and the Church in this Stile Peter the Apostle of Jesus Christ to you the most Illustrious King Pepin and to all Bishops Abbots c. I the Apostle Peter whose Adopted Sons you are admonish you that you perfectly come and defend this City c. And doubt you not but trust assuredly that I my self as if I stood before you do thus exhort you c. and that I Peter the Apostle of God will at the last day yeeld you mutual kindness and prepare you Tabernacles in the Heavens Upon this quarel of the Popes Pepin and his Son Charls destroy the Kingdom of the Lombards in Italy and give large Territories to the Church And these things made way and gave occasion and opportunity for Charles upon his great conquests to set up the German Empire of the West Franks The Pope in requital confirms Pepin in the Ringdom of France gives his Son Charls afterwards the Title of most christian King and crowns him Emperor of the Romans at Rome An. 800. From which he would pretend to be above Emperors and Kings and to be his right to Crown confirm and depose them if not dispose of their Kingdoms But Charls at length reassumes the ancient and original Imperial Dignity and Power to Govern the Church call Councils and order Papal Elections and confirm and invest them c. against all begun usurpations and incroachments of the Pope and aws Italy And keeps the Pope still Subject which Authority of the Empire was prety well upheld during the Caroline Race The Pope in the mean while under pretext of the Christian Religion and converting Infidels and the Nations increases in Wealth Power and Authority over the World Thundering out these Decrees of Holy Church Out of the Church no Salvation The Pope's the Successor of St. Peter the visible Head of the Church the Vicar of Christ on Earth His right as aforesaid to create confirm excommunicate and depose Kings and dispose Kingdoms for the cause of Religion c. That they are Hereticks that dissent from the Roman Church the only true Catholick Church or are Enemies to it c. Hereby the Consciences of the Nations Princes and People converted to an outward christianity are aw'd and fill'd with Reverence and Zeal for the Church to convert or root out Infidel Nations c. and to do any Benefices or Services for the Church As the most acceptable Service to Christ whom they began to acknowledge and Worship as their God and Saviour Hence almost all the Nations subject themselves to the Pope as Head of the Church yea and in Temporals also in a great measure nay some to hold their Kingdoms of him c. As if they could not any better way recompence Christs Vicar for the benefit of their Eternal Salvation then to submit themselvs all theirs to his dispose And this Opinion was brought about to prevail in the World that they might redeem their sins by good deeds and charitable works and services for the Church against it's enemies c. Hence Riches and Revenues of the Clergy and Hosts and swarms of clergy men Hence Churches Temples Abbies Monastries without number c. for the Redemtion of Souls Hence Expeditions Holy Wars Leagues and undertakings for the Church Hence Pardons Indulgences and devices for mony c. 'T would be endless to mention particulars c. The Pope having thus erected his Throne in the Consciences of men strongly seated there through Ignorance and blind Zeal and Devotion begins to play Rex in the World Besides there being perpetual emulation of Princes specially in Germany and Italy for Empire and Dominion c. The Pope interests himself in one part and the other for fear of excommunication or force becomes subject to him The Pope therefore now practises all wayes he can against the superiority of the Emperor and from being any wayes subject to his Authority or control and to undermine all Supremacy in Temporals presuming that all power is given to him both in Heaven and Earth in the Church and State c. 'Till in the end they come not only to let the Emperors have nothing to do in their Election Confirmation and Investiture but also to have all in a manner themselves to do in the Creation and Coronation of the Emperors Not long after the Caroline power and race declining and that partly through the Popes practises Italy is usurp'd by several Tyrants against the Emperor and almost wholly broken from it wherein the Popes have a finger and make their own advantage upon these distractions of the Empire For An. 884. Adrian the 3 d. denyes the Emperors Authority necessary to the creating Popes and about the year 900. the Empire is wholly and perfectly translated from the French or Caroline race to the Germans by Pope Agapetus's plotting And about the year 1000. as some write Gregory the fifth appoints Electors for choosing the Emperors whereby they afterwards became weakned and the Empire broken into factions and parties and the Pope thereby to have the better opportunity to work his own ends and to raise his greatness out of others ruines striving now to be uppermost not only in Church but State too and to be above even the Emperors themselves For after this time open and down right Tyranny over the Emperors begins to manifest it self First Pope John takes away all choise of Popes from the people to the Clergy only upon this plausible ground That the People are to be taught not followed Next Clement the 2 d. about 1047. set up by the Emperor against other Anti-Popes by the Authority of a Synod caused the Romans to renounce by oath the right they claimed in choosing Popes Then about 1050. Leo the 9 th invested by the Emperor is perswaded by Hildebrand to put off his pontificalibus or papal Robes in his journey from Germany to Rome to wave the Emperor and have a new election from the Roman Clergy and then made Hildebrand Cardinal who manag'd all at his pleasure After this Nicholas the 2 d. about 1060. takes away the election from the Roman Clergy bringing it about to a Colledge of Cardinals also then instituted that is of Spiritual Temporal or Lincy-woollcy Princes like himself the Supreme Emperor as it were for the greater grandure and more magnificent authority of his Almighty Holiness who was now almost got to the top of Empire Supremacy and Omnipotency For it was decreed in Council the Pope only to be chose by Cardinals whose Wounderful Worships or Eminencies might lift him up one step higher even as it were into Heaven to be God on Earth For so some thought fitting afterwards to stile forsooth his divine Majesty c. And then they order that no lay Person should confer Ecclesiaslick Investiture For what should the Church concern them But yet they themselves would invest and Crown Lay Princes For though the State had nothing to do with the Church yet the Church had to do
Servant Drabricius some ten years since therfore will your Majesty also vouchsafe a peculiar Audience to his Messengers sent not with naked words but with testimonies gaining credit and with most ample instructions unto you Read O King or deliver these things to be read by your wise men You Great Lewis King of France does the great Lord by name invite yea call hither to his Glorious work of renewing the World Take counsel with your Collegues the Christian Kings of Europe to Convocate a Council of the Christian World to settle Truth and Peace and Righteousness therein That Angels may again sing Glory to God on High on Earth Peace Good will towards men If you will follow most Christian King with other Christian Kings the conduct of the Counsel of this Book undoubtedly all the World will shortly become Christian and the Times Peaceful Religious Inlightened and Happier than Solomons according as God did of old promise and does now remind us of that they are approaching Prepare for Christ a quiet Kingdom in the Earth removing his proud Rival Rejoyce that the like things are commanded and promised to you as once to Cyrus To be the Shepherd of the Lord that is a keeper of his Flock the Church the whole Church not any part only thereof as the Greek or the Latin or the French or the English or German-Churches c. For whoever calls on the Name of Christ are the People of Christ and the Sheep of his Flock fulfilling all his will saying to Jerusalem Thou shalt be built c. Isa 44. 28. and 45. 1 2 3 4. Cyrus the King when after the Conquest of Babylon he read the Prophecy of Isaiah presented to him by the Jews as Josephus witnesses and saw his name expressed believed God and presently freed the People of God from captivity O second Cyrus revived will not you imitate c. It is the work of the Devil and of Antichrist to destroy and take away the Liberty of Humane Nature which is the top of the Image of God in Man Whoever therefore shall be the Instrument of this Glorious Restitution of things shall be more than Cyrus more than Alexander more than Augustus more than Constantine or Charles the Great Arise therefore against all Antichrists i. e. Oppressors of Liberties thou King of France King of Liberties for so the word signifies And succour the Christian Nations where-ever groaning under any Corporal or Spiritual yoke Make to cease unchristian Wars and destroyings of one another by Rapines Fires Slaughters c. But especially free the Christian People from the Slaughterhouse of Consciences which they call the Inquisition and execute by Swords Halters Burnings alive Prisons Banishments and other kind of Tortures Let this most abominable Abomination be cast out of the Christian World as the manifest work of Satan by his Antichrists which he began by the impious Kill-Brother Cain and continued by Pharao's Saul's Ahab's Jezebel's Antiochus's Caiphas's Nero's Julians c. but has brought to the height only among us these one or two Ages last past Christ practised or commanded no force but only to teach the Nations and shake off the dust of their feet c. There 's no necessity for Force and Violence because Religion cannot be forced nor compelled They are plainly unteachable who do not observe that those former Persecutors gain'd nothing so but at length to ruine themselves Christ lives conquers reigns with his but Tyrants perish one after another with theirs Therefore take away that foolishness as Lactantius calls it from the Christian People most Christian King Take away that violent Tyranny of Consciences and Bodies from the Catholick People King of Liberties Most Serene of Kings God and the Christian People expect nothing but to answer your Name and what the Names and Titles given you by the Providence of God sound forth Lewis Deodat XIV most Christian King of France Lewis Refuge of the People Deodat Given of God XIV Most Christian King Christ's Vicegerent not Antichrists Of France i. e. Of Liberty The Devil and malicious and evil-minded men O King will stand in your way which two things you and all that love you for God's sake ought to fear For the Devil loth to have his Babylonish Kingdoms disturb'd will undoubtedly withstand you And malignant men seek your ruine as they did of your Heroick Ancestors c. But wise men fear more lest you your own self raise Impediments to your self and to your Victories O King by harkning to evil Counsellours and Instruments rather than to God But and if you refuse God will find out another to plead his Cause We do not stir you up against the Church greatest King but for it Nor against the Roman Church but for it also to restore it to its primitive Apostolick state from which it is deeply fallen God threatens here to send the barbarous Nations to reform us if none else will lend an helping hand Be intreated therefore by your own Salvation and of your most ample Kingdom and the whole Worlds not to let pass into the empty Air these Voices both Humane and Divine The Holy Spirit write in your Heart if not in Golden yet in flaming Letters that twice-made Protestation to negligent Eli High-Priest and disobedient Saul Those that honour me I will honour But those that contemn me shall be contemned of me In the Information to the Readers But are these things certain or are they not fables contriv'd and composed by the Art of some ingenious and witty to deceive T is answered It might be doubted at the first and was every-where doubted as the History of these things will shew But now there is no time for doubting seeing these things are confirmed both by abundant witnesses and confirm'd by divine signs and miracles as the same History will shew and now publickly appears And lastly where the truth of the Predictions are in apparent view and the very event does seal their divine authority Machiavillian Politicians Atheists imagining the World to be ruled by Humane Counsels have laughed at these as Phanatick things But behold God shews himself to be the Rector of the World These things being powerfully fulfilled which he hath commanded to be fore-denounced in his Name If any shall say therefore This Book is the Trumpet to Wars It must be answered 'T is so indeed but the Book of the Wars of the Lord as the Revelation of St. John and the Book of all the Prophets yea and the Book of the Gospel it self perhaps according to that of Christ Do you think that I came to send Peace on Earth c. For this Book describes 1. The Wars of God Jehovah against Idols As Ezek. 30. 13. 2. The Wars of the Lamb against the Beast already heretofore sounded Rev. 1714. 3. The Wars of the holy Spirit of God against all erroneous and unclean spirits in the Earth Zach. 13. 2. I say That here is the Revelation of the Revelation of
Lutherans and the Calvinists which we put both together as Protestants united against the Romanists and now also labouring hard on both sides to unite among themselves though the latter only took the Title of Reformed As we blame the pride and haughtiness of the Chineses who before that the Tartars had humbled them believed that all the rest of the Universe beyond their Mountains and Walls that encompass them was wholly desolate or barbarous In like manner ought we not to suffer an infinity of Ignorants who because perhaps in Colen they see but an hundred Protestants or so presently imagine the same of all Germany and of the whole World and reckon their Church Catholick when 't is but a moity of the least part of the Earth and not esteeming things but by their outward splendor and glittering pass unjustly from the unequal esteem and false count of their number to the unequal esteem or false count of their Virtue and Cause Besides the advantage of Number is no great advantage The Mahometans on this account carry it from the Christians and the very Heathens from both So that neither the one or the other have any great reason to glory The only glorying is to have God on their side But let us come to the Countries which each possess Europe as was said is almost all Christendom Yet Idolaters and Heathen are still found in the cold Region of the Laplanders and although they are distinguished into Danes Swedes and Moscovites yet they hardly obey either the Duke Moscovy or the King of Suede or of Denmark Mahometanism is more spread but not beyond the Turks Territories It is follow'd at Constantinople in Romania and in the places of Dalmatia and Hungary where he is Master It has its course also in the Taurick Chersonese and the lesser Tartary But all these Countries together make not above one tenth part of Europe Lastly Judaism onely lurks in little corners and holes of Christendom and dares hardly shew its face but with some kind of disgrace and infamy Witness their yellow Hats in Italy and Avignon for a mark of dishonour Yet the Jews have their Synagogues and their principal ones are at Amsterdam Avignon Rome Venice and divers other places of Holland and Italy They are found moreover at Franck-fort Hamburgh and other Cities of Germany and some at London also through connivance though the Laws be against them But they are least troubled in Poland and Bohemia and there as well for their Number as for their Priviledges through the force of Silver Weapons they make something a greater noise than elsewhere Greece is yet fuller they have free Trade at Constantinople and Grand Caire They manage principal Affairs they have places of Profit and Revenues and generally they are powerful through all the Ottomans Empire For Christians according to the three Branches of Christianism mentioned viz. the Christians of the East the Christians Roman and the Christians Protestant they take up all the rest The Christians of the East or the Eastern Church advantagiously divide with the Mahometans and the Jews all Greece and all the Neighbouring Isles of the Archipelago And in Mount Athos alone for which cause they have since given it the name of Monte Sancto or the Holy Mountain one may see twenty four Monasteries of Caloyers or certain Monks of the Order of St. Basil of which Order generally the Greek Church are to the number of six thousand And under this Branch comprehending all the several Sects that use different Liturgies the Eastern Church is extended yet further into Russia who are all thereof and out of Europe into Ethiopia and Egypt in Africa into Georgia Armenia Assyria and Persia in Asia and if one would even to India it self and to the Kingdom of Tenduc on the North of Cathay where Mark Polo found some Christians of St. Thomas the Apostle Each of these Sects has their Patriarchs and these Patriarchs like as the Bishops also are all Monks of one of the two Orders of St. Basil or St. Anthony his follower For the other Religions the Roman Religion is absolute Mistress in Spain Portugal and Italy The Religion Protestant in the Islands of Great Britane in Swedeland and Denmark The Roman Religion bears the sway intirely in the Spanish Provinces of the Low Countries the Protestants in the United Provinces The Roman Religion reigns solely in the petty Cantons of Switzerland the Protestant in the great Cantons The Roman Religion has the upper hand intirely in the Countries of the three Electors Ecclesiastick of Mayence Trevers and Colen The Protestant in the Countries of three of the Electors Saecular the Palatinate of the Rhine Saxony and Brandenburgh The Roman Religion has not any mixture apparent in the Haeredetary Countries of the Emperor Austria Bohemia Moravia Tirol Carinthia Stiria and Carniola nor in the Electors the Duke of Bavaria The Protestant has little or none at all in Suavia Silesia both the Prussi's Pomerania Hisse the Archbishoprick of Breme and in the Dukedoms of Holstein Lunenburgh Meckleburgh But in the other Provinces of Germany as in the Dutchies of Cleveland Juliers Alsatia Westphalia and Franconia the two Religions are almost equally divided except that the Protestant hath all the Authority in its hand in the grand Imperial Cities hereof and the Hans Towns which make up the number of an hundred and fifty whereof there are but very few to be excepted The most famous are Nurenburgh Franck-fort Wormes Stratsburg Ausburg Ulms Ratisbone Spire Strelsond Wismar Rostoch Stetin Osnaburg Brunswick Breme Hamburgh Lubeck Dantzick Elbing Conigsberg where the Magistrate is Protestant There is but only France and Poland where the number of the Romans surpass the number of the others and where nevertheless these have the free and publick exercise of their Religion and each live together in peace though the Romanists daily incroach upon the Protestants and increase and the others decrease and lose their Priviledges and Power for want of some Heroick Princes to maintain them To conclude The Roman Religion has been carried to the ends of the World into the East and into the West Indies by the Spaniards and Portuguese The Protestant has been carried to the same places by the English and the Dutch and the French also are setled in the Isle of Madagascar in Canada in Africa and in America and take their course also through Asia insomuch that all are there generally call'd Franks But these are almost universally French Catholicks But to take things apart The Roman Religion is spread in some Maritine places of Asia and has it 's principal Seat at Goa a Puissant City on the Western Coast of the Peninsula on this side Ganges The Protestant upon the shores of the same Asia and has its principal Seat at Batavia a City upon the Southern Coast of Grand Java which the Commerce of the Hollanders has rendred famous The Roman Religion fills some places of the Eastern Coast of Africa as
since the occasion of War between them He then besieges Smolensko 1634 and there receives a great and shameful Overthrow and Destruction by the Poles which Dukedom has ever since been the Apple of Contention as well as formerly betwixt them He reigned till 1645. To whom succeeded his young Son Alexius the present Emperor In 1646 they made peace with Poland and during the Kings minority there was some troubles and distempers in the State and an horrible Sedition 1648. but all soon quietly setled Anno 1654. The Moscovites invade Lituania overcome Smolensko and 1655 take Vilna invade Livonia 1656 The Cossacks a Confederate Army of Rogues and Robbers that take either side for their Prey or Money or other ends and designs or as they are pleased or displeased with affairs and belong chiefly to Poland they joyn with the Poles and defeat the Moscovites anno 1659. The Poles prosper But the Cossacks at last break Faith and again rebel to the Moscovites and invade and spoyl some Provinces An. 1660 Czarneckie in Lituania beats the Muscovites Their Army also in Poland under Zeremetzie reduc'd to straits and forced to surrender themselves to the Poles Vilna in Lituania besieged by the Poles till next year An. 1662 The Moscovite beats the Tartars Overcomes the Cossacks under Chimilinsky But again overcome by Cossacks and Tartars And 1664 The Moscovites overcome and beat by the Pole Peace since between them The Emperor of Moscovia now sollicits for the election of his Son to the Crown of Poland offers fair Conditions and that he shall change his Religion from the Greek to the Roman which would have much influence upon the Jesuites perhaps and zealous Religionists of the Papists if Reason of State otherwayes did not hinder The great Enemies you see of the Russes then are the Pole the Swede and the Tartar helpt by the Turk Anno 1230 the Tartars over-ran all Russia and made it tributary and for three hundred years kept their Power over it more or less and gave and took away Dukes over them as they pleased Anno 1500 Basil shook off this yoke Yet Anno 1570 an hundred thousand Tartars on a sudden overran Mosco and laid it wholly in Ashes The Poles and Russes strive for the Dukedom of Smolensko and Severia which both claim and both win and take continually Of late years the Cossacks with all Ukrain revolted to the Russes But since Peace and Compositions of things made The Swede and Russe contend for Livonia The Swede by success of Arms has expell'd both the Russe and the Pole and annex'd it to their Crown Hence the Wars between the Russe and Swede continually Riga has been often attempted and besieg'd in vain by the Russe But we pass to their next neighbour Poland The Revolutions of Poland Poland has for many ages been a distinct Soveraignty The first that was elective was Piastus after the failure of the former line a plain Country-man elected Duke of Poland An. 800. Afterwards became a Kingdom still in Piastus's line An. 1320. Silesia fell from Poland to Bohemia and could never be recovered An. 1386. They made the Great Duke of Lituania by marriage into their King's Family King and so joyn'd that great Dukedom to Poland An. 1466. Casimir adds Prussia and 1561 Livonia is added to it also The Royal Family being extinct they chuse forreign Princes anno 1573. and first chuse the Duke of Anjou Brother of Charles the 9 th King of France about the year 1575. But he quickly left it for the Crown of France An. 1579 they chose Bathor Prince of Transylvania by recommendation of the Turks He firmly united Livonia to the Crown and had a great hand upon the Moscovites He dying without issue they chose Sigismund the King of Swede's Son about the year 1590 whose posterity has ever since enjoy'd it but now the line fails He joyn'd the Kingdom of Swede and Poland But turning Papist endeavours by the Jesuites perswasions to disturb Religion in Swedeland and so was ejected and losing his Patrimonial kingdom only keeps Poland Hence those lasting Wars between the two Nations To him succeeded Uladislaus famous for the memorable Victory against the Moscovites besieging Smolensko an 1634. After whose death Anno 1647 The kingdom became extreamly imbroyl'd by Factions specially by the mutinous and seditious Cossacks a Rebellious Army as it were of Boors and Moss-troopers that live upon prey and rapine and serve any side as was hinted risen first and chiefly out of the wild parts of Poland Lituania c. next Russia who at this time began to be more troublesome than ever during all the present king Casimir's Reign and not fully setled till very lately and perhaps not to hold long neither King Casimir succeeded an 1648. so troubled all his dayes that he has been a long time weary of his Crown and now at last laid it down not obtaining leave to nominate his Successor The better to understand the late Revolutions of Poland in brief take them thus Poland has suffered great Revolutions and Troubles from forreign Enemies Rebellious Cossacks and Confederate Nobles Grand Enemies are the Swede the Russe the Tartar and the Turk The Wars with the Swede are for Livonia for pretence to the Crown of Swede for Titles and Arms. Hereupon the late king of Sweden overran in one year almost all Poland but lost all again the next But these pretences now cease in the present king having no heirs With the Russes for several causes before mentioned With the Tartars commonly call'd the Crim Tartars distinct from those in Asia these bordering upon Russia and Poland who make yearly Incursions almost for prey and plunder either as friends or enemies all 's one Therefore the Tartars do not seek to conquer so much as to plunder Poland But the greatest Enemies are the Turks ever since they got Walachia Moldavia and Transylvania the Walls Bulwarks as it were of Poland and also the Tartars to be subject to them But they have yet threatned more than done any thing and little has passed besides consultings and fears hitherto betwixt them The seditious and mutinous Cossacks have done most mischief One of the chief causes of their Rebellion was the great oppression of the Natives by the Jews in all the Customs and Tributes almost of the Kingdom granted to them by King Casimir and ever since possessed by them by the means of Esther a Jewish in behalf of her Nation who obtain'd great Priviledges for them And in the late fatal Confusions of Poland the Russians again besieged Smolensko and seiz'd not only on it but all Ukrain or black Russia and great part of Lituania The occasion whereof was first the Jesuites taking away the Russes Temples and hindring the free Liberty of Religion to them Next the Nobles Tyranny over the Peasants killing them at their pleasure Hence inraged they rise up against their Masters kill the Jesuites and Priests call the Cossacks and Tartars to their help
and mutual prey These mischiefs increased during the Poles dissention about Election of a King and had like to have ruin'd all Poland After long Contentions they chose Casimir Brother of the deceased King who being not enough assisted by his People backward then to wage War is circumvented by the Cossacks and forc'd to those Conditions of Peace that the present Necessity required To all which Evils succeeded War with the Swedes and lastly with the Nobles under Lubomirskie about nominating a Successor during the King's Reign c. We will recollect and summe the passages according to the years they happened in Uladislaus dyes 1648. Casimir constituted 1649 who marches against the Rebellious Cossacks The King marries his Brothers Widow 1651. Poles beat Tartars and Cossacks and put them to flight 1654. The Moscovite with 40000 breaks into Lituania and takes Smolensko so often won and lost For An. 1500 a Poland Noble-man betray'd it to the Moscovite The Poles recover it 1610. The Moscovite attempts it 1634 but beaten then shamefully and now take it c. 1655. King of Swede marches against Poland and overrun all in a years time The Brandenburgh per force Confederates with him 1656. Moscovite takes Vilna in Lituania 1657. Ragotzi marches into Poland but loses all his Army and then his own Country The Elector of Brandenburgh agrees with the Pole prevailing against the Swede 1658. The Rebel Cossacks overcome by General Wyhoskie 1659. The Cossacks joyn'd with Poles beat the Moscovites The Poles prevail and prosper At last the Cossacks break Faith given to the Poles and again rebel to the Moscovite and spoil the Poland Provinces 1660. The War between Swede and Pole confederate with Brandenburgh ended and peace made and Brandenburgh made absolute over Prussia 1663 and they swear to him again The Moscovite overcome by Pole and Czarneskie Also the Moscovian Army under Zeremetzie reduced to straits forced to yeeld Vilna Tower besieg'd by Poles to the next year 1661. The Poland Army and Lituanian Army confederate together against the King Whence many Mischiefs to both Countries Czarneskie adhering to the King overcomes the Moscovites under Cowanskie Vilna and other places in Lituania taken from the Moscovites 1662. The confederate Army under Schwidersky make a stricter Confederacy and several thousands enter Prussia and demand Tribute or Taxes The Cossacks under Chimilinsky besieging a place are beat by the Moscovite under Romadonofsky But the Moscovites afterwards are overcome by the Cossacks and Tartars The Lituanian Confederate Army kill their chief Marshal and Treasurer 1663. The Confederate Armies in Poland and Lituania dissolve their Confederacy and agree with the King and their General Lubomirsky victorious in Battel against the King restor'd again And so the Civil War between the King and Nobility drew towards an end 1664. K. of Poland takes many Towns from the Cossacks A famous Victory by General Packs or Pasky against Wikousky General of the Rebel Cossacks They are reduc'd under the King's power to obedience The Moscovites overcome by the Lituanians Since peace and settlement of things has been transacting on all sides not without difficulty and new troubles to the King about nominating his Successour being ever since about laying down his Government And now at last having first quieted and satisfied all parties as much as possible has left the Crown unto Factions and Competitors not being able to nominate a Successor before he left it and eased himself of such a burden The whole business now being about Succession concerning which observe Of the Election of Poland First the Power of the Nobles Secondly the Competitors for the Crown For the Power of Election 1. The Power of the Nobles is exceeding great and each single Noble is as it were a single King and hath Soveraign power over his Slaves even of Life and Death 2. The Nobles choose the King and prescribe what Laws they like 3. If any will not accept these Laws they proclaim PIASTUS i. e. they will go to the choosing of some Rustick or plain Country-man of their own Nation 4. There are perpetual strifes between the Nobles and Senators or Council The Senators favour the King the Nobles the Kingdom 5. There is a like power of all the Nobles so that one dissenting the other Suffrages are void and one only Noble hath right to intercede in the Diet or Parliament against all and to plead the Cause When all the rest had given their consent a Noble stands up once and said I do not consent Being asked his Reason sayes Because I am a Noble Nor did they reckon the Decree good till they had his Consent 6. In the Parliament or Diet of Poland the Deputies of the Nobility and the publick Liberty call'd Land-Nuncio's or Messengers to plead strongly their Cause against the King and Senators of the Kingdom are of greatest Authority For the Nobles are alwayes afraid lest they should lose their Priviledges to the King which are so great Next for the Competitors Eligible know First that though the Kingdom be Elective yet they never past by the Kings Family to choose others but when the Line fails then they seek strangers and grievous Factions arise before they can agree Secondly The Competitors have been 1. the Moscovite because of the same Language and Nation originally and Neighbourhood 2. The Crim Tartar urging that He is powerful and able to bring an hundred thousand Horse into the Field That he is hardy and can live at a low rate That as for Religion so controverted and disputed in Poland with such Commotions he will not stand for that they shall have what they will Thy Luther says he My Luther Thy Pope my Pope as once in his Ambassadors Letters Credentials he wrote And that rather than put them to any charge to find his Table he could live with Horseflesh His Embassy thereupon entertain'd with laughter 3. The House of Austria specially since one Faction chose the Archduke Maximilian but the prevailing the King of Swedes Son by the King of Polands Sister yet Maximilian reserv'd both right and title 4. The King of France ever since Charles the 9 ths time when they chose his Brother the Duke of Anjou afterwards King of France Ever since which the French have alwayes cherished some party against the House of Austria and Emperor specially after that the last King but this viz. Uladislaus fetch'd his Wife out of France marrying the Dutchess of Nevers whom this K. Casimir his Brother also married after his death 5. Of late there also was great endeavours and underhand for the Prince of Conde's Son Duke of Anjou after this Kings death or some other addicted to the French But this distasted the Nobles and would not do But since the Resignation of the Crown the present Strivers for it are the Moscovit's Son who will turn Romanist and makes fair promises for it The Duke of Newburgh or Nevers whom the King of France endeavours to promote and the Emperor
corruption of manners which make the whole Creation of Church and State groan for ease and deliverance from such heavy burdens all these things I say seem to forspeak or intimate some dreadful matter drawing neer Methinks one may hear as the sounding of the Hoofs of Horses at hand and that all things will not continue still as to this day for ever The sixth day or thousandth year of the world is drawing on towards Evening and the Sabbath of the world to begin c. The number of the Beast 666. almost reckoned If we expect the number of years from the Birth and Death of Christ Behold 1666 is the number of this Age. 〈◊〉 the number of a man some more curious and witty parhaps then wise and prudent would have spelt it out of the last Popes Name Office or Title thus ALeXanDer EpIsCopVs RoMae which is 1666. or out of all his Names only viz. Christian Name Sirnam and added Name thus FabIVs ChIsIVs ALeXanDer which makes 666. the number of a Mans name Then some have added thereto VII viz. Alexander VII which makes 666. or 1666. and VII over which VII if you add to the VII of Alexanders name make XIV and shews the XIV chapter of the Revelations where first is shewn Babylon is fallen is fallen And they have observed it as ominous also in the present King of France's Name LVDoVICVs XIV Behold 666 and XIV over And because these are past parhaps the same francyful wits may rove still upon the XIV over c. And so there will be no end of such imaginations c. And therefore we pass by all such witty conceits as to unworthy of so great a Mystery more solid is that of a Prophet amongst our selves reckoning 1666 from the death of Christ whereby he got the Victory over all his Enemies rather then from his Birth though the foundation was laid there Further of the year 1670. I know not why Philip Nicholai wrote That if it did not bring the end of the world yet it should bring some wonderful and unexpected alteration of things But we pass over these and such like things c. and come to Revelations truly divine or which to be sure are most strange if not true Judge nothing before the time But first by the way we will entertain our Reader with the proud Sultans defiance of Christendom who first in disdain of the Emperor and all Christian Princes had struck off eight hundered Prisoners Heads before the Emperors Embassador himself Though indeed notwithstanding a fickle Peace has since been patch'd up and his power bent only against the Venetians c. The Great Turkes Letter of Defiance to the Emperor upon his last Incursion into Hungary with an Army of 250000. men besides his Tartarian Hirelings after the year 1660. Mahomet Son of the Emperor Son of God thrice Heavenly and thrice known by the renowned Emperor of the Turks King of Greece Macedonia and Moldavia King in Samaria and Hungaria King of Great and Lesser Egypt King of all the inhabitans of the Earth and the earthly Paradise Gaurdian of the Sepulchre of thy God Lord of the Tree of Life Lord of all the Emperors of the World from the east even to the west King of all Kings grand Persecutor of the Christians and all the wicked the Joy of the flourishing Tree the Chieftain and Gaurdian of thy Crucified God Lord of the Hope of thy Nation WE send greeting to thee Emperor Leopold if thou wilt be our Friend and submit to our Domination then we will that thy Greatness be Ample Since these times thou hast violated and shunned our freindship without having ever been offended either by War or the fighting of God Thou hast taken secret designs with other Kings and other Confederates in envy to shake of our yoak in which thou hast done imprudently This is it for which thou and thy People ought to live in fear to have no other hope but death for which cause thou hast prepared thy self But we tell thee that we will go forth and be thy Conquerour and we will pursue thee from the East even to the West and will make thee know our Majesty even to the utmost confines of the Earth thou shalt know our effects to thy great damage of which we assure thee and will have thee to expect our Greatness Thy hope shall melt away which thou hast in thy Cities and Fortresses We resolve absolutely to beat down and raze all that appeareth any thing considerable to thine Eyes And thou shouldst not expect any other thing or friendship and shouldst not put confidence in thy strong Walls for we have set up a resolution to destroy thee without remedy It pleaseth us to forrage Germany and to leave it behind us to the memory of our Bloudy Sword to the end all these things may be manifest to all It pleaseth us to establish our Religion and root out thy crucifi'd God And we fear no colours neither can there be any succour for thee that thou mayst escape our hands It pleaseth us also to condemn to the Chain thy holy Priests and to deliver to the Dogs and other Savage Beasts the dugs of thy Women Therefore thou shalt do very wisely if thou renounce thy Religion Otherwayes we do order and appoint that all be delivered to the fire This which is said may satisfie thee and thou mayst comprehend by this if thou wilt what our will is and the things concerning which we have discover'd the disposition of our suspition towards thee Then besieging Newhausal his General sends this proud Summons I that through the Grace of God and through the Miracles of our Prophet who is the Son of both Worlds and by whom there is Happiness and Glory I that am the first of the Council and General of the most mighty Emperor of the Turks that is the King of all Kings upon Earth to you Adam Forgats that are the cheif among the Nobility of Hungary do make known that through the command of my gracious Lord I am come with his forces before Newhausel to reduce it to his obedience Wherefore if you shall deliver up the place to us you shall have liberty to march out with what belongs to you from the Highest to the Lowest and to what place you please And he that will rather stay shall keep his goods and Estate But if you will not yeeld we will take it by force every man of ye from the Highest to the Lowest shall be put to the Sword If the Hungarians did but know the good intentions of the mighty Emperor they and their Childern would Bless God for them Peace be to the Obedient But to the business namely Debricius's Revelations But we must indeavour briefly first to prevent all occasion of prejudice and rash and indiscreet judgment and sensures of the impenitent unbeleiving and erring World By telling how they have been approved of as truly from God by most Godly
with those Namely taxing the abominable Corruptions of the Roman Clergy the whole Papacy and Pope himself and threatning destruction thereto besides many others more ordinarily inspired and inlightened And besides the several particular Prophets every where in each Country concerning particular Nations or Churches c. And therefore if Papists or those inclined that way shall slight these Prophesies as out of another spirit From what spirit then have their own He and she Saints Prophesied the same things Therefore they may be their own Judges in this matter And Machiavil himself was not such an Atheist and Infidel but that he acknowledged Gods usual manner of foretelling all great Revolutions I beseech you O Divines saies Comenius let not Politicians exceed you in attention to the Words and Works of God Machiavil comparing former times with present as he easily confesses He knows not the cause so he also sayes it ought to be acknowledged out of all Ancient and Modern Examples That all great Motions whatsoever that have happened either to a City or a Country have been wont to be foretold by either Guessers and Conjecturers or some Revelation or Prodigies or Signs in the Heavens And confirms it by a domestick example of Charls the 8th his coming into Italy foretold by Savanarola that excellent man and Martyr c And more particularly to confirm also Cotterus and Christina's Revelations there are further convincing Arguments as well as for those of Drabricius which would be too Heterogene to insert here fully Some of Cotterus's were seal'd in the Court three times by particular relation from his own Mouth The rest by Godly and able men worthy of credit c. And this was wonderful that he had such a Divine memory of all impressed into him that he could recite each word yea tittle in the same order he heard them although he should recite them an hundred times which must needs be from some extraordinary understanding and illumination And are all consonant to truth respect Gods Glory and full of comfort And in divers Visions he as the other two also were incouraged not to regard what men said or thought thereon at all which he urged to the Lord as his trouble and impediment as may be seen notably in divers Revelations which we will pass over with many other remarkable passages The chiefest enemy of Cotterus was one of the Emperial Tresurers of the Exchequer who swore he would not rest till he saw him and another Minister hanged He was at last taken and brought before him examined and at length committed to Prison All his writtings they could find seased on and examined At length he was brought forth to Tryal and was questioned From whom he had these Fictions that he vented under the name of Visions But he constantly asserted from no mortal Wight but from those spirits which were wont to appear to him and again disappeared Which whether they were good or evil Angels he a simple Idiot could not judge but left it to the Learned and Wise to do The Earle that seized on him inclined to dismiss him on certain conditions But the Treasurer refused and was more violent And the other Minister question'd for his life That with his most lying Pen abusing the simplicity of a phanatick man he had written Treason against the Emperor who excused that what they had done was by the command of the Senate But the Senate bailed their Pastor under the penalty of two thousand Gold Crowns to appear but Cotterus the Treasurer committed to closer prison till he was almost famished An entire volumn of his Visions was by his enemyes brought to the Earl who when he had read them would no more meddle in the business and procured that Cotterus should have counsel to defend himself The definitive Sentence was not known for the Treasurer being newly Marryed to a Noble Lady upon some occasions went a journey and in his return was suddenly taken with vehement gripings of the belly one evening in the very Suburbs of Sprottavia where he threatened to see him hanged with the Minister and possessed with I know not what fear would take nothing prescribed by the Physitians that was called But would defer it till next day that his disease might better discover it self but dyed suddenly in the night There where he had purposed to hang those Saints of God which raised a terror in all the City c. So that his Enemyes being hereby terrified durst not publish the Sentence against him but used him better in prison and with more freedom to himself and access of his Wife and Friends who urged his dismission or execution so that his adversaries being never at rest after some months deliberation brought him forth out of prison set him in the Pillory in the Market place bound him in an Iron Collor and a paper affixed on his head This is the false prophet who hath foretold those things which are not come to pass And so was sent away out of the City by the common Executinor and Banished and lived so twenty years c. Not long after the former Minister and another friend of Cotterus had likewise a mervellous deliverance by apparition of an Angel out of the City upon the Imperial Armies entrance c. Cotterus also had a Miraculous Cure and Recovery from an Epidemical Distemper which had seized on him with his Wife Daughter and another of the house so that they all lay down of it At which time his Wife also saw one of the Spirits enter the Room one evening She asked her Husband who it was who said it was one of the Spirits that were wont to appear to him The Spirit wishing health to him asked him how he did As a poor miserable man can be said he whom the Lord hath visited The Spirit then said Be of good chear God will raise thee up Cut thee three morsels of Bread Eat and take three spoonfuls of Ale the disease will leave thee He did so and was rap't into an Extasie and had Visions c. And after returning to himself was wholly well We must also pass over the innumerable wonderful things that in particular concern Christina likewise her Extasies and Visions c. As 1. how she was wonderfully restored from her grievous distempers on a sudden by a Voice in her Extasie saying I am he which kill and make alive at which as at all the rest following the Physitians were confounded 2. That being an healthful young Virgin she was suddenly deprived of the use of her feet for six weeks and not able to stand a moment and without any help suddenly restored by a Vision 3. That she was suddenly struck dumb for eight dayes and on a sudden also restored to speech 4. Suddenly struck Deaf and Dumb with a Feaver and Delirium and again suddenly recovered in her Extasie and Vision 5. Intolerable pains torments and disquietments on a sudden and in a moment delivered in an Extasie
dayes in a lamentable manner First With his own hands killing his Mother and Daughter and at length grown desperate hanged himself Amidst such great Confusions of the China Empire the Christians grown to a great multitude were betwixt hope and fear and wait with sollicitous hearts the new own'd Emperors inclination and found him in the end more favourable then they could either wish or hope for Especially upon the account of Father Schall before mentioned as a Stranger of admirable prudence and skill in the Affairs of the China Kingdom and to whom he might unbosom the secret counsels of his heart securely and as one highly recommended to him for his rare skill in the computation of Time and Astronomy and other Arts of Europe And so made him Mandarine of the first Order and one of his supream Counsellors And set him about perfecting the reformation of their Calender for the Universal benefit and advantage of the Kingdom as before hath been declared After this was the Queen and her Son Converted and Baptized by the name of Helena and Constantine of which her Supream Minister of her Court Pan Achilleus long before a Zealous Christian more then once affectionately wrote Letters thereof both to the Pope and to the General of the Jesuites Society to send more Labourers into China as followeth The Interpretation of the China Letter from the Chancellor of the China Empire Pan Achilleus a Chinois Christian to our most Holy Lord by the Fathers Andrew Xavier and Michael Boym of the Society of Jesus in the Court of the Emperor of China for the time Assistants Of the most famous Empire of China by the command of the Emperor The Universal Vice-Roy of Kingdoms and Provinces Quám tum Quám Sy c Fò Kien Commissary of the Militia by Sea and Land Duke of the little petty King Quám Sy c Treasurer of the Revenues and Sollicitor absolute and sole decider or Judge of Causes in the absence of the Emperor Chief Captain of the Imperial Guard Master of the Horse Great Chancellor Privy Secretary of the Emperor and Chamberlain Pan Achilleus Christian on bended knees and head bowed down to the Ground prostrates himself before the Throne of the Vicar of God JESUS on Earth the Universal Doctor of the Catholick Church the true Lord the most Holy Father I Achilleus weigh with my self that being by Office Keeper of the Privy Chambers of the Emperor yet led by error I also take care of the Militia Whence I have diminished that is degraded or debased my self and without light and Discipline that is Instruction have augmented the multitude of sins Long since in the Northern Court or Palace through the good Will of God I hapned upon men of the Society of Jesus who led me who was rude and ignorant in the open Path exhorting me erring and going astray to follow the Faith Wherefore being with reverence expiated in the Holy Laver I then began to understand the documents that is Fundamentals or Principles of the Holy Doctrine and its hidden Excellency and high profundity And then being immers'd in this study night and day with a faithful heart I have prosecuted it twenty years and more nor durst I grow slack in the least So I have procured the help of the King of Heaven whom I know not how I shall be able to answer I had often a mind to come unto your most Holy Throne and with veneration to satisfie my eyes with your most Holy Countenance But the matters of the Empire were so various and the Royal Affairs so perplexed as they were permitted me not to perform the desires of my intimate Bosome Wherefore I am most highly aggrieved The onely thought and grief now of me a Sinner from the bottom of my Soul is in this that the calamity of the Empire has not yet ceased Therefore on purpose I went and asked a man of the Society of Jesus Father Michael Boym that in the next Ship that went away he would return back to the great West and come suppliant to you the chief Priest the most Holy Father that before the Altar of the Saints Peter and Paul with the universal Church of the whole World with eyes lifted up to Heaven you would pray to God that he would look down upon this Imperial House with mercy help and conserve the Empire and set limits of future speedy peace and together would grant that our most wise Emperor who is the eighteenth Successor of this Royal House and the twelfth Grand-child from the first founder of the Empire and Family That himself as Lord with his Subjects may adore Jesus the Lord of the Heavens This at length will be the intire happiness of our China Empire And indeed at present the most intire most wise most clement the venerable Empress of Christian Name Helena The Queen Mother of the Emperor of Christian name Mary The Queen his legitimate Wife of Christian name Anna and the Son of the Emperor Prince and Heir by Christian Name Constantine do all with humble hearts believe and worship the Holy Doctrine together they have the words of Speech which they send to the most Holy Throne viz. of the Pope As for me rude Sinner I humbly beseech you the most Holy Father That for the hour of my departure out of this life you would vouchsafe intire remission of the punishment of sins and would send also many men of the Society into this Empire of China who by their Doctrine may convert universally the men of the Age and may advertise them with Repentance to give good heed to Worship and adore the Holy Law nor may by a vain and transient stay be sent away with the Dust of their Feet snatch'd up that is quickly So at length I hope to attain Felicity truly never to have an end With Veneration I have in small measure by these things explained the Secrets of a simple ignorant Mind I cast my self wholly to the Earth expecting a mercifull beholding of your Countenance And no more Yum Lie the fourth year in order of the Revolutions of the Annual Letters Kem Yn the tenth Moon eighth day which was in the year 1650. the first day of November Further nothing to be read The place of the Seal wherein after the China manner for they do not use to write their Names otherwise are engraven these words The Seal of the most Valiant Generalissimo of Arms universal Vice-Roy The Interpretation of the China Letter from the Empress of the China Empire the Lady Helena by name and of the Queen = Mother the Lady Anne and the Queen = Wife the Lady Mary and also of the Son of the Emperor Prince and Heir the Lord Constantine By Father Andrew Xavier and sent to our most Holy Lord c. The Speech of Helena the most Intire most Wise most Clement Venerable Empress of the most famous Empire of China before the Throne of the Vicar on Earth of God JESUS Universal Doctor of the