BABYLON IS FALLEN Ierimie 20. 10. For I heard their aylings of many and how they wacht for my halting saying It may he that he is deceiued LONDON Printed by Edward Allde 1597. TO THE RIGHT honorable Robert Lord Deuoreux Earle of Essex REading of late my Lord a Chapter of Esdras folding vp in a misticall and darke discoursâ— a liuing representation of a long time wherof the most is past and soâ—e little to come I thought it no lost labour to take my pen and vnfolde the same that therâ—n we may beholde which naturally all desire to see as well the issues of thinges to come as what is past or is in being and therafter to qualifie and moderate our hopes and call our troubled thoughts which otherwise runne with raines on neck within the circle and lâ—mitation bounded and drawen from aboue And finding this prophesie written by a man greatlye beloued of God and therto which rare is a Princes fauourite high in grace with a King of Persia I presumed the rather to commend my labour to your honorable L. as vpon whome God hath vouchsafed like great and rare graces Suffiseth that your Honor reade it greater fauor Esdras seekes not He labors not to praise or please which now a daies findes many frends but to admonish and forewarne which fataly findes none til be to late He feares not the learned and noble reprouer of supposed Predictions for he hath heard him honor the Prophesies of Holy writ wherin him-selfe hath no lesse honor gotten then giuen His other enemies hath wild me to conceal and to reserne them to a more open hearing But Esdras is at the next leafe my Lord and craues your Honors patience for an hower BABYLON is fallen Esdras 4. Chap. II. Then I sawe a dreame Verse 1. AFter this the Prophet sawe a vision concerning the beginning continuance and fall of th' Empire and supremacye of Rome And this vision was she wed him in the dayes of Artaxerxes King of Persia about 400. yeares before the firste stone of her Empire was laide In. Caesar And behold there arose from the Sea an Eagle And there arose among the Nations the fierce and fearefull Kingdome and Empire of Rome seene in vision by the Prophet Daniel some few yeares before Which had 12. fethered winges Wherein should arise and reigne 12. Emperors which shuld spred their power like winges ouer all the earth in great feare sitting on it And it seemed good vnto the Prophet to touch by an intellection these 12. only both for they are a Lewrye sufficient to argue the whole suite of Emperors which did arise and raigne in her as also because they only were natiue Romans descended of the Iulii Seruii Saluii Flauii c. vnlike therein vnto the rest which were all or almost all like changeable stuffe of diuers colours so of diuers Nations Their rising continuance and end is toucht in their proper place And three heads Her three heads are three Kingdomes fore-ordained to vpholde and maintayne the power of her pride when al her wings and feathers should faile her And are reserued to execute her last will and finishe her funerals as shal be here after more at full declared And I saw and beholde she Verse 2. spread her winges ouer all the earth and all the windes of the ayre gathered themselues and blew on her By the windes are meant her prosperous and happie successe in all her proceedings And of necessitie it must goe well with her whom euery winde doth blowe to good Witnes the limits of her territories from Ganges to Gades and from the Scithian sea vnto the Cape of hope as testifieth one of her own which saith that she extended her tents to the borders of the Ocean and the feare of her name vnto the heauens And I saw that out of her fethers Verse 3. grew vp other contrarie fethers but they became litle fethers and smale And the Prophet saw that among the Princes and gouernors which ruled in her ther arose and grew vp certain Kings which were contrary vnto her marking such as intended to root vp the crown and dignitie of her Empire to plant themselues therin and their house for euer But their thoughts preuailed not for as the verse concludeth their power waned and they perishedlike the reste what those contrary Kings were their number names attempts and end shal be deliuered in their place But her heads rested and the Verse 4. head in the midst was greater then th' other heads yet rested it with them But the three kingdomes fore-apointed t' accomplish and finish the wickednes of this great Citie were quiet and at rest as not yet during the reigne of her fethers conceaued and brought forth And the Prophet obserued that th' one of those Kings was greater in power then both his fellowes yet rested it with them Concerning these three Kings their names their greatnes and al that appertaineth shal be spoken in due place Then I saw and behold the Verse 5. Egle flew with her fethers and reigned vpon earth and ouer them that dwelt therin And I saw that al things vender Verse 6. heauen were subiect vnto her and no man spake against her no not one creature vpo earth And the Prophet beheld that this proud citie flew with her Emperors and Legions ouer al her neighbors fubiecting al the dwellers on earth vnder her in such sort as there was not a Nation or People to be found vnder heauen that was not either rooted out by her or inforced to receiue their Gouernors from her And I saw that the Egle stood Verse 7. vp vpon her clawes and spake to her fethers saying Watch not altogether sleepe Verse 8. euery one in his own place and watch by course But let the heads be preserued Verse 9. for the last And the Prophet obserued that this powerful Citie in the daies wherein ouergorged with pride she stood vpon terms ofher counsell and armes tooke such order for in euill she was very methodicall that her Kings and Kaysers shuld neither sleepe nor watch that is neither perishe nor rule all at once but rise in a successiue course as in the verses following is manifested And she further commanded that the tâ—â—ree last Kingdoms ordeined to conclude the number of her sinnes should take their ease and not awake till their time appointed Neuerthelesse I sawe that the Verse 10. voice went not out of her heads but from the middest of her bodye As hee that yndertakes a dangerous leape doth first retire the better t' aduance his strength so to bound fairlye ouer the darke vnderstanding of these wordes we must of necessitie looke back and carrye before vs the true birth and perfect nature of this Empire which the Prop het Daniel in his vision designeth vnder the forme of a ten-horned beast signifying thereby that it should be a power vpheld by a succession of many Kinges for
resemblance to be obserued is his power set forth in these words And he reigned ouer all the earth For after he had subdued France broken the heart of Germany made his name knowen to England he returned into Italiâ— ouerthrew the great Protector of the liberty Sr. Pompey and his host in the fields of Pharsalie And like the fire of heauen as one of her Poets saith with such celeritie drew after the reliques of that stricken faction both in Africa and Spaine that in two yeres space he brought to pas that nether citie nor creature durst opeÌ„ against him which done he ascended into Italie and took vpon him as Lord therof triumphing in the spoiles of the world and the blood of his country And knowing that the name of a King which he so much affected was odious to the quality and nature of that People inuaded the gouernment vnder the maske of a perpetuel Dictator preseruing therunder for he was wise aboue al the fethers some hope of recouering their late slaine liberty but indeed establishing a kingdom from which it could neuer redeeme it selfe againe And when it had reigned the Verse 13. end of it came and the place therof appeered no more But this new-borne prosperitie as is the nature of all this worldes felicitie lasted but a while for in the third yere of his Dictatorship he was saine in the Senat by the conspiration of 24. of whom the most both in his own so dangerous is the name of trust and other mens opinions were thought his cheefest frendes And thus was this fether blowen awaye after it had inioyed his pleasure 56. yeres and raigned 3. A man for letters armes and counsell famous far-aboue all his succeeders and in discreete bounty and Princely clemencye rare vertues in such a fortune without controuersie surpassing all Princes made of earth So the next stoode vp and Verse 14. reigned and it continued a long time but after it had reigned his end also came and as the first it appeered no more Next after him arose Octauius the adopted sonne of Julius otherwise also neere him in blood as being the sonne of his neece Accia who hauing taken reuenge vpon the murtherers of his father and obtained in all his warres forreine and at home triumphed Lord ouer all adding to his fathers pomp which he had bought so deer th' honors of Parens patriae and Augustus And this fether continued as the Prophet saw a long time for it reigned Triumuir with Anthonie and Lepidus two yeres as Duumuir with Anthonie alone ten yeres and then deuouring his fellow in a Sea-fight at Actium reigned al alone 44. yeres But after it had reigned his end also came and as the Prophet concludeth he discended like the first and appered no more For by the treason of Liuia his wife impatient to tarie th'inthronizing of her sonne as is the nature of ambition the nerer the goal the faster it runnes his lingring soul was taken from him at Nola in the 70. and sixth yere of his transgression when he had reigned 20. lesse Then there came a voice vnto Verse 15. it and said Hear thou that hast kept Verse 16. th' earth so long this I say vnto thee before thou beginst t' appeere no more Ther shal none after thee attaine Verse 17. vnto thy time nor yet to the halfe therof That we may know ther is no God like vnto the Highest who only holdeth the measures and times of al thinges in his hand the Prophet foresheweth that none of the twelue should continue like to Octauius nor yet attaine vnto halfe his time which according to the word of the Lord was accomplished for his sonne Tiberius of al the rest reigned longest and longer by eight yeres then any of the rest and yet could not attaine to halfe the time of his father which discended before him That God only might be honored in al his workes and iustified when he spealâ—â—â— Then arose the third and Verse â—â— reigned as th' other afore and it appeered no more also Then stept vp Tiberius and reigned in great abhomination as did his fathers before him but after a while he discended also and appeered no more No al his skil in sortilege and wisdom mathematical wherunto he had sold him-self from hisyouth could ether fore-tel or fore-warn him of Caius his nephew by whome he was poisoned in the 70. and 8. yere of his mortalitie and three and twentith of his raigne And so came it to al th 'others Verse 19 one after an other so that euery one reigned and then appeered no more In like soâ—â— saith the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 al the rest which of the 12. remained sucâ—â—â—â—â—â—ely â—se reigne and perish Of whome the first in blasphemy exâ—â—â—â—â—g â—â—ligula was 〈◊〉 by the Captaine of his guard after he had sat in the chaire of the scorneful 29. yeres and in the throne of his fathers almost 4. The second only wise in â—uil was poysoned â—laudins by his incestuous wife his neece Agriâ—â—ina in the 64 yere of his 〈◊〉 and 14. of his reigne The third a monster deformed in life Nero. in mariage and end his life scornefull to the height of his fathers his mariage thrice more detestable his end more vnnatural then any of thâ—â—rs for after he had reigned in sinne fourteene yeres and sinne in him eighteene more fel by his own sword into the graue of his fathers and in him des 〈◊〉 the house of the Iulâ—â— The fourth was of an other extraction â—alba but not of a better descended of th' antient 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 rose vp laâ— but perished early for he was 60. and 3. yeres olde before he tasted th' Empire which he got and lost in 7. moneths The 〈◊〉 like wise of a new house but â—thâ— of th' old building got possession by the bloud of his Predecessor and by spilling his owne in three moneths and od daies lost it againe after he had walkte in the abhomination of his fathers eight and thirtie yeres The sixt also was new and olde in nothing saue gluttony excelling his fellowes Vitellius thing saue gluttony excelling his fellowes in life and death like filthie descended in the eight moneth of his tyrannie after he had wearied himselfe in the pleasures of Capriâ—â—um whâ—â— first his youth was branded 7. and 10. yeres After him arose the seuenth who Vespatian bought the crowne with the bloud of his Mr. and ware it in base couetousnes ten yeres but then was likewise blowen down hauing fulfild the pleasures of 59. more The eight was he which executed the Titus vengeance due to the great murtheres th' earthly Hierusalem who in the 40. yere of his pleasure after he had reigned 2. yeres and so many moneths was also blowen down not without the suspected treason of his brother and successor The ninth and last and if it 〈◊〉 possible Domitian the worst of all who
after he had reigned in the lust of his Fathers 15. yeres and liued therin 30. more was murthered by the Gentlemen of his chamber and beaten downe after the rest which descended before him So that euery one of them as this verse Prophesied reign'd and then appeered no more Then I looked and behold Verse 20. in processe of time the fethers that followed stood vp on the right side that they might rule also some of them ruled but within a while they appeered no more And the Prophet obserued and saw after the twelue were descended the Emperors that followed to rise that they might rule also and as many of them as rose on the right side that is in the strength and power of the twelue did in theyr place according to the proclamation published in the eight verse spred their winges and reigne also 〈◊〉 Nerâ—â— Traian Adrian Antoninus Marcus Commodus Pertiâ—â—x Iulian. Seuerus Caracalla Macrinus Heliogabalus Alexander Maximinus and the rest to the third Valentinian Inwhose daies the power of th' Eagle was so wounded by th'incursion and saccage of the two first contrary fethers that she could neuer after recure herselfe again but lay sick kept the chamber some ten generations which also lasted but twice so many yeres to the rising of Momillus in whome descended al that was left of the Empire name and title for euer So that al the fethers which the Prophet beheld in proces of time to follow the 12. and in their strength their sinne and crueltie to defile the earth namely from DoÌ„mitian to the third Valentinian were 50. and 3. Kings Al which in a while as this verse concludeth vanished like the 12. and appeared no more And some of them were set Verse 21. vp but ruled not As Vindex Piscenius Niger Albinus Diadumeâ—â—s Maximus Balbinus 30. Tirantâ— Firmus Saturninus Proculus Bonosus Aper Eugenius Quintillus Rufinus Constantinus non Magnus Heraclianus and others as in the description of times may more plainly appeare After this I looked and behold Verse 22. the twelue fethers appeered no more Vnder the 12. wings or fethers for both betoken one are comprehended by an intellection as in the first verse al which in the strength of the 12. followed from Domitian to the third Valentinian who perished in the yere 455. after he had reigned 30. and liued 5. more And thus according to promise made in the first verse is presented a tragical succession of al the Egles wings from her first fether Iu Caesar in whom the power of her pride began to the third Valentinian with whom it ended who after they had shewed themselues and trodden down the earth 500. and 30. yeres they departed for euer the stage of this world and al their pomp and glory descended and appeered no more And here my pen like to th' earth which being deliuered from her oppressors dyd thirst to be refreshed so hating ouercome this part of her talk did think to find some ease but in their hopes they are both deceiued for after the Egles fethers decended the sorrowes of the earth increased more and more and ther arose as seldom comes the better a race of Sodomitical vnnatural Kings who vnder the visar of Successors to Peter vicars to the Lamb so far excelled the whordoms of their fathers the Emperors whose Vicars and Successors indeed they are that they inforced the Highest to poure his determined vengeance vpon the children of men Who according to the iudgement foredenounc'd Reuel 16. by his seruant Iohn Poured out his wrath vpon the Sea that it became like to the blood of the dead that is to say vpon the great Citie and Empres of the world by scourg after scourg as how often and greuous in the vew of her contrary fethers may appeere so at the full auenging himself that there was not a drop of Roman blood to be founde on earth these many hundreth yeres And as the defection and vnâ—â—annes was generall so was the punishment for as the Apostle in the same chap propheseth The wrath of the highest was poured Reuel 16. out vpon the riuers and fountaines likewise and they were turned into blood also that is vpon all People and Nations whatsoeuer in such sort as ther is not a kingdome this day on earth to be found that hath not bin since the rising of the beast cut downe by sword and yeelded her stock to strang griffs as by the bloody Registers of euery perticular Nation doth so cleerely appeer as if it were written with the beames of the Sunne And as the daies were euil aboue measure so they exceeded in darknes and ignorance that my pen hath no lesse â—roble to be deliuered of the rest of â—er labor then had the then-dwellers on earth to indure the paines of their oppression and trauel but to take into my way againe the Prophet addeth Nor the two wings Figuring by the two wings the two first contrary fethers Alariâ—us and 〈◊〉 The first arose in the 19. of 〈◊〉 predecessor to the third Valentinian And was the first that slewe the great Citie the murtheres of all the world measuring her by famin swoord and fire according to the square whereby shee had iudged others almost 12. hundreth yeeres Which wofull end oâ— rather beginning of her woful end made a certaine antient friend of hers bewaiâ—ing the night wherein shee Hierom. was smitten to cry Nocte Moab capta est nocte cecidâ—â— murus eius quis cladem illius noctis quis funera fando explicet And when this feather had thus troden downe the pride of the Eagle in the yeere 410. a 1157 yeeres after Romulus had raised her walles with the blood of his brother proceeded to â—p vp her bowels spoiling and burning her principall partes Latium Campania Apulia Lucania Calabâ—â—a wher raging in his highest thoughtes deuising how to spred his glory ouer all was by suddeine death blowen away his place appeered no more Th' other arose in the 27 of the thirde Valentinian in greater feare then did the first deuouring at his entrance al that rest of Italiâ— which Alaricus had left vneaten 〈◊〉 Vâ—â—oâ—a 〈…〉 ia Concordia with al the now 〈…〉 Venice but by the 〈◊〉 dealing of the deceitful King whose 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 then Pope Leo was 〈◊〉 to 〈…〉 great Citie and to depart 〈…〉 left as a wast stinking in her 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and so repassing the Daâ—â—◠〈◊〉 into his Sâ—ythia againe 〈◊〉 the yâ—â—â— following in top of his fulnes was in a 〈◊〉 found strangled in his owne blood 〈◊〉 into he was disolued by th' 〈…〉 vse of a wedding 〈◊〉 and a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 And thus perished this sonne of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the scourg of God and 〈…〉 men for so he caled him self and which not only the fiers of Italie but his very shape may wel iustifie for he is 〈…〉 a man of litle stature square 〈…〉 litle eyes thin heir'd 〈…〉 great and prominent his color 〈◊〉 and
gypson-like And ther was no more vpon Verse 2â— the Egles body but two heads that rested and sixe wings And ther were no more triumphing fethers to be found on her for al her gloriâ—â—â— power was decended to two weak and feeble heads which for they reigned not in the strength of their predecessors the Prophet day 〈…〉 〈◊〉 calruling fethers but resting heads Th' one stept in th' east at Constantinople Martian whom Gensâ—rick the third contrary fether not long before had dishonorably taken prisoner Th'â—ther in the west at Rauenna taken Valâ—ntin with such a Lethargy that he nother heard 〈◊〉 the massacre of Vngarie committed by Hunns not the loud and pitiful 〈◊〉 of his cheefest prouinces Spaine and Africa deuoured by Gothes and 〈◊〉 〈…〉 and deep lament of Gaul and Britanie ouerflowen with Frankâ— and Angles people fronâ— beyond the Rhone who not only with their blood and posteritie but with their name also haue stain'd both kingdoms to this day So as the Prophet wel concludeth ther was no more to be found vpon th'Egles bodie but theâ—e two drowsie heads which rested and six contrary fethers viz. Gens 〈…〉 1 〈◊〉 2 Thâ—â—doâ—â—â—k 3 Tâ—tilas 4 The Longobands 5 And th' 〈…〉 of which in the verses following 6 Then saw I also the two Verse 24. wings deuided them-selues froÌ„ the six and remained vnder the head that was vpon the right side but the four continued in their place And the Prophet saw that two of the six deuided theÌ„-selues in counsel manner of proceeding from th' other four for wher as the four sought to be Lords of Rome in fee resoluing in their thoughts t' extinguish the name maiestie of her Empire for euer these 2. were of an other mind for they agreed to remain vnder the countenance fauor of th'egles right head coteÌ„â—ed to wear a crown tho with â—eaue of it meaning by the right head th' east Empire so called in regard it was far stronger in power then the west whose broad-spreading honor as in the verse fore-going was now become a staru'ling onlie his name and appellation continued some ten successions viz. 1 Valentinian 2 Max 〈…〉 3 Auitus 5 Malorianus 4 Sâ—â—eâ—â—s 6 Antheâ—ius 7 Olybrâ—us 8 Gly 〈…〉 9 Iulius Nepos 10 Momillus Which al also vanished as before is toucht in 20. yeres And th'Egles pomp which was at ful in Augustus was enterred with Augustulus for so was Momyllus caled and with him descended the name and title of Imperiâ—m Romanâ—â— for euer And the two wings thus deuided in pollicie from the foure were Genserick and Theodorick Of which the first trained into Italy by treason of th'Empres entred Româ— 43. yeeres after she had bin humbled by the Gothes and led into cap 〈…〉 al her 〈◊〉 sor and as is the fatal reward of such offenders the traitres also her-self And after 14. daies thus loaden departed into his Africa againe wher-ouer he reigned in peace and pleasure 51. yeres Th' other hauing obtained of th'East-head the scepter of Italie according to his patent proceeded and got it by Conquest from Odoacer But after he had reigned 494. ther-ouer 30 yeres desceÌ„ded also leauing his fame and kingdom to his posteritie hauing fulfild his pleasures two and fortie more But this counsel pleased not th' other 4. for as the verse concludeth they remained in other thoughts drifting in their place to rise and reigne without leaue or license of any So I looked and behold the Verse 25. vnder-wings thought to set vp them-selues and to haue the rule And as the Prophet beheld the four contrary fethers which were left he saw how they also stroue in their hearts to establish theÌ„-selues but like a dream their purpose vanished in the next immediat verses following Then vvas ther one set vp Verse 26. but shortlye it appeered no more Then arose Odoacer the first of the four leading a people begotten in the bowels inmost parts of the North who hearing of the deuided and weak estate of the Empire was encoraged to moue froÌ„ beyond 476. the Danub in much fear blood descended into Italie slew her last Lord and Emperor Momylius Angustulus destroyed the name of her Consuler dignitie and blotted out for euer the memory of her holy Senat the murtherer of Romulus their first King and Iulius their first Kayser And not daring as base begotten to put on the presence and stile of an Emperor which name this fether fatalie resisted contented him-selfe with the title of King of Italie But his glory indured not for after he had reigned eighteene yeres Theodorick as in the 24 verse took his kingdom from him by force and his life by fraud and he descended and appeared no more And the second vvas sooner Verse 〈◊〉 gone then the first After him arose Totilas the second fether of the four by birth a Spaniard by blood a West-gothe whose fearefull fires burne in Rome to this day but this daies were more in troble and as the Prophet fore-saw in number fewer then Odoacer from his first rising alway in armes and after many hopes and as many dispaires was at last put to flight by Narses whom the East head had made gouernor of Italie and flying was wounded so deadlye that assone as he gat his 〈◊〉 he lost his life after he had worne the crowne if to fight for a crown be to weare a crown 11. yeres Then I beheld and loe the Verse 28. two that remained did think also in them-selues to reigne So as of al th' eight ther remained but th' Longobards and th' intestine faction which thought also in them-selues to reigne The first inflamed by the letters of Narsâ—s and with the goodnes of Italie left their northern denns and like a feareful storme fel down vpon it and in two yeres ouerthrew it crowning their leader Alboinus King therof at Milan who after he 570. had spred him-self ouer the great Citie and ouer al her Italie three yeres and a halfe was murthered by the treason of Rosimond his wife leauing his kingdom but not his honor to his successors who possessed it for 24. generacions The eight and last and of al other the most dangerous was a home conspiracie plotting to raise from the dead the antient long-before buried gouernment of Rome to reedifie her S. P. Q. R. And to root out the Priestly prehe 〈…〉 and Church-superiority which had so 〈◊〉 ningly eaten and destroyed the seculer Which faction after it had taken fire in the hearts of many and secretly burned a long time at length brake out like the fury and violence of a risen stream so as it might not be quencht but with much blood and exceeding labor as in the one and thirteth verse appeereth But whilst they so thought Verse 29. beholde ther awaked one of the heads that were at rest which was in the midst for that was greater then the two And whilst they thus thought
the hornes betoken Kings and the number of 10. comprehends all be they neuer so many as al numbers are contained vnder 10. or made of their reduplication be they neuer so infinit And addeth further that his teeth were of iron his nails of brasse inferring therby th'unresistable force of his legions and Leaders And proceding saith that ther arose amongst his Kings one of an exceeding strange nature signifying by that one a strange race and succession of Princes far differing in shape forme of regiment from al their predecessors obtaining dominion not byiron teeth and brasen nails as did th' Emperors which arose before them but by disceit and by a mouth which spake presumptuous things against the most High blaspheming his name his Tabernacle and them that dwel in heauen who by hidden and vnknown force should subdue the third part of the world meaning al Europe with her Princes By which deliniation it is euident that the Holy-ghost accounteth the chalenged prerogatiue and supremacie of Rome al one power al one Empire whether it obtaine the spoile by force or by fraude that is by power of Emperors or craft of Popes who should be far vnlike them as Daniel him-selfe saith And he shal be Chap. 7. 24 vnlike to the first Mening in forme of claiming obtaining and mainteining Iurisdiction not in pride purpose and determination So as we may behold such an vnlikely likenes between them as was betweene the two Sisters of whome it is said facies non omnibusvna nec diuersatamen qualeÌ„ decet esse Sororum And thus much concerning the Prophet Daniels description of th' Empire of Rome whence we note that the same power which Daniel ther describeth by a beast with hornes teeth nails our Prophet here doth deliniat by an Egle with wings fethers and heads whose imperial wings after they were so clipt as she could no longer fly ouer al in her proper colors and stile of Roma triomfante deuised how by disceit she might vphold her throne for to be high was al her care and found nothing so fit as to disguise her self and chalenge prelation vnder the maske of Roma la Santa And this is it which this Verse teacheth that when the sinfull Citie saw her feathers so pluckt as the feare of her armes and forces might no longer flye into all kingdomes commanding them vnder the pà ine of Imperium Romanum Lying by meanes of this distres verye weake and in danger of faling her counsell and bodie politique deuised by lyes witchcrafte wherein was all her pleasure from her youth to restore the supremacye and honor of her name vnder the colour of Ecclesia Dei Wherin this race of presumptuous horns excelled the sinne of all the hornes that foretime ruled in her for they as in whom Satan dwelt but literally did but in open hostilitie fight against the highest setting before him a god made of a wicked man whose fathers bloud cryeth out for vengeance night and daye whose bedfellowe was Soror coniux and whose wife was id quod dicere nolo But this race of presumptuous and deceitfull Kinges as in whome Satan dwelleth spirituallye in a hidden treasure of blasphemy sets vp the Highest against himselfe and vnder the visar of the Church and the name of God blasphemeth his Sanctuary and the Lord thereof No meruaile then tho she and Syon be at ods for as golde can bodye it selfe with any mettall liquisiable latten excepted which notwithstanding in outward face and shew of all mettals is most like vnto it so no Church is more capitall enemie to the true Church then shee who in outward gesture grace and countenance is likest like the chaste and virgin spouse and is indeed a whore Then I numbred her contrary Verse 11. fethers and behold they were eight of them In the third verse of this Chapter the Prophet made mention of these contrary fethers which in their thoughts conspirde to raise their house with the ruins of Rome And heere proceedeth more perticularly to declare their number foretelling there should be eight of them whom we will heere call out by name that if occasion serue wee maye the better knowe them The first were West-gothes vnder the leading of Alaricus The second Hunns whose King was Attalas The third Vandals their head Genserick The fourth Odoacer The fift East-gothes their chiefe Theodorick The sixt Totilas bred in Spaine with such followers as for those times that Country yelded The seuenth Longobards with their guid Alboinus The eight and last a home conspiracie more to be fear'd as al included diseases are most dangerous then al the rest And altho many others besides these as Radagaisâ— th' Alani now called Almans the Burgonians conducted by Gundibald th' Vngers Saracens c. were al in their time as costly enemies to th' Empire as some of these yet none did humble the great Citie the mother of wickednes but these eight only And therfore the rest may not be allowed to sit at this table but may serue to iustifie the iudgment of the Beast which was thus wounded againe and stricken of al as she had wounded and strickenal And if in reading doubt arise how these eight fethers may be contrary to the Egle that is resisters of her power dominioÌ„ yet be fethers of the Egle that is mainteiners of the same The answer is that they were aduersaries and contrary vnto her as she stood vpon termes of Imperium or bisterrae but after she had chang'd her coppie and claimed supremacie vnder the cloake of Mater Ecclesia they were for the most mainteiners of â—â—â— pride and became drunke also with her worship as other Kings and Princes of th' earth And thus much for their number and names their seuerall attempts their prosperities and ende shal be presented in their place After this I saw and beholde Verse 12. vpon the right side there arose one fether and raigned ouer all the earth This fether here described is the first of the twelue namely J. Caesar who like an ill interpreter translated Senatum Populumque romanum into Câ—sarem Augustum Whose Image which in this verse is so liuely resembled consisâ—â—th of 2. featurs the first sheweth the manner of his rising in these words And behold vpon the right side there arose one feather Which serue in stead of art to discouer the very true lines and cast of his happines For the house of Cornelii was as eloquent as he and Marius doubtles as good a leader as he and Catilin as nobly borne as he and al these arose t' inuade the common-wealth and to translate it into a Kingdome as wel as he but none of them rose on the right side but he And thus much for the manner of this speech so we take this with-al that these words right side in their natural and proper intent do signifie as through al this chap. the surest and strongest side The second feature in this
beholde there awaked oâ—â— of the three Kingdoms appointed to finish end the wickednes of th'Egle figuring by this resting â—ead the new west-empire which 〈◊〉 of Supremacie the beast bestowed as hath bin alwaies his practise to runne with the strongest vpon Charles king of Fâ—ance and 〈◊〉 to Pepin the traiter This head is said to be awaked when it was first raysed which was in the yere 801. wherin it receaued his augustal robe his crown and stile viz. 〈◊〉 Augusto a Deo coronato magno 〈◊〉 Imperatori Romanorum vita victoria And the title of dignitie imperial which had laâ—en dead aboue 300 yeres was in this yere on Christmas day thus raised vp to life againe to the end it might defend the proceedings of the great adulteres and murderes of th' earth as by the forme of othe exhibited at his consecration appeereth In nomine Christi spondeo 〈◊〉 poâ—â—â—eor â—go Aâ— Imperator 〈◊〉 Deo 〈◊〉 Petro apostolo me protectorem ac defensorem fore huius Sanctâ— rom Ecclesiae in omnibus vtilit â—â—ibus qâ—â—tinus 〈◊〉 fultus fuero adiutorio pro-ut sciero poteroque In that this head is said to be in the midest is ment that it should be chosen from among the Nations and Kingdoms of the earth as by experience hath bin proued first from France then from diuers kingdoms and parts of Germany where it stil remaineth And that the feare and power of this head hath bin greater 〈◊〉 any other christian king or kingdom 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 not sufficiently read in the 〈◊〉 registers of euery Nation And I saw that the tâ—â—o Verse 30. heades were ioyned therewith By the two heads ar shadowed the two kingdoms of France Spaine whole vnhalowed leage the Proph 〈…〉 faith they shuld be ioyned with this middle-head and like three parts in one accord and agree together to 〈…〉 themselues their authority power before the Beast and for their Idol-she 〈…〉 fight against the Highest 〈…〉 the breath of his mouth they be scattered like the dust which the winde disper 〈…〉 And these aâ— the 3. heads mentioned in the first fourth and ninth verses of this chapter and ar therefore said to finish and determin the last end and wickednes of the whore because tho 〈◊〉 other kingdoms hate her and make her 〈◊〉 and naked and eat her flesh as England and others haue done yet these three heads shal loue her stil and to their dying day shal burne in delight with her but when those three and euery of them shal also forsake her ther shal not be found ether kingdom or creature vnder heauen that shal fal down and worship her And behold the middle head Verse 31. was turned with theÌ„ that were turned with it and did eat vp the two vnder wings which thought to reigne And the Prophet saw this middle head the head of euil impart his felowship to al Princes and kingdoms which desired to be in leage with it But my taske which hasteth to an end wil not suffer me now and here to sound this gulfe of Santa Liega suffiseth that for Syons sake the Prophet passing by doth point therat And the Prophet beheld that this middle head did deuoure and eat vp the vnder wings namely the power of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 bards the intestine faction which 〈◊〉 also to reigne The first by the sword of 〈◊〉 surnamed for his exceeding 〈◊〉 the great who at the command of Babylon his god ascended into 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 her King Desiderius prisoner and led him captiue into France and gâ—â—â— his kingdome to an other And 〈◊〉 vanished this seuenth contrarye feather after it had humbled the whore and spâ—â—d it selfe ouer al her quarters 200 and 4. yeres and the feare therof discended and it appeered no more Th' other first began in the 〈◊〉 of Gono th' Emperor who hauing 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of contrary opinion against Gregory the second for so the beast was 〈◊〉 folowed it so hoâ—â—ly that he brought his holines into such disgrace 〈◊〉 that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a desire in the hearts of many to 〈◊〉 their Prelat for a Prince and to 〈◊〉 their first antient forme of go 〈…〉 This desire thus beguÌ„ by time 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 al conspiration doth gathered strength aduentured but som-what to yong to check the Beast who by reason he was so 798. wel guarded by his foresaid head champion Charles easily neckt it Notwithstanding some 100. and 50. yeres after this vlcer now growen to a riper head vnder the practise of one Alberique and Octauian his sonne brake out a new and charg'd the Beast in so sharp a maÌ„ner as without dout he had receaued the mate had not his head in the midst auoided it once againe whose name was now chang'd froÌ„ Charles the great to Otho the great who as being by oth deuoted came to Rome banisht her new risen Consuls hang'd her Tribuns and mouÌ„ted her Prefectus vrbis Mr. of misrule naked on an Ass crouned and attended through the citie with great derision from thence committed to prison ther executed with exquisite torments And by this 967. means the heat of this defection was so asswag'd that it appered not for 7. yeres after but then vnder the leading of one Cincius flam'd out anew in so furious a sort as 974. it had doutles fyr'd the Beast out of al his holds had not his middle head Otho the secoÌ„d hasted into Italy to queÌ„ch the same who knowing how much it imported to punish exemplarly so dangerous an euil prepared in the Vatican a sumtuous feast inuited therto al the nobility and chiefe of the citie when al were come saluted and set caused forth-with to be proclaim'd that no man on pain of death should ether speak or moue at any thing that should be seene or heard presently entred armed men and compassed the place round wher the guests were wherat whilst euery one amased doubting what this first course ment this middle head drew forth a paper and whose names were therin written coÌ„manded to be drawen from the table and in presence of al ther to be slaine The rest were curteously entertained and were as merrie as the feare of so cruel a feaste would giue them leaue Ne yet for al this the feuer so lefte these patients but that they fel some 162. yeres after into relapse 1136. againe but Frederique the firste for so was now this head caled with the blood of a 1000. and the wounds and imprisonment of as many more so branded this Hydra which had bin so ofteÌ„ headed as it could neuer after recouer head again but her breath departed and her purpose vanished and appeered no more And this head did put the Verse 32. whole earth in feare and ruled therin and ouer the dwellers therof with much labor and it held the gouermeÌ„t of the world more then al the wings that had bin That this head and his fellowes haue more mainteined and aduanc'd the rage