Cant. 6.11 My soule hath set me in the chariots of my noble people From my poore house at Halton-Holgate Your Lordships in all dutie and good affection most humble William Symonds TO THE CHRISTIAN READER DEare Christian Reader As the Prophet Esay in a case not altogether different so may I iustly exclaime Esai 53.1 VVho will beleeue our report and to whom is the arme of the Lord reuealed In the Old Testament the Prophets foretold of MESSIAS describing the time place and manner of his birth life passion death resurrection and ascension and foreshewing that the Builders or chiefe Rulers of the Church should refuse him being the head corner stone The learned Priests Pharisies and Princes of the Iewes read and studied these Prophecies hauing as good meanes for vnderstanding them in all likelihood as wit and learning could affoord and yet as the Apostle saith they fulfilled the voyces of the Prophets by putting Christ to death And why they were worldly minded proud ambicious Act. 3.18 and puffed vp with the opinion of their owne knowledge they had corrupted the truth with their owne deuices and in their blinde imagination framed vnto thēselues such a Messias that when the true Christ was come they could not know him they expected a great Monarch that should restore vnto them their earthly kingdome and the pleasures of the world meane while they crucified the true Sauiour and fulfilled all things that were written of him Onely a few fisher-men and certaine poore and abiect women followed Christ and beleeued in him Psal 25.14 for the secret of the Lord vvas reuealed to them that feared him In the New Testament in like manner Christ and his Apostles foreshew the comming of the Great ANTICHRIST they paint him out in his colours what manner of one he should be declaring the time place and manner of his birth life tyrannie pride ruine and condemnation and shewing that such as make greatest shew to the contrarie should be the chiefest actors in this tragedie The Pope his Cardinals his great Prelats and Doctors of all sorts reade and studie these Scriptures and are to a naturall mans conceit as likely to attaine the true sense of them as any other they talke much of the comming of this Monster and yet themselues play all the parts in this Tragedie And why so they are as proud as the Pharisies selfe-louers ambicious they haue corrupted the holy Scriptures with the leuen of their owne doctrine they haue their fabulous inuentions touching Antichrist so that they cannot know him They looke for an indiuiduall Tyrant a Jew borne of the Tribe of Dan who shall raigne but three yeeres and a halfe in Ierusalem and worke I know not what wonders meane time themselues indeede are that true Antichrist and haue almost fulfilled whatsoeuer is written of him O Lord hovv vnsearchable are thy iudgements that hast sent them strong delusion Rom. 11.33 2. Thess 2.11.12 Reuel 3.10 that they should beleeue lies That all they might be damned vvhich beleeue not the truth Onely a few poore and contemned people vvhich haue kept the vvord of patience haue been deliuered from that houre of temptation The Papists wonder at our confidence in this point and thinke the Reuelation to be so mystical that no certainty can be concluded thence But we wish them Reuel 1.3 Matth. 24.15 if euer they will enioy the blessing promised vnto the reader of that Booke that once againe they would reade and consider then happily may they learne that those things are hid from carnall and wicked men Reuel 1.1 Coloss 1.26.27 which are shevved vnto the Saints and seruants of God whereupon they may accuse their owne blindnes and examine whether themselues be the seruants of God that see not the hidden mysteries reuealed vnto the Saints and cease to make their grosse vnderstanding the rule and square of other mens knowledge For my owne part what elsewhere I haue written concerning the certaintie of my knovvledge herein I am so farre from acknowledging to be rashly spoken as that I thanke God euery day I am more and more confirmed therein as by sundrie other meanes so especially by reading this ensuing-Tractate and often conference with the Author thereof my louing friend of whose holy life graue and moderate cariage painfulnes in his ministerie manifold learning and rare vnderstanding of Propheticall Scriptures I shall not neede to speake any thing here least I be thought too partiall N B. only for thy sake Christian Reader I willingly acknowledge that I haue profited and learned more by reading one sheere of this GOLDEN-BOOKE than euer I could by all the Interpreters that I read on the Reuelation as thou maist also do if thou wilt vouchsafe attentiuely to reade ouer but the Authors Preface only with a single eye and docile minde The Lord direct all thy studies to the glorie of his holy name and thy owne soules health Farewell Thine euer in the Lord Gabriel Powel THE PREFACE OR INTRODVCTION WHEREIN THE AVTHOR DOTH HVMBLY SVBMIT THESE his labours vnto the godly and most iudicious censure of the right Reuerend Father in God RICHARD VAVGHAN Doctor of Diuinitie and Lord Bishop of London his very honourable good Lord. HOnorable and right reuerend Father as the mercie of God hath alvvaies abounded towards his Church in giuing her Propheticall Scriptures as a light that shineth in a darke place so verie seldome haue there been wanting godly Prophets who by diligent search haue so dressed these lights that they haue shined to all that were about them for their directions in the greatest mutations and difficulties For the most part vntill the time of the Apostles this kinde of studie was so frequent and familiar not onely to the good but also to the bad that many times it seemed Elisha was not dead 2. King 6.12 that tolde the words which the King spake in his priuie chamber Howbeit though neuer Church had prophecies so particular and plaine as this of Christ hath vnder the Gospell yet am I perswaded I speake at your Lordships correction that no age hath been so ignorant in the true vnderstanding of such as concerned their times as for of long after the Apostles the Christian Church hath been For as all the Prophecies of the New Testament which are many haue been esteemed difficult so this booke of the Reuelation hath been held impregnable Now it is a part of S. Pauls apologie to the Elders of Ephesus Act. 20.27 I haue shewed you all the counsel of God The diduction from thence bindeth all the Ministerie to endeuour the like aswell in Propheticall as Dogmaticall Scriptures I haue therefore somewhat laboured in this kinde but principally in this booke and that all praise be giuen to the Father of lights to mine owne satisfaction in such sort as that many godly men haue desired to communicate in my contentment herein 1. Cor. 14.32 But the Scripture commandeth that the Spirit of
the Prophets be subiect to the Prophets forbidding all to beleeue or teach any thing that will not endure the censure of the Prophets The rather ought I to subiect that which I haue done herein vnto your Lordships godly and learned censure as a Father among the Prophets because I haue laboured in this kinde in a different manner from the rest of the Interpreters If your Lordship like it I haue enough If you correct me Psal 141.5 where I erre though you smite me I will take it kindly and when any shall say vnto me What are these wounds in thy hands Zach. 13.6 I will answere Thus was I wounded in the house of my friends For the better direction of your Lordships graue and learned censure I will communicate some part of my thoughts herein for mine affectation of breuitie and other reasons of consequence haue caused me to suppresse many things of good importance When I first tooke the Booke in hand to studie it I saw it was generally accused by friend and foe for inextricable hardnes But when I read the text and saw the title to be a a cap. 1.1 Reuelation which is the b 1. Sam. 2.17 cleerest and plainest kinde of teaching the c cap. 1.2 Reader to be blessed and the Booke to be d cap. 22.10 vnsealed I durst not obiect any difficultie to the Booke but began to inquire how it came to passe that it was accompted so hard The phrase though strange in appearance is meerely propheticall The method though closely couched is very Logicall Wherefore the fault must be laid elsewhere and not vpon the Booke that it seemeth so darke and difficult The reasons of the hardnes vpon diligent consideration I resolued were these amongst others First the iudgements of men haue been of long so forestalled with the doctrine that the signes of the latter day are come that the Interpreters haue laboured to finde the accomplishment of the Booke in the stories past But because many things were not yet fulfilled they knew not where they were when they tooke the booke in hand They that in this age doe straine their wits to see who can bring first newes of Christs last comming besides that they obscure this booke they would haue vs to breake the commandement of Christ when many shall say Luk. 21.8 The time draweth neere doth enioyne vs thus Follow ye not them therefore As also to violate the rule of the Apostle which is not to be troubled by any deceit 2. Thess 2.1.2 as if the day of Christ were at hand till Antichrist haue all things fulfilled vpon him which are written in this Reuelation S. Peter seemeth to giue the reason when he sheweth that the vntimely vrging of the last comming of Christ 2. Pet. 2.3.4 would be the mother of Atheisme Secondly when many doe vndertake to interpret the booke they misse in the first foundation of their labour For whereas it is most euident that the booke is meerely propheticall foreshewing the particulars of things present and to come some of the Writers haue fled from this ground vpon which onely there can be a safe building set vp and haue laboured to make it Dogmaticall containing certaine points of doctrine handled before more largely and more plainly in the rest of the Scriptures which cannot be affirmed without some aduantage to the enemies of the truth nor without some misbeseeming imputations to the holie Ghost by whose direction the booke is written Thirdly many doe labour to make the booke an Ecclesiasticall Historie from the birth or preaching or ascension of Christ but mistaking the time when to begin they put the whole storie cleane out of ioynt Besides by that proiect they commit this absurditie to say that the things which were spoken and done in the eares and eyes of all men in the time of Christ and his Apostles were in the time of S. Iohn so closely sealed Cap. 5.3 as that none in heauen nor in earth nor vnder the earth was able to open them nor looke thereon Fourthly some of the Interpreters haue laboured to reduce the Seales Trumpets and Phials to certaine numbers of yeeres but seeing the text in many places doth giue vs the knowledge of the visions by the onely diuersitie of the mutations which befall the Church wee may not tie our selues to numbers but onely where the text doth bound the mutations with numbers Fiftly when as godly men had truly found that the tyrannie and corruptions of the Church of Rome are liuely described in some parts of the booke they haue also laboured to applie all the texts to Rome which doe containe the description and properties of the enemies of the Church But because in the booke is also handled of other enemies besides that the booke is obscured by this course the enemie is aduantaged that espieth our weaknes and the propheticall spirit is very much preiudiced which being more generall is wronged by restraint Sixtly the Historians who in the iudgements of all men are to be best helpes first haue bin carelesse in setting downe the exact times of the occurrences which they write of so that somtimes it is worke more than enough to agree them And then they haue rather consulted with their friends than with S. Iohn for the heads of their obseruations For the most of them doe labour rather to magnifie their Patrones and to set a glasse vpon a faction than to deliuer the truth Hereby it commeth to passe that hee that readeth most of them shall be sure to finde much wearines to the flesh howsoeuer he may happily here and there finde a wise and vpright sentence Seuenthly there hath been found no age till of late so free from ostentation and selfe-loue but that the leaders of the times haue made it as good as mortall to reprooue the monstrous conditions of the time which are liuely described here by the true interpretation of this booke so that vpon paine of death it must be made to speake nothing at all or any thing rather than against the time whatsoeuer be the truth Eightly some also haue not let to blaspheme this kinde of studie as phantasticall and curious containing either verie little or that which God hath put in his owne and onely power and that no doctrine can be enforced out of Scriptures of this kinde Lastly these things together with the multitude of bookes to be read which neither pouertie can prouide nor weaknes studie and the want of due conference of this booke with the former prophecies to whom it sendeth his reader I take to be some of the effectuall reasons which haue impeached the labours of many herein It remaineth now that I giue an accompt how I am perswaded that the proiect which I haue laid is the onely true and easie meanes of vnderstanding the booke First the text doth say that it serueth to shew the things cap. 1.1 which must shortly be done Whereupon I
conclude THE THINGS DONE ARE THE BOOKE Wherefore of force it doth follow that the visions may and onely must be enlightened by the carefull application of ALL the Ecclesiasticall histories vnto them Secondly the things are shewed to the seruants of God Then must the seruants of God tell vs what they haue seene if we meane to know them And so we despise the iudgements of them in this booke which persecute the seruants of God be they otherwise for learning as profound as the diuell Thirdly the time was at hand of the prophecie For S. Iohn was to write the things which were in action cap. 1.9 cap. 1.19 at the time of his writing and the things which were to come afterwards Wherefore without all question the booke was to begin when it was first published Vpon these three grounds I am bold to conclude that The booke is a perfect Ecclesiasticall historie NB. The argument of the Reuelation shewed to the seruants of God containing whatsoeuer is materiall in the Church from the time of the being of S. Iohn in Patmos to the end of the world So that nothing of importance can bee found in the Christian world which may not be referred to some part of this booke as to his proper head from whence it is to receiue testimonie whether it be true or false and also such due consideration and censure that it must be esteemed to be good or bad according as the booke doth iudge Of which my assertion I find not any of the Interpreters greatly to doubt yet none of thē that I know hath attempted to see how he can make the text and all stories of importance so to agree that the collection of the mutations with their causes and effects may seeme worthie the holy Ghost Wherefore though I doe acknowledge my selfe euery way the most vnfit of all others yet rather than it should be vndone I haue thought good to gesse at it as well as God hath enabled me with the small Librarie and other meane helpes which my poore estate would affoord me Your Lordship may not looke here for a perfect Analysis and interpretation of the whole booke for that is a worke for a iust and full Commentarie which here I promise not but haue onely minded a generall disposing of the text for the storie and therefore was not to be diligent either in the preparations to the visions or in the Scriptures not yet accomplished What I thinke of the rest not greatly touched here as of the first fiue Chapters containing the things which were in hand in the time of S. Iohn and a preparation to that which was to follow what of the sixt and seuenth Phials c. which import the confederacie of both religions against the incursions of the Turkes the great incredible and fearfull stirres that are yet to be betweene the Romanists and the godly and of the diuision of the Papists among themselues and what of the rest of the prophecie which containeth the golden and happie daies of the Church and the new troubles which shall arise when Antichrist is cast into hell of the precise computation of the time of as many of these things as is to be made by the power of the text I hope it will not be looked for here because the nature of this Treatise doth not require it yet happily by the blessing of God may hereafter appeare if none doe better preuent me which I much desire That which I say my selfe is that by this proiect I haue bin able readily to reduce all stories of importance to their certaine heads of the Reuelation and to see the drifts and deuices of many writers and some other persons before I saw the particulars in themselues And also to gesse trulie before hād of the future effects of some things which for any thing I could perceiue were in mans reason to fall out otherwise That which I haue done I submit in the feare of God not onely vnto your Lordship but also vnto all such godlie Fathers and brethren of the Ministerie who in the feare of God doe handle or regard his word For the ignorant as I doe much desire their edification so I neglect their censures The scornefull reiections of the malicious and enemie that neglecteth and with scoffing cauils and railings maligneth whatsoeuer doth not make for his phantasie and partialitie I esteeme as such reproofes as I will weare for a garland As for the harsh phrase and haste in translations seeing I seeke matter whether digested or congested the godly will excuse That which I would first admonish the diligent Reader of is this The booke hath a double method First is set down the drift of God in disposing the things of the Church in the manner which he hath done and this reacheth from the beginning to the end of the eleuenth chapter Secondly is shewed the drift of the Diuell in his proceedings against the Church in the twelfth and thirteenth chapters and part of the twentith chapter The rest to the end is an interpretation of such things as were briefly touched in some former chapters In my Treatise I haue for shortnes and cleerenes ioyned both the methods in one and put the interpretations into the places for which they serue The next thing I would admonish is that I haue diuided this Treatise into seuerall periods and chapters not according to the chapters of the booke but according to the diuersitie of the mutations Thirdly that in gathering of the stories I haue not tied my selfe to the whole discourse word for word for it would haue growne to too great a volume but haue briefed them for case And where I thinke the Authors censure of the times doth agree with the text I keepe it Where the writer by ignorance or partialitie doth misse in his discerning I take the briefe of the storie and passe by his opinion excepting in some very few places plain enough to be discerned Furthermore where the Historians in their bookes doe follow the succession of yeeres and persons I hold it sufficient to name the author committing the reader to the easie direction of the yeere and person but where any thing might seeme combersome to finde I haue bin more plaine giuing readie helpe to such as haue bookes of the same edition which I followed Thus leauing my labour not onely to the touchstone but also to the test I pray for your Lordships happines and the edification of the Church of God Your Lordships most humble in all Christian obedience William Symonds A TABLE OF SVCH AVTHORS AS ARE CITED IN THIS BOOKE A ABbatis Vrsper Chronicon fol. Basil 1569. Ambrosii epistolae fol. Basil 1516. Thomas Aquinas Richardi Armachani defensorium curatorum 4o. Augustinus de Ciuitate Dei. fol cum annotationibus Ludouici Viuis Basil 1522 Augustinus de haeresibus per Danaeum 8o. Auenarii Dictionarium Hebraeum fol. B BAsilicon Doron 8o. Robertus Barnes de vitis pontificum 8o. Wittebergae 1536.
Anno. 369. Damasus got the seate by schisme so that the c Ruff. 2. 10. place of prayer did swim with the blood of the slaine d Danaeus in Aug. de haeres p. 259. ex Ammiano 137 carcasses of men were found in one day He e Fox Marty grew proud by a f Soz 7 4. rescript of Gratian who required that religion to bee held which Peter the Prince of the Apostles deliuered and Damasus obserued at Rome For Damasus wrote to g Caranza f. 85. b. Stephanus and an Archbishop and to the three Councels of Africa that the iudgement of the causes of Bishops and all matters of great-importance may not be determined but by the authoritie of the Apostolike seate Thus did the beast rise out of the earth But in h 1. Conc. Const can 1.2 Caranza his time it was contrarily decreed that no Bishop should confound the authoritie of bishoprickes by intermedling in another diocesse to dispose of Ecclesiasticall causes He also decreed that none should i Dist 17. huic sedi presume to vsurpe the things which were graunted to that seate k cap. 24.9.1 hac est fides It is said that to him Ierom wrote that whosoeuer should blame the faith commended by the Church of Rome should shew himselfe vnskilfull malicious and no catholike but an heretike l Plat. 〈…〉 He abolished the ancient translation of the Bible which was made by the Septuaginâ— and then was in great estimation and brought into the Church the writings of Ierome and many songs as hauing the horne of the eye of wisedome like the Lambe But it was contrarily m Con. Laâ—d can 69. Caranza decreed that no Psalmes or songes made by vulgar persons should be vsed in the Church nor any bookes read in the Church which are not of the Canonicall Scriptures of the old and new testament In this Popes time was decreed that n Con. Valen. what Clergie man confessed any mortal sinne of himselfe should be deposed an instruction for vnchaste priests * 4. Caranza Anno 388. si non castè c. Siricius the first ordained that o Berg. 9. priests should be ordered onely by Bishops In his time it was decreed that euery p 3. Con. Carth. can 49. Ecclesiasticall person that purchased any lands c. should conferre it vpon the Church It seemeth that Bishops affected very high titles For to take downe the pride of such it was decreed that q Ibid. can 26. no Bishop of the first seate should be called Princeps sacerdotum or summus sacerdos but onely the Bishop of the first seate This Pope a Plat. Berg. expelled from Ecclesiasticall offices all Clergie men that maried a widow or second wife and decreed b Cara. f. 90. b. that no Clergie man should haue knowledge of his wife because it is written those which dwell in the c Rom. 8.8 flesh cannot please God Agreeing herein with the heresies of the Maniches and superstition of the Gothes that d Stra. 7. p. 205. 206. would haue their religious persons without wiues But this his decree is contrarie to the Gangrene Councell which accuseth such as e D. 30. si quiâ— nuptiaâ— accuse the marriage bed as a let to the kingdome of heauen Innocentius the first is said to haue excommunicated the f Geneb Emperor Archadius Anno. 406. and by his Epistle to haue depriued Eudoxia the Empresse from her dignitie He as an Heracleonite decreed that g Caran f. 15â— all persons in their deadly and extreame sicknesses should be anoynted with oyle hallowed by Bishops That priests should iudge of the qualitie of the offence and penitence of men and at their discretion dismisse them He instituted the kissing of the Pax that all men might declare their consent to that which was done He after the heresie of the h Ponet Apol. pag. 105. Cataphrygians and Montanus who feigned himselfe to be the holy Ghost ordained that the custome of no Church is to be followed in diuine mysteries or doing of things but onely the Church of Rome It seemeth hee would haue Rome say as sometimes Babylon said I i Isai 47.10 am c. none else vnto whom may be said as to the Cataphrygians came k 1. Cor. 14.36 See epist Ath. 1. in Soc. 2. 29. the word of God from you or came it to you alone In his time Rome was taken by the Gothes At the instance of the African Councell he condemned the heresie of Pelagius Anno 421. Zosimus sent l Chro. Chro. Faustinus a Bishop to the Councell at Carthage to tell them that nothing ought to be done publikely without the Bishop of Rome He absolued m Fox Marty Concilium Aphricanum Apiarius an Aphrican without any examination when he stood excommunicate by an Aphrican Councell And wrote to the Bishops of Aphrica commaunding them to receiue this Apiarius by him so absolued into their communion Pretending that the Bishop of Rome had authoritie to commaund graunted vnto him by the Councell of Nicea Thus farre was the beast risen out of the earth The African Bishops sent into the East for the originall copies of the Niceau Councel by which they found the Pope to be an impostor Whereupon they doe decree that he that is n Caranza Com. Mileuit Can. 18.22 excommunicate may appeale to the Primates and Councels of his owne prouince but he that appealeth beyond the seas shall be receiued into no communion a Concil Aphr. And the African Councell wrote to Caelestine who succeeded Zosimus requiring him to bring into the Church no such foggie types of the world Bonifacius the first got possessed the seate by b Volat. schisme Anno 423. In his time are cited the stories of c Chro. Chro. Euphrosina and Marina women who tooke on them mens apparell and entred into monasteries amongst men which though it were contrarie to the d D. 30. si qua mulier Gangrene Councell yet are they called e Pet. de Nat. Anno 426. Saints Calestinus commaunded all Clergie men to studie the f Volat. Canon law As yet it seemeth it was not commaunded that the Clergie should haue diuers apparell from the people but that it began by some to be brought in For thus writeth Caelestinus of the Clergie They are to g Caranza f. 130. a. be distinguished from the people by doctrine not by apparell by conuersation not by attires by puritie of minde not by clothing c. which I see not how it standeth with that which Genebrarde saith h Geneb p. 530. that Stephanus the first instituted priests garments c. Anno 257. Sixtus the third deposed Polytronius i Gobel at 6. cap. 25. p. 169. Bishop of Ierusalem because he affirmed himselfe to be vniuersall Bishop Anno 434. to depose in these dayes signified to pronounce deposed k
14.3 the throne and before the foure beastes before the Elders that is in the Church before God the father the sonne and the holy Ghost before the glorious Cherubins and before the faithfull and holy gouernors of the Church This doth signifie the good and most Christian Councels which were held before the Lord and his Angels by the authority of godly and religious Princes and by the assistance of the faithfull Bishops and Ministers of the word For g Caranza vnder Theodosius was held a Councel against the Nestorians And also the Carthaginian Mileuitan and Aurasican Councels were held against the Pelagians The Affrican h Melan. 3. Epist Aug. Councel wrote vnto Innocentius the Bishop of Rome and exhorted him that he would also disallow the errors sprung vp at Rome and would not suffer them to spread any further Vnder Martianus was held a Councell at Chalcedonia against the Eutychians i Geneb p. 64â— In the yeare of Christ 552. was held a Councell at Constantinople against certaine heretickes and to confirme the foure generall Councels A heauenly harmonie of holy harpers The song which those Fathers and Councels did sing is somewhat darke to be vnderstood For no man a cap. 14.3 could learne the song but the 144,000 which were bought froÌ„ the earth to wit those faithfull witnesses which are not earthly minded For as it is said of some of Augustines latter bookes that he hath sometimes vnproper b Melan. 3. de Eccl post Vol. 3. speeches but if they be wel fauourably iudged of they containe the very truth so may it be said of the rest because the iniquitie of the time enforced them to speake with as little offence to the impietie of men as possibly might be c. The flight of the woman in these troublesome times was by flying to carrie her selfe cleane out of the c cap. 12.14 sight of the Serpent For the countries now d Geneb p. 5â—â— made newely kingdomes were conuerted afterwards e Sabel In Affrica in the time of Gensericus the Church was cleane extinguished the Bishops which maintained the trueth beeing fledde and banished for euer and so by other tyrants in other places From hence the Church is fledde from the presence of the Serpent and is mingled for a time times and halfe a time that is 1260. yeares there beeing many godly men amongst the diuellish tyrants and hereticks which they doe not see not know of yet there is the Church The successe is diuers in the Church and Empire and also concerning these strangers By this inundation of these barbarous f cap. 13.3 nations that one head of the beast was as wounded to death by the sword that is the Romane Empire in the West was cleane ouerthrowne rent and torne g Geneb p. 609 Germanie Dacia Sarmatia Spaine Britaine and France doe altogether fall away from the Empire to the vtter h Melan. 3. ruine of the Empire The office also of i Sabel E. 8. l. 1 Consuls ceased in Rome in the yeare 560. k Geneb p. 641. In the space of 142. or rather 150 yeares l 642. Rome the tamer of mankinde and castle of all nations did sustaine many casualties by the iudgement of God that it might seriously slide to the hands of the Church whose head as some thinke it ought to be and to that vse should be built againe from the foundation For after that Rome was spoiled by Alaricus armie in the age of Augustine and Hierome anon it was wasted by the Vandals within 44. yeares After that 22. yeares by Odoacer and his Heruli Againe after 14. yeares by Theodoricus and his Ostrogothes Furthermore after 50. yeares it was taken by Belifarius At last it came into extreame miserie by Totilas the reliques of the Gothes after 12. yeares And a Hist an t ex Egna p. 426. the maiestie of the Romane name * cum p. 468. ex Paul Diaco 6. qu. Buchol Ann. 476. by the flight of Augustulus the last of the Caesars of the * Vid hist anti ex Paulo Diac. p. 468. Romane nation renowned for the seruice of the gods did fall and was cleane ouerthrowne that as shee was wont to triumph ouer the whole world so now there is no nation so fierce and barbarous which doth not repaie the iniurie done to them or their auncestrie For in Augustulus b Carion f. 143. the Empire of the Augusti in Italie perished and ended They lost their c Sab. E. 8. l. 5. language at Rome The Romane ciuill lawes were as exiles d Geneb p. 914 from hence for the space of 600. yeares c. But the earth helpe the woman and the earth e cap. 12.16 opened her mouth and swallowed vp the flood which the Dragon had cast out of his mouth that is the countries into which these strangers made incursion swallowed them vs. For these strangers did content themselues to be mixed with the naturall inhabitants f Saâ—el â—n â— l. 5. of the countries into which they came The Gothes which remained in Italie degenerating into the name of Italians in Spaine into Spaniards leauing onely in diuers places some places of their names which keepe their memory And of them arose certaine kingdomes bearing the names of the places where they were for the most part The successe that these strangers found was first that their power was limited For * cap. 9.5 â— their power was to hurt fiue months that is an hundred and fiftie yeare For a moneth g Erasm Remâ— in tab Prâ—t according to the account of the Hebrewes Aegyptians and Astronomers containeth 30. daies and so fiue moneths amount to 150. daies which counting a h Ezech. 4.6 day for a yeare after the maner of the scripture commeth to 150. yeare For from the time that Rhadagasus first entred which was in i Carion the yeare 405. vnto the k Sabel death of Teias the last of these strangers that afflicted the Empire which was l Geneb p. 643 in the yeare 555. is precisely 150. yeare And though the people did still continue yet the kingdome name power and Empire of the Gothes were rooted out of Italie And so in other places this number of 150. yeares is in a manner a fatall limit to such as make incursions into the countries of others Secondly they that for 150. yeare could be brought vnder no mans power were in the ende afterwards made the subiects of Antichrist m Strab. 7. And as before they came they were subiect vnto their Priest which liued in an inaccessible cell as an angel of the bottomlesse pit who did euer set them to make incursion vpon their neighbours as Abaddon or Apollyon a destroyer so n cap. 9.11 now they had a King set ouer them which is that Angel of the bottomlesse pit whose o Dan. 7. name in Hebrew is Abaddon and in
vs to thinke that when the Popes doe curse Princes and their clients in their iudiciall proceedings and written bookes doe impute many impieties and euils to those that by the profession of the Gospell are their aduersaries these reproofes are but causeles reproaches blasphemies slaunders and lies So that still in them the diuell doth accuse the brethren as he did in the times of the heathen Emperors and Arian heretikes He doth also abuse the great authoritie which is giuen him to f cap. 13.7 Make warre with the saints namely both by persecutions when they doe submit themselues and by armes when they stand for their liues Herein following the heathen Emperors and g Theod. 2. 14. Soc. 2. 22. 23. 30. Eus 15. 1. Arian Princes whose image they be The seueritie of discipline which he hath found out is in cruell lawes of confiscation of life and goods To this purpose first h cap. 13.15 is giuen to him the Pope that false Prophet to giue life vnto the image of the beast the popish ecclesiasticall Monarchie in the hands of Bishops and popish Princes for vnto this time the Papacie was subiect to Princes and for their lewde conditions were so seuerely kept in awe that they were but dead hearted But henceforth they by the Popes meanes take vnto themselues stoute stomacks And by their stoutnes get power i cap. 13.15 that the image of the beast the popish Hierarchie should speake and make such lawes as vnder which both Prince and people should bee subiect Their first lawe is confiscation of life to k Ibid. cause that as many as would not worship the beast the popish ecclesiasticall Monarchie should be killed By this it appeareth that howsoeuer by any necessitie the Papists doe promise and sweare peace obedience and subiection to Princes or giue faith and safe conduct to others yet the resolution concluded vpon and drifted is when time and place shall serue after the example of l Curio lib. 1. Mahomet by all manner of meanes to kill Prince and people that are any impediment to their religion or tyrannie For this is a monster compounded of three such beasts as cannot be tamed by any arte of man Yea the manner of their killing is beastlike for as they fill their bellies gase on the rest and doe not suffer any thing of their pray to lye hid in the earth No more doth this popish beast suffer them that they haue slaine to be put in a cap. 11.9 graues nor any moniments but gase and stare vpon them exposing them to all men as an vnnaturall spectacle contrarie to the holy captaine Ioshuah b Iosh 8.29 and 10 27. who c Deut. 21.23 according to the lawe would not haue his enemies hang any longer than sunset and then cast heapes of stones vpon them for a memoriall The second lawe is confiscation of goods d cap. 13.17 that no man might buie or sell saue he that hath one of his three priuiledges which are these first The marke of the beast secondly The name of the beast thirdly The number of his name e Polychronicon lib. 4. cap. 25. Such kinde of lawes made the heathen persecutors against those Christians that refused their superstitions A marke or character doth signifie such signatures as men vse to brandon f Columella lib. 11. cap. 1. distinguish sortes of beasts from another or a mans owne from other mens * Geneb 〈◊〉 â—8 737. Such doe the Mahumetanes vse to set vpon men The Papists haue many sorts of them as crosses granae benedicta holy water chrisme and diuers other such superstitious signioles By many of them they distinguish as with a brand their faction from others Herein they follow the steps of the g Sozom. 7. 17 Arians whose image they be for they vsed secret markes in their letters when they seriously commended any to be receiued into communion amongst them Of this marke it is said particularlie that h cap. 13.16 he namely the Popish ecclesiasticall Hierarchie made all both small and great rich and poore free and bend to receiue a marke or character in their right hands or foreheads This is cleerely to be seene in the popish Church For first since their lawe of confirmation was made i Polyd. Inuen 5. 3. the Bishop with the Chrisme doth signe the partie in the forehead with the character of the crosse And secondly since they made their new office or sacerdotall thus they make their catechumine k Ordo faciendi Catechumenum The childe or partie is brought to the Church dores where the Priest maketh a crosse with his thumbe on the forehead of the childe saying Signum saluatoris domini nostri Iesu Christi in frontem tuam pono And at the fonte the Priest maketh the signe of the crosse in the right hand of the childe c. saying Trade tibi signaculum domini nostri Iesu Christi in manu tua dextra Yea so carefull are they this way that if any trauaile amongst them in his pasport they mention some marke of their face or hand c. as cum cicatrice in vola dextrae manus c. or some such like The word l Calepini in Nomen Name amongst the humane writers of the time in which Saint Iohn did write doth signifie glorie estimation a faction Then the phrase interpreted by the Gentiles whom this beast doth imitate doth signifie that none may buy or sell but such as will receiue glorie and estimation from him and be of his faction or make payment of money to him c. Specially by his Name are ment the Bulls and letters patents of the Popes which from this time especially begin with the Popes name Vnder the priueledge of the Popes Bull Turkes Iewes Mores c. may buy and sell though they doe not submit themselues to their superstitions by taking the marke of the beast The word Number among humane writers doth signifie diuerse orders states and degrees c. Then they may not buie c. That will not take any order in the popish Ecclesiasticall Monarchie Hitherto belong the orders of Knights Souldiers Friers c. with all these seuerall rankes of them that serue to aduance his greatnes Particularly it is said of his number a cap. 13.18 Let him that hath wit count the number of the beast for it is the number b Numerus hominis for numerus humanus an hebraisme of man peculiarly seruing to number men by and his number is sixe hundred sixtie sixe By this number 666. c Geneb p. 656 Genebrard d Reg in hunc locum and Nicolaâ—is Zegerus two Docters of the Church of Rome doe vnderstand the Militarie number of the ancient Romane Legion vnto which they say Saint Iohn doth allude to note that Antichrist here spoken of is a Legionarie Martial and bloudie king which doth establish his lawes not by preaching but by force and
armes This interpretation seemeth to bee most to the purpose For the Cohortes of the Romane legion were e Geneb p. 5. 59 called Numeri So were the f Exempla Plinij orders of Tribunes and the Leaders of a legion g Geneb p. 656 were 666. Namely h Vegetius Polybius c. 600. Decurians 60. Centurians and six Tribunes Yea there is none of the propositions which can bee made by the connexion of this word Number to any part of the sentence where it is mentioned in this prophecie but it may bee iustified by this interpretation For example to bee a souldier for the Pope is a priuiledge to buy and sell and maketh him capable of the greatest grace the Church of Rome can giue It is the number of man It is i cap. 15.2 a number ouer which the victorie may be got And as to be of a legion was peculiar to such as fought for Rome so now these souldiers are for the Church of Rome Lastly as a Vegetius lib. 2. cap. 19 in a Roman legion were schooles which required learned and wittie souldiers for the condition of the whole legion their seruices and Militarie numbers c. or paiements were more diligently written in actes then any other affaires so in poperie Let him that hath wit count the Militarie number of the beast for the seruices done for the honour and aduauncement of that policie are most carefully written vp euen in their Legend or catalogue of saints where none els doth come be he neuer so good Thus is the beast now in his pride furnished with hornes like the Lambe accounted the Vicar of Christ. He spaketh like the Dragon for terror blasphemie and doctrine of diuels he exerciseth the power of the first beast before him playing the part of an Emperor before his face admirable for deceitfull signes and lying miracles done by sorcerie and the power of the diuell Now doth he publish decrees capitall lawes and hath all priueledges of earth Purgatorie and Heauen to bestowe at his pleasure How fearefull then must be his thundrings and how bloodie his warres The Lambe who hitherto as opportunitie serued l cap. 6.2 c. warred against his enemies by the word the sworde famine pestilence c. doth still continue the same kinde of oppositions when it seemes good He also continueth to m cap. 9.13 c vexe the remnant for idolatrie murther theft fornication c. as in former times He further had vexed this Antichristian beast taking possession of the people and soyle by ciuill Princes in whom a cap. 10.3 c. he roared as a Lion as also by his two b cap. 11.3 c witnesses But now as the diuell hath aduanced the malice and greatnes of this beast so the Lambe Christ Iesus doth declare himselfe more mightie in his oppositions The ciuill Princes doe labour to keepe their authoritie and possession doe bring to light the truth of that which the thunders haue spoken deliuer the booke of the word of God to such poore Preachers as doe make a conscience of the same and are ready to suffer for it In the prophecie of discouering the truth of that which the confused and tumultuous thunders haue spoken c cap. 10.4 are these things to be considered First a desire of those of the spirit of Saint Iohn to record them as they were as he saith I was about to write them plainely for euery man to vnderstand Secondly the impediment that hindred the cleare deliuerie which was that all wise men and godly as by a voyce from heauen aduised by reason of the perils of the times to seale vp those things which the seuen thunders haue spoken truely reporting them but couered ouer with parables c. as Prophets doe the visions which are not to be vnderstoode of all Hereupon it is that the histories of these later times doe deliuer the trueth yet in such sort as very fewe can picke it out by them the face of the storie looking one way and the trueth another way Thirdly the Lord Iesus in the person of this Angell presenting the ciuill Magistracie d cap. 10.5.6 sweareth not by Idols nor supposed saints as the idolatrous beast doth but by him that liueth for euer and created all things that the time should neuer more be so perilous as then but that in the dayes of the seuenth Angell that conuerteth Kings to the gospell the mysterie of God in bringing Antichrist into the world shall be finished when it shall be as lawfull for men to preach and write the plaine trueth as euer it was declared by the seruants of God the Prophets As concerning the deliuerie of the booke of Gods word to Preachers first it is said that all godly men perceiuing a better course to consume Antichrist by than to write his storie plaine doe as e cap. 10 8. a voyce from heauen bid those of the spirit of Saint Iohn to leaue the huge volumes of Legends decrees and decretals c. and goe and take the booke of the Scriptures which is open in the Angels hand presenting the Magistracie though it be shut to all others Hereupon godly men which suffered tribulation as Saint Iohn did in Patmos doe by humble petition craue f cap. 10.9 that the Angell standing as proprietarie vpon the sea and earth gouerning people and countries would giue them the little booke of the word of God This petition is graunted but in this manner The Princes bid the Preachers g Ibid. take the booke the Bible and so studie it that they seeme to eate it vp Howbeit such are the times as yet they forewarne that the word though sweete in their mouthes as honey shall be bitter as gall in their bellies h Ezech. 2.8 3.1.14 Ier. 4.19 as to other Prophets For the word is sweete to speake and heare but when the wickednes of the times will not imbrace it but like Lions Panthers Beares c. bloodily persecute it the Preachers haue iust i cap. 11.3 cause to mourne in their bowels The two witnesses haue the courts giuen vnto them by the Angell that is are acknowledged to be the true visible church In those daies the Church is visible in the persecuted and called to preach there by the ciuill Magistrate A holy and sufficient calling in the time of these confusions Neither is it required that they haue the Canonicall admission of the popish Antichristian beast Then is the publike face of Christian religion iustly esteemed the courts of the house of God for their presence there in persecution and not for the soueraigntie of the popish Gentiles The testimonie of these witnesses is giuen a cap. 14.4 c. by innocencie of life and by preaching of their innocencie first it is saide These are they that are not defiled with women by whoredomes adulteries c. As are those which folow the popish beast but do
flagitious for Sodomie and most filthie Idolatry and superstition Their colours were white with a red crosse The Knights of the order of Calatraue were ordained about Toledo in Spaine their vow was to defend the countrie against the Saracens their colours were blacke a crosse red The Knight of the order called Teutonici began somewhat after They gaue entertainement to such as came to visit the sepulcher and vowed to fight for the Christian faith when neede should be p Geneb p. 208. In a Councell at Rhemes the q Fris 7. 15. 18. Pope excommunicated the Emperor at the request of the Archbishop of Mogunce whereupon arose a new schisme and the Empire is againe troubled Wherefore the Empire being exceeding worne the Emperor seeing the Princes forsake him because of the excommunication fearing his fathers example in some a Trith p. 144. Vrsp p. 267. sort resigneth to the Popes their desires and so is absolued and in a small time finisheth his warres and subdueth his rebels Of the deposition of these Emperors Abbas Vrspergensis b Pag. 273. saith that though the Popes doe ascribe these things to themselues and doe glory that they haue done it yet doe we obserue that such things haue fallen rather by the iudgement of God for the sinnes of the Emperors c. c Geneb p. 908. Calixtus taketh the Antipope and maketh him ride on a Camel in a Beares skinne closeth him in an abbey and so was ended this great schisme and this second Thunder Pomerania is conuerted to Christ Anno 1125. Honorius the second about d Abb. Vrsp p. 271. Mass 9.16 p. 22. 7. 8. Trith p. 141. this time were fearefull tempests strange and prodigious sights horrible famine fearefull earthquakes and lamentable mortalities and the Emperor Henry the fifth dieth After whom was chosen Lotharius who had shewed himselfe a great friend of the Popes in his warres by which he subdued Henricus the fift e Peuc 4. p. 353. c. Against him stood vp Conradus of the line of Henricus the fourth but partly by the meanes of Albertus the Archbishop of Mogunce and the Popes Legate for the Pope doth now intrude himselfe into the election of the Emperours and f Trith p. 156. partly by meanes of the Pope hee excommunicated Conradus after a few troubles Conradus craueth fauour and g Vrsp p. 277. is admitted into grace by the mediation of Bernardus who was after called Saint In the time of this Pope h Trith Hirs p. 157. Arâ—â—lphus a deuoute man and an excellent preacher came to Rome preached against the wantonnesse luxurie couetousnesse and pride of the Clergie foretolde they would kill him for the truth that they were so wicked that if S. Peter should rise againe and reprooue them for their sinnes they would not spare him He also foretolde them that God would not spare their impurities That they went in all filthinesse before their people to hell That God was the auenger And proposed the examples of Christ his Apostles to follow The author saith he was sent by an Angel to preach Himselfe saith he preached the things which God commanded He seemed to the Nobles of Rome a true disciple of Christ but the Cardinals and Clergie hated him by night drowned him i Geneb p. 909. There was at the same time about Antwerpe one Tandemus or * Trith p. 155. Tauchelinus who by the assistance of 3000. taught and enforced diuers doctrines against the Church of Rome as that the Sacrament did not conferre grace by the worke done and against the orders of Bishops and Priests c. Many soule things are ascribed vnto him by Genebrard c. But no maruel when now k cap. 13.6 The beast doth open his mouth to blaspheme God and his tabernacle them that dwell in heauen So that none can be opposite to them whom they doe not blasphemously loade with slanderous imputations Ann 1130. Innocentius l Mass 16. p. 220. the second was driuen out of Rome by certaine seditious persons that chose another Pope and m Geneb p. 913 laboured to reduce the citie to the ancient manner of gouernment The n Vrsp p. 277. Pope came to Lotharius the Emperour to Leiden for helpe who required the Pope to restore to the Emperour the inuestitute of Bishops The Pope was troubled but by the meanes of Bernard all was quieted The Emperour a Trith p. 162. went into Italie subdued many forts that resisted him entred Rome restored Innocentius and was crowned Emperour In Italie Iernerus b Peuc 4. p. 360. 361. gouerned in places subiect to the Empire who hauing got the ancient Romane lawes perswaded Lotharius to digest them and require them to bee professed which was done and so the c Geneb p. 913 914. Romane lawes which had exiled more than sixe hundred yeares were restored * Carion f. 190 a. whereby the knowledge of the latine tongue historie and all the ancient Romane learning encreased marueilously vpon a suddaine These examples were to those that feared d cap. 10.8 God as a voice from heauen saying goe take the little booke of the word of God which is open in the hand of the angell to deuoure it or vnderstand it also throughout At this time was e Trith p. 168. one Petrus Abailardus a man of a most subtile wit a marueilous Philosopher who f Bernard epist 189. did oppose himselfe as a Golias against diuers doctrines then taught g Geneb p. 915. 916. 917. as of the descending of Christ into hell the sacrament of the altar of the power of the keâ—s of originall sinne vnto whom was ioyned Arnoldus de Brixia a man of a strict and vpright conuersation He wrot diuers books and challenged the learnedst and by name Bernard to dispute before the Bishops and King c. he appealed from the Councel to the Pope and hoped of many friends at Rome c. There are also obiected vnto him diuers heresies for which hee was condemned by the Pope but the iniquitie of the time and partialitie of the reports doe weaken those imputations For h Frisin gest Frid. 1. 48. 49. he made his Apologie in which he defendeth his innocencie and expounded his own meaning i Geneb p. 9.16 Also Petrus de Bruis had many that followed his opinion differing from the Romanes in the doctrine of the sacrament and were spread abroad in diuers countries as in Thâ—lâ—sa c. There were also such as were called Apostolicall which taught the liues of men were to be framed after the doctrine of the Apostles they denied the Masse to be a sacrifice as also Berâ—ngarius did c. They held k Bernard Cant. serm â— 6. against reall presence praier for the dead inâ—ocation of Saluts oyle chrisme Ecclesiasticall excommunication peregrination the fire of purgatorie and all ecclesiasticall constitutions not commanded in the word
of God Lethâ—rius l Trith p. 164. was againe called into Italie by the Pope against Rogerius the Prince of Apulia m Peucerus c. 35â— who had entred vpon the Church goods him Lotharius subdued and confiscated and increased the riches and dignitie of the Pope Lotharius n Vrsp p. 279. 280. beeing dead in his returne Conradus the third succeeded who was troubled with rebels by meanes of the king of Sicilia and other Princes Ann. 1144. Calestinus o Geneb p. 9â—â— Ann. 1149. the second was the first that was chosen without the voices of the people by a law made by Innocentius the second by which the people were excluded from the election Lucius the second * Geneb p. 919 920. a warriour against the Saraceus for Ierusalem and held a Councel against Abellardus * Trith p. 170. In these times was so great famine pestilence and mortalitie as was incredible to all posterities a cap. 11.6.7 For these witnesses haue power to shut heauen that it raine not in the daies of their prophecie c. to smite the earth with all manner of plagues as oft as they will Stella said he was Christ p Geneb p. 920. Mass 16.230 Eugenius the third the scholler of Bernard Ann. 1145. hee was driuen out of Rome by the Consuls c. Hee q Frisin g. Fri. â—6 caused Bernard to preach the crosse to mooue the Christians to send aide against the Saracens * Geneb who had taken Edessa and Ierusalem â—illed the Bishops and many thousands of Christians and committed many vnspeakable cruelties Whereupon r Vrsp p. 280. Conrade the Emperour and Ludouicus the French king went to the holy land with a great armie but t Massaeus 16. p. 230. did little good for their u Geneb p. 922 armies came to miserable destruction by reason of the deceipt of the Legate of the Emperour of Constantinople a Gobel ae 6.59 who mixed lime with their meale of which they should make their bread a Trith p. 170. The greater part of the armie perished by famine pestilence and sword filling the Pagans countrie with the spoiles and armie of the Romane expedition feeling the smart of the second wee from Euphrates In his time b Frisin gest Fri. 1. 46. 50. c. was very much contentioÌ„ among the diuines about the opinions of Gilbertus Poretanus a Bishop against whom was opposed S. Bernard This c Geneb p. 920 Bernard wrot a booke to this Pope De consideratione containing many imputations of Antichristianitie to the Bishops c. of his time proouing the Pope in his pompe to bee rather the successor of Constantine than Peter Though d Peuc 4 p. 357. his writings doe containe many superstitious opinions yet hee taught e Bernard de annuntiat ser 1. men to be iustified by the onely mercie of God through faith in Christ and so interpreteth S. Paul And that good works doe not merit eternall life but that it is freely giuen c. He also prooueth that where S. Paul did speake of the doctrine f 1. Tim. 4.3 of diuels in forbidding marriage and meates to be eaten that g In Cant. ser 63. prophecie was fulfilled in the votarie Priests of his time and their hypocriticall fasts Til h Peuc 4. p. 356. this time Monasteries were schooles of learning but now they became places of idlenesse and superstition and of maintaining the pride of Rome i Geneb p. 923 One in the South did preach that he was the forerunner or messenger of Christ presently to come Ann. 1153. Anastasius the fourth k Geneb p. 925 926. the politicians of France spoiled both Churches and Monasteries At this time were certaine which taught against the Church of Rome which were called or blasphemed as hereticks Publicani who some called Cathari l Trith p. 193. 194. some Patrini As also the heresie called Cardensis of the body and blood of the Lord l Trith p. 193. 194. of this opinion were disputors terrible to the learnedst They were of the opinion of Tauchelinus It seemeth at this time that the Waldenses sprung vp The person whose name they were called by was one m Fox Marty p. 233. c. Trith Hirs p. 188. Waldus a rich Citisen of Lyons who vpon a fearefull sight of the iudgement of God gaue all to the poore and professed euangelicall pouertie stirred vp himselfe and others to translate bookes of the Scripture into their mother tongue They taught that nothing is to be preached but Scripture That God onely is to be feared and no idols There is but one mediator The Temple of God is the whole world c. That n Geneb p. 938. prayer for the dead and the fire of purgatory is the inuention of couetous Priests Against images confirmation auricular confession c. o Fasc Temp. f. 77. b. These being admonished to leaue preaching answered it is more meete to obey God then man and despised the Prelats and Clergie They were spread abroade vpon a suddaine into Lombardy Boemia France and England c. p Fox Marty p. 204. Gerardus and Dulciuus with thirtie others as it seemeth of those Waldenses came into England and preached against the Church of Rome declaring it to be Babylon spoken of in the ReuelatioÌ„ Thus q cap. 14.6 an Angel flyeth through the middest of heauen hauing an euerlasting Gospel to preach saying c. Feare God and worship him that made heauen and earth c. Vnto r Trith p. 177. 178. this Pope Anastasius Hildegrade a Nonne sent answere to his letters instructing him in his life prophecying of the schisme which followed and thus foreshewed of Rome And thou O Rome saith she lying as it were in the extreamest point shalt be troubled so that the strength of thy feete vpon which thou hast stoode shall languish because thou louest the Kings daughter iustice not with feruent loue but as it were in the slouth of sleepe so that thou dost expell her from thee wherefore she will also flie from thee c. In his time was Fridericus made Emperor Adrianus a Rob. Barnes the fourth would not be consecrated Anno 1154. till Arnoldus the Bishop of Brixia whom he held for an heretike were expelled Rome c. In b Trith p. 184. his time the followers of the Church of Rome moued by the example of the ciuill law and learning of such as they called heretikes contriued the popish learning Wherefore c Geneb p. 932. 933. 934. three bastard brethren wrote three great bookes Petrus Lombardus brought in schoole diuinitie the better to confute the Grecians Aballardus Petro-bussians Gilbertus Porretanus c. This Petera Lombard affirmeth d Lib. 3. d. 19. that one way of iustification is by faith in the death of Christ as they that looked on the brasen serpent were healed
exhausted the King of Englands treasure k P. 882. 891. 895. 904. He also continued strange exactions of mony in England binding Monasteries c. to pay his creditors vpon paine of interdiction c. l P. 897. This exaction cooled mens affections towards the Pope m P. 910. In his time the preaching Friers had much dammaged the Christian saith by preaching Reade more hereof before Anno 1200. reading teaching certaine doctrines new dotings taken out of the book of Abbas Ioachim condēned by Gregorius the ninth They also had composed a booke which it pleased them to intitle The euerlasting or eternall Gospel which now they inforced to roote out the Gospell of Christ written by the foure Euangelists They also vrged many other things not to be spoken Hereupon grew so many and great scandales one preaching against the other that the vniuersitie of Paris with great counsaile and deliberation sent sixe men very excellent for learning and of noble blood to the Pope in commission for the repaire of the decay in faith The Friers sent speedy messengers to resist these great men to their faces before the Pope At length after much a doe their new Gospell is commaunded to be burned secretly without any scandall to the Friers And so was that Gospel abolished that by a false Prophecy threatned the cessation of the Gospell written by the foure Euangelists The n Geneb p. 978. Mass 17. pag. 238. Fo◠Marty 326. Speculum minorum tract 1. f. 10. b. Pope also commaunded that the booke which Gulielmus de sancto amore had written of pouertie against the Friers going vnder the name of the masters of Paris intituled a treatise of the perils of the latter times should be abolished publikely and banished him France For this Pope much fauored the Friers and o Spec. min. tract f. 7. b. wrote his bull requiring all that had disputed or preached against them to recant teach and preach the contrary vnder paine of suspension and excommunication For he esteemed the Friers as the a cap. 11.4 two golden candelstickes and two great lights that shined in the Church of God b Fox Marty 326. Yet did Laurentius a master of Paris strongly and stoutly teach preach and write in the defence of the said Gulielmus against the Popes and their Friers This Pope exceedingly encreased the bloudie lawes made against them which the Church of Rome calleth heretikes c Dec. 5. tit 2. cap. 2. He decreed that whosoeuer wittingly should bury heretikes or their beleeuers receiuers defenders or fauorers should bee excommunicate till with his owne hands openly he cast those dead bodies out of their graues againe Hee forbad lay men priuately or publikely to dispute of the Catholike faith vnder paine of excommunication as d Carion Mahomet did of his law vnder paine of death He also furnished the inquisition with many bloudy and vnmercifull lawes e 6. Dec. 5. tit 2. c. 4. denying mercy to the penitent and confiscating the goods of such as died before sentence f Par. Vrsp p. 332. One beyond the seas called himselfe Iesus by magicke he wrote prodigious miracles and many armies being vnited to him he subdued many kingdomes vnder him g Geneb p. 979 Ludouicus King of France instituted many things to the profit of the kingdome He would not haue offices and dignities sold and branded them in the forehead with a hot yron that blasphemed or sware by God in vaine he forbad stewes he thrust stage players out of his court Anno 1261. Vrbanus the fourth h Trith p. 249. Clemen 3. tit 16. de reliquijs ven instituted the feast of Corpus Christi day and to encourage the people to keepe it he gaue pardons to such as were present at the seruice a cup of abhominations i Geneb p. 982. c. The host was caryed about in a box as the arke in the time of the law and the booke of the law is among the Iewes or rather k Moris pap p. 58. as Iupiter and Isis were caryed among the Gentiles and it was worshipped l Geneb p. 982. Thomas Aquinas composed the office of this feast This m Part. 3. q. 25. an 31. Thomas wrote that images must be worshipped with the same worship as is due to them whose images they be n Trith p. 249. The Pope conferred the kingdome of Sicilia which Monfred held vpon Charles the French Kings brother and by Legates called him into Italy who draue out Monfred and possessed Sicilia not without much bloodshed The Pope also o 6. Dec. 5. tit 2. cap 9. decreed that the lawes of no place should hinder the proceedings of the inquisition In his time the p Curio Saracens draue the Christians cleane out of Syria yet q Geneb p. 985 granted the free preaching of Christ in Aphryca Anno 1265. Clemens the fourth r Trith 250. p. 251. in his time the monasteries of the order of Benedict in Germanie were filthily corrupted the Monkes and Abbots rushed violently into the very sinke of all vices Carolus the French kings brother whom Vrbane the fourth had made king and a Geneb 986. Clement annointed at Rome vnder condition to paie to the Pope yearely 42,000 crownes in name of a tribute cruelly killed Monfrede And when after him b Par. Vrsp p. 243. Conradine the next heire a very gallant gentleman went to take his inheritance in Apulia by Clement and Charles he was iniuriously repulsed taken by treason derided and by the commandement of the Pope was put to death miserably by c Carion a common executioner That as many as would not worship the beast should be killed Hee d Decr. 5. Tit. 2 c. 10. c. informeth the inquisitors to feare no man but to proceede rigorously to censure with the aide of the secular arme any preachers religious persons vniuersities or other priuiledged places that are impediment to their inquisitiō To cause all ciuill and militarie magistrates to sweare and cause all them that were vnder them to sweare to obserue the lawes made against heretickes their fauourers hearers defenders their sonnes and their nephewes Thus the beast with his hornes maketh warre with the Saints f Geneb p. 986. In his time Antioche was sacked by the Sultan And Ludouicus king of France signed with the crosse in the siege of Tunetum and one of his sonnes died of the pestilence and so the siege was raised Gregorius the tenth g Trith p. 252 worthy the honour Ann. 1271. if a mortal man can be worthy to be Christs vicar in earth who raigneth in heauen Hee h Westmon p. 403. held a Councell at Lugdunum for the holy land to which purpose he decreed that all Ecclesiasticall liuings for seauen yeares space should paie a tenth There i Geneb p. 989. was also handled the reconciliation of the Greeke Churches which was
against the Pope o Trith p. 286. There was very great pestilence which destroyed many thousands after which followed a famine to liue was a misery and to die a very great horror p Reuel 11.6 These haue power to shut heauen in the dayes of their prophecie c. and to strike the earth with all manner of plagues Clement the sixth q Trith 288. preached the crosse against the Turkes Anno 1342. promising to them that put mony into the chestes set in Churches to that purpose not onely remission of sinnes but also licence to eate egges and milkemeates in forbidden times out of Lent Henricus the Archbishop of Mogunce neither payed mony nor regarded the pardons The a Par. Vrsp p. 355. Pope in fauour of the French King excommunicateth Ludouicus the Emperour He also b Trith 289. excommunicated Henricus the Archbishop of Mogunce for not appearing before him deposed him and placed Gertacus who gat not the possession till Henricus was dead Henricus despiseth the Pope and cleaueth to the Emperour The c Par. Vrs 355. 356. Emperour by letters blameth the French King for his trouble requireth him to procure his absolution a filthy forme of articles is conceiued which is interpreted to be deuised to the destruction of the Empire The pope cruelly declaimeth against the Emperor reuiueth the processe of Iohn the twentith two against him declareth him an heretike and schismatike because he said it is in the Emperor to depose and institute the pope c. and writeth to the Electors to chuse Carolus the fourth Here Queene mony ruled all Hereupon the Empire is diuided much trouble ariseth the fauorites of Ludouicus are buried in fields out of Church-yardes d Fox Marty p. 394. 39â— Georgius Ariminensis held papists worse then Pelagians Tanlerus preached against distinction of meates and inuocation of Saints Gerardus Rhidden wrote against the Friers e Sonet 106. 107. 108. Annota in 107. Petrarch calleth Rome proud Babylon and whore and the Pope the Soldan of Babylon The f Extr. Con. 5. de pen. ner Vnigeniti Pope reduced the Iubile to fiftie yeeres promising plenary remission and g Fox Marty commaundeth the Angels to cary the soules of such pilgrimes as died by the way presently to paradise like Mahomets Martyres c. h Mass 18. p. 248. Trith p. 291. Howbeit at this time for three yere together from India to Britany there was so feareful a pestilence that in diuers places were horrible desolations In Auinion the popes seate in a manner all died There was also the plague of bloudy flixes and such inflammations as consumed the flesh to the bones not onely of liuing bodies but dead carcasses for the earth is smitten with plagues in the dayes of their prophecie i Curio The Turkes winne the noble city of Prusia Anno 1352. Innocent the sixth a Trith 293. crowned Carolus the fourth who after many troubles with much b Par. Vrsp 360. c. bribery had brought the Empire to his owne hand The Pope at c Fox Marty Auinion put two Friers to death one of them held Rome to be the whore of Babylon In his time was published the ploughmans complaint against the Pope and his Clergie d Geneb pag. 1034. Bartholdus de Baruch a begging Frier was burned at Spires Before this Pope e Ipse in defen curat Richard Archbishop of Armach in Ireland perswaded learnedly and zealously against the Friers prouing that by the abuse of their priuiledges they were hurtfull to them who were confessed to the Curates Clergie Christian people and to the Friers themselues That they were the ouerthrow of all learning and artes the decay of students and by ingrossing into their libraries bred such a want of bookes that there was not a Bible nor any good diuinity bookes to be had for mony It seemeth in these times that the question was a Specul Mino. Tract 3. f. 135. b. whether the Popes dispensations could stablish the conscience against Scripture and law The Popes would haue it receiued for good that his power was aboue all but godly men thought otherwise of his superstition withstoode that doctrine as De Poliaco had done and this Armachanus now did b Trith 297. Par. Vrsp There was a great pestilence of which many thousands perished and strange earthquakes c. Vrbanus the fifth c Geneb 1017 confirmed the order of Bridget d Pantalcon Anno 1363. which was that Friers and Nunnes should dwell together vnder a roofe onely parted with a wall Thus e cap. 13.5.7 c. is the beast furnished with strong and seuere lawes to warre with the Saints and to ouercome them And here viz. Anno 1364. f Dan. 12.11 are finished those 1290. dayes that is yeeres which Daniel doth reckon from the time that the daily sacrifice was taken away by the Romans at the destruction of Ierusalem Ann. 74. during which time by the Gentiles Arians Gothes Turkes and Popes abhominable desolation was set vp CHAP. X. Of the first resurrection and the warres which followed hereupon with their successe MIserable are now the times by reason of the grosse ignorance and superstition which preuailed For by the tyrannie of the Popes all men were seduced or terrified from the study and profession of true godlinesse And the wickednes of the Friers by purloyning in a manner all good bookes which now were but manuscripts and teaching nothing but fables had made it generally suspected that Antichrist would take this opportunitie to obliterate the Scriptures and obtrude vnto the world any such forged diuinitie which might best serue to further his ambition In the time of this palpable darkenes worse then euer was any in Egypt when as the truth lay as dead and buried for euer the Lord in mercy doth raise it from death to life And this doth cause a Dan. 12.2 such as turne others vnto righteousnes to shine as the starres in the firmament The summe of that which followeth is that b cap. 11.7 when they the witnesses haue finished their testimony the beast that commeth out of the bottomlesse pit with his hornes the Kings maketh warre against them Of this warre we are to consider the enemies their manner of fight and the successe The enemies are the two witnesses a cap. 19.13 vnder their captaine yet in the wildernes in this chapter and in the blessed time separated from Antichrist in the next chapter and b 19. the beast with his Kings The captaine of these witnesses is mighty to enable them to finish their testimony That the witnesses may the better finish and perfect their testimony Saint Iohn doth say And c 11. I saw heauen open that is an expectation of all good men which belong to the kingdome of heauen what will be the end of those cruell lawes and bloudy executions That which befell was this An d
yeere So did Danie But especially Iohn hus and Ierom of Prage e Geneb p. 1109 Elias Leuita a Iew publisheth his Hebrue Grāmar to the great benefit of Christians Luther f Par. Vrsp p. 447. writeth to the Pope of indulgences Ann. 1518. complaining that the pardon-preachers to the scandall and mockerie of the Ecclesiasticall power and blasphemie of God did write and preach with insatiable couetousnesse the like whereof was neuer heard of before requiring the confessors by oth to enioyne them that confesse to them to buy their pardons terrifying all men with the name of the Pope threatning fire and the reproch of heresie to them that refused to buie their pardons He shewed that with his schedule of articles which he had set vp he onely purposed to prouoke the learned to disputations That it seemed miraculous to him that his propositions were so soone gone abroade as vpon a white horse posted in all the earth That against his will he made himself so publike that he could not recall his propositions a Par. Vrsp p. 448. Hee also answered a dialogue of Siluester Pierius teaching that b 1. Thess 5. All things are to be tryed c Galat. 1. an Angell must teach no other doctrine Fathers may erro and concludeth thus Let opinions remaine opinions and no burthens to the Church Opinions may not be equall to scripture Let the diuines be ashamed of these and such like speeches which they bolt out Thus would I speak in schooles but yet doe not tel any bodie it cānot be prooued by scripture c. Luther before the Legate a Cardinall d Par. Vrs p. 449. iustifieth his doctrine Wherefore the Pope citeth Luther to Rome and commandeth the Princes to deliuer him prisoner to the Legate excommunicating and accursing all Princes and interdicting their landes which would not bee assistant excepting none but the Emperour and giuing plenarie indulgences to them that obeyed e Mass 20. p. 273. Luther appealeth from the Pope not well informed to the Pope to be better informed and after that to a general Councell f Nou. Orb. Cortesius discouereth to the south By g Peuc 5. f. 266. b. Luthers bookes and sermons when godly men in monasteries did heare that idols were to be fled from they according to the commaundement h cap. 18.4 Come out of her my people and be not partakers of her sinnes c began to depart from that wicked seruitude and so were the monasteries left emptie i Par. Vrs 250. c. Anno 1520. There was a disputation of the Popes authoritie c at Lipsia Luther auoucheth his articles which were condemned by the Popes bull k 454. 455. and wrote against the three fortifications of poperie which are 1. The ciuill Magistrate hath no power ouer the spirituall but the spirituall Magistrate hath power ouer the ciuill 2. If they be vrged with scripture they say None can expound the scripture but the Pope c. 3. If they be vrged with a Councell they faigne that none can call a Councell but the Pope c. Erasmus writeth to the Archbishop of Mogunce of Luthers cause saying that the Monkes and Diuines doe condemne the things in Luthers bookes for heresie which in the bookes of Bernard and Augustine are read as true and godly c. They were heretofore heretikes that dissented from the Euangelists and from the Articles of faith c. Now if any dissent from Thomas hee is an heretike Whatsoeuer pleaseth them not what they vnderstand not is heresie to vnderstand Greeke to speake good Latine is heresie with them The * Buchol Ann. 1520. Geneb 1106. diuines of Louane and Colen doe adiudge many of Luthers bookes to the fire to be burned which the same yeere by the commaundement of the Pope and Charles the Emperor was done in Germany a Mass 20. p. 273. Luther at Wittenberge openly burneth the Popes lawes the decretals and decrees with the Popes bull saying b cap. 18.6 I haue done to them as they haue done to me rewarding her as she hath rewarded me c Buchol c. 1521. Luther among other bookes which hee published wrote an exhortation to the nobilitie of Germany of the reformation of the Christian affaires Luther answereth before the Emperour at Wormes where the Emperour proscribed him d Geneb 1110. This yeere began that long and bloudie warre betweene Charles the Emperour and Francis the French King both Papists and this lasted 38. yeres Thou e cap. 16.5.6 Geneb p. 11 10. Lord hast giuen them blood to drinke because they killed thy Saints f Par. Vrs p. 457. Ignatius Layolo a Spaniarde began the order af the fellowship of Iesus and Luthers bookes are burned at Antwerpe and Gant Pope Leo died as it was thought by poison And now is powred forth the fifth Phiall The fifth Phiall Henceforth to the former foure Plagues the fifth Angell powreth out the plague which he was to inflict g cap. 16.10 And the fifth Angell powred out his Phiall vpon the throne of the beast that popish Antichrist and the wonted glorious administration of his kingdome waxed darke and obscured being regarded euery day lesse then other Wherefore the Gentiles the Papists are angrie and gnaw their tongues for sorrow and griefe Yea whereas the Lord plagued them also by the other Phials a cap. 16.11 1521. they blasphemed the God of heauen for their paines and for their plague sores and repented not of their workes but became as cruell proud couetous and euery way as wicked as before though they saw their sinnes The Complement When b Eucholce the Emperor had proscribed Luther c Slei lan 1. f. 18. a. Fridericus the Elector of Saxonie consulted with Erasmus about the doctrine of Luther and standing at the glassie sea mingled with fire protested to despise all dangers for the truth Beeing satisfied by Erasmus that Luther had the truth hee committed Luther to certain Nobles whom he trusted to bring him safe to a castle where he might be vnknowne d cap. 16.10 Thus was the kingdome of the popish beast obscured Here Luther wrot many bookes and calleth the place his Patmos or wildernesse so that in him e cap. 10.11 S. Iohn doth preach againe Ann. 1522. Adrian f Par. Vrsp p. 458. the sixt acknowledging the faults of his time attempteth reformation at Rome g Lanquet ann 1522. Hee sent his letters to the Councell at Argentine charging them to see that none of Luthers bookes were printed and that they which were alreadie printed should bee burned Hee also by his Bull required Fridericke the Elector of Saxonie to maintaine the Church of Rome and by his Legate hee commanded the Princes of Germanie Lanquet anno 1523. assembled at Norimberge to proceed against Luther and his fellowes as against men alreadie heard and condemned Howbeit because the Phiall was powred on
the throne of the beast his kingdome and absolute commandement waxed obscure For the Princes deferre the cause of Luther to a generall Councell and propose an hundred grieuances which Germany did suffer by the Sea of Rome and their Ecclesiasticall persons requiring to bee eased in these things The h Buchol anno 1523. Pope appointed his Legate freely to confesse before the States of the Empire in this manner i Paral Vrsp 459. We know that in this holy seate now some certaine yeares there haue beene many abominable things abuse in matters diuine superfluities of traditions and that at last all things haue fallen to bee worse Neither is there any maruaile that infirmitie is deriued from the head to the members from the Popes to inferiour prelates We all that is prelates and Ecclesiasticall persons haue declined euery man into his owne waies nor now of long was there any that did any good a Bucholcerus He was also very liberall in promising the Princes that things should be amended The better to bring the Pope to make conscience to reforme with speed b Iouius lib. 21. p. 19. Par. Vrsp p 460. there arose a great plague in Rome in which their died an hundred thousand many corpes were seene in the streetes it seemed the citie would haue beene wasted in fewe daies But they were so farre from repenting to giue God the glorie that by the fauour of the people a Greeke one Demetrius a Magician vndertooke for 4000. ducates to staie the pestilence whereby they blasphemed the God of heauen for their paines For he by inchantment tamed a wilde bull causing the bull to digge a well promising that whosoeuer dranke of that water should be free from the pestilence Then cut he off halfe one of his hornes and with a smal thread tied about the other horne of the bull lead him at his pleasure and to the blasphemie of the name of God sacrificed him at the Amphitheatre to pacifie the God of the pestilence Also c Lanquet Millaine was afflicted with such a pestilence that it consumed 50,000 in fower moneths d Geneb p. 1114. Christiernus king of Denmarke defecteth from the Church of Rome for the kingdomes are the Lords e Fox Mart. 1523. Bucholc The Duke of Saxonie by the aduice of the Students of Wittenberge abrogateth the masse Zuinglius writeth to the whole nation of the Heluetians not to hinder the course of the Gospel f Jouius lib. 21 The Turke taking aduantage of the dissention that was among the Christian Princes which by reason of the second and third Phiall were great and bloodie besiegeth Rhodes with 200,000 souldiers The Pope diuerted those aides which came from Spaine to relieue Rhodes and sent them to Gallia Cisalpina to relieue the Emperour and so was Rhodes lost by the madnesse of our Princes a cap. 18.24 that in her might be found all the blood that was shedde b Fox Mart. The duke of Austriche setteth forth a sharpe proclamation against Luther and such as did not obey the Church of Rome For c cap. 19.19 the beast and kings make warre against the word of God d Par. Vrs p. 460. Buchol Adrian the sixth dieth not without suspition of poyson Amongst his most secret papers were found the bookes of the inchanter which vndertooke to preserue the city from the plague whereby it was suspected that the Pope came in with the mightie working of Sathan c Bâ—cholcer When the Monkes had read Luthers bookes of Vowes they dissolued their vowes and went out of their Monasteries So in many places the monasteries in a short time were left emptie and reduced to a wildernesse and cage of euery vncleane bird and other vses The Nunnes laid aside their latine Psalter and put off their habite began to leaue their cloysters to marrie and keepe house Two Monkes were burned at Bruxels for Luthers opinions Erasmus disliked this kind of proceeding Luther esteemed them as martyrs Ann. 1523. Clement the seauenth f Lanquet ann 1524. sent his Legate Campegius to the Princes assembled at Norimberge requiring them to punish the Lutherans and not to be discontented that the money which was paid out of Germanie was not bestowed against the Turkes as was promised The Princes required answer of their requests made to the Pope which were to ease them of the grieuances which they sustained by the Pope and the Clergie the Legate answered that the Pope esteemed them as hereticall and therefore not to be granted for they repent not The Indians confederate against the Portugals g Fox Mart. alii The Senate at Zurike when the Papists had refused disputations abandoned mens traditions proclaimed the Gospel of Christ to bee purely taught out of the old and newe Testament Against their Bishops minde they pulled downe images and that all fowles might be fedde with their flesh disposed of the lands of the Clergie banished the Masse The like was done in Tigurine h Geneb p. 1123. The Ethiopianâ— offer obedience to the Pope and to follow the beast i Lanquet Sharpe warres betweene England and Scotland The Bishop of Argentine summoneth the Priests before him but the Councel of the citie withstood him not suffering him to exercise iurisdiction ouer them So that the kingdome of the beast is darkened The Emperour goeth in his own person to fight against the French king a Par. Vrsp p. 460. Georgius the Marquesse of Brandenburge great master of Prussia receiueth the word of God b Geneb p. 1110 Guice Par. Vr. p. 460. The French king was taken prisoner by the Emperour whereupon the Emperour resolueth to make himselfe Monarch of Christendome c Gerardus The Turkes preuaile in Hungarie and besiege Vienna but are driuen from thence In d Peuc Par. Vr. Germanie the people affect libertie e Sleid. 6 f. 92 b. The Electors sonne of Saxonie vnto whom was espoused the Emperours youngest sister is married with the daughter of the Duke of Cliâ—ue For the Emperour departed from his promise confirmed by writings because of the change of religion and his Embassadours did openly say that Faith is not to be kept with heretickes f Geneb p. 1116. Millaine Ferrara England Venice all Lombardie g Par. Vrsp p. 472. and the Pope Clement doe make a league against the Emperour Charles the fifth But the next yeare after h Par. Vrsp p. 472. c. Guicc Iouius Rome is taken and sacked by the Emperours armie When the armie was at the siege of the citie and entring the Pope would not beleeue the newes trusting vpon his Apostolicall thunderbolt which he sent forth against the armie in these wordes We doe excommunicate Charles called the Duke of Burbon Generall of the armie with his whole armie consisting partly of Lutheranes and partly of Maranes calling the Germanes Lutheranes and the Spaniards Maranes But the armie entred and vsed
word of God and against his armie that followeth him e Lanquet f. 232. b. 233. a. But the seuenth of August at Mechlin the Emperors pallace was set on fire by lightning the plague of heate and by that meanes were burned 600. vessels of gunpowder which were prepared for these warres against the Protestants and with the same were burned 800. houses and 18,000 men women and children f Sleid. 17. Sleidan doth report it somewhat otherwise g Buchol Ann. 1547. Apr. 24. In these warres the Emperor tooke the Duke of Saxony prisoner and also the Duke of Brunswick Wherefore in the h Apr. 27. principall Church of Misna publike thankes were giuen The same day was the same Church by a phiall of the wrath of God consumed with fire from heauen Hermannus the Archbishop of Colen who had reformed his diocesse by the commandement of the Pope and Emperor was remoued from his place l Specul Traâ— p. 61. For he refusing the pleasures of sinne and following the Lambe was content to leade a priuate life rather then that his Churches should not be reformed m Geneb 1128 Edward the sixth King of England abolished the sixe articles which his father made against the Lutherans and abrogated the Masse n Fox alij and the Gospel was againe restored in England that the kingdome might be our Lords o Buchol Ann. 1548. The Emperor made a booke to reconcile the Papists and Protestants in some sorts intituled Interiâ—a which like the sixe articles of Henry the eight bread much trouble Hereupon arose a schisme amongst the Ministers of the Gospel called the warre for indifferent things by their deliberations whether and how the booke of Interim was to be receiued or refused Vergerius who had been the Popes Legate going about to confute the Protestants became a Protestant Iulius the third a p Fox Mart. p. 1477. monster for blasphemie Anno 1550. in a rage calling for porke he said he would haue it in despite of God and defended his like rage for a Peacocke by the example of God that was angry with Adam for eating the forbidden fruite a Geneb pag. 1134. 1137. In this time the warres were hot against the Protestants There came a Nestorian out of Syria c. to be admitted by the Pope The Nestorians are reported to ascribe to the Pope many high and great titles that they also might be knowen in some sort to follow the beast b Concil Trid. This Pope continued the Councell of Trent c Geneb 1136. 1552. Sleid. lib. 22. At this time also the Protestants contend very egarly about the question of Iustification for the arke of the couenant is seene d Buchol Ann. 1552. Mauritius Duke of Saxony made warre against the Emperor for religion and for the Landgraue in these warres the Councell of Trent was scattered peace giuen to the religion and the Princes are set at libertie which had been prisoners for the beast is taken and with him the false prophet Paulus the fourth c 1553. Geneb p. 1133. Queene Mary recalled papistry into England and a grieuous persecution was moued by her against such as professed the Gospel f 1555. Fox Marty There were also most strange and cruell persecutions and warres raised vp against the Waldenses in Angroine Lucerne Saint Martin Perouse and Piedmont And g Lanquet f. 367. in England was made an act for the punishing of such as they called heretikes and for the confirmation of the Popes power From this time to the end of her raigne were burned in a manner an infinit number of godly learned constant and faithfull martyres h Bucholcer In two yeeres about eight hundred men died by diuers kinds of punishment in England for the Gospell i Lanquet f. 377. a. In August the last yeere of this Queene after the dangerous feuers which began a yeere or two before was so great a pestilence through out England that three quarters of the people were consumed in it k Buchol Ann. 1557. At Wormes was a conference betweene the catholike Clergie and the Ministers of the Gospel In the beginning they disputed learnedly of the rule which the Church was to keepe cap. 13.15 in iudging of controuersies The Catholikes as they be called said the perpetuall consent of the time was the rule for the image of the beast is permitted to speake The Ministers affirmed the writings of the Prophets and Apostles with the Creedes to be the onely rule of iudgement For the word of God hath the crowne set vpon his head and iudgeth righteously l Ex Com. Gall. lib. 1. The same time in Salâ—e Iames streete in Paris 120. faithfull Christians following the word of God were assembled in the night for diuine exercise of preaching and Sacraments where being discouered they were by the beast and false prophets most cruelly persecuted here there were many warres for religion in France the faithfull standing vpon their garde m 155â— There raigned in England the most gracious mighty and most Christian Queene Elizabeth who abolished popery called home exiles gaue reward to the prophets reduced the feare of God and by her continuall opposition against the enemies of the Gospel declared her selfe the most sincere defender of the faith a Fox Mâ—â—t p. 911 a. One Mâ—lius a gray Frier interpreting and defending in Italy by Lecture and disputations the doctrine of Saint Paul to the Romans was answered by certaine Cardinals that it was true which he affirmed but the same was not meete for the present time because it could not bee taught nor published without the detriment of the Apostolike seate that had giuen it selfe to deceiue Pius the fourth b Geneb 1156. entring the Scots receaue the Gospell Anno 15â—â— c Hunij Labyriâ— Iâ—iriti Clauis Scriptura At this time were diuerse bookes in estimation amongst the Papists which were published against the authoritie of the scriptures As the writings of Cusanus that said that the scriptures are to bee fitted to the times and diuersly to bee vnderstood So that at one time it is to bee interpreted according as the vniuersall state of the time shall runne and when the rite of the time is chaunged the sense of the scripture is also changed for these men hold not that Gospell to bee eternall the commandeeÌ„nt Search the scriptures to iudge the time is turned into Search the time to iudge the scripture Ludouicus also maketh an oration to the Councell of Trente in which he affirmeth that the Pope the traditions customes and antient fathers of the Church haue authoritie aboue the scriptures or al that is called God Verrâ—â—â—i â—â—iteth to the Pope that the Pope and Councels are aboue the scriptures and blasphemeth that hee may determine without aboue and contrary to the scriptures * cap. 13.15 for the image of the beast must speake Peresius in the court
Emperor should take order for the affaires of the Empire in his absence When the Emperor was gone the Pope notwithstanding caused k Trith p. 231. him to be proclaimed excommunicate throughout all Germany which was done especially by the begging Friers l Vrsp Ibid. Besides his souldiers that tooke the crosse were spoyled by the Popes meanes In m Fox Marty Italy the Pope raised vp many rebellions against the Emperor and attempted the like against him in Asia writing to the Patriarch of Ierusalem the soldiers and the Saracens to destroy him n Vrsp p. 325. Wherefore the Emperor endured much danger by the treason of the Templars abroade and the Pope at home inhibited all ayde that would haue gone ouer to him but warred vpon and subdued many of his possessions Who is it that well considereth these things and doth not bewaile and detest them which seeme an euidence and prodigious portent of the ruine of the Church a Westmo p. 288. The Pope taking it ill that Fridericus as despising his excommunications did embrace the businesses of the Church in the holy land despayring that he would not returne to vnitie decreed to depriue him of his Empire and substitute another namely the General of his warres whom he ayded with all that the Church of Rome could doe with treasure armies pardons and solicitations of all Prelates abundantly Which when the Emperor vnderstoode he b Vrsp p. 325. Mat. Paris 344. 345. compoundeth the affaires of the holy land with the Seldan and thinking to make glad all Christendome with his good newes reporteth to them by letters what honorable composition he had made c Vrsp 325. The Pope reiecteth his letters and spreadeth rumours that he was dead by which rumor many Imperiall cities enclined to the Pope and resolue to kill the Germane souldiers which were in Italy or should returne that way from the holy land But when the returne of the Emperor was once knowen the furie slacked both Christians and Saracens cleaue vnto him and by d Trith p. 23. the valour of his Germane souldiers recouereth many of his cities againe From which time grew much enmitie betweene the Pope and Emperor e Vrsp p. 326. Yet the Emperor doth still craue absolution and by the mediation of Princes laboreth to be reconciled vnto the Pope f Trith p. 232. At last by the meanes of Lupoldus Duke of Austria c. he was receiued into communion g Paral. Vrsp p. 327. Platina when he had paid 120,000 ounces of gold to the Pope for his punishment and by his armie put the Pope in his possessions against the Romanes who labored to recouer their ancient manner of gouernment and liberties h Carion and was content to hold Sicilia of the Pope in fee. i Trith p. 232. About this time were a very great many discouered in Almany Italy especially in Lombardy and in France which held against the authoritie of the popish Church and prelates and against distinction of meates for the mariage of Priests then called the heresie of the Nicolaitanes c. against them are obiected many blasphemous things as the manner of the Church of Rome is Of these very many were burned k Pantaleon At Wormes also were many good men adiudged to the fire Now l Paral. Vrsp 327. when againe the Emperor sought to recouer Millaine and to subdue his rebels there m Trith p. 234. the Lombards did hinder Henry the Emperors sonne that he could not ioyne his armie with his father and the Pope by his bull depriueth him of his Empire The a Trith p. 235. yeere was extreame hot and dry The Emperor would pacifie seditions which were risen in his strong cities of Italy which he did with violence and burned his rebels At which time in Germany many nobles and meane persons Clerkes Monkes and Nunnes Citizens and countrie people by the giddie sentence of Conrade the Popes inquisitor were burned in the name of heretikes The same day that any one was accused whether iustly or vniustly no appeale nor defence did auaile but he was burned The b Paral. Vrsp p. 327. 328. Pope also the third time excommunicated the Emperor and did also proclaime him an heretike and stirred vp the Venetians against him The Emperour purgeth himselfe from the imputation of heresie by his letters publikely sent abroade to Princes c. and in Italy found aide of the faction of the Gibellines The c Trith p. 236. crosse is preached against the Stadingenses who stoode excommunicate for contemning the Popes authoritie many had fought against them a long time hitherto but all in vaine Now by the army of the crosse 2000. of them were slaine and so ceased the faction and confederacy against the Church of Rome d Paral. p. 328. The Pope also preacheth the crosse with pardons to all those that would fight against the Emperor Of which army as many as the Emperor tooke he crossed them with crosse woundes vpon the heads faces or bodies Then e Trith p. 236. 237. also did Henry King of Romanes rebell against the Emperor his father happily by the Popes instigation But he was subdued and taken and imprisoned by his father f Mat. Paris p. 401. who when he was somewhat enlarged seeketh meanes to poyson his father and therefore is restrained vnder the keeping of a Prince that hated him most g Trith p. 238. 239. The Emperor went into Lombardy and Italy with a puissant army subdued his rebels and caused his sonne Conrade to be elected King of Romans The Pope excommunicateth him againe and caused him so to be denounced euery where by the Minorites The h Mat. Paris p. 535. same time by the permission or procurement of Pope Gregory the insatiable couetousnes of the Church of Rome grew so mighty confounding right and wrong that all shame set apart as a common whore set on sale and lying open to all she esteemed vsury for a small inconuenience and Simonie for none at all c. i Fox Marty p. 285. About this time the East Church is deuided from the West k Mat. Paris p. 778. and from the subiection of the Church of Rome for diuers enormities of that Church especially in vsuries simonies sellings of iustice and other intolerable iniuries a Fox Marty p. 285. 286. and by name because the Pope would not admit an Archbishop there without a great summe of money The Pope sent forth his preaching Friers to moue all Christians to fight against the Grecians as it were against the Turkes and Saracens insomuch that in the Isle of Cyprus many martyres and good men were slaine for that onely cause b 5. Dec. tit 7. cap. 14. 15. This Pope forbad laie men to preach and excommunicated the Albingenses about Thelossa and the Waldenses c. c Geneb p. 964 Fasc Temp. p. 8. b. digested the fiue bookes of the decretals
in the manner now they be and d Geneb p. 96 Par. Vrs p. 3 appointed that certaine times in a day a bell should be tolled when the people should say certaine deuotions in the praise of the virgin Mary e Geffre d. truc morib 1. p. 31. as the Turkes at certaine times when their priests doe stand in the towers of their Churches and cry out that the people may heare them f Par. Vrs â— Mat. Paris p. 538. doe fall downe and doe say certaine deuotions vpon this idolatry of the Christians the Tartares doe wast the countries of the Christians Innocentius the fourth g Par. Vrsp p. 329. was chosen after long delaie Ann. 1241. because the Emperour held some of the Cardinals in prison because of discord among the Electors h Mat. Paris p. 585. He presently confirmed the excommunication of Fridericus who therefore stopped the waies of the Popes postes and hanged vp two Minorites that by stealth did carry letters to mooue sedition amongst the Nobles The Templars for hatred of the Emperour besieged and vexed the Teutonici in the holy land not suffering them to burie their dead i 588. Many Princes are alienated from the Emperour and elect the Landgraue of Thuring against him k 589. But the Emperour presently made peace with the Landgraue VVise men laboured to make peace betweene the Pope and the Emperour but the Emperour refused to submit himselfe absolutely to the Popes censure desiring to haue the causes and conditions first known neither would hee resigne the rites of the Empire l 592. The lamentable newes of the Tartars had stirred all Christendome against them had not the grieuous distraction betweene the Pope and Emperour beene the let The friers Preachers and Minorites fall out bitterly betweene themselues m 594. The Pope sendeth an Extortor into England c. with power to suspend excommunicate and punish many waies all such as would not suffer him to leauie what money he pleased For the beast is footed like a Beare a Mat. Paris p. 617. 618. VVhen the Emperour laboured for peace with the Pope in vaine the Pope as it seemed of purpose to bring the Emperour into causelesse hatred fled into Ianua where he had Gallies ready to entertaine him The Emperour smelling the Popes drift said with griefe The wicked flie when none followeth The Popes faction perswadeth the Landgraue to take the dignity of the Empire in hand make warre vpon Fridericus whom they called tyrant persecutor a confederate with Saracens For the beast doth open his mouth to blaspheme them that are called Gods c. But the Landgraues friends aduiseth him not to trust the promises of the Popes partie and the Emperour comming on a suddaine the Landgraue was alienated from that purpose and gaue gifts to the Emperour and so they parted friends b 622. The Pope sendeth abroad as to England by strange and incredible authoritie to rake money for aide against the Emperour c 623. 624. who writeth to England to staie their contribution and rather to exempt themselues from former impositions protesting his innocencie and that the Pope had reiected his submission the manner whereof hee was willing to referre to the censure of the Kings of England and France and their Barones See a Lambe in the throne d 632. The French king vpon recouerie of a desperate sickenesse voweth a voyage into the holy land e 633. After the presages of heauie things as thunders and lightenings f 635. the Pope through France causeth the Emperour to be preached excommunicate which when a Priest should denounce he said to the people I know the Pope and Emperour to be at controuersie the cause I know not but I pronounce the partie excommunicated that doth the wrong and absolue the innocent g 636. The Pope calleth a Councel at Lugdunum where his chamber was burned h 638. as it was thought of purpose to get occasion to extort money of the Prelates comming to the Councell i 642. And partly by moning his wants and partly by large promises of preferments many of the prelates bestowed incredible wealth vpoÌ„ the Pope k VVestmonâ—st whom againe he honoured with titles and dignities l Mat. Paris p. 643. 644. 645. In the Councell the Emperours proctor answered diligently for his Lord made large offers to subiect the Romane Empire to the Church of Rome to fight against the Tartars and for the holy land All which the Pope insolently reiected and refused the kings of France and England to bee sureties for the Emperours promise herein m 658. And n 6. Decr. 66. 2. tit 14. cap. 1. notwithstanding the Proctor confuted all obiections made by the Pope or others yet he proceedeth with the assistance of the prelates with candles put out to excommunicate and n 6. Decr. 66. 2. tit 14. cap. 1. depriue the Emperour forbidding him any more to be named Emperour by any which the Proctor said was the beginning of many euill daies The Pope to further his purposes a Volat. 22. f. 255. Geneb 970.971 aduanced the Cardinals For whereas before they had not that brauerie of retinue and ornaments he granted them for honour to ride on white horses and to weare red hats in token they should spend their liues for the Church of Rome like b Curio 1. p. 28. the Princes that followed Mahomet who drewe their swords and promised by solemne oath to allow of none other law but that which Mahomet should make in defence and setting forth whereof they then and there protested at all times when neede should require to spend their blood and liues c Mat. Paris 655. The Pope with large promises and bribes and supplications requesteth the Electors to choose another But Fridericus preuented him with disswasions d Pag. 658. and putteth a crowne on his own head reuiling the Pope and threatning bloodie warres before he would loose it e Gob. ae 6. c. 64 There passed sharp letters betweene the Pope and the Emperour f 235. the Emperour aduising the Pope to absolue him lest saith he our lyon which faineth himselfe to sleepe doe wake and with his terrible roaring doe driue all fatte bulls out of all lands and planting righteousnesse doe gouerne the Church rooting out the hornes of the proud g Mat. Paris p. 659. 660. And of that argument sent letters abroad which was the meanes hee had lesse regard h 662. The French king commandeth the Pope to conference about the Emperours peace and his owne voyage to the holy land i 664. and the kings brother and diuers Nobles take the crosse k 675. 676. The French king againe importuneth the Pope for the Emperours peace but still in vaine Wherefore he departeth from the Pope angrie because he found not that humilitie which he hoped for in the seruant of the seruants of God