Lyr Add: Pelagian Heresy, Belloc

Subject: Pelagian Heresy, Belloc
From: Barbara
Date: 30 Sep 00 - 02:08 PM

This one's for you, Joebro, cause you asked. Is anyone else interested in a drinking song about a minor part of the history of the Roman Catholic Church? Anyway, Joe has the tune, and I think can post it on the MIDI page, right Joe? I have a number of other Belloc songs from the same book (The Four Men) on file, if people are interested. What say you all? Blessings,
Barbara

THE SONG OF THE PELAGIAN HERESY
FOR
THE STRENGTHENING OF MEN'S BACKS
AND
THE VERY ROBUST OUT-THRUSTING
OF DOUBTFUL DOCTRINE
AND
THE UNCERTAIN INTELLECTUAL
(Hillaire Belloc, 1912)

Pelagius lived in Kardanoel
and taught a doctrine there
How whether you went to Heaven or Hell,
It was your own affair.
How, whether you found eternal joy
Or sank forever to burn,
It had nothing to do with the church, my boy,
But it was your own concern.

(Semi-chorus)
Oh, he didn't believe in Adam and Eve,
He put no faith therein!
His doubts began with the fall of man,
And he laughed at original sin!

(Chorus)
With my row-ti-tow, ti-oodly-ow,
He laughed at orignal sin!

Whereat the Bishop of old Auxerre
(Germanus was his name)
He tore great handfuls out of his hair,
And he called Pelagius Shame:
And then with his stout Episcopal staff
So thoroughly whacked and banged
The heretics all, both short and tall,
They rather had been hanged.

Oh, he thwacked them hard, and he banged them long
Upon each and all occasions,
Till they bellowed in chorus, loud and strong
Their orthodox persuasions!

With my row-ti-tow, ti-oodly-ow,
Their orthodox persuasions!

Now the Faith is old
and the Devil is bold
Exceedingly bold. indeed;
And the masses of doubt
That are floating about
Would smother a mortal creed.
But we that sit in sturdy youth,
And still can drink strong ale,
Oh -- let us put it away to infallible truth,
Which always shall prevail!

And thank the Lord
For the temporal sword,
And for howling heretics, too;
And whatever good things
our Christendom brings,
But especially the barley-brew!

With my row-ti-tow, ti-oodly-ow
Especially the barley-brew!
^^

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Pelagian Heresy, Belloc
From: AllisonA(Animaterra)
Date: 30 Sep 00 - 02:18 PM

Speaking as a firm Pelagian, I thank you for this wonderful song! Is there a tune?

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Pelagian Heresy, Belloc
From: Barbara
Date: 30 Sep 00 - 02:40 PM

Alan's program tells me that the MIDI conversion worked fine but that the ABC may have timing errors. Would you like me to email you the MIDI as an attachment, too, Allison?
Blessings,
Barbara

MIDI file: Pelagius.mid

Timebase: 240

TimeSig: 1/8 12 8
Tempo: 100 (600000 microsec/crotchet)
Start
0000 1 57 080 0096 0 57 064 0024 1 62 080 0192 0 62 064 0048 1 62 080 0096 0 62 064 0024 1 62 080 0192 0 62 064 0048 1 64 080 0096 0 64 064 0024 1 66 080 0096 0 66 064 0024 1 66 080 0096 0 66 064 0024 1 66 080 0096 0 66 064 0024 1 69 080 0192 0 69 064 0048 1 66 080 0096 0 66 064 0024 1 64 080 0192 0 64 064 0048 1 62 080 0096 0 62 064 0024 1 62 080 0192 0 62 064 0048 1 62 080 0096 0 62 064 0024 1 62 080 0552 0 62 064 0048 1 69 080 0096 0 69 064 0024 1 71 080 0096 0 71 064 0024 1 73 080 0096 0 73 064 0024 1 74 080 0096 0 74 064 0024 1 73 080 0192 0 73 064 0048 1 69 080 0096 0 69 064 0024 1 71 080 0096 0 71 064 0024 1 73 080 0096 0 73 064 0024 1 74 080 0096 0 74 064 0024 1 73 080 0192 0 73 064 0048 1 69 080 0096 0 69 064 0024 1 64 080 0192 0 64 064 0048 1 69 080 0096 0 69 064 0024 1 71 080 0192 0 71 064 0048 1 68 080 0096 0 68 064 0024 1 69 080 0552 0 69 064 0048 1 69 080 0096 0 69 064 0024 1 74 080 0096 0 74 064 0024 1 74 080 0096 0 74 064 0024 1 66 080 0096 0 66 064 0024 1 71 080 0000 1 67 080 0192 0 67 064 0000 0 71 064 0048 1 71 080 0096 0 71 064 0024 1 69 080 0192 0 69 064 0048 1 66 080 0096 0 66 064 0024 1 62 080 0000 1 66 080 0192 0 66 064 0000 0 62 064 0048 1 69 080 0096 0 69 064 0024 1 71 080 0192 0 71 064 0048 1 73 080 0096 0 73 064 0024 1 74 080 0096 0 74 064 0024 1 69 080 0096 0 69 064 0024 1 66 080 0096 0 66 064 0024 1 64 080 0456 0 64 064 0024 1 69 080 0096 0 69 064 0024 1 69 080 0096 0 69 064 0024 1 62 080 0096 0 62 064 0024 1 62 080 0096 0 62 064 0024 1 62 080 0096 0 62 064 0024 1 62 080 0096 0 62 064 0024 1 62 080 0096 0 62 064 0024 1 64 080 0096 0 64 064 0024 1 66 080 0192 0 66 064 0048 1 74 080 0096 0 74 064 0024 1 69 080 0192 0 69 064 0048 1 66 080 0096 0 66 064 0024 1 64 080 0192 0 64 064 0048 1 62 080 0096 0 62 064 0024 1 62 080 0192 0 62 064 0048 1 62 080 0096 0 62 064 0024 1 62 080 0456 0 62 064 0024 1 69 080 0096 0 69 064 0024 1 69 080 0096 0 69 064 0024 1 66 080 0000 1 78 080 0096 0 78 064 0000 0 66 064 0024 1 66 080 0000 1 78 080 0096 0 78 064 0000 0 66 064 0024 1 62 080 0000 1 74 080 0096 0 74 064 0000 0 62 064 0024 1 62 080 0000 1 74 080 0192 0 74 064 0000 0 62 064 0048 1 66 080 0000 1 78 080 0096 0 78 064 0000 0 66 064 0024 1 64 080 0000 1 76 080 0096 0 76 064 0000 0 64 064 0024 1 64 080 0000 1 76 080 0096 0 76 064 0000 0 64 064 0024 1 61 080 0000 1 73 080 0096 0 73 064 0000 0 61 064 0024 1 69 080 0192 0 69 064 0048 1 69 080 0096 0 69 064 0024 1 62 080 0000 1 74 080 0192 0 74 064 0000 0 62 064 0048 1 71 080 0096 0 71 064 0024 1 66 080 0192 0 66 064 0048 1 68 080 0096 0 68 064 0024 1 69 080 0552 0 69 064 0048 1 69 080 0096 0 69 064 0024 1 71 080 0192 0 71 064 0048 1 71 080 0096 0 71 064 0024 1 74 080 0096 0 74 064 0024 1 73 080 0096 0 73 064 0024 1 71 080 0096 0 71 064 0024 1 69 080 0192 0 69 064 0048 1 69 080 0096 0 69 064 0024 1 67 080 0000 1 79 080 0144 0 79 064 0000 0 67 064 0036 1 67 080 0000 1 79 080 0048 0 79 064 0000 0 67 064 0012 1 67 080 0000 1 79 080 0096 0 79 064 0000 0 67 064 0024 1 66 080 0000 1 78 080 0144 0 78 064 0000 0 66 064 0036 1 64 080 0000 1 76 080 0048 0 76 064 0000 0 64 064 0012 1 62 080 0000 1 74 080 0096 0 74 064 0000 0 62 064 0024 1 64 080 0000 1 76 080 0144 0 76 064 0000 0 64 064 0036 1 62 080 0000 1 74 080 0048 0 74 064 0000 0 62 064 0012 1 61 080 0000 1 73 080 0096 0 73 064 0000 0 61 064 0024 1 62 080 0000 1 74 080 0288 0 62 064 0072 1 62 080 0096 0 74 064 0000 0 62 064 0024 1 69 080 0096 0 69 064 0024 1 69 080 0096 0 69 064 0024 1 74 080 0192 0 74 064 0048 1 69 080 0096 0 69 064 0024 1 71 080 0192 0 71 064 0048 1 67 080 0096 0 67 064 0024 1 69 080 0096 0 69 064 0024 1 69 080 0096 0 69 064 0024 1 62 080 0096 0 62 064 0024 1 67 080 0192 0 67 064 0048 1 64 080 0096 0 64 064 0024 1 66 080 0144 0 66 064 0036 1 67 080 0048 0 67 064 0012 1 69 080 0096 0 69 064 0024 1 66 080 0144 0 66 064 0036 1 66 080 0048 0 66 064 0012 1 64 080 0096 0 64 064 0024 1 62 080 0552 0 62 064
End

This program is worth the effort of learning it.

To download the March 10 MIDItext 98 software and get instructions on how to use it click here

ABC format:

X:1
T:
M:6/8
Q:1/4=100
K:C
A,D2DD2|E^F^F^FA2|^FE2DD2|DD5|AB^cd^c2|AB^cd^c2|
AE2AB2|^GA5|Add^FBG2|BA2^FD^F2|AB2^cdA|^FE4A|
ADDDDD|E^F2dA2|^FE2DD2|DD4A|A^F^f^F^fDdDd2|
^F^fEeEe^C^cA2|ADd2B^F2|^GA5|AB2Bd^c|BA2AGg3/2Gg/2|
Gg^F^f3/2Ee/2DdEe3/2Dd/2|^C^cDd3DA|Ad2AB2|
GAADG2|E^F3/2G/2A^F3/2^F/2|ED37/8||

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Pelagian Heresy, Belloc
From: MMario
Date: 30 Sep 00 - 10:35 PM

I like this!

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Pelagian Heresy, Belloc
From: AllisonA(Animaterra)
Date: 01 Oct 00 - 08:39 AM

Sure, Barbara! Thanks! [e-mail]

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Pelagian Heresy, Belloc
From: Bud Savoie
Date: 01 Oct 00 - 08:45 AM

Can we assume that this one is in the public domain and can be considered folk property?

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Pelagian Heresy, Belloc
From: Barbara
Date: 01 Oct 00 - 12:04 PM

I dunno, Bud, but we've got 4 other Hillaire Belloc songs in the Database from his book Cautionary Tales, and I think this is written earlier and is more obscure.
Blessings,
Barbara

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Pelagian Heresy, Belloc
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 01 Oct 00 - 12:54 PM

Hilaire Belloc died in 1953, so in some places he'd be out of copyright, but not in others. He's got descendants. For normal folkie purposes I can't imagine any problems.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Pelagian Heresy, Belloc
From: Barbara
Date: 01 Oct 00 - 02:28 PM

Ah, McGrath, you're right, one 'l' not two. I used to be able to spell.
A number of my pubsinging friends have gotten interested in Belloc songs since Sussex Drinking Song has become more widely known -- the version Wyndham-Read set to "the West's Awake", so I've been going back through my copy of The Four Men and printing out some of the songs for them.
As someone familiar with the book, what do you think I should do with "His Hide Is Covered With Hair"? Answer here or PM me if you want.
Blessings,
Barbara

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Pelagian Heresy, Belloc
From: Barbara
Date: 01 Oct 00 - 03:51 PM

In the interests of historical accuracy, I should add that Belloc has his characters say this after the song is performed:

"As we swung down the road which leads at last to Little Cowfold, Grizzlebeard, thinking about that song, said:
'I cannot believe, Sailor, that your song is either old or true; for there is no such place as Kardanoel, and Pelagius never lived there, and his doctrine was very different from what you say, and the blessed Germanus would not have hurt a fly. As witness that battle of his somewhere in Flint, where he discomforted the Scotch, of all people, by talking Hebrew too loud, although he only knew one word of the tongue. Then, also, what you say of ale is not ecclesiastical, nor is it right doctrine to thank the Lord for heresy.'

The Sailor[singer of the song, responds].
'Anything you will! But every church must have its customs within reason, and this song, or rather hymn, is of Breviary, and very properly used in the diocese of the Theleme upon certain feast days. Yes, notably that of the Saints Comus and Hilarius, who, having nothing else to do, would have been cruelly martyred for the faith had they not contrariwise, as befits Christian men, be-martyred and banged to death their very persecutors in turn. It is a prose of the church militant, and is ascribed to Dun-Scotus, but is more probably of traditional origin. Compare the 'Hymn to the Ass', which all good Christian men should know."

Grizzlebeard:
'Nevertheless I doubt if it be for the strengthening of souls, but rather a bit of ribaldry, more worthy of the Martyrs' Mount which you may know, than of holy Sussex.'"

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Pelagian Heresy, Belloc
From: Joe Offer
Date: 03 Oct 00 - 09:17 PM

Ah, I've always had a soft spot in my heart for heretics. Churches need a good heresy every century or so - keeps 'em on their toes. Here's what's said about Pelagianism in the Encarta Encyclopedia

Pelagianism, in Christian theology, a rationalistic and naturalistic heretical doctrine concerning grace and morals, which emphasizes human free will as the decisive element in human perfectibility and minimizes or denies the need for divine grace and redemption. The doctrine was formulated by the Romano-British monk Pelagius, a man of considerable learning and austere moral character. About 390 he went to Rome, where, appalled by the lax morals of Roman Christians, he preached Christian asceticism and recruited many followers. His strict moral teaching had particular success in southern Italy and Sicily and was preached openly there until the death (circa 455) of his foremost disciple, Julian of Eclanum.

You can find the entire article here (click). I've always thought of Pelagianism as a rather benign heresy.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Pelagian Heresy, Belloc
From: Penny S.
Date: 04 Oct 00 - 01:29 PM

Compared with some aspects of the orthodoxy which opposed him, rather harmless, possibly even good?

Penny S. (reading about St Augustine of Hippo)