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
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.
was confirmed by the Exarch of Rauenna e Fasc Temp. Anno 637. who robbed the Lateran treasure Hee was bountifull to the Clergie diligent in the regiment of the Church which he maruelously beautified with ornaments and monuments The Almaignes f Geneb are conuerted to the Church of Rome g Geneb Iohn the fourth redeemed many captiues with the Church treasure Anno 638. Ierusalem is taken and wasted by the h VVolphgan Saracent as was Antiochia and the rest of Syria i Platina Theodorus a Bishops sonne Anno 640. he was very circumspect for the dignitie of religion The Emperor groweth vile and hatefull both for heresie and sacriledge and also because in his time the Empire of the East declined through the Saracens He easily absolued Pyrrhus the k Sab. E. 8. l. 6. fol. 178. a. Patriarke of Constantinople from his heresie gaue him a forme of profession and sent him home when Pyrrhus had platted the death of the Emperor Constantine which vpon his returne he executed with the assistance of Marina the Empresse The l Genffr de Tur. orig 3. p. 122. 123. Saracens take away from the Grecians Cilicia and became Lordes of all the countries thereabout excepting the kingdome of m Haiton Abcas which is Georgia and the countrie of Armenia which two countries are not in the catalogue of those that condemned Athanasius at Tyrus whereof see before This Pope by his a Sabellicus sentence depriued Paul of Constantinople for heresie but he kept his place by the Emperors fauour He beautified and built Churches In his time fasting in b Pantalion Geneb lent was thrust vpon the English-men Martinus the first sent c Anno 646. Geneb Legates to withdraw the Emperor and Paulus the Patriarke of Constantinople from heresie The Emperour banished his Legates sent his Exarch into Italie to peruert or take or kill Martine and spreade the heresie But the Pope d Massaeus Platina Sabellicus Bergom was so fauoured by the people and a Councell then held that he could not be hurte by the Exarch and the murtherer sent to kill the Pope as they say was stroken blind The Pope was after apprehended by fraude and banished where he died glorious for miracles He reproued e Pantaleon the heathen customes of his time which yet continued as trimming vp of houses at Newyeeres tide with greene boughes c. He f Dist 27. Diaconus would not haue Deacons ordeined except they would vow chastitie that is abstinence from mariage and required the Clergie to g Bergom bee shorne The Priests h Poly. Inuent 4. 5. shauen crownes seeme to bee taken from the Egyptians whose Priests were customably shauen in token of sorrow for the death of their god Apis. I thinke it forbidden in the i Leuit. 19.27 law The k Wolphgan Saracens subiect the greatest part of Affrica to their Empire They l Geneb much diminish the Romane Empire and encreased the Saracenical Empire Rhodes with the Iles about it is taken Sicilia wasted they inuade Europe waste Cyprus and Aradus c. Anno 651. m Pantalcon Eugenius the first decreed that no Bishop might conuert the Church goods to his priuate vse and that n Volater Geneb Bishops should haue prisons to punish the faults of the Clergie Vitalianus brought o Geneb p. 685. Songes and Organes into the Church and now God p Moris pap p. 168. is serued with like musicke Anno 6â—7 as was the image which Nabuchadnezzer set vp How it standeth with Gregories decree q Ex Regist l. 12. f. 235. against the modulation of the voice I doe not see Constans r Frising 5. 11. the Emperour forsaketh his heresie and dedicateth to Saint Peter the Gospell richly decked with precious stones He purposed to haue Å¿ Geneb p. 6â—â— translated the seate of the Empire to Rome but he could not but t Sab. En. â— l. â— f. 179. b. he spoiled Rome I could u Fasc Temp. f. 60. not hitherto finde that at any time the Church of Rome had fullie the dominion of the Citie and other things which Constantine is said to haue giuen vnto it except in the time of some few and these the most naughtie Princes Yea this Vitalianus had a greater fauour that this bad Emperour did confirme the priuiledges of the Church which notwithstanding he presentlie brake againe Then the * Geneb p. 687. Mahumetanes wasted Sicilia Cyprus threatned Italie thrust the law of Christ out of Affrica constituted their impietie through Affrica and Asia and attempted to bring it into Europe and trod vnder foote the holy land Anno 671. Adeo-datus a Geneb cured a leper with a kisse He b Platina and his successor Donus laboured to encrease the honor and magnificence of the Church and Clergie The c Geneb p. 690. Saraceus spoyle Syracuse Thracia besiege Constantinople and cary away many prisoners from Africa Doâ—â—s reconciled d Bergâ—ensis the Church Rauenna to Rome In his time it is reported that the e Plati f. 94. b. soule of Dagâ—bertus King of France was seene taken out of the hands of diuels who were carying him to hell by Dionysius Mauritius and Martine whose temples he honored while he liued newes out of the bottomlesse pit to helpe the beast to rise from thence vpon this sorcery and lying miracle 270. ships f Geneb p. 691. of the Arabians filthily waste the sea-coasts of Spaine Anno 680. Agatho clensed g Volat. a leper with a kisse He h Geneb instituted a new office for the Romane Church treasurie for this beast hath Beares feete Rauenna i Fasc Temp. gaue obedience to the Church of Rome being taught that it is not good to kicke against the pricke There k Frisin 5. 12. was held a Councell at Constantinople The Pope l Massae 14. p. 153. craued of the Emperour to stand fast in the catholike faith The Emperor requesteth the Pope that laying aside all cauils the Churches might be vnited by the vnitie of faith and commaunded the m Abb. Vrsp p. 153. Bishops that laying aside philosophicall disputations they should enquire of the faith with peaceable conference and deliuered them bookes of the Fathers out of the librarie of Constantinople In this Councell the Latine and Greeke Churches were n Geneb p. 692. reconciled The Bishop of Rome was to be called vniuersall Bishop and the Bishop of Constantinople should write himselfe vniuersal patriarke It was o Caranza Con Const 6. ca. 82 Poly. inuen 6.16 also decreed that images should be receiued into Churches and worshipped with great reuerence as a thing wherby the laity might be p Isa 44.20 Hab. 2.18 Ierem 10.15 instructed with lyes as insteede of Scripture and that incense might be burned and tapers light before them This q Polyd.
his possessions is sure and because these pillars be of fire he h Zach. 12.6 consumeth them as stubble that will offer to take any thing from vnder his feete Secondly he i cap. 10.3 cryed with a loud voyce as when a Lyon roareth that is indignation doth proclaime and decree seuere lawes to bring all both the people and the Popes into obedience and to keep them in subiection k Pro. 19 1â— 20.2 Hol. 11. 10. For the wrath of a King is as the roaring of a Lyon And in this phrase doth Fredericke the second expresse l Gebel aâ— 6â— cap. 64. his conceiued displeasure against the Pope that would not onely exempt himselfe from subiection to the Emperor but â—â—sult as Lord ouer the ciuill authoritie The opposition of Christ in his witnesses is as before to prophecie m cap. 11.4 in sackecloth like poore professors to accompanie the n cap. 14.1.3.4 Lambe on mount Sion following Iesus Christ in the true worship of God c. being bought from the earth not partaking with the ambitions of the beast c. Gregorius the fourth would not receiue o Plat. f. 127. the seate till he was confirmed by Ambassadors from the Emperor who in Christs stead had set his right foote on the sea and his left foote on the earth For the Emperor would not loose the right of the Empire This seemeth to prooue the graunt p Dist 63 Ego Ludouicus of Ludouicus to be a meete forgerie Now idolatry being established in Rome the q Wolph Saracens spoyled Asia Ierusalem Sicilia a great part of Italy euen the Churches of Peter and Paul and made r Epit. Blâ—â—d d. 2. l. 2. a stable of Saint Peters Church Å¿ Mass 15. Gebel â—t 6. c. 45. The Pope fortified the ruined city of Ostia against the Saracens and commaunded the name thereof to be Gregoriopolis but after the Popes death it lost this new name The Emperor Ludouicus held t Plat. f. 127. a Councell of many Bishops to the honor of God and profit of the Ecclesiasticall dignitie In which was decreed that neither the Bishop nor the Clergie of any degree should weare any precious and costly garments silkes scarlets or embroderies nor any golde or siluer on their girdles or slippers nor vse u Fox Marâ—y pag. 138. diceing nor keepe harlots nor great horses The Nobles especially the Bishops to reuenge themselues for the reformation which Ludouicus made by a * Peuce 4. pag. 99. Massae 15. p. 209. Councell had stirred vp the Emperor Ludouicus Pius his sonnes to depriue their father of his Empire c. Thus the beast blasphemeth the Prince whom the Scripture calleth God and that for his worship of God Anno 844. Swines snowte for a Carain f. 334. alij the deformitie of his name changed it to Sergius the second Hence the Popes began the custome to change their names As if he b Poly. Jri. 4. 7. be a malefactor he may call himselfe Bonifacius if a coward he may be called Leo for a carter Vrbanus for a cruell man Clemens This Pope was created c Gobel ae 6. cap. 45. p. 197. without the consent of the Emperor but the Emperor sending a mightie armie against Rome setting his fiery feete on the sea and land and roring as a Lyon compelled the Romanes to sweare alleagance vnto the Emperor And after vpon diuers conditions confirmed Pope Sergius In this Popes time the brother of this Pope vsurped Ecclesiasticall authoritie being a lay man Simonie was so common that euen Bishoprickes were solde to him that would giue most And because there was no Christian that would correct these euils God sent his whip the Paganes to reuenge the sinnes of the Christians The Saracens came and killed innumerable people and burned many cities A horrible d Fasc Temp. f. 66. a. plague is vpon Rome and all Italy For certaine perfidious Christians sent priuily and called in the Saracens Rome is taken and the Church of the Apostles is made a Swine flie Anno 847. Leo the fourth c Platina praying blasphemously through the merits of Peter and Paul fought in person against the Saracens and miraculously drowned them in the sea He decreed that a f 2 q. 5. Nullam Bishop should not be condemned vnder seauentie two witnesses He forbad g Geneb p. 776. the laytie to come into the quire while the Priest was at Masse In his time the Arabians raised three persecutions against the Christians in Spaine Theodora the Empresse of Constantinople commaunded images to be set vp againe The nauie of the Arabians ouercame the nauies of Venice and Constantinople inuaded Dalmatâ—a tooke the iland Lipara and doe much hurt to the Empire wasting the Cyclades c. Methodius gathering Churches among the Moraui Scla and Polonians inuented the Vandale letters and turned many holy writings into the vulgar tongue As yet the little booke is open After Leo h Mass 15. pag. 211. Plat. Sab. Fasc Temp. Volat Caranza Berg. Chro. Chro. c. succeeded Iohn the eight a woman Anno 854. who because she went alwayes in mans apparell and studied very diligently was thought a most learned man and held the seate almost two yeeres In the meane space she conceiued and was deliuered as she went in procession where she died Hereupon they say it was decreed that the Popes priuities should be handled Benedictus the third Anno 855. against i Geneb p. 781. Gobelinus him did sit Anastasius the third Nicholas k Platin. f. 136. the first was reuerenced as a God Anno 858. For now they that are called Christians doe to the Pope as * Strabo 7. p. 206. the barbarous Gothes did to their Priests who first were esteemed by them the Priests of that god whom they especially serued but after they got the reputation or appellation of gods This l Geneb p. 783. Pope is also called the Elias of the Popes he reigned ouer Princes as the Lord of the whole earth So now m Frising 6.3 the kingdome or Empire decreasing by much diuision the Church became of so great authoritie that it iudged euen Kings He openeth his mouth to blasphemie and absolueth n 15. q. 6. Authoritatem from their othes such as sweare by constraint and alloweth the Clergie with the spirituall and temporall sworde to recouer the Church goods by any meanes taken away He a D. 21. Nolite D. 28. Confulendum D. 96. fâ— script decreed that no lay man either Prince or people may iudge or lightly accuse a Bishop or Priest much lesse the Popes of Rome who are as gods in the world Hee b Caran f. 336 b. accurseth all that doe despise the commandements or interdictions of the Popes because their decrees as he exalteth himselfe are to be preferred before all writings whatsoeuer c 4. q. 2
quod and decreeth all to be hereticks that are excommunicate or deale d D. 22. omnes against the Church of Rome What e 15. q. 8. sciscitantibus wickednesse soeuer be in the Priests the sacraments of his ministring be good But if the Priest bee f Dist 32. Nullus married none must heare masse of him wherein he not onely blasphemeth them that worship in the Tabernacle of God but also is contrarie to the Gangrenâ— g Caran f. 56. Councell that condemneth Eustathius the Arian for holding that the sacraments ministred by a married Priest are not to bee touched but despised So that here the Pope decreeth that which is condemned in the Arian and here Rome conceiueth by the Arians This Pope beautified the Church of the h Platina mother of God with curious pictures i Geneb The Church of Constantinople doth openly depart from the Church of Rome The k VVolph Saracens breake into Italie for to spoile Aan 868. Adrian the second l Geneb p. 786. was honoured for miracles he was chosen without the consent of the Emperour In his first yeare he held a Councel at m Caran f. 345. a. Constantinople in which images were equalled for teaching with the bookes of the holy Euangelists Can. 3.14 and Bishops with Emperours The Bishops must giue small honour to the Emperours but receiue great honours of them While they at the Councell exalt themselues and idolatrie yea n Geneb p. 788 from the yeare 867. to 873. the Saracens made cruell warres vpon the Grecians French and most in Italie Ann. 874. Iohn the ninth decreed o 16. q. 3. Nemo that the priuiledges of the Church of Rome may not be taken away vnder a 100. yeares prescription p Geneb p 789. He crowned Carolus Caluus and two other Emperours Vnto this q 790. 791. Index Expurg Carolus Bertramus a poore man wrote his booke of the spirituall insensible and figuratiue eating of Christ in the sacrament of the Supper The question was mooued by Ferdinand a knight Iohn Scoeus wrote another booke of the same argument and to the same sense so that here this doctrine had two witnesses in the courts of the Temple It is reported r Mass 15. p. 213. that Ludouicus late Emperour being dead appeared to his sonne adiuring him to help him out of the paines of purgatorie Whereupon his sonne sent to many Monasteries and by their praiers obtained rest for his father Thus the beast beareth the world in hand that hee ruleth in the bottomlesse pit About Å¿ Fasc Temp. f. 67. a. Math. 24.12 this time charitie waxed exceeding cold in euery estate and iniquity abounded more than it was wont For now the sword and heresie for the most part did cease but ambition and couetousnesse and other vices hauing the raines loosed did more persecute the Christian saith than the persecutions of heresies In those t Trithe Hiâ—s p. 25. daies was a Iewe which by Magicke did many strange miracles in the sight both of the Princes and of any whosoeuer else By which may be gessed by what meanes the Monkes and Priests did the miracles of which they make such ostentation about these times Ann. 884. Martinus the second got a Geneb the seate by euill artes he b Massaeus is reported to haue vndermined his predecessor and caused him to be imprisoned c Carantz â—â—t c. 1. gouerned cruelly onely profitable by his short time The d Geneb p. 792 793. Saracens came into Italie tooke the Abbey Cassinense which their S. Benedictus founded slewe Bertharius the Abbot vpon the altar of S. Martine and returned laden with much spoile Carolus Crassus first dateth his writings from the birth of Christ Ann. 885. Adrianus e Platin. f. 137. b. the third enticed by the Emperours departure out of Italie to warre against the Normans in France tooke f Volat. 22. the opportunitie and did publikely g Geneb p. 794 Crantz Metro 5. 1. decree that in the creation of the Pope the Emperours authoritie should not be expected and that the voices of the Clergie and people should bee free A thing which was rather attempted than begunne by Nicolaus the first By which it appeareth that it is no good proofe of any thing to bee ancient in the Church because the Popes decreed it so It is one thing to make a decree and another to put it in generall practise euery where Ann. 886. Stephanus h Geneb p. 795 the sixt entred when France was afflicted by the Normanes England by the Danes Panonia by the Hunnes and Italie most grieuously by the Saracens Italie was i Carantz Met. 5. 1. vnquiet neither did the Romanes sufficiently obey so that hee held his seat with much labor Hitherto k Trith Hirs p. 26. 27. some Monasteries had most learned readers of the liberall sciences the holy scriptures the latine greeke hebrew and Arabian tongues requiring the reading of the Scriptures to be familiar to the Monkes Ann. 892. Formosus came l Volat. 22. Platin. in by briberie more than by vertue m Crantz M. 5. 1. The name he tooke bewraieth his pride I know n Plati f. 139. a. N.B. not by what meanes I shall say it came to passe that togither with the industrie of the Emperours who looked not vnto the election of the Popes but left them to themselues the Popes did also faile in vertue and integritie Most vnhappie times seeing such are wont to bee the people as are their Princes Of o Fasc Temp. f. â—8 a. these times Vernetus in Fasciculo temporum maketh great lamentation complaining that the colour of gold is obscured that there were wonderfull scandals in the Apostolike seate contentions emulations sects enuies ambitions intrusions persecutions that the holy failed and trueth was diminished among the sonnes of men Of these eight Popes this Formosus and his seauen successors I can say no notable thing because I haue found nothing of them but scandalous for such contention in the Apostolike sea as was neuer heard the like One against another and also against themselues p Crantz M. 5. 1. p. 291. This dissention was a pernitious example among the chiefe Bishops the Vicars of Christ most vnlike the holinesse of the fathers which were Martyrs c. a Volat. 22 253. Christopherus was depriued of his Papacie and thrust into a Monasterie for now Monasteries were places of solace for miserable persons and a refuge for bankeroupts The b Wolph Saracens inuade Apulia and Calabria The c Geneb p. 749. Caluenites in this age praise Laudius Taurinensis Bertragius Frederardus and some points of Godiscalcus In euery age they will haue some fellowes In the d Trith Hirs p. 29. yeare 896. was held a great Synode against secular men which would keepe vnder and diminish the Bishops authoritie Confusion being
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
were slaine his cariages lost and his horsemen drowned vnder the yee After this f 1424. Par. Vrsp 385. Zisca who eleuen times ioyned battaile with the enemies of the Hussites and ouercame them died of the plague But after the Hussites now calling themselues orphans still standing for their liues * Fox Mart. p. 625. c. against the Popes most cruell bulles and their fierce enemies g 1426. Buch. the Misnenses were ouerthrowne by the Hussites in battell h 1427. Buch. The Electors of the Empire entred Boem against the Hussites with an armie which they thought sufficient to ouercome all Boem But vpon the rumor that the Hussites were comming so great feare came vpon them that all that numbersome armie of Almaines and English before they saw any enemie tooke themselues to flight in stead of fighting as did the tyrant i Soc. 5. 14. Maximus the Arian when he fled from before Theodosius But the enemies of the Hussites would not thus rest For a 1431. Peuce 5. f. 170. Buch. the Cardinal Iulian had the leading of a very great army with which the Princes secular and spirituall furnished him When he entred Boem the Hussites few in number were comming against him But before the enemie came in sight the whoâ—â— armie of the Cardinall was stroken with such a feare that they most shamefully fled leauing the Hussites rich with the spoyle The b Fox Mart. p. 633. c. Cardinall with a lamentable oration sought to slay his armie but all in vaine Thus Boemia the tenth part or kingdome of the city of popish policie fell away * Pag. 645. Pope Martine called a Councell where he appointed for president his Legate Iulian to roote out heresie meaning the Hussites but presently the Pope died Ann. 1431. Eugenius c Geneb 1065. the fourth assembled a Councell at Basil for the reformation of the Church and amendment of the manners of the laytie and Clergie As also against the Hussites d Fox Mart. p. 665. 666. c. Here the Fathers seemed to make great conscience to prouide for the good of the Church In which course they were confirmed by the hand of God who visited them with a horrible pestilence For hereupon came a suddaine feare vpon the fathers yea there was great feare and trembling throughout the whole Councell which gaue glory to God swearing they would seeke nothing but the onely saluation of Christian people c. In this Councell was acknowledged that the preaching of the Gospell ought to bee free and faithfull Sinne ought to be punished The Boemians might receiue the Sacrament of the Supper in both kindes Throughout the Church apt and meete Ministers ought to be appointed which might shine in vertue and knowledge to the glory of Christ and healthfull edification of the Christian people In e Geneb 1067. this Councell was againe published the booke called Pragmatica sanctio for abridging the Popes authoritie and gaine f Mass 19. p. 262. Of which booke it is said The Pragmaticall sanction was instituted in the Councell of Constances confirmed by the Councell of Basil by Engenius Nicholaus and Calistus to the honour of God the strengthening of the Church and the prouision for good schooles That the ordinary conferrers of dignities might not be defrauded that those which were ondered might not be compelled to goe to Rome that the French mony might not serue the Italians a Par. Vrsp p. 396. The Turkes did send great presents to the Emperor now at the Councell with Oration desirous to conclude an eternall peace Thither also sent the Emperor of Constantinople his Orators wishing there might he made a perfect vnion At this Councell Eugenius the Pope was deposed because he laboured to remoue the Councell from thence and another was chosen in his stead b Geneb 106â— Bucholcerus Ann. 1438. 1439. Peucâ—â— 5. f. 118. but Eugenius held another Councell at Florence Here the Emperor of Constantinople vpon hope to get aide against the Turkes receiued the communion of the Church of Rome in the matter of the Popes supremacie purgarory confirmation c. but not transubstantiation c Caran f. 589. There presently of a sudden died Ioseph the Patriarch of Constantinople trembling and languishing as he was writing an instrument of his consent to the Pope The Grecians returning home finding the Pope to faile of his promise dissented againe from the Church of Rome more then at the first d Par. Vrsp p. 399. Buchol Ann. 1439. Synderonia formerly called Singidunum e Socrat. 1. 20. the seate of Vrsacius the Arian Bishop is taken by the Turkes f Geneb 1069. the Popesent Isidorus who againe vnited the Grecians to the Pope who attempting to vnite the Moscâ—nites to the Church of Rome was miserably slaine by the people g Buchol Ann. 1443. 1444. The Turkes now broken by the Christians make peace where to the Christians sweare on the Euangelists the Turke on his Alcaron This peace grieued Cardinall Iulian wherefore vpon the Popes letters that no peace was effectuall without his consent Iulian absolueth the Princes from their oath and that in her might bee found all the blood that is shed they fought against the Turkes at Varna Where the Christians by a miserable slaughter suffered vnspeakable losse Here also Cardinall Iulian dishonorably finished his life Nicholaus h Volatâ—â—â—â— the fifth kept a Iubile at Rome Anno 1447 where thousands were killed with horse feete and very many were drowned The Emperor of Constantinople was scâ—â—t returned againe from vniting himselfe and his Grecians to the Church of Rome but i Peucerus 5. Par. Vrs p. 405. Ann. 1553. Constantinople was taken by the Turkes who vsed there more violence then can be expressed with tongue For partaking of her sinnes they receiue of her plagues k Geneb 1073. Vpon the ruine of the Empire of Constantinople the knowledge of the Greeke tongue is brought and spread all ouer the Latin Europe from whence it had exiled 700. yeeres l Pag. 1071. About this time was perfected the late inuented laudable art of printing m Pasc Tem. f. 89. b. the art of arts and science of sciences a treasure of wisdome and knowledge to be desired This leaping as it were out of the dennes of darkenes doth enrich and enlighten the world vertue contained in infinit bookes onely found at Paris and Athens knowne to very few was by this art manifested to all nations and kindreds and tongues and people Whereupon is fulfilled that in the Prouerbes wisedome crieth in the streetes This n Bucho Volat. 22. Geneb p. 1071. Pope reuiued humaine learning seeking bookes giuing stipends to Readers students and translators entertained the learned and spread many learned men abroade in diuers places o Buchol Ann. 1454. Ladislaus being crowned King of Boem it was granted to euery one that at his pleasure he might receiue the
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
was so great that the people vnder these tenne kings or principalities were contented by his meanes euen k cap. 13.4 to worship the Dragon the diuell that is to become as very idolaters for the worship of idols is the worship of diuels as those l Volat. l. 25. fol. 300. Gentils which worshipped Dragons in the temples of Apollo and Iuno For m cap. 13.2 2. Thes 2.9 the Dragon the diuell gaue power to this beast howsoeuer he pretended to haue his power from Christ by the means of S. Peter cap. 13.5 cap. 11.2 The continuance of this battell is 42. moneths which after the account of the a Orig. Ephe. Astronomers at 30. daies the month is a thousand two hundred and sixtie daies that is according to the vsuall Propheticall account 1260. yeares called after b Brought in Dan. 12. cap. 12.14 the Greeks Astronomers A time times and halfe a time that is as many yeares as the Astronomers doe measure by an Equinoctiall which they call a time two equinoctials and halfe an Equinoctial which commeth to 1260. Iulian yeres This is that time during which the woman the Church is in the wildernesse whereas the great whore doth sit vpon the scarlet coloured beast beeing hidden among them that follow Antichrist yet kept from the presence of the serpent This time also is the c cap. 11.2 courts of the temple that is the publike face of religion is troden vnder foote by these Antichristian Gentiles at least in some place And these also are the last of these d Dan. 8.14 N.B.Da. 8.1 two thousand and three hundreth yeares spoken of by Daniel which beganne in the third yeare of Belshazzar which was e Brough Concent 480. yeares before the birth of Christ And this 42. months or 1260. yeares is to begin in the Papacie of Pelagius 1. Anno Christi 560. who brought in the fained superstitions of the Gentiles into the Church so that they ende 1820. All these things will appeare in histories following The Complement In the time of Pelagius who as an Angel of the bottomlesse pit brought newes into the world that as it was among the Gentiles a thing much beleeued so it was true among the Christians that the liuing were able to helpe the dead by Masses c. f Ann. 560. Aug. Curio l. 2. was borne Mahomet g Genssreus de Turc morib Orig. lib. 3. Massam 13. p 183. He hauing beene acquainted with the opinions of the Christians Iewes hereticks c. by Iohn a monke of the order of Benedict and Sergius a Nestorian was instructed so that he looked about how vnder the pretext of religion he might bring the Arabians subiect vnto him h Gens lib. 2. his religion he boasteth to be reuealed vnto him by Gabriel the Angel The scope whereof is with extreame remedies of fire and sword to bring all to his law In his law hee promiseth a new way to bring men to paradise and deliuer them from the paines of hell c. Ann. 562. Iohn III. i Plat. Fasc Temp. Massa 12. 217. repaired the Churchyards of the Saints and Martyrs Narses grew discontent for some indignities offered vnto him by the Emperour and the Emperesse complaints of the Romans k Sab. En. 8. l. 5. retired himselfe to Naples where he expected the comming of the Lombards whom hee had sent for to possesse Italie l Geneb p. 645 Fasc Tem. s 56 This Pope got Narses to Rome fearing the hurt of Italie by his alienation and made him Consul so that there was great and inward friendship betweene the Pope Narses m Italie in this Popes time was freed from the yoke of Constantinople and the Romans began to rule by Patricij for the deadly wound of the beast was healed a Geneb p. 645 The office of the Exarchie of Rauenna was instituted his office it was to confirme the election of the Pope of Rome Michaels red horse caused that Italie was afflicted with many slaughters by the irruption of the Barbarians the Sueui in Galatia are conuerted from Arianisme Ann. 576. Benedict I. b Geneb the Lombards inuade all Italie and there was great famine by Michaels blacke horse The Spaniards conuerted from Arianisme and the profession of Monkes came first into Spaine Ann. 580. Pelagius II. c Fasc Temp. was created Pope without the consent of the Emperour He d Poly. Inu 5. 4 1. Tim. 4. enforced Subdeacons to forsake their wiues by the diuels doctrine e Geneb p. 65. In his time Iohn the Bishop of Constantinople by the consent of Mauricius the Emperour tooke vnto himselfe the title of vniuersall Patriarke Him first Pelagius withstood and after Gregorius I. Many letters beeing sent to and fro so that it may be said of these two the Bishop of Constantinople and Rome as it was said of the Arians whose image herein they which call themselues Catholikes now are f Soc. 5. 22. Soz. 3. 17. These two did contend betweene themselues not for religion but for primacie by the ouermuch desire of honour with which their mindes were wholy possessed But Pelagius finding the Emperour aduerse vnto him herein decreed that g Dist 99. nullus none no not the Bishop of Rome himselfe should be called vniuersall And also that h Dist 17. Multis no Councel should be held without the consent of the Bishop of Rome i Geneb p. 652. 653. Recaredus king of Spaine abolisheth Arianisme in a Councel reduceth his subiects to the Catholike faith While the Lombards besiege Rome after great stormes and raines Michael by his pale horse pursued them so that k Mass 13.179 there came the pestilence which caused the plague sore in the slancke as a plague for those that despised marriage c. Gregorius I. a Geneb p. 651 surnamed The great Ann. 590. continued the opposition against Iohn of Constantinople in the matter of the supremacie b Epist lib. 6. Epist 30. and confidently said that whosoeuer called himselfe or was desirous to be called vniuersall Bishop was the forerunner of Antichrist c Gobel at 6. c. 30. In humilitie d Geneb p. 662 to represse the pride of the Bishop of Constantinople he called himselfe the seruant of the seruants of God which title also his successors did vse but Antonomastice improperly e Poly. inuâ—â—t 4. 8. Whereas before time there were no other titles in the Church but Priests and chiefe Priests Gregorie first deuided them into Patriarkes and Archbishops f Dist 21. Decrotâ—s which difference was brought in chiefly by the Gentiles who had Flamines and Archflamines c. g Melanct. He increased two pernicious things in the Church concerning the bottomlesse pit inuocation of the dead h Libro dialog and praier to the dead i Dial. lib. 4. c. 31. 35. 36. 37 51. 55. 58. c. He
first digested in a booke and commēded to the Church by many deceitfull miracles and reuelations to further the new doctrine which they say is found out of the state of the dead Herein trusting the reports of some which heard the things reported by others that some came from the dead Hereby the Poets fables become good diuinitie it beeing now acknowledged that the riuer Acherou is in hell where also a iudge sitteth like Minos Eachus and Radamanthus purgatorie in Aetna and in bathes c. that the dead might be holpen by masses burials in Churches praiers of Monkes and Priests a Lib. dial 4. cap. 41. The reason which hee rendreth why so many things are now discouered of the soules of dead men which hitherto lay hidde is that the end of the world is at hand and as it were in fight Take b 2. Thes 2.1 ◠Luk. 21.8 Isaiah 47.10 heads and be not deceiued for many will come in my name and say I am and the time draweth neere follow ye not them therefore In this booke is deliuered this doctrine As c Dial. 4. c. 5. the soule is knowne to liue in the bodie by the motion of the members so the life of the soule of the Saints when it is out of the bodie is to be esteemed by the vertue of miracles And d ibid. c. 20. that the merit of the soule sometimes is not shewed when it departeth from the body but is declared more truely after death A ready foundation for such Priests and Monkes which had the keeping of the places of burials to build vp the credit of their impostures about graues as if they were miracles And for them to obtrude vnto the world whom they liked to bee onely reputed as Saints This booke of Dialogues is so contrarie to the Reuelation of Saint Iohn that it may iustly be e 2. Thes 2.6 called the Reuelation of Antichrist This kinde of learning serued so to raise the beast out of the bottomlesse pit that some doe say that Gregory to shew this power of the beast in the bottomlesse pit recalled Traian f Pet. de Natal alij from hell baptised him and sent him to heauen A cup full of abhominations c. He was g Lib. 9. epl 9.71 angrie for breaking of images and called them lay mens bookes which were to be kept because the Gentiles vsed them to reade vpon He h Beda Eccl. hist lib. 1. C. 30. forbad to destroy the Temples of idols or to remoue the manner of the Gentiles worship i Epiph. l. 32. haeres 79. but required to continue the externall mirth to allure the people to serue God He worse then the heretikes called Collyridiani that worship the virgin Mary carried the k Mass 13. p. 180. image of the virgin Mary in procession as the Gentiles did their gods to driue away the plague He instituted the l Geneb p. 660. worship of the crosse barefoote on good friday and remitted canonicall penance and promised m Poly. inuent 8.1 cleane remission of sinnes to such as frequented Churches on set dayes that men might be allured to worship the Dragon He made a daungerous decree n Par. Abb. Vrsp in eplu Hysderi c. 1. p. 414. of this heresie that like the Maniches Electi the Clergie should not haue knowledge of their wiues but when more then sixe thousand childrens heads were brought vnto him out of his fish pond he confessed his owne decree to be the cause of this murther and condemned his owne decree He o Pet. de Nat. miraculously terrified Mauricius the Emperor by one p Otho Frist l. 5. c. 7. Mass Ab. Vrsp c. who in the habite of a Monke stoode with a drawne sworde and shaking it foretolde that he should be slaine with the sworde for persecuting of Pope Gregory from which sentence neither by almes prayers nor teares he was deliuered but was caused to drinke of the wine of the wrath of the whore and she is drunken with blood for both himselfe his wife and children were murthered by Phocas Which a Lib. 11. Epist 1. 36. 43. 44. was no sooner don but Gregory as accessary with the Clergie sung gloria in excelsis latentur cali exultet terra for ioy caried the images of Phocas and Leontia his wife into the Church of Casarius the whole Clergie shouting for ioy and singing Exandi Christe Phoca Augusto Leontia Augusta vita And as the forerunner of Antichrist wrote to Leontia to make especially S. Peter the protector and patrone of the Empire in earth and intercessor in heauen meaning that the Bishop of Rome should be in greatest estimation for the beast riseth out of the earth This Pope like the b Ang. har 46. Maniches which preferre apocrypha writings before the new Testament esteemed the foure generall Councels as the c Dist 15. sicut foure Euangelists and like Montanus the heretike d Regist lib. 12. accursed euery one which brake the least thing which the Pope commaunded and obeyed it not altogether He caused e Volat. lib. 22. f. 251. the auncient monuments in Rome to be cast into Tiber least by their beautie they should distract men from the religion newly instituted In his f Aug. Curie l. 1 Geneb p. 655. time Mahomet doth openly professe himselfe the onely Prophet of God and that whosoeuer durst gainesay his law should be slaine Many of his kinsfolkes allies friends and clients who were throughly perswaded that he was such a one indeede as he professed himselfe and would seeme to be followed him in the yeere 593. So in the West the g Geneb p. 661. Lombards English Spaniards Venetians Ligurians c. receiued the faith of the Church of Rome and followed her This Pope h Beda Eccl. hist l. 1. cap. 25.27 sent Augustine into England to conuert the English men They which were sent like those that built Babel neither vnderstoode the Scriptures nor the language of the people The first point of religion which they shewed was this They spread forth a banner with a painted crucifixe and so came in procession to the King singing the Letanie in a strange tongue and shewing some deceitfull miracles He laboured to reduce the whole land to the example of Rome as Montanus did all Churches to Pepuza and therefore became enemie to the seuen Churches of the Britones who followed the custome of the East Churches and would not submit themselues to his pride but cast him out and measured him not as a man of God because he learned not of Christ to beare his yoke who was humble and meeke He wrote to Augustine a Bed eccl hist l. 2. c. 2. dis 15. 4. denique that the Clergie should in quinquagesima abstaine from flesh milke meates and egges which b August de haeres 46. meates the Manachies electi or priests forbare There were in c Ex regist