shew one sight

That I saw in my time.

I saw a royal throne,

Where justice should have sit,

But in her stead was one

Of moody, cruel wit.

Absorbed was righteousness,

As of the raging flood:

Satan, in his excess,

Sucked up the guiltless blood.

Then thought I, Jesus Lord,

When thou shall judge us all,

Hard it is to record

On these men what will fall.

Yet, Lord, I thee desire,

For that they do to me,

Let them not taste the hire

Of their iniquity.