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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A69171	A treatise, touching Antichrist VVherein, the place, the time, the forme, the workmen, the vpholders, the proceeding, and lastly, the ruine and ouerthrow of the kingdome of Antichrist, is plainly laid open out of the word of God: where also manie darke, and hard places both of Daniell and the Reuelation are made manifest. By Lambert Danæus.; Tractatus de Antichristo. English	Daneau, Lambert, ca. 1530-1595?; Swan, John, d. 1617.	1589 (1589)	STC 6229; ESTC S111048	137,818	208

him-selfe and that in the midst of the Church of God Whereby it appeareth first that this defection whereof Paule héere speaketh is not to be vnderstoode of the secte of Mahumet or the Turkes because they neither sit in nor pretend the Church of God but verie directly of the state of Poperie This speach of Paule might séeme to agrée with that of Daniell Cap. 7.8 20. where mention is made of a little horne which arose among the ten other hornes and is said there to speake presumptuous things But in my iudgement their opinion is truer who referre that place of Daniell not to Antichrist but vnto the gouernment of the Romane Emperours and especially to Vespasian who in regard of his vnknowne pedigrew is there tearmed a little horne Therefore touching this which Paule speaketh heere that Antichrist the Prince of this Apostacie should vsurpe the name of God the question is whether it be to be vnderstoode of the verie name and title of God or onely of the power of God which he should wickedly arrogate to him-sefe Some therefore do not thinke that the very expresse name of God is héere meant but only that he should rush into the office and vsurpe and challenge to him-selfe the power and maiestie of the highest But vndoubtedly seeing that the thing it-selfe which is the complishment of this so renowned a prophecie doth proclaime it openly that the Bishop of Rome the highest Potentate in the state of Popery hath made intrusion vpon them both in taking vpon him as well the very name as the authoritie of the Lord God this place without all question is to be vnderstoode of both And touching the name of God the Romane Bishop hath not made squaimish but verie flatly and without any circumlocution hath both admitted of the name him-selfe and neuer refused it at the hands of others For is he not by them called a God in the earth doth he not suffer the very Emperours them-selues to kisse his feete nay with an impudent face he acknowledgeth him-selfe to be so called he admitteth plausibly of it and inwardly ioyeth at the stately title as appeareth Distinct 21. throughout the whole Treatise Further where-as not only he suffereth himselfe to be called the vniuersall Bishop of the whole Church but accoumpteth that title and honour of right to belong vnto him doth he not in effect vsurpe and take vpon him the name of God for who else is the vniuersall Bishop of the Church but God him-selfe and Christ Iesus who only and rightly is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the chiefe Sheepheard high Priest 1. Pet. 2.25 5.4 Hebr. 6.20 7.26 9.11 And what is it else I pray to be called Prince of Bishops and head of the Church then to be called a God as Cyprian in the Counsell of Carthage affirmeth The first and auncient Bishops yea of Rome it-selfe did so shunne and were so afraide of this blasphemous and abhominable title of vniuersall Bishop as being in their iudgements properly belonging to none but to Antichrist as that they in truth acknowledged openly affirmed and publikely proclaimed that he was the verie Antichrist of whome Paule speaketh in this place who soeuer would take vpon him to be so called so doth Gregorie the great giue it out Booke 7. Epist 3. to Eubolius Bishop of Alexandria and 80. to the same Bishop And againe Epist 78.79 reade also what is written in way of detestation of this proude title in the Canon of the first Session taken out of the third Counsell of Carthage and out of the Epistles of Pelagius Bishop of Rome in Ca. nullus Dist 99. Moreouer reade what the same Gregorie wrote to Mauritius Augustus Epist 194. 188. lib. 6. Item reade the Counsell of Carthage celebrated vnder Mauritius the Emperour who liued in the yeare of the Lord 595. died 604. At the first there arose an vnhappie contention betweene Iohn Bishop of Constantinople and Pelagius Bishop of Rome about this title Now Iohn being Bishop of Constantinople had Mauritius the Emperour of Constantinople on his side and so he began to be called the vniuersall Bishop and that at the instance and commaundement of Mauritius the Emperour who was so earnest in the cause that in anger he called Gregorie a foole for refusing to do so yea and procéeded so farre in displeasure against the Romanes as that he stirred vp those of Lombardie which then was a part of Italie to wage warre against them about that quarrell After Iohn succeed Cyriacus Bishop of Constantinople who also by the commaundement of the Emperour was called the vniuersall Bishop But then Pelagius Bishop of Rome began stoutly to oppose him-selfe against these two yea and that while Mauritius him-selfe as yet liued And after him Gregorie the great would none of that title but with-stoode it verie earnestly and when it was offered him he like a good and godly man refused it But Boniface the third being tickled with an itching humour after such stately preheminence and hauing opportunitie thereunto by meanes of the great fauour of Phocas who succeeded Mauritius in the Empire obtained that he who was Bishop of Rome rather then the Bishop of Constantinople should be called vniuersall Bishop Now the occasion of this their contention rose by meanes hereof for that the Bishops of Constantinople were woont publikely to consecrate the Emperours of Rome as Iohn installed the said Mauritius and also crowned Tyberius as Euagrius reporteth lib. 5. cap. 13. and Zonaras Tom. 3. Wherevpon they began to looke aloft and waxe insolent towards the Bishops of Rome as being more worthy then they On the other side the Romane Bishops relied much vpon the dignitie of old auntient Rome and looked thereby to haue themselues and their Sea respected And by this meanes that pestilent garboyle began in the Church In which quarrell the other Bishops did not sit still and play the lookers on but shewed them-selues partakers and in the ende after much contention the Romane Bishops preuailed through subtile practises but more by meanes of wicked treacherie In so much that on his side the prerogatiues of the Romane Sea were by the Emperour him-selfe proclaimed and the Bishop him-selfe blazed out with the title of Vniuersall Byshop the which to say the truth could not otherwise come to passe for that Antichrist must néedes haue bin seated at Rome and not at Constantinople as heereafter shall be declared And thus much touching the name of God vsurped by him That Antichrist did wickedly arrogate to himselfe the power of God The fourtenth Chapter AND concerning the power of God no doubt the sayd Romane Bishoppe takes that vpon him and aduaunceth himselfe aboue the diuine Maiestie For whereas the high power of God sheweth it selfe especially in these two poynts In the disposing of kingdomes Dan. 4.22 and in the frée gouernment of his Church that beastly fellowe hath incroached vpon both these And as

the true Churche of God 69 It can not be gathered which is the true Church by succession of persons 11 There is one Lorde and law-giuer for mens Cōsciences 45 Constantine the great commanded the idolatrous Churches to be shut vp 75 Constantine translated the Empire frō Italy into Thrace 25 The counterfayted donation of Constantine 78 At the last comming of Christ the kingdome of Antichrist is to bee wholie destroyed 121 Christians whether they may make warre against the Papists 117. 118 A place of Chrisostome touching Antichrist 44 D An hard place of Daniell expounded 226 Dioclesian woulde needes bee worshipped as God 20 True doctrine to be tried only by the Word of God 11 Doctrin of the Papists what 24 Comparison betweene theyr doctrine and the Gospels 43. 44 Donatists their errour 73 E Emperors in number 10. mentioned in the Reuel 13. at what time and what Emperour they began 27 Emperours their large bounties on the Church of Rome was a third cause of strengthning Antichrist 97. c. Empire where it was chiefely to be seated 25 Empire idolatrous how reuiued by Antichrist 34. c. F False Prophet why Antichrist so called indefinitly 42 The fore-telling of Antichrist was a famous Prophecie 41 Forme of Romane gouernmēt what it was when the Reuelation was written 35 G Gensericus king of the Vandalles surprized Rome 113 Gothes destroyed it vtterly 63 Gregorie the great refused to be called vniuersall Bishop 52 H Antichrist compared to an Harlot 16 Heresies touching the nature and office of Christ were the first causes that gaue strēgth to the kingdome of Anti. 97 Harma-geddon otherwise to be read Geddon-harma 60 Heads seauen which are attributed to the Romane Empire ●0 Hierome calles Rome Babylon 22 Hilarie his sentence touching Antichrist 20 Hymenaeus denied the resurrection of the flesh 43 J Image of the Beast renewed 34. 35 Idoll-temple shut vp by the cōmaundement of Constantine the great 75 Iohn Bishopp of Constantinople called vniuersall Bishop 52 Iohn Wickliffe opposed him against the Bish of Rome 106 Italica Ecclesia some thinke to bee signified by the number 666. 14 Irenaeus a place of his touching the number of the Beast 14 K Kings in number 10. mentioned Reuelat. 13. when and in whom they began 27 Kings 10. that should eate the flesh of the whore who they are 111. Kingdome of Antichrist to bee ouerthrowne by the breath of the Lords mouth 107. 115 Kingdome of Antichrist planted by deuillish deuises crept on by little and little 90 Kingdome of Antichrist stablished by 3. special meanes 97 Kingdomes the Pope takes vppon him to dispose 53. 54 L Lactantius a place of his touching the crueltie of Antic 18 Lactantius touching the Romane Empire 77 Lateinos containeth the number of 666. 14 Lawes imposed vpon mens cōsciences by the Pope 54 Leo the 12. his ambition 20 Luke a place of his touching Antichrist 8 M Magistrates of Rome were of two sorts 36 Man of sinne the Pope 12 Masse when first it began 84 Mahumet sitteth not in the temple of God neither is properly Antichrist 43.57 The beginning of Mahumetisme 88 Mahuzim what it meaneth in Daniel 47 A place of Mathew touching Antichrist 8.13 Mauritius the Emperor would haue John of Constantinople called vniuersall Bishop 52 Myracles vsed to credite Antichrist 144. c. Monarchie none to succeede the Romane 125 A mysterie written in the forehead of the Harlot 47 N Name of God vsurped by the Pope 53 Nicholas of Clemingis wrote against the Papacie 22 The number of the Beast 666. expounded 14 Where other words are named that containe the like number 81 O Odoacer surprising Rome called himselfe King of Jtalie 114 P True Pastors are to bee measured by the word of God 12 Parthians hauing Arsaces for their Captaine infranchized themselues into libertie 132 The Empire of Parthians translated to the Persians 132 A place of Paule touching Antichrist 1 Pelagius Bishop of Rome by petition pacified the Tirant Totilas 102 Peter the Apostle prophecied of his owne death 4 A place of Peter touching the Popish Cleargie 18 Papa what it signifieth why Antichrist so called 48 In what sence the assemblies of the Papistes and of Antichrist are called the Church of God 67 The Papistes arguments for themselues the kingdome of Antichrist 153 Comparison betweene Poperie and the Gospell 40. c. The gouernment of Poperie what it is 35 Philetus an Heretike 43 Phocas an Emperour murderer of Mauritius 85. He caused the Pope to be called vniuersall Bishop 52 Priesthoode confounded with the kingdome at Rome 35 Promises of God belong only to the true Church of God 71 Peter Paule and Iohn had the guift of prophecie 4 Sonne of perdition 16 Power of God vsurped by the Pope 52 R Reuelation many places thereof expounded 8. 14. 21. 23 Resurrectiō of the flesh denied by Hymenaeus Philetus 43 Rhadagesius king of Gothes 102 Rome the seate of Antichrist 40 Rome how often surprised 62 At Rome no place for godlines 65 Rome poynted out to bee the seate of Antichrist 58. c. At Rome the kingdome ioyned with the Priesthood 35 Romane Magistrates of two sorts 36 Romane maners detestable 65 Forme of Romane gouernmēt what it was when Iohn wrot 35 Romane Empire when first it was translated from Italie to Constantinople 26 The two horns of the Romane Empire 25 S Saluation to be freely giuen vs of God the Papists deny 46 Sarazens their first beginning 131 Schoole-men denie Mahumet to be Antichrist 57 Schoole-men their opinion of Antichrist 93 Seruant of seruāts Gregorie the great first called himselfe 54 Simon denied Christ to become in the flesh 43 The three spirits mentioned in the Reuelation as ministers of Antichrist what they be 140 Siluerius Bishop of Rome suspected of treason was deposed by Belisarius 105 Symachus Bishop of Rome accused for that he deemed himselfe not to bee iudged of anie 104 Sonne of perdition the Pope 16 T Teias king of Gothes wasted Italie 115 Teitan supposed by Irenaeus to be the name of Antichrist 15 Temple of God where Antichrist should sit what it is 56 How the congregations of Poperie can bee called the temple of God 67 Theodatus king of Gothes 114 Theodoricus king of Gothes surprised Rome 114 Totilas forbad the fiering of Rome 102 Totilas quite defaced Rome 114. 115 V Viguerus his conceipt touching Antichrist 58 Vitiges wasted Italie 114 W Weapons whether forbidden Christiās by the Gospel 117 Whether Antichrist bee to bee subdued by warre 117. 118 Wickliefe 106 Why Antichrist is compared to a woman 16 Worship of GOD what it was while Italie was Idolatrous 33 Y Yeares 666. expounded 80. 81 Yeares 1000. examined 89 FINIS

vertue Shall possesse the earth and after we shall see it be made All golde and full of her auncient works These Verses of Petrarche haue beene thus turned into English Verse by Thomas Hovel 1. O Forge of false deceipt prison to ire Where goodnesse dieth and euils all are bread To those that liue thou art a hellish fire The ruine eke of many wretches dead A wonder strange though spared thou be yet If Christ in fine not tread thee vnder feete Thy ground was first on humble pouertie But now thy pride doth presse thy founders downe Thou shamelesse strompet seeking soueraigntie Where rests thy hope what in thy triple crowne In thine adulteries or base-borne ritches Begot in guile Vaine are all such Witches Since Constantine may now returne no more The mournefull world that sighes thy state to see Consume and cut thee quicke vnto the coare That all too long is forst to beare with thee Of Rome the fall heere Petrarche doth vnfolde As view they may that list the same behould 2. A flambe from heauen streame downe vpon thy head Thou wicked one that from the water cold And Acornes wilde that whilome was thy bread Art mightie made enritcht by others gold Since thy delight is setled all one ill Shame thee destroy and sorrow soone thee spill Thou nest in whome the treasons hatched are That through the world abroade are spread this houre Slaue to wine chambering and delicious fare Where lust doth trie the strength of all her power In closets thine young girles and aged Sires With Belzebub do daunce in foule desires He bellowes fire and looking-glasse doth beare Amidst them all but why I blush to tell Naked to windes and bare-foote late thou were No beds of downe vnto thy share befell Course cloathes did serue thy corps from cold to shrowde Scarce God thy Péere thou now art growne so prowde 3. Thou Babylon that build'st thy nest so high By couetous frawde thy sacke to brimme doest fill With Gods great wrath and vices out that flie Whose poysoning smelles a world of soules doth kill Gods to thy selfe thou makest not Ioue nor Pallas In Venus and Bacchus is all thy sollace In searching long what should of thee insue My selfe with toyle I feeble brought and lowe But at the length me séem'd a Soldan newe I sawe prepar'd to worke thine ouerthrowe That will erect * The Souldans pallace Baldocco seate for those Which though not when I would shall thee depose Thine Idols on the ground shall scattered lie Thy towers prowde to heau'n that enemies be And turrets all by fire downe shall flie Then shall iust Soules the friends of vertue see The goulden world anew begin to raigne And auncient works shew foorth them-selues againe FINIS A Table contayning the words and matters handled in this treatise A A Daulphus king of Gothes possessed Rome Pag 113 Alaricus surprised the same Pag. 112 Antichrist who it is and why he is called an Apostata 7.10 11.41 Why called that man of sinne and perdition Apollyon a Beast a Woman an Harlot 13.17.18 c. Why a false Prophet a Pope 37. Where he should sit 47. and when he should come 73. 74. c. Antichrist how he is sayd to restore the state of the ould Empire 34 Why he is called Antichristus and not Antitheos 40.41 c. Antichrist gathers together the dregs of all heresies Ibidem Antichrist corrupts not onelye one poynt of religion but all and euery poynt of Christian doctrine Ibidem Antichrist vsurps the name of God .49.50 c. challenges his power 53. 54 Why the congregations of Antichrist be called the Church of God 67 Why it was requisite to haue the state and kingdome of Antichrist fore-tolde 5. 6 That the kingdome of Antichrist shall last till the end of the world 123 That the kingdom of Antichrist shall be vtterly destroyed by the last comming of Christ Pag. 121. 122 Antichrist should sit at Rome Pag. 39 Antichrists kingdome whether it be to be beaten downe with force of armes 117. c. Antichrist is no one man 6. 7. 12. 13 The manner of planting his kingdome was diuelish 90. 91. That it rose not at a suddain but by degrees 92. c. That it was established by three speciall meanes 97. 98 That the ouerthrowe of the kingdome of Antich should proceed frō the only breath of Gods mouth 98. 120 That the enlargement there-of should be wrought by two meanes 137 That his authoritie was neuer generally admitted without the gayne-saying of many Pag. 104 That not all shall cleaue to it no not when it preuayleth most 148. c. Antichristian doctrine compared with the Gospell 40. 41. c. Places of the Apocalypse interpreted cōcerning Antichrist 8. 24. 21. of the three Beasts pag. 24. c. Apocalypse and Daniell compared together 25 Apparrell of the auncient Romanes was some-time of two sorts 39 Apollyon 16 Apostata what it meaneth pag. 10. 11 Apparrell of men and attire vsed long agoe at Rome 38 When the beginnings of Antichrists Apostacie began 86 Arsaces beeing Captayne the Parthians set them-selues in freedome and thence theyr Kings were called Arsacides pag. 132. The last of the Arsacides by by whome slayne Ibid. Artaxerxes a Persian hauyng slaine Artabanus translated the kingdome of the Parthians to the Persians 132 Athaliricus playde Rex in Italie pag. 114 A place of Augustine touching Antichrist 18. 21 B Belifarius deposed Silverius Byshop of Rome vpon suspition of treason 15 Bernard his iudgement of the Pope of Rome Antichrist pag. 19. 20. 44. 55. 64. 103. The three Beasts mentioned in the Reuelation 23. c. Vnder the name of a Beast a whole state of things is signified 15 The seconde Beast signifieth the idolatrous Empyre of Rome 23 The fyrst and third Beast signifie one thing 24 Why Antichrist is likened to a Beast 17 The number of the Beast 666. comprized in the word Lateinos 14 The third Beast and Antichrist cōpared together 31. 32. 33 The seauen heads and tenne hornes of the Beast 27 Byshops some-tyme called Popes 49 Contentions of Byshops one cause of establishing Antichrists kingdome 97. c. Byshop of Rome accused for saying he was not to be iudged of any 105 Bishop vniuersall who 50. 51 Bishop of Rome takes on him the name of God and challengeth to him-selfe his power comparing him-selfe to the Sunne and the Emperour to the Moone 54 All the auncient Bishops of Rome refused the blasphemous title of vniuersall Bishshop and who first vsurped the same 52. 53 Why God punished the world with blindnesse 150 Boniface the eight Pope his ambition 20 Bishop of Rome his ambition 20. 19. couetousnesse 20. Idolatry 21. riot 21. 22. C Caligula would haue him-selfe worshipped as a God 20 Cardinalls the Pope decreed that they should goe before Kings 20 Their institution 143 Church whether it can erre 11 The true Church is to be measured by the only worde of God 11 Which is

which is the Pope and such as he consecrateth and imployeth about the broaching and maintenaunce of his Apostaticall doctrine as namely Bishops Monks Kings and others his drudges and bond-slaues These all euerie one as much as lyeth in his power indeauour and helpe forward that worke which the third Beast in the Reuelation hath in hand namely to put life againe into the Image of that Beast which had his deadlie wounde and to restore vnto it the power and aucthoritie which it had before while they labour with all their possible care and diligence that all men should take vpon them some ensigne or token of the profession and worship of the former Idolatrous Beast And in verie truth the Romane Emperours them-selues who were Idolatours were neuer so earnest and sharpe set in enforcing men to Idoll-seruice as these men haue done and that in seueare manner and sauadge kinde of crueltie Lastly the verie phrase or manner of writing in the Reuelation is wondrous like to that in Daniell Cap. 3. which seemeth of purpose to be affected by the Spirit of God least perhaps we should thinke that in both places one and the selfe-same thing were not meant How and in what manner Antichrist is said to fashion anew and to reuiue and set on foote the Image of the former wounded Beast that is the Romane Empire seated in Italie and setled in Idolatrie The tenth Chapter BVt the very word Image doth euidently lay open vnto vs both the thing it-selfe and the intent and meaning of the Spirit of God the which therefore is the more aduisedly to be considered of all and expounded by me Why may some say did euer the Pope cause men to worship any of the Romane Emperours specially any of those that were Idolatours Whereunto I aunswere that by the name of Image which by him is quickned not the persons of the Emperours are signified that made their abode at Rome but rather by that name was meant and specified the State fourme of the Romane Empire I meane the Italish and Idolatrous Empire the which being starke dead the Pope hath againe raised and made whole in euery point For euen at this houre the kingdome of Poperie doth as liuely represent the ould state of Idolatrie as if it were spit out of the mouth of it the which euery man may easily perceiue by the comparing of them both together and by the seuerall instances which héereafter insue The state and condition of the Romane Empire as well as of all other Kingdomes relieth vpon two speciall and principall grounds whereof the one respecteth Religion and the seruice of God the other outward and humane pollicie that is the well ordering guiding of the common wealth it-selfe Touching Religion and the seruice of God I pray ye what a manner of thing was it in the Romaine Empire being Italian and Idolatrous that is so long as Rome was the mansion place where the Emperours kept it was wholly Idolatrous and more wood and furious in infinite superstitions then any Nation of the world beside whatsoeuer Dionisius Halicarnasseus an Heathen in his second Booke of Antiquities doth thinke and giue out to the contrary And euen so in the Papacie there was and is as after shall appeare as grosse and outragious Idolatry as euer was heard of In both of them there were vsed Processions purging by Sacrifices Holy-water Praiers and Sacrifices for soules departed and Candles set vp in the worship of the dead Concerning the gouernment or pollicie of the Idolatrous Romane Empire it consisted both of matters essentiall and accidentarie I call such essentiall as without which a common wealth can not stand such as these thrée are 1 The kinde of gouernment it selfe as namely a Kingdome or an Aristocratie 2 The Magistrates who should mainteine the same 3 The Lawes that kéepe and preserue the publike quiet Accidentall I tearme those on the which the safetie and prosperous state of the weale publike doth not depend as the vniformitie of one language the attire of the bodie the Citie where the Princes Pallaice is seated Now the Romane kinde of gouernment or pollicie at such time as Iohn wrote his Reuelation was to see to Aristocraticall in respect of the authoritie of the Senate but in very deede it was a detestable tirannie and sauadge kind of Monarchie by meanes of the absolute power and authoritie which one only Prince and Emperour had ouer all And euen so in the Antichristian and Popish Iurisdiction the fourme of gouernment seemes to be Aristocraticall as wealded by the aduise and direction of the Beast but in plaine truth it is a plaine tyrannie For there is but one that hath a maine and deadly stroke in all matters namely the Bishop of Rome who hath to meddle in euery matter and at whose becke all men must bowe like slaues and peasaunts Wherevpon it is that I gather and conclude that in respect both of Church-matters and also of such as concerne the common-wealth Antichrist reuiueth and restoreth vnto vs the Image of that Beast that was so deadly wounded that is of the Romane and Italian Empire which was so fowly defaced and brought to confusion Now let vs go on and consider of the Magistrates of that Empire being yet Italian Idolatrous The Magistrates at Rome were of two sorts Supreme and Inferiour The supreme Magistrate was the Emperour And he contrarie to the receiued custome of all other Nations tooke vpon him to be both a King and a Priest For in all other places almost these two offices are seuered and administred by diuers As indeed the office of a Priest and of King are distinct and diuers But the Romane Emperour not content with these two dignities which are the highest vnder the coape of heauen tooke vpō him yet a third became also a Tribune of the people and that not annuall but standing and perpetuall Insomuch as this one high Romane Magistrate so long I say as the Empyre was Idolatrous and kept it selfe in Italie held in his hand at once these thrée the greatest and mightiest prerogatiues namely the Soueraigne kingdome and power ouer all the high Priesthood and chiefe stroake in matters of religion and the peremptorie power of a Tribune whereby he might at his pleasure nippe in the head all decrees whatsoeuer the other Magistrates were disposed to haue established To conclude he so handled the matter as that he might be coumpted to containe in himselfe a kinde of Deitie to bee Sacred not to bee touched most holie not to be reproued or comptrouled vnuiolable Now the Pope of Rome being the highest in that State made as bould to vsurpe and incroach vpon these three Soueraignties namely the super-eminent power and rule ouer all for he forsooth is to be supposed farre aboue all Iurisdictions himself hauing power to censure them the high Priesthood as arrogating to himselfe libertie to establish what he list in religion And lastly the stately Tribune-ship whereby he

great as that the said Bishops did there-by easily take occasion to abuse it Where-vpon Bernard Lib. 1. 4. de considerat ad Eugenium complaineth greiuously that the Bishop of Rome bestirred him-selfe so as where-by he shewed that he had indéede all fullnesse of power but not of iustice when once it began to be iustified by Apostolike authoritie that monstrous men very prodigious beasts should be admitted vnto Bishopricks and high Ecclesiasticall preferments This therefore was the second degrée whereby the Antichristian kingdome was aduaunced The third last was the excessiue coying fauours that certaine Princes especially Emperours bare to that Sea for this third point was likewise a principall piller in that building for in those dayes not only all men of all sorts contended to their vtmost euen like mad men to lade those Bishops with immoderate wealth and possessions but euen Emperours them-selues heaped vpon them honours priuiledges and other dignities belonging to the maiestie of an Emperour or the office of a ciuill Magistrate in so much as they submitted vnto the censure and approbation of the Bishop of Rome both their owne Decrees and the Constitutions of the Synods Iustinian the Emperour sent Ambassadours vnto Iohn Bishop of Rome to procure his approbation of the booke of Ciuill Lawes which he had made and published as appeareth by the Epistle prefixed before the said Coade of Iustinian Yea some Emperours haue ouer submissie giuen it out thus that Their Lawes do not disdaine in waie of imitation to resemble the holie Canons as though forsooth the maiestie and aucthoritie of Emperiall Edicts were farre inferiour vnto that of the Popes Decrees and Canons And in truth where-as those Emperours did not so prouidently bestowe vppon those Bishops so great reuenewes what else did they bring to passe in the ende but only a dispersion of deadly poison in the Church the which some of the Popes owne claw-backs haue written was heard in the life of Silvester the firste distinctly vttered in the ayre what time so large reuenues were graunted to the Church of Rome by Constantine the great Ierom vpon Malachi writeth plainly that the Church after that it came to the protection of Christian Princes it increased in power and riches but decreased in vertue and godlinesse Lastly to what ende were there so many priuiledges graunted by them both to places and persons Ecclesiasticall especially to the Church of Rome whereby they were exempted from all power and iurisdiction euen of ordinary Magistrates so that they might be without checke of any hauing libertie to liue as licentiouslie as they list These were the vnhappie beginnings and procéedings of so great tyrannie whereby the kingdome of Antichrist and this generall Apostacie was founded increased and made strong And yet this so great power receiued also some furtherance euen by Iustinian the Emperour and somewhat before the time of Phocas by vertue of a lawe of his in Nouella authent 131. de quatuor sanctis concilijs By what other degrees and occasions the authoritie of the Romane Bishop and kingdome of Antichrist was either stilie drawne forward or strongly established The 25. Chapter BVt Sathan the craftie work-maister wrought not only by these engines and subtile practises in aduauncing the kingdome of Antichrist but applied also other deuises of his as if he were to set abroach all the policies he had and vtmost indeuour he could in weauing this webb For vnto these beginnings and proceedings were adioyned other causes and occasions as hang-bies which were neither small in themselues nor feeble in their force Namely first the fame and renowne of the Citie of Rome it selfe which was called the head of the world Secondly the decaied estate of the Empire and the emptie seate thereof being at that time translated vnto Constantinople Thirdly the bountifull benefites of certaine Bishoppes of Rome bestowed vpon all Jtalie in generall and more perticularly and specially vpon Rome it selfe as testimonies of their loue and pledges of their care which they had of their Citizens and sheepe For Leo the first Bishop of Rome went out and met Attilas who was making inuasion vpon Italie and turned him backe hauing pacified him with a very milde speach in so much as that furious Beast at whose verie name al men trembled being soothed vp without once touching any part of Jtalie returned into Pannonia Pelagius the first Bishop likewise of Rome did so asswage Totilas a most cruell tyraunt by humble suite and petition as that when he had alreadie surprized Rome and in great rage was deuising how to bring it to vtter ruine yet he obtayned thus much of this angrie and furious Totilas that euen Totilas himselfe should inhibite further fierings and slaughter to bee committed in Rome There are other great good turnes recorded of other Bishops of Rome employed either vpon all Italie as by sending or intertayning Ambassadours or els perticularlie vpon Rome it selfe which things worthelie procured to them and their successours great and speciall fauour not only at the hands of Jtalians and Romanes but also of strangers and men of forraigne Nations Whereby it came to passe that for remedie agaynst the iniuries offered of some officers and Lieutenants yea such as were without the precincts of Italie appeales were made vnto the Bishops of Rome So did Victor Bishoppe of Fausienna call for assistance at the hands of Gregorie the first Bishoppe of Rome agaynst the Iudges in Affricke which committed many things with wrong and violence So likewise he tooke into his protection Isidore Mustellus and Constantius agaynst the hard proceedings of their Bishops And in like sorte he yeelded his helping hand vnto Adrian Bishop of Thebes agaynst Larissaeus the Metropolitanes of Iustiniana epist 46. induct 11. So also did the saide Gregorie write verie sharply vnto Brunchilda the Queene of Fraunce for that she did wickedlie permit the Jewes within her Dominions to intertayne and keepe Christians as their bond-slaues And to conclude thence it came to passe that verie barbarous people and the Princes of Gotland although as yet they were aliaunts and straungers from the profession of Christianitie had the Bisshoppes of Rome in very great accoumpt and indeuoured to increase and set out their creditte and estimation to their vtmost For Atalaricus King of the Gothes caused by publike edict and proclamation that Boniface the fourth and Iohn Bishoppes of Rome should bee highly reuerenced and worshipped by the people and Senate of Rome And after him Theodoricus a King likewise of Goteland commaunded the same to bee perfourmed To make short that I might herein comprize and shut vp all things as neere as I can the principall piller of this authoritie and tyrannous power was founded vpon that famous saying of Christ so much tost and boasted of but mis-vnderstood Feede my sheepe Iohn 21.16.17 The which the Bishops of Rome contending with tooth and nayle will needes haue to bee vnderstoode of Peter and his successours only and