The Answer

Black Cypresse vailes are shrowds of night,

White linnen railes are rayes of light,

Which to our girdles though we wear

We have armes to keep your hands off there.

Who makes our bands to be our cloak,

Makes John a stiles of John a noak.

We wear our linnen to our feet,

Yet need not make our band our sheet.

Your Clergy wear as long as we,

Yet that implies conformity.

Be wise, recant what you have writ,

Least you doe pennance for your wit;

And least loves charmes doe weave a string

To tye you as you did your ring.

SOURCE: Parnassus Biceps (London, 1656), 66.