Prophets of Kings c. * cap. 19.20 And for these such like causes he is called The false prophet that prophesieth lies c. But he is like vnto the first monstrous beast in this that he doth k cap. 13.12 exercise the power of the first beast before him taking vpon him as an Emperor in the time presence of the Emperour labouring to be as absolute ouer the Clergie as the Emperour is ouer the temporaltie exempting his Clergie from ciuill iurisdiction * 2. Thess 5.2 Yea exalting himselfe aboue all Yea he proposeth to himselfe to be Monarch of all and therefore what euer be his pretext hee in his priuate drift causeth the l cap. 13.12 earth and them that dwell therein to worshippe the first beast whose deadly wound was healed that is to worshippe an Ecclesiasticall Monarch which he laboureth to establish in the roome of the former ciuill Monarchie which was ouerthrowen in the West by the former incursions of strangers and onely healed by the Popes The a cap. 13.13.14 meanes which he vseth to further these ambitions are great wonders and deceiptfull in the fight of men and of the beast that is seeming miracles to the Prince and people howeuer there may be a better and truer construction made of them to be deceipts These his miracles therefore are b cap. 18.23 called inchauntments wherewith all nations are deceiued c 2. Thes 2.9.10 And this is that of which S. Paul speaketh when he saith of the aduersarie of Christ Whose comming is by the effectuall working of Sathan with all power and signes of lying wonders and in all d Aug. Ciu. Dei 20. 19. deceiuablenes of vnrighteousnes Which are wonders either so seeming when they be but impostures or else if true they be the workes of the diuell to gaine credit to the great enemie of the Gospel Particularly for instance it is said that he e cap. 13.13 caused fire to come downe from heauen on the earth in the sight of men that is he seemeth to men to cause God f Isa 9.5 37 36. to send downe vengeance from heauen vpon men that doe not respect him applying all the calamities that befall them that loue him not to be iudgements of God to reuenge the contempt offered to this beast The Popes were famous far g Chro. Chr. miracles when they had once gotten purple The opposition of the Saints is something though very small contenting themselues that h cap. 14.3 they were bought from the earth hauing nothing to doe with the ambition of this beast that onely minded how to possesse the earth wincking at much corruption when they saw it About i Fasc Tem. f. 47 b. Frising Chro. 4. cap. 3. the possessions of the Church which the Prelates at this time began to haue there was often a great contention among the Doctors Some said it was iust and profitable that the Church should abound in temporalties and haue earthly honours others thought not But the Bishops of Rome accepted of these honours And they of that Church doe thinke that k Geneb p. 552 553. it much concerned God in some place to haue a visible Ecclesiasticall Monarchie which by diuine authoritie by causing fire to come downe from heauen vpon men might restraine terrifie smite with lightning and bring into obedience tyrants hereticks schismaticks c. Wherefore the Bishops of Rome which was the chiefe citie in the world endeauoured to attaine vnto that dignitie and to inrich the Church by all meanes possible These things will appeare more particularly in the stories of the Popes wherof doe follow some briefe collections The complement Siluester I. * Ann 315. admirable for l Fasc Temp. f 47 a. miracles or great wonders For he is reported to a Pet. de Nat. haue clensed Constantine of a leprosie But b Volat. 23. f. 270. the booke of that miracle is Apocrypha manifestly dissenting from the Doctors and altogether to be reiected as a c 2. Thes 2.9 cap. 13.14 lying signe He is said to haue reuiued a dead d Pet de Nat. Ball to binde a Dragon that killed men with his breath a false miracle e Gesn l. 5. For Dragons doe not hurt with their breath hereby he laboured to gaine reputation to his profession He forbad f Caranz f. 4â— 37. a. Subdeacons to marrie heare the voice of the Dragon Hee deuised the Chrisme with which the Bishops should signe them that were baptized to confirme them against the perswasion of Heretickes The manner is this g Poly. inuent 5. 3. the Bishop maketh the signe of the crosse in the forehead of the partie to be confirmed and saith I signe thee with the character or token of the crosse and confirme thee with the chrisme of saluation i Berg. 9. He commanded that no laie man should presume to cal a Clergie man into a ciuill court nor that any Clergie man should sue before a secular Iudge and decreed that k Caranz f. 46. a. neither Emperour nor Kings nor all the Clergie may iudge the Pope exercising the power of the first beast euen before him c. Marcus appointed l Berg. 9. that no Clergie man might by any meanes be drawne vnto secular businesse Ann. 334. Hee built two Churches in Rome Constantine enriched him with many gifts The beast doth rise out of the earth Iulius reprehended the m Anno 341. Chr. Chro. Arians especially that they called a Councel at Antiochia without the authoritie of the Pope of Rome when as without his authority he said it neither ought nor could be He decreed that whosoeuer suspected his iudge might appeale to the seat of Rome the Pope Liberius was o Poâ—â—â—r banished for standing against the Arians Ann. 35â— in the meane while by his Counsell the Clergie of Rome ordained Felix Pope This Felix proceeded seuerely against the Arians Wherefore Constantius the Emperor reconciled Liberius for he seemed more easie to the Arians Liberius then being ouercome with the griefe of exile and glad that he was Pope againe assented and fell into heresie and subscribed p Massaus 11. thereto But Felix and the q Fasc Temp. s 48. b. Catholikes hauing admonished him and finding him to bee contumacious cast him out of the Church as an heretike wherefore Liberius cast Felix out of the Papacie held the Churches violently and by strength so that there was a great persecution of the faithfull and the Clergie and priests that fauored Felix were slaine in the Churches and Liberius forbad it not a Vol. 22. And Felix himselfe was slaine as defending the truth This Felix was b Geneb p. 574. also reported guiltie of heresie But such is the force of the Apostolicall chaire saith Genebrard that it would rather make a martyr than heare an heretike Here wanteth some helpe to reconcile these popish Chronologers
of the comming of Theodosius the true Christian Prince Albeit the rest of the Arians presumed and reported Theodosius to be defeated whence the Papists haue learned to spread presumptuous lying newes Howbeit at last euen for feare they giue glorie to the God of heauen These e Fox in hunc locum things do most aptly agree vnto the times of the preaching and martyrdome of Iohn Hus and Ierom of Prage c. before and at the Councell of Constance and to the effects that followed thereupon The complement Alexander the fifth a Fox Mart. p. 531. 567. was chosen Pope to take away the schisme In his time the Boemians Anno 1409. by the preaching of Iohn Hus c encreased much in the knowledge of the Gospel for before this time by the spreading of Wickliefes bookes they began to tast and sauour of it b Peuce 5. f. 156. 157. The summe of his preaching was a reprehension of the fornication couetousnes and pride of the Priests c and against the magicke consecrations of the oyle water c. He prooued his assertions by the word of God the holy scriptures vnto which alone he would reduce all doctrine Hereupon grew contentions in the Vniuersitie of Prage And when those which did striue for the Pope were not able to resist the founde testimonies of the scripture alleadged by Hus they left the Vniuersitie c Fox Mart. 532 When the Pope heard of these preachings and disputations he sent his bull vnto the Archbishop requiring him to looke that no such things were maintained and cited Iohn Hus to appeare before him Iohn Hus answereth the Bull to be contrary to the doings and examples of Christ and his Apostles and to restreine or fight against the free course of the word of God Wherefore he appealeth from this mandate to the same Pope better aduised But as hee was prosecuting of his appeale the Pope died there died also the Archbishop c d cap. 11.5 by the fire that proceeded out of the mouth of Christs witnesses c. Iohn the twentieth three e Gobel aet 6. cap. 90.94 a diuell incarnate Anno 1410. and a most profound inuentor of all sorts of infamous wickednes most rigorous He receiued of the harlots of one citie viz Bâ—nenia 300. florens euery moneth for tribute of their whoredome c. The King of Sicilia brake into Rome which the Pope not forseeing with many Curtizans was spoyled Vnto f Fox Mart. p. 567. this Pope or rather beast was Hus accused for an heretike because he seemed rather willing to preach the Gospell then the bishops traditions The Pope committeth the matter to the Cardinall of Columna who monished Hus to appeare at Rome Wenceslaus King of Romanes and Boem at the suite of his wife the whole nobilitie citie and Vniuersitie of Prage sent Ambassadors to Rome crauing the Pope to remit the citation of Hus and to determine his cause in Boem Hus also sent proctors to Rome to purge him because he would auoid that dangerous iourney The Cardinall at Rome notwithstanding the Kings petition excoÌ„municateth Hus and emprisoneth some of his proctors so that the rest returne without doing any thing Howbeit Hus notwithstanding his excommunication goeth on in preaching and appealed from the Pope to Christ. Yea a Fox Mart. 569. when the Popes bull came to Prage proclaiming full remission of sinnes to all such as would fight on his side for the Pope had warre with the king of Naples Hus and his followers manifestly spake against the Bull three lay men were beheaded for speaking against these pardons whom Hus and such Priests as fauoured him interred sumptuouslie saying These be the Saints which for the Testament of God did giue their bodies At b Peuce 5. f. 168. this time were three Popes at once euery one fighting against the other with condemnations and execrations But as c Socr. 5. 22. the Arians did not striue for religion but by reason of their ouermuch desire of honour with which their mindes were wholy possessed did fight among themselues for the primacie whereupon many of the Clergie hating the contention sprung of the desire of vaine glory departed from them to the antient faith so these did not striue for the glorie of the sonne of God or for the mending of such corruptions as were in manners and doctrine but for the principalitie Wherefore many departed from them When the Emperor Sigismund did see that these euils would be more duly reformed by a Councel than by armes hee hauing runne ouer Italy Spaine France and England with incredible speede and wonderfull patience in great labours by consent of the kings caused the Counsell of Constance to bee d 1414. deceÌ„ 3. assembled which was frequented with the presence or Legates of the Princes of all the Christian world as also thither came from Bizantium and Trapezuntium a concourse of most diuerse e cap. 11.9 people and kindreds and tongues and gentiles a Geneb p. 1059 so that there were numbred of strangers of all sorts 60,500 After b Gobel 6. c. 94 the Councell assembled the whole affaires of the Councell were committed to the determination of foure Prelates chosen out of foure Nations which much displeased the Pope and his Cardinals In this Councell they proposed to reforme the Church in the head and members c Peut 5. f. 175. Wherefore Petrus de Aliaco very grauely admonished the Councell of the most corrupt conditions of the Popes the court of Rome and of al degrees of the Romane Church for the citie is Sodom He also admonished the Councell of the many superstitions and of the tyrannie then vsed for this citie is also Aegypt d Specul Minor Tract 3. f. 167. c. There were also proposed diuerse complaints against the friers for their Sodomiticall filthie life and for their pride and crueltie who were like ruffians and cutters to kill them that admonished them of their faults e Exod. 2.11.13.14 worse then the Aegyptian that wronged the Israelite or the Israelite that reproched Moses or the Sodomites that railed on Lâ—t The like was done by other that desired reformation In this Councell f Mass 18. p. 255. Gobel 6.94 the Pope g Fox Mart. p. 604. in epist Huss whom the Preachers were wonte to call the God of the earth was conuicted of more than fortie grieuous crimes for which hee was deposed Vnto h Fox in hunc locum Mar. 1575. c. this Councell came Iohn Hus vnder the safe conduct of the Emperour and there continued vnder the warrantie of the Popes promise and thither was Hierom of Prage cited Those two were shut vp in most horrible and filthie prisons farre worse then sackcloth When Hus came to the Councell he desired leaue to answere the obiections brought against him But whereas Christ was not only permitted but also required to answere for himselfe before Pilate
in the manner now they be and d Geneb p. 96 Par. Vrs p. 3 appointed that certaine times in a day a bell should be tolled when the people should say certaine deuotions in the praise of the virgin Mary e Geffre d. truc morib 1. p. 31. as the Turkes at certaine times when their priests doe stand in the towers of their Churches and cry out that the people may heare them f Par. Vrs â— Mat. Paris p. 538. doe fall downe and doe say certaine deuotions vpon this idolatry of the Christians the Tartares doe wast the countries of the Christians Innocentius the fourth g Par. Vrsp p. 329. was chosen after long delaie Ann. 1241. because the Emperour held some of the Cardinals in prison because of discord among the Electors h Mat. Paris p. 585. He presently confirmed the excommunication of Fridericus who therefore stopped the waies of the Popes postes and hanged vp two Minorites that by stealth did carry letters to mooue sedition amongst the Nobles The Templars for hatred of the Emperour besieged and vexed the Teutonici in the holy land not suffering them to burie their dead i 588. Many Princes are alienated from the Emperour and elect the Landgraue of Thuring against him k 589. But the Emperour presently made peace with the Landgraue VVise men laboured to make peace betweene the Pope and the Emperour but the Emperour refused to submit himselfe absolutely to the Popes censure desiring to haue the causes and conditions first known neither would hee resigne the rites of the Empire l 592. The lamentable newes of the Tartars had stirred all Christendome against them had not the grieuous distraction betweene the Pope and Emperour beene the let The friers Preachers and Minorites fall out bitterly betweene themselues m 594. The Pope sendeth an Extortor into England c. with power to suspend excommunicate and punish many waies all such as would not suffer him to leauie what money he pleased For the beast is footed like a Beare a Mat. Paris p. 617. 618. VVhen the Emperour laboured for peace with the Pope in vaine the Pope as it seemed of purpose to bring the Emperour into causelesse hatred fled into Ianua where he had Gallies ready to entertaine him The Emperour smelling the Popes drift said with griefe The wicked flie when none followeth The Popes faction perswadeth the Landgraue to take the dignity of the Empire in hand make warre vpon Fridericus whom they called tyrant persecutor a confederate with Saracens For the beast doth open his mouth to blaspheme them that are called Gods c. But the Landgraues friends aduiseth him not to trust the promises of the Popes partie and the Emperour comming on a suddaine the Landgraue was alienated from that purpose and gaue gifts to the Emperour and so they parted friends b 622. The Pope sendeth abroad as to England by strange and incredible authoritie to rake money for aide against the Emperour c 623. 624. who writeth to England to staie their contribution and rather to exempt themselues from former impositions protesting his innocencie and that the Pope had reiected his submission the manner whereof hee was willing to referre to the censure of the Kings of England and France and their Barones See a Lambe in the throne d 632. The French king vpon recouerie of a desperate sickenesse voweth a voyage into the holy land e 633. After the presages of heauie things as thunders and lightenings f 635. the Pope through France causeth the Emperour to be preached excommunicate which when a Priest should denounce he said to the people I know the Pope and Emperour to be at controuersie the cause I know not but I pronounce the partie excommunicated that doth the wrong and absolue the innocent g 636. The Pope calleth a Councel at Lugdunum where his chamber was burned h 638. as it was thought of purpose to get occasion to extort money of the Prelates comming to the Councell i 642. And partly by moning his wants and partly by large promises of preferments many of the prelates bestowed incredible wealth vpoÌ„ the Pope k VVestmonâ—st whom againe he honoured with titles and dignities l Mat. Paris p. 643. 644. 645. In the Councell the Emperours proctor answered diligently for his Lord made large offers to subiect the Romane Empire to the Church of Rome to fight against the Tartars and for the holy land All which the Pope insolently reiected and refused the kings of France and England to bee sureties for the Emperours promise herein m 658. And n 6. Decr. 66. 2. tit 14. cap. 1. notwithstanding the Proctor confuted all obiections made by the Pope or others yet he proceedeth with the assistance of the prelates with candles put out to excommunicate and n 6. Decr. 66. 2. tit 14. cap. 1. depriue the Emperour forbidding him any more to be named Emperour by any which the Proctor said was the beginning of many euill daies The Pope to further his purposes a Volat. 22. f. 255. Geneb 970.971 aduanced the Cardinals For whereas before they had not that brauerie of retinue and ornaments he granted them for honour to ride on white horses and to weare red hats in token they should spend their liues for the Church of Rome like b Curio 1. p. 28. the Princes that followed Mahomet who drewe their swords and promised by solemne oath to allow of none other law but that which Mahomet should make in defence and setting forth whereof they then and there protested at all times when neede should require to spend their blood and liues c Mat. Paris 655. The Pope with large promises and bribes and supplications requesteth the Electors to choose another But Fridericus preuented him with disswasions d Pag. 658. and putteth a crowne on his own head reuiling the Pope and threatning bloodie warres before he would loose it e Gob. ae 6. c. 64 There passed sharp letters betweene the Pope and the Emperour f 235. the Emperour aduising the Pope to absolue him lest saith he our lyon which faineth himselfe to sleepe doe wake and with his terrible roaring doe driue all fatte bulls out of all lands and planting righteousnesse doe gouerne the Church rooting out the hornes of the proud g Mat. Paris p. 659. 660. And of that argument sent letters abroad which was the meanes hee had lesse regard h 662. The French king commandeth the Pope to conference about the Emperours peace and his owne voyage to the holy land i 664. and the kings brother and diuers Nobles take the crosse k 675. 676. The French king againe importuneth the Pope for the Emperours peace but still in vaine Wherefore he departeth from the Pope angrie because he found not that humilitie which he hoped for in the seruant of the seruants of God
concluded the thirteenth time Michael Paleologus the Emperour did diuersly punish the Greekes which would not receiue the faith and rites of the Church of Rome by confiscation banishment prisonment pulling out their eies whipping dismembring of them c. Thus they drinke of the wine of the wrath of the fornication of the great where The Pope k Trith p. 253. commanded the Germane Princes to elect a fit Emperour else he said himselfe would prouide for a gouernour of the Empire Hereupon Rudolphus is chosen who being admonished by the Princes at the instance of the Pope to goe to Rome to be crowned answered Italie hath consumed many Germane Emperors I wil not go to Rome I am king I am Emperour I trust I shall doe as well for the profit of the comon weath as if I were crowned at Rome Wherefore raigning neere nineteene yeares he receiued no crown of the Pope for the cause which he shewed a Geneb p. 988 This Pope instituted the vse of the conclaue whence the Cardinals may not come forth till they haue chosen a Pope b 990. The heresie of such as whipped themselues began Ann. 1276. Adrian the fifth c Geneb 990. reuoked the vse of the Conclaue appointed by Gregorie the tenth He d Trith p. 255. called Rodulph the Emperour into Italie against Charles king of Apulia who forgetting the benefit bestowed vpon him by Vrbane who tooke the kingdom from the right heires Conrade and Conradine and bestowed it vpon him did what him list at Rome thus God reuenging their wrong But the Emperour beeing otherwise let came not and the Pope died by the fall of a newe chamber vpon him A slouthfull age the Monkes cared not to write c. Ann. 1277. Nicolaus the third e Geneb p. 992 993. tooke away notaries and registers out of the court of Rome as pestilent The Sicilians impatient of the lust and pride of the French men communicating their counsell with Nicolaus the third which was displeased with Carolus with Paleologus and Petrus Aragoniae on Easter day when the bell rang to Euensong euery where killed the French aboue 8,000 in two houres with their wiues great with childe Whereupon arose a Prouerb the Sicilian vespers for suddaine slaughters The Turkes who before had beene worne by the Tartars recouer courage returne to their wonted spoile for murther among the remnant c. Martinus the fourth Ann. 1281. f Trith p. 258. by his Legate in a Councel exacted of the people the tenth pennie whereto though many Princes did condescend yet the Archbishops of Colen and Trouers did couragiously resist this new and grieuous exaction and dashed that businesse Many miracles are said to be wrought at the Popes graue Ann. 1288. Nicolaus the fourth g Fox Mart. p. 326. in his time Petrus Iohannes a Minorite maintained the Pope to be Antichrist the Synagogue of Rome to be Babylon Also Robertus Gallus a Dominican Frier declared the Pope an idol and prophecied of his destruction Iohannes was burned when he was dead by the inquisitors This h Geneb p. 996. c. Curie time the Sultan of the Saracens with lamentable slaughter by fire and sword draue the Christians cleane out of Tripolis Tyrus c. and all Syria Calestinus the fifth Ann. 1294. i Trith 263. was thought to be chosen by God himselfe and was called from his Eremitage to the Papacie to whose a Mass 17. p. 242. coronation came 200 000. people In his first consistorie while he desired strictly to reforme the Church of Rome that the Clergie thereof might be an example to others he incurred such displeasure that they whispered of him to dote and to be a foole Of whom one Benedict or blessed not indeed but in name caused one through a cane to speak like an Angel to Calestine aduising him to resigne because the burthen was too great * Bergo 23. in Bonifacio 8. when hee had resigned his successor Bonifacius the eight craftie and vngrateful shut him vp in a secret prison where he died miserably This b Geneb 998. Calestinus is reported to haue commanded that the Popes and Cardinals henceforth should not ride on horses and males but on Asses after Christs example O law prodigiously ouerthrowne Bonifacius the eight c Fasc Temp. an arrogant and craftie man Ann. 1294. d Gobel alii Of him it was said hee entred like a Foxe by deceiuing his predecessor ruled like a Lyon by crueltie died like a dogge in contempt He e Bergo 13. contemned all men f Geneb p. 1000 raised great warres in Italie g Epit. Blond persecuting and extinguishing despitefully the faction of the Gibellines h Mass 17.243 When Albertus the Emperour sent to him desiring to be confirmed by him in his Empire hee despised his request i Proemium sexti Curio He digested the Popes lawes into sixe bookes after the example of Mahomets Alcaron In his sixth booke he k 6. Dec. 5. tit 2. cap. 12. c. published many bloodie lawes and increased the inquisitors authoritie to cite arrest imprison examine and confiscate c. He l Geneb p. 1001 6. Dec. 3. tit 23 cap. 3. also excommunicated all the Clergie that paid the Prince any subsidie without the consent of the Apostolike seate But m Platina in B. 8. Buchol that you may not thinke that God was at peace with men suddainly in winter was so great an earthquake as neuer was before which ouerthrewe many houses castles c. whereby many of all sortes were slaine The Pope at Masse was frighted with the ruine of the place and beeing carried forth ranne away with the best and for feare of beeing killed with the fall of some buildings dwelt in a tent made of thin board which was set vp in a large medow There was also a comet an euill presage happily of the pride of the Pope and his superstition He n Trith 266. Mass 17. first instituted at Rome the yeare of Iubile for full remission and pardon of all sinnes from paine and guilt to bee kept from the Euen of Christs Natiuitie to that day twelue month and so to be againe kept euery hundred yeare A thing newe and neuer heard of before o Poly. Jnu. 8.1 This Iubile was made in imitation of the feasts of Apollo and Diana which the heathen kept euery hundred yeare And whereas in his decrees he had published p Extr. Com. la. cap. vnā sanct that vpon paine of damnation all must be subiect to the Pope of Rome in a Paral. Vrsp 344. his Iubile he came forth into sight one day like a Pope the next day like an Emperour with a sword carried before him and cried with a loud voice Behold here are two swords And this his triple crowne witnesseth which is called regnamundi the kingdomes of the world And b Mass 17.
e Trith 273. 274. 275. entred when the Empire was distracted by two which the Princes deuided into factions did set vp The greater part elected Ludouicus Banarus the lesse Fridericus Duke of Austria f Par. Vrs 352. Fridericus was fauored by the Pope the French King c. It seemeth the Pope willing to aduance Fridericus whose election was not good thought to declare the Empire to be voyde that he might weaken Ludouicus of such offices in Italy c. that might stand him in stead For in his first yeere he decreed g Extr. Iho. 22. Si fratum that in the vacancie of the Empire which he said then was by the death of Henry the seuenth the regiment iurisdiction and disposing of the Empire deuolued to the Pope vnto whom in the person of Saint Peter God committed the rights of the earthly and heauenly Empire He also accursed all Imperiall offices as well spirituall as temporall that in the vacancie were not authorised by the Pope After h Par. Vrs 353. Trith p. 278. many conflicts Fridericus is ouercome and taken and by capitulation yeeldeth all to Ludouicus At this time i Trith p. 277. 278. Walter Lolliard the chiefe teacher of many against the popish Church who had written diuers treatises in the Dutch tongue applying the Scriptures to his opinions was apprehended he sharpely defended his opinions for which he was burned a Mass 18. p. 246. Michael Cesenas Generall of the order of the Minorites with the Fratricelli of the habit of Saint Francis preached that Christ and his Aopstles possessed nothing of their owne Against whom the Pope published his decree that b Extr de ver fig. tit 14. Cum inter whosoeuer held that Christ and his Apostles possessed nothing were heretiks They also taught that the Emperor is not subiect to the Pope but in spirituall causes which the Emperor beleeued and c Trith 279.280 despising the Pope who by admonition and commination required him to come to Auinion to be crowned by the Pope went into Italy requested the Pope to send some Cardinals into Italy to crowne him as Clement did for Henry the seuenth The Pope refusing so to doe d Par. Vrs 353. at Millaine the Emperor receiued his second crowne And the Emperors Chancellor vnknowne to the Emperor wrote to the Pope calling him e Reuel 13.1 the beast arising out of the sea c. Michael Cesenas wrote that the Pope was Antichrist f Fox Marty and Rome Babylon in the Reuelation Also Petrus de Carbano Iohannes de Poliaco and William Occam wrote against the Pope and his vsurped authoritie in aduancing Friers decaying purish Churches c. The * Mass 18.246 Emperor goeth to Rome and is crowned by an Antipope whom he set vp The Pope hearing hereof g Gob. aet 6. c. 68. Mass 18. excommunicated the Emperor for taking vpon him as Emperor in Italy without the Popes approbation and excommunicated Michael and all their adherents sent an armie against the Fratricelli Many were burned There h Trith 285. was a very great mortalitie euery where and such a dearth that many were famished The Syrians tooke many thousands of Christians prisoners The i Mass 18.247 Gob. ae 6. c. 71. p. 246. Pope also preacheth heresie that the soules departed did not enioy the sight of God till the last iudgement an k Geneb 1002. heresie of the Fratricelli He sent a Dominican and a Minorite to Paris l Mass 18. p. 247. to preach his heresie there Thomas Walleis an Englishman herein resisted the Pope in his publike sermons For which he was imprisoned and vexed with famine The m 246. Emperor held a Councell vnto whom Iendinus and Marcellus students of Paris doe come and comfort him confirming that the Emperor is not subiect to the Pope n Trith 279. Occam also said to the Emperor Defend me with thy sword against the iniuries of the Pope and I will defend thee with words and writing with indissoluble arguments And o Par. Vrs 354. Marsilius Patauinus wrote to the Emperour a booke called Defensor pacis maintaining that the Pope is subiect to the Emperor In this a Trith 280. Councell the Emperor deposeth the Pope as an heretike and schismatike and b Par. Vrs 354 setteth vp his appeale against the Pope c Geneb 1015. The Pope reuoked his heresie by the authoritie of the faculty of Paris He d Volat. 21. instituted a new order of Knights in Portugall of Iesus Christ and granted them the Templars goods that they might be ready to resist the irruptions of the Saracens that were next their colours were Sables a crosse gewles In the same countrie c. were the Knights of Alcantara with a greene crosse He e Extr. Con. l. 1. Supra gentes excommunicated ipso facto those that hindered the Popes Legats and messengers from being entertained and interdicted their land as long as they should stand contumacious f Trith p. 284. When he died he left an inestimable summe of gold behind him in the treasuries Anno 1335. Benedictus the twelfth g Par. Vrs 354. Geneb p. 1025. though he desired to absolue the Emperor yet for feare of the French King confirmed the censure of his predecessor * Par. Vrsp p. 355. The Emperor reiecteth the acts of Iohn the twentith two against him looking to the Canon Imperator where is required that neither the Emperor shall vsurpe the rights of the Pope nor the Pope of the Emperor and that the Emperor hath not his Empire of the Pope but of God At Franckeford in an assemblie of Princes was decreed that if the Emperor be good and Catholicke c. and that the Pope refuse to crowne him he may be consecrated by any other Catholike Bishop c. h Mass 8.447 He sent his Orator to Rome who perswaded them to administer the dignity of the senate in the name of the Church and not in the name of the King or Emperor as they had done of long How was then Rome the Popes He i Geneb p. 1027. caused the King of Hungary to restore the kingdome of Naples to Ioane from whom he had taken it because she had strangled her husband the Kings brother In reward of which restitution she gaue the city Auinion to the Pope for euer He k 1026. published a decree against this heresie of Iohn his predecessor determining against his opinion l Extr. Con. 5. de haeres c. 1. This Pope made the inquisitors the receiuers of heretikes goods and rents and to be accountable to none but the Pope * Par. Vrs 354. Dulcinus and Durandus are held to bee heretikes m Fox Marty Hagar imprisoned for preaching against the Masse Iohannes de Rupe scissa imprisoned for writing and preaching Rome was Babylon and the Cardinals were false prophets n Geneb pag. 116. Occam writeth
Lanquet Ferdinandus sent a nauie from Spaine into Italy which chased slew and vanquished the Frenchmen out of Naples Å¿ Geneb pag. 1097. 1098. Lapidanus taught the Hebrew tongue in Paris Renchulinus in Germony Galatinus in Italy and now it began to spread among Christians The Hebrew Bible called the editio complutensis with the Chaldie Greeke and Latin translations was printed by the meanes of the Archbishop of Toletum Thus the word of God rideth forward t Peuce 5. f. 253. The Emperor beginneth his warres in Bauaria in which were very many excellent men imprisoned killed and burned a Nouus Orb. Cadmustus discouereth new countries b Peuce 5. f. 259. The Duke of Gelders afflicteth the Brabanders against his oath the Brabanders suffer great losse and many of them are killed c Lanquet Ann. 1507. There began a long and cruell warre betweene the Emperor and the Venetians in which were fought many bloudy battailes and diuers mutations chanced thereupon Thou hast giuen them bloud to drinke The French King ouercommeth the Venetians d Geneb 1099. There was a Councell held in France either to prouoke the Pope to peace or to appeale to a generall Councell e Mass 20. p. 271. In that Councell were proposed and concluded these propositions First it is not lawfull for the Pope to make warre against any Prince without iust cause Secondly the Prince in defending his right against the Pope may inuade the Pope assayling him and subduce himselfe from his obedience Thirdly the Pragmaticall sanction is to be kept throughout all France Fourthly no care is to be taken for the Popes vniust censures if he happen to thunder * Peuc 5. f. 256 The Pope enraged with the report of the losse of Bononia stirred vp all Europe to armes and excommunicated the French King but the King despised his excommunication and retorted the curse vpon the Pope c. f Peuc 5. f. 257 The French armie ouerthrow the Venetians at the riuer Atlasis slew the garison of the Venetians at Brixia and tooke it fought with the Popes armie at Rauenna where the Popes forces were ouerthrowen and of them 16,000 were lost Henry g Lanquet An. 1512. the eight King of England sent an armie of 13,000 into Spaine and a nauie to sea h Mass 20. p. 271. Of this Pope Massauâ— hath this Epitaph Genna cui patrem genetricem Gracia partum Pontus vnda dedit num bonus esse potest Fallaces ligures mendax Gracia Ponto Nulla fides in te singula solus habes Leo the tenth i Mass 20. p. 271 in his first yeare was a great fight at sea Ann. 1513. betweene the French and the English and many perished on both sides k Peuc 5. f. 255. b. There was also fought a cruell and bloodie battell betweene the Emperour and the Venetians at the riuer Bachilion where the Venetians lost 9000. men some were cast headlong into the riuer that they might haue blood to drinke others were scattered beaten and killed a Peuc 5. f. 261. b. The Polonians ouercame and slue about 40,000 Mosconites at the riuer Boristhenes b 259. b. c. The Cardinall of Strigonium mooueth the people to take the crosse and to warre vpon the Turkes The people following in great multitudes robbed tooke townes and fields and tormented the Nobles and Clergie to the great horror of all these were ouercome at the riuer Temesus c 258. a. A great cruell bloodie and long battell was fought at Millaine where the French ouercame the Heluctians so that of 25,000 not halfe remained d Par. Vrsp p. 446. Ann. 1517. Leo holding the Lateran Councell Picus Earle of Mirandula made an Oration vnto the Pope and Councell that lawes should bee made and kept against lust and couetousnesse for vertue and godlinesse complaining that vice was honoured for vertue and vertue was counted vice He terrified the Pope with the example of Eli whom God most grieuously punished because hee corrected not his sonnes requiring sincere discipline for the carefull studie of both the testaments e 447. Erasmus publisheth the new testament in Greeke and Latine Thus the hostes that are in heauen follow the word of God For contempt whereof is powred out the fourth Phiall The fourth Phiall Now vnto the former three plagues is the fourth added f cap. 16.8 And is that the fourth Angell powred out his Phiall on the Sunne and it was giuen to him to torment men with heate as of fire Hereupon g 9. many times men boyled in great heate by the distemper of the Sunne and aire and fierie meteors Howbeit they stil blasphemed the name of god which hath power ouer these plagues to send them vpon the wicked And they repented not to giue him glorie but continued in their wickednesse to the dishonour of God and magnifying of themselues The Complement h Orig. praefat Ephem This sommer was exceeding much burning and drie in which many riuers were dried vp i Mass 20. p. 274. And fierie hostes were seene throughout Italie to fight in the aire Howbeit these signes wrought no repentance a Mass 20. p. 273. cum Guiec 13. p. 772. For the French king vpon reconciliation betweene the Pope and him receiued a Iubile to be published through France Yea the Pope abused too licentiously the authoritie of the Apostolicke sea to draw money from men For he dispersed throughout the world without distinction of places or times most ample indulgences with power to deliuer soules out of purgatorie Which money was so impudently demanded that the Commissioners perswaded the people that whosoeuer would giue ten shillings should deliuer the soule for which he gaue it out of purgatorie Hereby blaspheming God who teacheth vs * 1. Pet. 1.18 to know that we are not redeemed with corruptible things as siluer gold But if it were lesse than ten shillings it would profit nothing Yet were many of the Popes Ministers detected selling for a small price or set vpon a game at tables in a tauerne the power to redeeme mens soules out of purgatorie The money b Mass ibid. 8. Geneb though the shadow were to make warre vpon the Turke was notoriously knowne not to be paid to the Pope or the Apostolike chamber but was transferred indirectly to satisfie the infinite couetousnes of Magdalen the Popes sister a fraile woman This gaine displeased the holy sonnes of the Church And vnder this occasion Luther that followed the word of God began to preach against indulgences and to reprehend the authoritie of the Pope And thus is fulfilled the scripture c cap. 18.2.3 She is fallen she is fallen for the Marchants of the earth were made rich c. d Buchol ex Suriâ— For hence began that great alteration of religion which followed wihich many amongst the Papists did foresee whereof one Hilteniuâ— is reported to haue assigned the
vtter court which also the scripture calleth The temple in which Antichrist doth raigne The speech is taken from the Temple which i 1. King 6.1 c. king Salomon built which was deuided into three parts First the holy and holiest places called by excellencie The temple contained the Arke the Altar of incense the lampes and tables of shew bread all which were couered Secondly there was the open place in which was placed the lauer or sea and the altar of burnt offerings The third part was called the k 2. Chro. 4.9 Courts and was deuided into l 2. Chr. 6.13 Ezech. 44.19 the inner court which was for the Priests and the vtter court where the King and Priests and Prophets and people did assemble for the seruice of God for instruction m Psal 122.4.5 Deut. 17.8 and for iudgement in doubtfull causes ciuil and diuine The doctrine figured n cap. 11.2 in the Temple and altar which are continued in the profession of the Gospel are to be measured and esteemed holy and good though by Antichrist shut vp and blasphemed But that which was represented by the vtter Court namely the publike assemblies for that which is called the seruice of God their courts of iurisdiction as farre as concerneth the causes of the Lord the Angell commandeth S. Iohn to cast out and all holy men to count them common and vncleane The reason whereof is that a Joseph anti lib 12. c. 6. 1. Macc. 1. as the temple of the Iews was deliuered into the hāds of Antiochus Epiphanes so by the temeritie and ignorance of Princes the courts are giuen to such as for their manner of rites are but b cap. 11.2 the Gentiles in effect though in appearance like the c Soc. 1. 17. Maniches they seeme Christians The manner of their behauiour here is not to rule with the key of knowledge d Dan. 8. but to deuoure break in peeces stamp and tread the residue of the holy city vnder foot as Abaddō the son of perdition And although the Papacie from hence forth corrupteth all assemblies with the tyrannies and superstitions of the Gentiles and abhominations of condemned heretickes yet doth e 2. Thess 2.4 August de ciu lib. 20. cap. 19. this Man of Sinne here exalt himselfe as if himselfe were the temple of God and take to himselfe whatsoeuer was figured by the temple of Salomon and his kingly pallace Howbeit in these courts shall bee euer found two witnesses raised vp by the Lord euen a competent number to stablish a truth who shall prophesie by teaching and cōmination cloathed in sacke-cloath poore humble f 2. Macc. 2.7.14 and sorrowfull to see the abhominations and blasphemies in the Church by the Gentiles c. Among such therefore is now the Church to bee sought for These by their g cap. 11.4 c. 10. testimonie must vexe the inhabitants of the earth both by bringing the graces of the spirit of God vpon good men and therefore are said to be two Oliue trees and also to giue holy light vnto them to direct them to the Lord and therefore are called two golden candlesticks standing before the God of the earth and by bringing heauie affliction vpon such as will iniurie them in their prophecie For their word shall be as fire out of their mouthes to deuoure their aduersaries And beeing equall in the power of their ministrie with Elias shall be able to shut the heauens that it raine not in the daies of their prophesie and beeing like vnto Moses in Egypt haue power to smite the earth with all manner of plagues as oft as they will so that the earth is plagued because the witnesses of Christ are despised and persecuted Yea those two witnesses called also 144 000. of those which haue the testimonie of Iesus Christ and keep the commandements of God oppose themselues in the open courts of the temple called now the visible Monarchie of the Church against the beast by h cap. 14.4.6.8.9.15.18 innocencie preaching iudgements praier The manner of the womans sitting vpon this scarlet coloured beast is to tread the holy citie vnder foote Yea shee excelleth her selfe in cruelty For while shee was borne vp by heathen Emperours shee was furious and bloodie and therein as terrible and odious as a red Dragon But now shee cloatheth her selfe with blood as with a cap. 17.4.6 purple and scarlet thinking it her honour for the seruice of God to kill the godly And herein shee is so vnsatiable that shee is drunken with the blood of the Saints and with the blood of the Martyrs of Iesus that in admirable manner For shee doth not content her selfe to kill those that stand against her but also condemneth their memorie b cap. 11.7.9 not suffering them to be put in monuments And though these things to such as are of the spirit of S. Iohn doe euer appeare yet outwardly shee seemeth first to make plentifull prouision for this kind of warre and then she ioyneth battell with the Lambe c cap. 11.7.9 and those that follow him And these things doth this beast accomplish with his wonted lying signes and miracles with false prophesie and other impostures For the more effectuall executing of the d cap. 12.17 wrath of the Dragon which affection hee putteth on in all his oppositions the beast prouideth himselfe with the e cap. 13.3 c. wonderfull fauour and dependance of the whole earth which is called by the name of Christian as also studieth out a most secure discipline The world is said f cap. 13.3 to wonder greatly admiring the beast the Papacie by whose meanes the wounded head of Rome recouered life in the Hierarchie And also they followed the beast which was like the Pantheresse For as when g Gerard. dial creas 114. the Panther which is a beautifull and gentle beast amongst other wilde and rauenous beasts doth wake and come out of his denne and roare other beasts which heare his voice doe gather themselues togither and follow the sweetnesse of his odour which commeth forth of his mouth so also when this Papacie who is beautifull as an harlot and gentle as Absolom amongst men doth speake though it bee like the Dragon all men doe gather themselues together and followe the words of his mouth which seeme pleasant to those which are deluded For from this time those which before were called h cap. 9.3.11 Locust-scorpions haue set ouer them a king the Popes the angel of the bottomlesse pit For those kingdomes which rose of the inundation of the Barbarians one after another began to giue respect to the Bishops of Rome i cap. 17.17.2 Thess 2.11 For God hath put in their hearts to fulfill his decree and to bee of one consent and to giue their kingdomes vnto the beast vntill the wordes of God be fulfilled and then to hate her The fauour that this beast found
against a Prince I read and read againe the gestes of the Romane kings and Emperours yet no where doe I finde any of them before this Emperour to bee excommunicated by the Pope or depriued of his kingdom wherefore it is prooued to be fabulous m Geneb p. 591 which is reported of Innocentius that he excommunicated Arcadius or degraded Eudoxia then Empresse except it were done in secret or in conceipt In this Councel was Guibertus Archbishop of Rauenna n Mass 16. 224. who staied in Rome after the Synode to be made Pope by the Emperour which when Gregorie knew hauing beene rescued from the hands of Cincius by the furie of the people he degraded all those which were in schisme against him The o Abb. Vrsp p. 221. Trith Hirs p. 93. Emperour in a Councel at Wormacia with in a manner all the Germane Bishops depriued the Pope and by the instructions of Hugo a Cardinall published their sentence thus Because thine entrance began with so great periuries and that the Church of God is so indangered by so grieuous a storme by the abuse of thy nouelties and hast dishonested thy life in thy conuersation with so manifolde infamies as wee neuer promised thee any obedience so doe we renounce to keepe any towards thee hereafter And because none of vs as thou hast publikely declaimed hath bin esteemed by thee to be a Bishop neither shalt thou henceforth by any of vs be called Apostolicall The Pope in a Councell readeth these letters and againe excommunicateth the Emperour and his fauourers beeing p Massaeus 16. p. 224. encouraged by certaine letters out of Germanie that gaue life to the beast At Openheim was a Colloquie in which most of the Princes especially Saxons and Almanes renounced the Emperours subiection pretending that hee stood excommunicated by the Pope though he were absent and not heard By a Trith Hirs 1655. this necessitie the b Gobelinus Emperour goeth humbly towards Rome to aske his pardon of the Pope but c Epit. Blond d. 2. l. 3. his humilitie was slaundered to the Pope as if hee meant some violence and finding the Pope at Canusium barefoote and woolward in a most horrible frost with his wife and sonne indured with much patience the repulse for three daies By his bitter teares hee mooued those that were with the Pope d Vrsp p. 218. Mathildis a harlot c. so that they preuaile with the Pope who absolueth him and e Gobel ae 6. 55. put the imperiall crowne vpon his head f Mat. Paris p. 9. But guile was found in his mouth falsely pretending peace for he g Abb. Vrsp p. 222. said after that he restored him to communion but not to his Empire Hee h Crant Met. 5 14. inioyned the Emperour penance to staie at Rome a yeare and visit Churches with fasting and praier And in the meane time by certaine Princes and many Bishops was Rodulph a man altogether a stranger to the Princes blood elected Emperour the i Trith p. 93. Pope so commanding it by k Fri. d◠ges Fri. 1. 7. manifest and secret letters and receiueth his crowne from the Pope Hee l Geneb p. 882. absolueth the Princes and people from the oath of subiection which they had taken to the Emperour and commandeth them not more holily but traiterously to cleaue to Rodulphus and decreeth that all m 15. q. 6. Nos mē were absolued from obedience to him whom the Pope should excommunicate The n Wigor Ann. 5. E. Ann. 1100. Princes and Bishops fortifie the Alpes against the Emperour who was in Italie Howbeit o Cran. M. 5. 15 ex annalibus knowing of this treason by the Bishop of Auspurge his friend that sought him out in Italie he returned by Aquileia and gathered an armie against Rodulph After p Fri. ges Fr. 1. 7. much bloodshed and that the Emperor could get no fauour of the Pope against Rodulph but was againe excommunicated the q Trith Hirs p. 98. 99. Emperour in a Councel at Brixia setteth vp another Pope and deposeth Gregorie as a firebrand of sedition c. as a Necromancer and one vsing familiar spirits to get the papacie c. The Pope excommunicateth with a curse terrible enough the Emperour his Pope and Councell But the Emperour pursuing his warre r Cran. Metro 5. 16. Rodulph is wounded and before his death with griefe and sighing complaineth of them that had induced him to periurie and to seeke his masters crowne In his ſ Fris ges F. 1. 2 roome Hermanus was elected against the Emperour by the Popes commandement The t Crantz Met. 5. 17. Emperour goeth with an armie into Italie and in Rome inuesteth his Antipope and is crowned by his Pope Gregorie flieth and renueth the excommunication At u Trith Hirs p. 108. Mogunce in a great Synode Gregorie is deposed againe and all of them sweare obedience to the Pope called Clement the same yeare died Gregorie at Salerna when * Wigor Anno 1106. Mat. Paris p. 11. he had confessed to a Cardinall that he had troubled the Church by the perswasion of the diuell and sent to absolue the Emperour and all Christian people quicke and dead the Clergie and laitie This x Geneb Gregorie is said to worke diuers miracles and to haue the gift of prophecie but falsly For y Abb. Vrsp p. 223. ex Bruone when he so farre arrogated vnto himselfe to be a prophet that he did cry out of the deske at Easter esteeme me not for Pope but pull me from the Altar if the Emperor die not before Whitsontide he hired some by treasonable practises to kill him at his prayers in the Church a Mat. Paris p. 10. He also prophecied of the death of a false King meaning Henry the Emperor but that yeere Rodulph the false King that he had set vp died b Abb. Vrsp p. 222. In his time the whole world was moued He c Geneb p. 881. excommunicated the King of Polonia and the d Epit. Blond 2. 3. Emperor of Constantinople which was the cause of great stirres In e Mat. Pari. p. 8. Geneb 887. 886. 888. his time and by reason of the contentions which hee stirred vp the state of the Church was lamentable the Priests were of most vile conditions and the people despised holy things The Turkes preuaile in the East The f Fasc Temp. order of the Carthusian Monkes of a most rigorous abstinence from flesh began because of the apparition of a dead man in his funerals For those Papists g Deut. 18.11 are great consulters with the dead which was forbidden in the law of God These are Ebeonites in abstaining from flesh Victor the third corrupted h Frisin Chr. 7.1 the watch men with money Anno 1087. entred the citie was consecrated in the night He i Geneb p. 189. condemned the Emperour by his excommunication
of diuels and holde of all foule spirits and a cage of euery vncleane and hatefull bird The reasons of this fearefull iudgement are first a cap. 18.3 because she made all nations to drinke of the wine of the wrath of her fornications by diuerse interdictions execrations exactions tumults treasons rebellions murthers massacres c bringing greiuous calamities vpon such as refused to bee subiect vnto the idolatrie superstitions and other filthie constitutions of that policicie or citie Secondly because the kings of the earth haue committed fornication with her giuing their power to be executioners of her fornication which is the cause why the holy people depart from the vngodly commaundements of them both Thirdly because the Marchants of the earth are waxed rich of the abundance of such things which were gained by the marchandise of the word of God and of the kingdome of heauen c. which were sold of her pleasures as pleased her to bestow them For now were sold both Sacraments and Church and heauen They doe also abound in pleasures Now because of this abundant riches and fatnes of the great and princely Marchants followeth as a third argument of this riders confidence namely a publike proclamation to all sorts of greedy people to take away the liuings of the popish Clergie be they great or small And to this purpose b cap. 19.17.18 Saint Iohn saith I saw an Angel stand in the sunne that is openly in all mens fight who cryed with a loud voyce by preaching and teaching and saying it is lawfull to all the fowles that did flie by the middest of heauen euen all couetous hungrie and needy persons which were in estimation with Princes c. to gather themselues together vnto the supper of the great God which he had prepared by the hands of the popish prouiders and builders who had cooked their liuings for gentlemens mouthes c. That they may eate the flesh euen the fatte liuings of such as were aduanced in the world as Kings and the flesh of high captaines namely the Cardinals and Abbots c. who now became Generalles of warres c. Contrarily on the other side the deputies of the Dragon the diuel namely c cap. 19.19 the beast the popish policy and the Kings the tenne principalities which inhabited the two third parts of the earth formerly subiect to the Romane Empire and their hast of iudges inquisitors secular arme of familiars executioners and souldiers c. gathered themselues together to make warre against the word of God which sate vpon the horse and against his armie all those faithfull people which did stand for the authority and sense of the Scriptures The successe of this bloudie fight is begun in this chapter but finished afterwards and is that the lambe and they that are on his side though first a cap. 13.10 ouercome yet by patience in the ende doe ouercome the Kings that warre against him For the beast b cap. 19.20 which consisted of the Romane policie the Hierarchie with the Princes their aides was taken so conuicted by the equitie of the cause of innocentes that they were able but onlie to answere like a rauenous beast viz to gnashe vpon the saintes c. With the beast is also taken the false Prophet which deceaued the world with lying reuelations to wit the Friers Monkes Popes which gloried in this kinde of vanitie and all their subtile and scholasticall sophistrie profited not but was sifted and confuted so effectually as that they were not able to make it appeare to be the truth yea that false Prophet is taken which wrought false miracles and lying signes before the beast the Princes whereby he deceiued them that receiued the beasts marke his superstition and armes and deceiued them that worshiped his Image esteeming the Hierarchie as a God All their iugling is knowne and detested The meanes by which the false Prophet is taken is the c cap. 20.1 restraining the diuell the lying spirit in the mouth of wicked prophets and by the setting vp of true iustice according to the word of God In the prophecie of the diuels captiuitie first the person is shewed by whose ministrie it is done who is said to be d cap. 18.1 and 20.1 The Angel that came downe from heauen hauing great power to declare the power of almightie God Secondly are shewed the instruments which he vsed in this waightie worke first The key of the bottomlesse pit namely the true and faithfull opening of the doctrine of hell and damnation as it is set downe in the word of God farre different if not contrarie to the doctrine of hell and purgatorie c. as it is deliuered by Antichrist Secondly he hath a great chaine in his hand that is * Psal 149.8.9 the doctrine of the iudgements of God as it is written different from that which Antichrist doeth teach of binding and loosing Now by these two meanes the Lord togither working mightily a cap. 20.2 he apprehended the Dragon that is manifestly prooued that the superstition of the Gentils brought into the Christian Church by the Popes was abhominable This Dragon was the olde serpent euen the same that by his subtiltie b Gen. 3.1 c. beguiled Eue and now againe by lying signes and reuelations and by sophisticall schoole-learning deceiueth the world Hee is the Diuell and not the spirit of God in the mouthes of popish Prophets and Sathan an aduersarie alwaies an enemie to the good of mankinde especially to the Saints in their prophecie now reuiuing the persecutions which their ancestors the Gentiles and Arians vsed against the truth This wicked spirit of the Antichristian prophets is bound by restraint by the power of God and c cap. 20.3 cast into the bottomlesse pit all men assuring themselues that the spirit of popish prophets is the diuell of hell who now is shut vp and sealed that he should deceiue the people no more but that al the sleights of Antichrist should bee as manifest as was the madnesse of d 2. Tim. 3.8.9 Iannes and Iambres The iudgement also vpon the beast and the false prophet which are the whole bodie of Antichrist is that e cap. 19.20 they both were cast aliue into the lake of fire burning with brimstone not onely knowne to belong to hell but in the meane time seeing plagues like vnto those of Sodome For the Princes henceforth doe beginne to f cap. 17.16 hate the whore for her inuentions wil-worships and idolatries c. and make her desolate forsaking her and naked taking from her her costly ornaments and eate her flesh by taking away her large reuenewes and burne her with fire like Sodom in the end of her iudgements The time of which destruction appeareth by the computation of the raigne of Antichrist namely 1260. yeres from the time of Pelagius the angel of the bottomlesse pit to bee neere the yeare of Christ 1820. As touching the restoring
purgatory and deliuering of the dead from paine which doctrine the Popes inuented This beast doth warre vpon the Martyres of Christ not onely as barbarously as wilde beasts doe rampe vpon men but also as wickedly as if the diuell himselfe came from the bottomlesse pit in his owne person to deuoure the godly The successe of this warre is doubtfull For first f 7. the beast doth ouercome the witnesses and after that it selfe is first to be frighted of which is spoken in this chapter and then to be vexed captiued and killed of which the text hath been partly interpreted in the former chapter in the general view of this period the rest will be seene in the next chapter to wit how he is vexed The victory of the beast appeareth both by the death of these two witnesses whom the beast doth kill and also by his triumphing ouer them Concerning their death the beast will haue it so that a cap. 11.8 their corpes shall be killed in the streetes or open places of the great citie of their Antichristian policie For as at this time so from hence they burne the Martyres in their greatest and most famous cities But the citie where this cruelty is committed is not a place where any good people be that may lament the persecutions of the Saints b Theod. 4. 22. as when the Arians persecuted the Catholikes But this city is it which spiritually in a figuratiue speech borrowed from the most abhominable cities and places mentioned in the Scriptures is called Sodom because the two witnesses are assaulted for the pollution of their spirits as the Sodomits did striue to pollute mens bodies and because reprouing the filthines of the Antichristian citizens they found no more fauour then c Gen. 19.9 Lot did in Sodom It is also called Egypt for their d Ezech. 16.26 vnspeakeable idolatry and for the spirituall seruitude that all men were in to the papacy worse then the Egyptians or Isralites were to Pharaoah but especially because the Popes had commaunded the Bishops and inquisitors to kill all godly preachers and hearers and by name the two witnesses as e Exod. 1.16 Pharaoh commaunded the Midwiues to kill the male children of the Iewes It is also called Egypt because the message of Iesus Christ in the mouthes of the two witnesses was there despised as f Exod. 5.2 Moses and Aron were dispised by Pharaoh when they made mention of the Lord c. Moreouer the place is said to be where our Lord also was crucified to signifie that the same policy that crucified Christ did also kill his Martyrs and by name these two witnesses Thus distinguishing this beast from the Turkes and shewing that howsoeuer the popish religion in name is distinguished from the Romane heathen crueltie yet in deede spiritually it is the same without material difference The manner of their killing farre exceedeth the manner of their ancestors the Arians whose image they be For the g Soc. 2. 23. Theod. 2. 14. Arians did hide the bodies of them whom they had killed but here they of the people and kindreds a cap. 11.9 and tongues and gentiles doe see or gaze vpon their corpes the better to satisfie their cruell eyes Not for an houre but for three dayes and a halfe that is three yeares and a halfe their barbarous bloody eyes were vnsatiable Yet like Arians or rather like the Gentiles whose image they be b Theod. 2. 14. Eus 5. 1. â— p. 62. they shall not suffer their carcasses to be put in Momments Afterwards in triumph the inhabitants of the earth euen the people of all the christian earth whose gouernors more regarded the possession of the earth then the getting of heauen c cap. 11.10 reioyce ouer them whom they haue slaine as their fathers d Theod. 4. 22. the Arians did ouer the Catholikes and they be glad and send gifts one to another in token of happie victory For these two prophets after the example of Moses and Elias and the rest of the prophets by the word of the Lord e 1. King 8.17 vexed them that dwell vpon the earth by reprouing their carnall religion earthly policies and worldly sinfull liues And thus farre the beast getteth the vpper hand Howbeit the cause of the Gospel maintained by these witnesses is reuiued For notwithstanding this triumph f cap. 11.11 after three dayes and a halfe that is three yeeres and a halfe the spirit of life comming from God shall enter into them which were killed and they by the meanes of them whom God shall raise vp to defend their cause shall as it were stand vp vpon their feete The effect which followeth when their cause is againe set on foote is that great feare shall come vpon them which being their enemies did see or gaze vpon their corpes First they feare because their cause on the contrary part was so much affected by their friends and so earnestly pursued to their holy praise and eternall commendations that whereas the beast had accursed them as diuels to the bottomlesse pit they are as truly honored for Martyres as if g cap. 11.12 they heard a great voyce from heauen euen from all godly men saying vnto them come vp hither and receiue the crowne prouided for holy Martyres And hereupon they being the true members and Martyrs of Iesus Christ who after his sufferings and death did ascend vp to heauen in a cloud are acknowledged through him in soule to ascend vp to him as truely as if they had ascended in a cloud And whereas Christ a Act. 1.9 did ascend in the presence of his Apostles and friends these doe ascend that euen their very enemies do see them accompted to be gone to heauen The second cause of their feare is by reason that b cap. 11.13 at the same houre or instant when this due regard is giuen to these two witnesses which were thus wickedly murthered there was a great earthquake and emotion in the hearts and hands of many mooued by the indignitie of their death And this earthquake and emotion bred this effect that both one tenth part or kingdome of the great citie of popish policie fell from them and also that in those troubles called by the name of an earthquake are slaine to the number of 7000 that is very many But are therefore called 7000. because the beast doth blaspheme them that brought these troubles vpon him accompting those Papists and Priests which worshipped the beast and were slaine in the emotion as the 7000. which bowed not the knee to Baall and were persecuted by Ahab Another effect of the reuiuing of their cause is that c cap. 11.13 the remnant the other nine kingdoms of the polititians which held with the beast are also sore feared euen as the wicked that fled when none followed and as the souldiers of the Arian d Soc. 5. 14. Maximus fled for feare vpon the rumour