Song Meaning
This passage sets a scene of growing internal conflict within a community. The number of disciples is increasing, but this expansion brings a "grudge" and "grefe certayne" that renews daily. The core tension emerges from a specific division: "Amongst the Grekes, agaynst th'Hebrues." This suggests an ethnic or cultural rift is the root of the communal disharmony.
The central problem appears to be the mistreatment of widows from one group by the other. The lyrics state the "Grekes" are "dispisyng" the "Hebrues'" widows, actively refusing them aid in "daylye ministryng." This points to a deliberate and ongoing act of exclusion and neglect, fueling the underlying grudge.
The most striking aspect of the craft here is the direct, almost legalistic language used to describe the injustice. Phrases like "grudge arose and grefe certayne" and "Would not alowe, but them refuse" convey a sense of formal, established wrongdoing. The repetition of "dayly" emphasizes the persistent and systemic nature of this discrimination.
This writing is effective because it grounds a significant communal crisis in a very specific, human act of unkindness. The focus on the widows' plight makes the abstract "grudge" tangible and emotionally resonant. It highlights how even within a growing spiritual community, old divisions and prejudices can manifest in harsh, practical ways.
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