armes This interpretation seemeth to bee most to the purpose For the Cohortes of the Romane legion were e Geneb p. 5. 59 called Numeri So were the f Exempla Plinij orders of Tribunes and the Leaders of a legion g Geneb p. 656 were 666. Namely h Vegetius Polybius c. 600. Decurians 60. Centurians and six Tribunes Yea there is none of the propositions which can bee made by the connexion of this word Number to any part of the sentence where it is mentioned in this prophecie but it may bee iustified by this interpretation For example to bee a souldier for the Pope is a priuiledge to buy and sell and maketh him capable of the greatest grace the Church of Rome can giue It is the number of man It is i cap. 15.2 a number ouer which the victorie may be got And as to be of a legion was peculiar to such as fought for Rome so now these souldiers are for the Church of Rome Lastly as a Vegetius lib. 2. cap. 19 in a Roman legion were schooles which required learned and wittie souldiers for the condition of the whole legion their seruices and Militarie numbers c. or paiements were more diligently written in actes then any other affaires so in poperie Let him that hath wit count the Militarie number of the beast for the seruices done for the honour and aduauncement of that policie are most carefully written vp euen in their Legend or catalogue of saints where none els doth come be he neuer so good Thus is the beast now in his pride furnished with hornes like the Lambe accounted the Vicar of Christ. He spaketh like the Dragon for terror blasphemie and doctrine of diuels he exerciseth the power of the first beast before him playing the part of an Emperor before his face admirable for deceitfull signes and lying miracles done by sorcerie and the power of the diuell Now doth he publish decrees capitall lawes and hath all priueledges of earth Purgatorie and Heauen to bestowe at his pleasure How fearefull then must be his thundrings and how bloodie his warres The Lambe who hitherto as opportunitie serued l cap. 6.2 c. warred against his enemies by the word the sworde famine pestilence c. doth still continue the same kinde of oppositions when it seemes good He also continueth to m cap. 9.13 c vexe the remnant for idolatrie murther theft fornication c. as in former times He further had vexed this Antichristian beast taking possession of the people and soyle by ciuill Princes in whom a cap. 10.3 c. he roared as a Lion as also by his two b cap. 11.3 c witnesses But now as the diuell hath aduanced the malice and greatnes of this beast so the Lambe Christ Iesus doth declare himselfe more mightie in his oppositions The ciuill Princes doe labour to keepe their authoritie and possession doe bring to light the truth of that which the thunders haue spoken deliuer the booke of the word of God to such poore Preachers as doe make a conscience of the same and are ready to suffer for it In the prophecie of discouering the truth of that which the confused and tumultuous thunders haue spoken c cap. 10.4 are these things to be considered First a desire of those of the spirit of Saint Iohn to record them as they were as he saith I was about to write them plainely for euery man to vnderstand Secondly the impediment that hindred the cleare deliuerie which was that all wise men and godly as by a voyce from heauen aduised by reason of the perils of the times to seale vp those things which the seuen thunders haue spoken truely reporting them but couered ouer with parables c. as Prophets doe the visions which are not to be vnderstoode of all Hereupon it is that the histories of these later times doe deliuer the trueth yet in such sort as very fewe can picke it out by them the face of the storie looking one way and the trueth another way Thirdly the Lord Iesus in the person of this Angell presenting the ciuill Magistracie d cap. 10.5.6 sweareth not by Idols nor supposed saints as the idolatrous beast doth but by him that liueth for euer and created all things that the time should neuer more be so perilous as then but that in the dayes of the seuenth Angell that conuerteth Kings to the gospell the mysterie of God in bringing Antichrist into the world shall be finished when it shall be as lawfull for men to preach and write the plaine trueth as euer it was declared by the seruants of God the Prophets As concerning the deliuerie of the booke of Gods word to Preachers first it is said that all godly men perceiuing a better course to consume Antichrist by than to write his storie plaine doe as e cap. 10 8. a voyce from heauen bid those of the spirit of Saint Iohn to leaue the huge volumes of Legends decrees and decretals c. and goe and take the booke of the Scriptures which is open in the Angels hand presenting the Magistracie though it be shut to all others Hereupon godly men which suffered tribulation as Saint Iohn did in Patmos doe by humble petition craue f cap. 10.9 that the Angell standing as proprietarie vpon the sea and earth gouerning people and countries would giue them the little booke of the word of God This petition is graunted but in this manner The Princes bid the Preachers g Ibid. take the booke the Bible and so studie it that they seeme to eate it vp Howbeit such are the times as yet they forewarne that the word though sweete in their mouthes as honey shall be bitter as gall in their bellies h Ezech. 2.8 3.1.14 Ier. 4.19 as to other Prophets For the word is sweete to speake and heare but when the wickednes of the times will not imbrace it but like Lions Panthers Beares c. bloodily persecute it the Preachers haue iust i cap. 11.3 cause to mourne in their bowels The two witnesses haue the courts giuen vnto them by the Angell that is are acknowledged to be the true visible church In those daies the Church is visible in the persecuted and called to preach there by the ciuill Magistrate A holy and sufficient calling in the time of these confusions Neither is it required that they haue the Canonicall admission of the popish Antichristian beast Then is the publike face of Christian religion iustly esteemed the courts of the house of God for their presence there in persecution and not for the soueraigntie of the popish Gentiles The testimonie of these witnesses is giuen a cap. 14.4 c. by innocencie of life and by preaching of their innocencie first it is saide These are they that are not defiled with women by whoredomes adulteries c. As are those which folow the popish beast but do
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.
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
the Archbishop of Mogunce My Lord Archbishop we command you vpon your oath of fidelitie that you reforme your Clergie c. And if they will not be reformed that you command the fruits of their benefices to be taken from them and presented to our Exchequer and we will conuert it to more godly vses Ann. 1367. Gregorie the eleuenth c Geneb p. 1040. 1041. remooued the Popes court from Auinion to Rome Edward king of England laid a grieuous paine vpon those that thenceforth would receiue any benefices of the Bishop of Rome shee is fallen Carolus the French king coÌ„manded â—he Bible to be faithfully traÌ„slated into the French tongue d Fox Mart. p. 415. 416. 417 Militzius sometimes a Canon vrged by the holy Ghost to finde by the scriptures the comming of Antichrist was compelled by the holy Ghost to preach at Rome before the Inquisitor and said publikely that the same great Antichrist prophecied of in the Scripture was already come He conuerted many from their vngodly life and held a congregation Catharina Senensis spake of the reformation of the Church Mathew Paris noteth the Pope to be Antichrist Henricus de Iota Henricus de Hassia who writeth out of a prophecie of Hildegrade that the diuell spake of the Priests of this time daintie bankets and feastes wherein is all voluptuousnesse doe I finde among these men c. Hee saith further that they clime with Lucifer til with him they fall deeper and deeper This Pope very violently persecuted such as were against him as namely Militzius Wickleife c. But e 425. Wickleife continued and interpreted the articles obiected against him and finished his testimonie Vrbanus the sixt Ann. 1378. a Gobel aet 6. cap. 27. in his time were great seditions in all places and there began a most grieuous schisme amongst the Popes as Rupe scissa prophecied For there were then two Popes the other was called Clemens the seauenth and this schisme lasted almost 40. yeare b Fasc Temp. f. 86. From Vrbane the sixth to Martine the fifth I know not who was Pope c Gobel at 6. c. 76.81 This Pope was very rigorous he tormented Cardinals to death buried them in a stable by Carolus the bastard he strangled in prison Ioan the Queene of Sicilia Against the Antipope hee was very violent d Fox Mart. p. 441. For hee proclaimed to all that would fight for him against any of his enemies as large pardons as were granted to them that fight against the Turke And whereas e Caran A. 33. p dist 50. clericus Nicolaus the first maketh the Clergy that fighteth irregular he contrarily f Gob. 6. cap. 70. proclaimed that the Clergie of all sortes that should kill or maime any of the Popes enemies should both bee free from irregularitie and inioy the same priuiledges which are granted to them that warre vpon the infidels g Peucer 5. f. 157. Neither was Clement the Antipope of a more gentle disposition for he spared not the Embassadors of Emperours and Princes which were sent vnto him to perswade him to concord for some he killed in prison and others hee tormented to death vpon the racke h Fox Mart. p. 440. 567. 4â—0 446. Wickleife escapeth the hands of his persecutors his books suddainly spread abroad by such which came from Boemia with the Queene of England c. i 416. 417. Mountzigger Rector of the Vniuersitie of Vlme taught against reall presence but was resisted by the monks and friers Nilus Archbishop of Thessalonica chargeth the Pope to be the only cause of the schisme betweene the East and West Churches 36. were burned at Bringa for the opinions of the Waldenses k Geneb 1044. Hus spreadeth Wickleife opinions in Boem This Pope maketh more superstitious feasts vz. the feast of the visitation and reduceth the Iubile to 33. yeares The Iesuites begin The Turke entred Greece and made Constantinople subiect to tribute Anno 1389. Bonifacius the ninth l Gob. aet 6. cap. 84. 85. 86. 87. of an incredible thirst of money monstrous in his deuises to get it He graunted reuersed antedated c. diuers of his graces for money He increased the fees of Archbishops for their Pall c. aboue tenne folde some paide 80,000 florens for it and hee that would giue most had what he would Hee dispensed for money against the Apostles and Euangelists For money he made Iubiles to be held not onely in great cities but also in base places a Geneb p. 1048 The king of England bounded the Popes authoritie at the Ocean sea so that no English man vnder paine of perpetuall imprisonment should deale with the Pope to excommunicate any in England Against this Pope sate Benedict the thirteenth vnto whom b Vincent prog part 1. 2. Saint Vincentius submitted his booke and doctrine of his prognostication of Antichrist and of the ende of the world In which booke though there be many things fabulous and false after the manner of all the Friers in their prophecies yet there be also some things worth the marking as of the ruine of the popish Prelates of Antichrist mixt which must be a Pope of the abhominable life of the Friers and the falshood of Francis prophecie of his order c. In c Fox Mart. p. 446. c. 456. 457. c. the time of this Pope Boniface were many constant confessors of the truth as Swinderbie who was persecuted for beeing earnest against the wicked liues of Friers and Priests of his time refused the popish iudgement appealed to the kings iustice because the Pope was Antichrist And Water Brute who most excellently interpreteth the mysticall numbers in Daniel and prooueth the Pope to bee Antichrist The d Fasc Temp. opinions of Wickleife in England Hus and Ierom of Prage in Boemia doe spread amongst many The heresie of the Adamites sprung vp in Boem but was presently suppressed by the Hussites e Geneb 1048. The Greeke tongue which had exiled seauen hundred yeares is brought into Italie by Chrysoleras c. f Buchol Anno 1399. Yea all good artes and tongues began to spring and to be husbanded and to growe fresh againe whereas for 700. yeares all learning was troden vnder foot and defiled with horrible barbarousnesse c. And here beginneth a happie age of all skilfull learning in Italie which farre and wide did spread abroad the glistering light thereof into other kingdomes A g Mass 8. Pp. 253. 254. Priest came from the Alpes to whom were gathered 70,000 they sharpely reprehended vice c. The Pope apprehended and tormented him Some said that there was no euill found in him others thought that he sought to be Pope that whom the Pope commanded to be burned should not bee said to be burned without cause From h Peâ—e 5. f. 157. c. 168. this time to the Councell of Constance continued the schisme
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