shall ascend Apoc. 17. 8. out of the bottomlesseâ—pit and goe into perdition and they that dwell on the earth shall wonder whose names were not written in the booke of life from the foundation of the world when they behold the Beast that was and is not and yet is And he cried mightily with a strong voice saying Babylon Apoc. 18. 2. â— reade the whole Chapter the great is fallen is fallen and is become the habitation of Deuils and the bold of euery foule spirit and a cage of euery vncleane and hatefull bird The Merchants of these things which were made rich verse 15. by her shall stand afarre off for the feare of her torment weeping and wailing And saying alas alas that great city that was clothed Apoc. 18. 16. in fine linnen and purple and scarlet and decked with gold and pretious stones and pearles For in one houre so great riches is come to nought and verse 17. euery Ship-master and all the company in ships and Sailers and as many as trade by sea stood afarre off And cried when they saw the smoake of her burning verse 18. what city is like vnto this great city c. Come and gather your selues together vnto the Supper Apoc. 19. 17. of the great God That â—ee may eat the flesh of Kings and the flesh of Captaines verse 18. and the flesh of mighty men c. Oh read more read more read all for Gods sake your selues and remember that hee that writ this prediction and Prophesie did not liue 500. yeeres after the Assirians Babylons destruction and therefore it could not meane that which was past but must questionlesse haue relation to something to come so that these seuerall descriptions and other fearefull prophesies can aime at nothing but new Rome in Italy the Antichristian supremacy of the Pope and the filthy abomination of such an absurd religion so that a man would wonder at their daring confidence to continue in such exorbitant courses of falsity and filthines when the end will be the trembling of Christian hearts at the terrour of the iudgements to be denounced In the meane while who can be so infatuated to beleeue that true Religion will suffer her selfe to be bespotted bedurtied and deformed with the filthy corruptions of mens inuentions and idle foolish and ridiculous trumperies of colluding popish Prelates and so I leaue the honest Christian to that Spirit which shall be operatiue in them to worke their conuersion or confirme their calling seeing they see one way a stranger warre betweene Christ and Antichrist than the Gigantomachia wherein Typhaeus and his brethren tooke vp mountaines in their hands to throw against Iupiter and another way haue more cause of laughter than euer Democritus had at Epictetus deformation of the world when he couered it with a coxcombe and set the globe on the table to be derided by the Philosophers as for the obstinate Papists I say no more but answer a Gods name you that must answer before the iudgement throne of the Lambe what say you to this fearfull sentence of terror and punishments from Gods owne mouth or what euasion can there be to auoid the condemnation seeing the Apocalyps was written of purpose to denotate the state of the Church from Christ to the end of the world Antichrists punishment and Romes destruction from the Sibyls ALthough the Scriptures were sufficient according to You must ouerlooke the whole bâ—stnâ—ie of the Sibylâ— both â—â— Gâ—ecke and Laâ—â—ne the former texts in the Reuelation and many others in the Prophets Apostles and bookes of God to declare his will and denounce his iudgements and so there were no more disputing on the authoritie and infallibilitie of the same yet because the naturall man is transported with shewes and ceremonies rather than substance and that affecting humours are seldome pacified without varietie or noueltie I claspe once againe the bookes of holy Mysteries and seale vp the Prophecies of Scripture lest some call for an interpreter and still cry out the mother Church must be the interpreter of these mysteries and spread you a carpet of such Prophecies that no man shall traduce their credit and renowne nor the obstinate and refractarie Papist oppose their valuation for though he could with the prophane Atheist and irreligious foole deny there Psal 14. were a God yet shall he confesse that former times haue been like vberant springs to send forth flowing streams of truth into the world so that now he must needs be afrighted in drawing so neere the time wherein these predictions are likely to be consummated as personating Rome that citie of Rome in Italie and hunting the Pope and his Cardinals with full crie into the desart of desolation and fatall confusion I will then begin with the Sibyls but both my beginning and ending with them and others shal be but a kinde of Epitomising referring you to the larger volumes with whom I onely play as the dogs with the water of Nâ—lus lap as they run and dare not tarry to drinke for feare of the Crocadiles In the second booke of the Oracles of the Sibyls Lib. 2 Oraculorâ—â—n Sibyl you shall finde it thus Hâ—minum cum denique saeclum c. In the tenth age of the world the imagerie of Rome raised on her seuen hills shall extinguish the loue of true religion for which her strength shall faile and the people tremble when they shall see her power beaten downe and her riches taken away yea her citie consumed with fire through the wrath of God In the fifth booke it beginneth thus De coelo vâ—niet sydus Lib 5. As a great starre fell from heauen into the sea and burnt vp the third part of the same with the creatures so shall Babylon of Italie be destroyed that hath murthered the Saints and troden the truth of Gods word vnder feet that hath delighted in poisoning whoredome and adultery that hath nourished buggerie against nature that hath beene a towne of ease and filthinesse wicked vniust defamed amongst the Latines and vnworthy of the tiâ—le she assumed she shall therefore sit as a widow mourning desolate as a viper fell and venomous and the floud Tiber shall weepe for his spouse because of her destruction that was so mad when her heart burned for bloud She misinterpreted Gods minde and boasted that she was onely of the earth to be exalted Therefore shall God ruine her and there shall be no memory of her exaltation yea she shall be throwne downe into hell and consumed with euerlasting fire In another place of the said fifth booke it beginneth Italia infoelix thus Italia infoelix O cursed and vnhappy Italie thou shalt be made as barren as a wildernesse and no man shall pittie thy desolation for thou hast beene a murtherer of mothers and hast hands and hearts polluted with fllthinesse buggering of boies and lying with beasts defiling of women and mingling incestuous bloud yea
borrowed this Heresie from the Sadduces or rather Epicurean Philosâ—phers and blasphemed God in their repugnancy yea that beastly opinion of the Capernaites concerning the eating of the flesh of Christ really was maintained by Pope Nicholas in a certaine Chapter beginning Ego Berergarius c. If Simon Magus was detested by the Apostle for 〈◊〉 money to buy the graces of the Spirit What shall become of Papists in their Mart of Masses Poâ—tsaile of Indulgences chaffring for Benefices and selling all things for money more execrably then euer Iudas did Christ As for that small account or slighting the sinne of vsing common Women hearken I pray you what is recorded of Saint Austen Docebat detestandam turpitudinem indifferenter vtendi faminis If you reade Ecclesiasticall Histories you shall finde many Heretickes condemned for doing those thinges wherein Heretickes the Papists doe now transgresse and inueigh against true Christians for reputing their Doctrine loathsome The Basileans by Irenaus were esteemed Heretickes for Images Enchantments and diuers superstiticus exorcizations Carpocrates and Marcellina one of his followers adored the Images of Iesu Paul Homer and Pythagoras and who doth not know what estimation George the Dragon-killer Saint Katherine aed Papia haue in Europe And the Marcosians were condemned for Baptizing in an vnknowne Language and annointing with Chrisme c. Witnesse all this and much more Ireneus and Epiphanius c. The Messalians were condemned for vsing much babling and multiplicitie of prayers What thinke you then of the Papists Rosary and certaine numbers of Creedes Aneâ— and Pater-nosters The Angelikes and Caians inuocated Angels which Heresie proceeded from Simon Magus and is disallowed of by Epiphanius Tertullian Austin and others and yet the Papists haue still a Masse in the honour of Angels The Seuerians are traduced for forging of Miracles and one Philumena accused for drawing a loase of bread out of a narrow mouthed glasse but what is this to the Papists Legend And how can Bellarmine make miracles Austin c. 24. Haeres a marke of the Church or other Iesuites maintaine the notorious absurdities of Popery Now if it be thus that these things are prooued against them that infinite thousandes of errours like so many Locusts in a filthy standing lake increase to an vnsufferable fulsomnesse in the Church of Rome that diuers reformed places haue yet cleansed themselues from their pollution and that the true seruants of God doe daily rise like the childe Daniel to examine the hypocrisie and vnsauoury lust of the Iudges O let no iâ—dicious men for any worldly respect whatsoeuer come so neere the Chariot wheeles of this Strumpet as to be dasht with the filth and durt which it casteth vp let the true serâ—anâ—â— of God come out of Babell For questionles it will fall and then whosoeuer shall presume of her strength glory and mightinesse will bee pressed and ouer-whelmed with her rubbish if they tarry within let all regenerate soules come to the pure streame of the Scriptures to drinke the waters of life and not seeke the pudled filth and noysome lake of mens deuises and inuentions which must needes either choake with the mudde of superstition or poyson with the venome and mixture of vnequall impositions As for pollicie temporizing making leagues ciuill honestie and such like forbearances with so great an aduersary to Christ Why should not the Iewes vse the language of Canaan Why did Iosuah tell the people he and his house would serue God Why did Iob cry out though thou kill me I will not forsake thee Why did Elias and Micha proue Antagonists to foure hundred false Prophets Why did Amos oppose Amasiah Why did all the Prophets stand in the gappe against the corruption of time and the mayne currant of the world Why did Christ weepe for the hardnesse of mens hearts and call the Priestes Pharises Scribes and Lawyers hypocrites Why did Paul confesse that after the way they called Heresie he serued the God of his fathers Answere a Gods name you that must answere before the iudgement throne of the Lambe How comes this about if the Papacy shall not come to ruine and Rome it selfe at last be destroyed after the man of sinne is consumed with the breath of Gods nostrills But we will yet goe forward For there are more mustred Armies readie to march vpon them and come to the charge to their vtter ouer-throw and execution Shall I now name certaine blasphemies and nefarious actions committed by the Popes themselues and borne withall or published in the Church of Rome by which you may see how this Inditement is vnanswerable and there must needes follow a Iudgement of condemnation after the Arraignement Beno the Cardinall recites a story that Gregory the 7. consulted Fearefull actions of Popes with his God in the Host or the Eucharist and because he could receiue no answe of it against the Emperor he threw the Sacrament into the fire and Pius the fift cast an Agnus Deâ— into Tyber and burnt another as Hierome Catena affirmes Clement the 6. would haue men pray and cry to the Pope Lord open thy treasure the fountaine of liuing Ch Vnigenit ext water Horatius Tursellinus in an Epistle to Peter Adobrandini sayth that God made the Virgin Mary as much as could be the companion of his Matestie And Bernardine with Bonauenture giue her power ouer her sonne Iure matris Virgin Mary In the Roman breuâ—ary shee is called Dulcis amica Dei and in the Missall of Sarum the Sauiour of the world Bellarmine alloweth a saying of the Fryers to the Crucifixe thou hast redeemed vs thou hast reconciled vs to the Father The Turkes and Saracens honor the bookes of the Olde The Scriptures Testament but the Papists prophane the Scriptures The Rhemists call it a killing letter Stapleton endeuors to proue that all Heresies proceed from the Scriptures Kellison sayth that the Deuill doth wappe himselfe from toppe to toe in Scriptures Turrian writing against Sadeel calleth the Scriptures Delphicum gladium an Instrument to all purposes Bellarmine accuseth them as imperfect and insufficient Piggius and Eckius mis-termeth them a dead Letter Cardinall Poole an Incky Gospell Montanus a nose of Waxe and many others a Ship mans-hose Steuchus in his Treatise for the defence of Constantines donation calleth the Pope a God and the Abbot Panormitanus Blasphemies expresly sayth that Christ and the Pope haue but one Consistory Iulius the second vpon Easter day fought with the French at Rauenna Gregory the 7. mustred his Armie against Henry the 4. on good Fryday and thought to murther the Emperour in Saint Maries Church by throwing a stone vpon him from a vault Sixtus the 4. euen at the eleuation of the Sacrament endeuoured to kill Laurence and Iulian Volaterâ—â— de medices Although Leo the 10. called the Gospell a Fable and the wicked and monstrous liues of the Popes were euer discouered yet did the people fall downe like beastes before
carry it with zeale deuotion and austeritie of penance Bellarmine Thomas Aquinas and others proue the Popish Monarchy by the Gentiles gouernment the seauen Sacraments by Philosophicall arguments and that one body may be in many places at once by sophisticate principles Is not the worship of Saints and Images a meere tricke of the Gentiles and are not all the deâ—ises of adoration sprung from hellish â—dolatrie The temple of Romulus and Rhemus is now the Church of Saint Cosmas and Damianus the temple of Faunus is conuerted into the Church of S. Steuen The temple of Iuno Cupra into the Chappel of our Lady of Loretto where the altar stood dedicated to Apollo is now one erected to Saint Iohn the Image of Brasse of Iupiter is now Saint Peters as their antiquaries iustifie There was one supreme God among the Gentiles and many inferiors vnder him so the Papists acknowledge one God in tearmes but haue an hundred inferiors for euery action and disease the burning of incense commeth from the Gentiles and they assite Virgils testimony with other prets the washing of hands their skippings and turnings their sacrifices with fire and water their tunickes Albes and other pompous ceremonies their Purgatory and beliefe of good and bad Genius their worship of trees stones and fountaines with infinite other absurdities abominations are all the deuises of Gentils and customes of Pagans which if it be so Answere a Gods name you that must answer before the iudgement throne of the Lambe how comes this about if the Papacy shall not come to ruine and Rome it selfe at last be destroyed after Antichrist is discouered and the man of sinne consumed with the breath of Gods nostrills I must beginne with a smile For you cannot choose Popery keepeth Christians in ignorance but laugh when you heare of the Colliers faith to beleeue as the Church beleeues though it was not knowne what that beliefe was the obscuring of the Scriptures the inhibition of their reading their praying in an vnknowne tongue their not suffering men to dispute their preaching of stories and tales without one word of edifing their suppressing of religious bookes and infinit other palpable enormities what are they any other but instrumentes of Sathan to keepe vs in securitie or Synens hands to rocke the Cradle of our frailtie till wee fall a sleepe yea snort againe in the Cimerian caue of darkenes ignorance and superstition Oh harken for Gods sake what Historiographers write of ignorance dulnes and stupidity in spirituall affaires Alphonsus a Castro lib. 1. de haeresi sayth that diuers Popes were vtterly vnlearned Lazierdus Author Plaâ—â—â— speaking of Gregory 6. reciteth that he caused another to be consecrated with him for saying Masse because hee himselfe scarce knew a letter but this matters not for Ielium approues that the Pope cannot be deposed for want of learning Pope Zachary condemned Virgilius a Bishop of Germany as an heretike for saying there were Antipodes Paul the second was so vnlearned that he determined them to bee Heretikes that named the word Academy Iohn Pecham in the Prouinciall constitution supposeth it â—uffâ—cient for Priests either by themselues or substitutes once a yeere to tractate or at the most euery quarter of the ten Commandements of the law the twelue Articles the two commandements of the Gospell the seuen workes of mercy the seuen deadly sins the seuen vertues and the seuen sacraments without curiositie or putting it home to edifying vses of the conscience Durandus teacheth that the two points of a Bishops Miter signifies the old and new Testament but Lewis marcilius an Augustine Frier said that the stropps of the Miter which the Bishop hangs at his backe did foreshew that they neither vnderstood old nor new Testament Aluarus Pelagius complaines that the Bishops of Spaine committed thousands of soules to yong nouices that were fitter to play with Apples and Peares shall I name the Sermons of the Frier Menot Maillard Bromyard and their fellowes they were so full of ridiculous fables that the people went to Church to sport themselues in the hearing The Germans of late complained to Adrian 6. that Bishops aduanced vnlearned ideots vnfit vilde and ridiculous It is well known that many Priests and Friers could not say Masse nor distinguish of dayes but by the great letters and all your Schoolemen and Inquisitors generally fill their studies with bookes of Rhetorike stories legends Decretalls Canons Ciuell law and such trash For is not stubble trash compared to the comeâ— but neither Bible nor expositors of Scriptures scarce a father or diuine author shall bee found amongst them for in truth how euer now a daies they swell with the tumor and accent of great Schollership and learning they are still for the most part illiterate and ignorant and that reputation they haue proceedeth either from their auditors and disciples want of knowledge or their Glosses and tedious Cataloging of vncertaine authors who handle curious questions and at the best school-diuinitie Nouation cannot stand without Christian pollicie nor Popery repugnant to the lawes of nature and nations pollicie bee maintained without obseruation and performance of othes promises compacts leagues and treaties of trade and commerce yet you shall see what either the scorne of Papist negligence presumption equinocation or one tricke or other hath done Formosus being deposed for-swore his Bishopricke yet regarded not his oath but resumed the same In the life of Henry 4. Emperour Gregory 7. was inuested Pope contrarie to his oath Paschall the second solemnly swore to the Emperour being his prisoner but at least subiect to his danger that hee would keepe and religiously obserue the Articles set downe betweene them bur hee proued so false repugnant that after he had escaped he rebelled and excommunicated the Emperour Charles the French Theodoriâ—k King chaâ—geth Gregory 12. and Benedicke 13. of violation of their faith and Omâ—phrius alleadgeth against Alexander 6. that hee was a delinquent in more then punicke perfidiousnes Guicciardine speaking of Climent 7. sayth plainely â—ra di poca sâ—de Iulius 2. Leo 10. and diuers others endeuored to proue that the Pope was not bound by any oath but he might both infring the same and incite others to dishonorable practises Henry the 4. as Helmoldus complaines accuseth the Pope for the rebellion of his subiects and this by his instigation the tumults of Germany were raised and the people set all in combustion vpon the Popes warrant and pardon In the Counsell of Constance the Pope and his complices perswaded the Emperour to violate the safe conduct of Iohn Husse whereupon that damnable position of fides non est consernanda cum hereticis was ratified and concluded which if it bee so what trust can bee secured of any contract or treatie but still vpon aduantage the aduersary will breake out and imitate the Panther who sheweth not her tallents till the beasts be within her reach Did they not of late dayes perswade
to Gods true children but of dangerous receit to the superstitious deuourer of nouelty and new fangled deuices of men In the Propheticall visions of Saint Hildegard a Nunne St. Hildegard the second booke of her Sciuias there are diuers particulrs touching the desolation of Rome and destruction of the Pope with intimation of the cause as not onely for throwing the durt and filth of mens inuentions into the pure waters of the riuers of Gods Church but for continuing their liues in all abominations of impiety and rowling vp together into some stupendious heape the scattered snow of superstition Relicks Altar clothes Pardons Indulgences and such like trumperies which will vanish and melt away as the snow when the sunny splendor of Gods word shineth hotly vpon them for the Prophet tells vs their best hypocrisie is but like the morning dew Hoshea 6. which is not seene within an houre or so after the Sunnes rising There is another Prophecy of Mathilda or as some St. Mathilda haue it Magdalena a holy Saint and religious woman against Rome for her apostasie and the Cardinals for their assumpted greatnesse and dangerous impietie for which cause there shall be diuisions in Germanie and the Prouinces shall neuer be accorded in religion till either the destruction or reformation of Rome be brought to passe If you did reade the Originals and would aduise vpon the congruent gradations of their writings following as it were the order of Ecclesiasticall Historie you would either wonder how such a spirit was infused in them or that the Church of Rome hath not since suppressed or abolished their inuectiues But as I said God doth worke by secret meanes and strange instruments and when he hath either a mercy or a iudgement to execute Cyrus shall be his anointed Nabuchadnezzar his seruant and very wicked tyrants and infidels his hammer to bruise the stones in peeces S. Elizabeth was also a Nunne and Prophetesse and S. Elizabeth hath her Visions too so that in the second booke you shall finde how she expostulateth the matter with the corrupt Clergie why they should preach erronious doctrine peruert the sacred Scriptures continue in abomination of life maintaine the absurdities of Traditions c. Then she exprobrateth the Bishops for their schismaticall filthinesse chargeth the Church of Rome with deadnesse and errour reproueth the Popes of simonie and vnheard of vitiousnesse and last of all she commeth vnto iudgement and threatneth them all with vtter deuastation and ruine S. Bridget had also her reuelations she was a holy woman S. Bridget religious widow and princesse of Nâ—rice in Swethland they are wonderfull both for the number and the large approbation of many learned and iudicious Papists who all commend her sanctimonious life and confirme heâ— spirituall raptures In one place she challengeth the Pope and corrupt Clergie of Rome of many enormities denouncing Gods iudgement against them In another she would haue the Scriptures to be read in the mother tongue In a third she curseth the selling of spirituall liuings and threatneth a woe if the custome be not abrogated and abolished In a fourth she is much exafperated against Rome for many aberrations especially â—weruing from her primitiue excellencie In a fift she enlarging her selfe maketh a Catalogue of infinite number of vices and errors to which Rome was subiected In a sixth she inciteth the Princes of Europe to the calling of a Generall Councell and bringing Rome into Foro publico by accusation In a seuenth shee inueigheth against the fornication of Priests protesting it were better to marry nay warranting that the prohibition of marriage was vtterly vnlawfull In another she thus presageth and ratifies it with a forcible oath that the reformation of Rome must begin with the sword and so seuen plagues shall fall vpon her as it was spoken vnto Israel In a ninth she sheweth the difference betweene Christs and the Popes Church or if you will the Popes Court enlarging the particulars by diuers circumstances and demonstratiue reasons In a tenth she contesteth against that impious opinion of mens merits in matter of saluation as a very poison to infect the heart of true religion and open a gap to let in a world of absurdities In another she wonders how that Purgatorie came into mens minds more than that it was a deuice of the deuill to make a mint for the selling of soules or at the best to coine money to fill the Popes treasurie In the last place she assureth them that God will raise vp better vine-dressers in his vineyard than were in her time or else leaue it desolate to the foxes who shall destroy it for euer What would she say then if she liued in these dayes and were acquainted with the new sect of Iesuites the Popes Ianisaries and the worlds Incendiaries with the doctrine of equiuocation and mentall reseruation with that atheisticall position of Fidesnon est seruanda haereticis and all those damnable dispensations with murders depositions of Princes incests whoredomes and such like There is neuer a Papist in the world but honoureth Katherine of Sienna for a Saint and religious woman S. Katherine Now if he will but beleeue her writings as he reuerenceth her person and exalteth her memorie let him giue eare to her Prophecies She beginneth very sanctimoniously with a praier for the reformation of the Church of Rome she proceedeth effectually to lay open the enormities of the same she continueth most seriously in discouering the mischiefes they haue done to the poore afflicted soules of Christendome and she concludeth very peremptoâ—ily that Rome shall incurre tribulation and be vtterly destroied for her abominable life and imposturing deceit That the Pope shall be disrobed and lose his triple Crowne yea be bereaued of all his pompe and glory and that the Cardinals shall cast off their scarlet gownes and run to hide themselues if they knew where but death and desolation shall follow them into their closets and their very Idols and Images shall make a fire to consume them so that their louers and friends shall crie out Heu cadit in quenquam tantum scelus tanta iniquitas yea their very enemies shall clap their hands for joy to see their filthinesse laied open to the hissing of the passengers If this be thus then answer a Gods name you that must answer before the iudgement throne of the Lambe how comes this about if the Papacie shall not come to ruine and Rome it selfe be dâ—stroied seeing Antichrist is reuealed and that sonne of perdition manifested whom God will consume with the breath of his nostrils If not so shew wherein I haue gone beyond limitation or my Authors failed in their account and I will answer both for them and my selfe what is befitting satisfaction if God haue made your hearts pliable to an humble and modest impression And thus much for Antichrists punishment Because I finde the substance of all that hath beene said in one continued
discourse vpon the eleuenth Chap. of the fourth booke of Esdras I will enlarge the same For the Papists themselues allow the Apocrypha as authenticall as Canonicall Scripture wee onely maintaine that though it be not Canonicall Scripture yet our learned Diuines attribute to these Apocryphall writings the next place to the Canonicall Scripture and so you shall not only haue the Originall verbatim but a true and strange Paraphrase or illustration approued by the best authoritie ESDRAS 2. Chap. 11. 1 THen saw I a dreame and behold there came vp from the sea an Eagle which had twelue feathered wings and three heads 2 And I saw and behold shee spred her wings ouer all the earth and all the windes of the aire blew on her and were gathered together 3 And I beheld and out of her feathers there grew other contrarie feathers and they became little feathers and small 4 But her heads were at rest the head in the midst was greater than the other yet rested it with the residue 5 Moreouer I beheld and loe the Eagle flew with her feathers and reigned vpon the earth and ouer them that dwelt therein 6 And I saw that all things vnder Heauen were subiect vnto her and no man spake against her no not one creature vpon earth 7 And I beheld and loe the Eagle rose vpon her tallons and spake to her feathers saying 8 Watch not all at once sleepe euerie one in his owne place and watch by course 9 But let the heads be preserued for the last 10 And I beheld and loe the voice went not out of her heads but from the midst of her bodie 11 And I numbred her contrarie feathers and behold there were eight of them 12 And I looked and behold on the right side there arose one feather and reigned ouer all the earth 13 And so it was that when it reigned the end of it came and the place thereof appeared no more so the next following stood vp and reigned and had a great time 14 And it happened that when it reigned the end of it came also like as the first so that it appeared no more 15 Then came there a vcice vnto it and said 16 Heare thou that hast borne rule ouer the earth so long this I say vnto thee before thou beginnest to appeare no more 17 There shall none after thee attaine vnto thy time neither vnto the halfe thereof 18 Then arose the third and reigned as the others before and appeared no more also 19 So went it with all the residue one after another as that euery one reigned and then appeared no more 20 Then I beheld and loe in processe of time the feathers that followed stood vp on the right side that they might rule also and some of them ruled but within a while they appeared no more 21 For some of them were set vp but ruled not 22 After this I looked and behold the 12. feathers appeared no more nor the two little feathers 23 And there was no more vpon the Eagles body but three heads that rested and six little wings 24 Then saw I also that two little feathers diuided themselues from the six and remained vnder the head that was vpon the right side for the foure continued in their place 25 And I beheld and loe the feathers that were vnder the wing thought to set vp themselues and to haue the rule 26 And I beheld and loe there was one set vp and shortly it appeared no more 27 And the second was sooner away than the first 28 And I beheld and loe the two that remained thought also in themselues to reigne 29 And when they so thought behold there awaked one of the heads that were at rest namely it that was in the midst for that was greater than the two other heads 30 And then I saw that the two other heads were ioyned with it 31 And behold the head was turned with them that were with it and did eat vp the two feathers vnder the wing that would haue reigned 32 But this head put the whole earth in feare and bare rule in it ouer all those that dwelt vpon the earth with much oppression and it had the gouernance of the world more than all the wings that had beene 33 And after this I beheld and loe the head that was in the midst suddenly appeared no more like as the wings 34 But there remained the two heads which also in like sort ruled vpon the earth and ouer those that dwelt therein 35 And I beheld and loe the head vpon the right side deuoured it that was vpon the left side 36 Then I heard a voice which said vnto me looke before thee and consider the thing that thou seest 37 And I beheld and loe as it were a roaring Lion chased out of the wood and I saw that he sent out a mans voice vnto the Eagle and said 38 Heare thou I will talke with thee and the highest shall say vnto thee 39 Art not thou it that remainest of the foure beasts whom I made to reigne in my world that the end of their times might come through them 40 And the fourth came and ouercame all the beasts that were past and had power ouer the world with great fearefulnesse and ouer the whole compasse of the earth with much wicked oppression and so long time dwelt he vpon the earth with deceit 41 For the earth hast thou not iudged with truth 42 For thou hast afflicted the meeke thou hast burt the peaceable thou hast loued liers and destroied the dwellings of them that brought forth fruit and hast cast downe the walls of such as did thee no harme 43 Therefore is thy wrongfull dealing come vp vnto the highest and thy pride vnto the mighty 44 The highest also hath looked vpon the proud times and behold they are ended and his abominations are fulfilled 45 And therefere appeare no more thou Eagle nor thy horrible wings nor thy wicked feathers nor thy malicious heads nor thy hurtfull clawes nor all thy vaine body 46 That all the earth may be refreshed and may returne being deliuerâ—d from thy violence and that she may hope for the iudgement and mercy of him that made her If you reade also the next chapter you may finde how Esdras expounded this vision but because I haue promised a more plenary satisfaction I apply my selfe to the same purpose and thus continue the discourse In the daies of Darius king of Persia some 400. yeeres before lulins Caesar aduanced the standard of the Roman Empire vnder the presentation of a sable Eagle displaied in a golden field as the first Emperor after Kings Consuls and Dictators this vision came to Esdras and containeth the beginning continuance and dissolution of the Empire and supremacy of Rome seene by the Propheâ— Daniel some few yeeres before wherein twelue only Emperors are personated for their extended power like wings ouer the world and for their greatnesse and celsitude of birth like beasts