shall wax colde But so many as beare more loue to God and séeke more to please hym than the diuell they must take good heede to do that which pleaseth him according to his reuealed wil For whom it is not sufficient to know Antechriâ—t to blame him to speake and reporte of him as his doings deserue but it is requisitâ— for them most chiefly to confesse the name of the Lorde euen from their very hearts to honour feare him to beleue and put all confideÌ„ce in hym to loue hym and as neere as we can to expresse him in oure conuersation thorough loue vnfayned therby to shew oure selues to be hys Disciples For not euerye onâ— sayeth oure Sauioure Christe that sayeth Lorde Lorde shall enter into the Kyngdome of heauen but suche as doe the will of my father Again saythe Christe Whosoeuer louethe hys lyfe héere in thys worlde shall loose it and who so hateth his lyfe here for my names sake shal kéepe it to life euerlasting Againe he that will be my Disciple let hym folowe me and where I am he shal be also Who so serueth me my Father shall honoure hym The seruaunte is no better than hys maister and a messenger is no more than he that sente hym If we kéepe the commaundements of Christe we shall remaine in his loue euen as hée did the will of hys father and remayned in his loue Hys commaundement is that we loue one an other as he loued vs let vs therfore henceforth leade a good lyfe coÌ„uersation according to the wyll of the Lorde and frame our lyfe to the doctrine and exaumple of our maister and Lorde Iesu Christ in kéeping the commaundementes of the Lorde Christe Lette vs not be wrathfull but loue one an other Praye sayeth the Lorde for them that persecute you and speake euyll of you and be ye perfect as I am perfecte That thys our sinful body might be destroyed and that henceforth wée serue syâ—ne no more for he that is dead is frée from sinne Let vs then thinke that we are dead to sinne and liue not to our selues but to our Lorde and Sauâ—our Iesus Christ. Let not sinne saith the apostle S. Paule raigne in your mortall body that ye shoulde obey the lustes thereof but be ye true seruantes of righteousnesse vnto life not seruaunts of sinne of the fleshe or the world â—o death neyther gyue ye henceforth your meÌ„bres as weapons of vnrighteousnesse vnto sinne but as weapons of righteousnesse vnto GOD. For when we were the seruauntes of synne we were not vnder righteousnesse what frute had we then in those things wherof we are nowe ashamed for the ende of those things is death but contrarywise the fruite of rightousnesse is euerlasting life Brethren it is now tyme to awake from sléepe forasmuche as the nyghte is passed and the day approcheth and is euen at hande God hath fréely sent his true and faithful ministers and giueth his woord pleÌ„tifully to be preached let vs cast away then the workes of darkenesse and take vnto thée the armour of light walke honestly as in the daye time not in gluttonie dronkennesse nor in chambering wantonnesse nor in strife nor enuying but put ye on the Lord Iesus Christ take no thought for the fleshe to fulfill the lustes thereof but according to the good pleasure of God in al spiritual exercises The workes of the flesh are notorious manifest as adulterie fornication vncleanesse wantonnesse Idolatrie witchcraft hatred debate emulation wrathe contentions heresies enuie murthers dronkennesse gluttonie and suche like The workers whereof are y e most wretches and miserable slaues that euer wer yea they are threatned that who so euer coÌ„mitteth such things shall not enherite the kingdom of heaueÌ„ On the other side the fruitâ—s of y e spirit are loue ioy peace long suffering geÌ„tlenesse goodnesse faith méekenesse temperancie and suche like After this sort ought euery christian maÌ„ to walke being carefull to mortifie his own flesh exercising himself in these good works which God hath prepared for him to walke in casting of the old maÌ„ which is corrupt through deceiuable lusts be ye therfore renued in y e spirit of your mind and put ye on the new man which after god is created in righteousnesse and true holinesse Wherfore cast of lying speak euery man true vnto his neighbour For we are members y e one of the other Be angrie but sinne not let not the Sunne goe down vpon your wrath neither giue place to the Diuell Let him that stole steale no more but let him rather labour and work with his hands the thing that is good that he may haue to giue him that néedeth Let not corrupt communication procéed out of your mouth but that which is good to edifie withal that it may minister grace vnto the hearers And gréeue not the holy spirite of God by whom ye are sealed vnto the day of redeÌ„ption Let all bitternesse anger and wrath crying and euil speaking be put away from you with all maliciousnesse Be ye courteous one to an other and teÌ„der hearted forgiuing one an other eueÌ„ as god for Christs sake forgaue you Be ye then followers of god as dear children walk in loue eueÌ„ as Christ hath loued vs hath giuen him self for vs to be an offring and a sacrifice of a sweet smelling sauor to god So then fornication and all vncleannesse or couetousnesse let it not be once named amoÌ„g you as it becometh sainctes Neither vse ye filthinesse nor foolish talking neyther iesting which are things not comely but rather giuing of thaÌ„ks For this ye must know that no whoremonger neither vncleane persoÌ„ nor couetous person which is an Idolatour hath any inheritaunce in the kingdom of Christ of God Let no man deceiue you with vaine wordes for by such things cometh the wrath of God vpon the children of disobedience Be not therefore companions wyth them for so much as ye were once in darknesse but are now light in the lord walk therfore as it becometh children of light for the fruite of the spirit is in all goodnesse righteousnesse and truthe Approue and assay that which is pleasing to the Lord and haue no fellowship with the vnfruitful works of darknesse but euen reproue them rather take ye heede that ye walke circumspectly and wisely not like the foolish but as the wise and redeeme y e time for euen these dayes are euill and dangerous days Therfore be ye not ignorant but replenished with knowledge and spirite Let the woord of God dwell in you plentuously in all wisdom teaching and admonishing your own selues in psalms spirituall songs synging
him waâ— called faithâ—ull and true This is the onely and true sonne of God which is called faithfull iust and true bicause hâ— is founde faithfull and vnfallible in hys promises and woorde for the Lord saith the Psalmist is very righteous in all his wayes true in his sayings pâ—rfect in all his doings He cannot but teach a right and speake a trouth for he is the truthe him selfe No more cannot those which are indued with his spirite who leadeth and conducteth them in all truthe He hath done according to iustice and equitie in condemning that wicked and abhominable whoore in destroying that filthie sinagoge of Sathan in dâ—liuering and exalting his poore afflicted Churche First of all he did fight in his owne persone as a worthy Champion against the deuill hel and damnation whom he hath ouercome conquered and vanquished by his owne death and glorious passion And now doth he ouerthrow the Deuill and all his adhereÌ„ts by the meanes of his faithful seruaunts distributers of his holy woord and mysteries which he nowe graciâ—usly sendetâ— vnder the figure of the white horsse For his seruaunts as Abacuck testifieth are lustie and wel animated horsses whom the Lord conduâ—teth which ar as Ieremie calleth them whiter than snow by the meanes of their vnfained and vndefiled faith And his eyes were like as a flame of fire mightie and cleare Whereby is not only vnderstanded his godly wisdome and knowledge whereby he knoweth and iudgeth al things but also all the heauenly and spirituall giftes of the holy Gâ—ost Behold sayth Zacharie vpon the only stone which S. Paule expoundeth to be Christ shal be .vij. eyes which are the .vij. spirites of god wherwith god doth ligâ—ten the hearts of his chosen and kindleth the fire of his loue in y e minde of his faithful His word is a laÌ„tern to their fâ—eâ—e hys law anâ— testimonies are pure and vndefiled giuing light to the eie And vpon his heaâ— were many crownes Euen as the same was séene being a figure of Christ vpon the head of Iesus the sonne of Iosedech the high Priest to signiâ—ie that Iesus Christ is the soueraigne and king aboue al kings which hath power in heauen and earth for euer He ruleth and gouerneth al nations with an irâ—n rod. For he is the Lord of hostes the euerlasting king of glory He is a mightie and puissaÌ„t gouernoure setting ouer the Mount Sion his holy hil He giueth prosperitie and gouernment to Kings and his elect and chosen are crouned in him with grace and mercie for euermore For he reserueth in heauen for vs an inheritance immortall and vndefiled Againe he hath layed vp for them that keepe the faith a crowne of righteousnesse and wil giue a crowne of life to them that be faithfull vnto the death c. All warrefares and victories of the saincts depend vpon him only And he had a name written to wit almighty maruellous and feareful Adonai Emanuel a name aboue all names euen the holy one of Israell the Lorde of Sabaoth the Lord of hostes our redemer sauiour and righteousnesse No man knewe this name but hym selfe and them whiche he hathe reueled it vnto neither fleshe nor bloude nor Heathen Turke Iew or false Christian is able to coÌ„prehend thys name â—right Albeit they haue good signes and tokens yet no man can say that Iesus is the Lord without the inspiration of the spirite of God who openeth the very truth of God The number of Gods elect are also signified or comprehended vnder this name which the world can not acknowledge nor vnderstand And he was clothed with a garment dipt in bloud His mortall bodie which he tooke vpon him for our redemption was so sore beaten and greuously wounded that from the soule of the féete to the very crowne of the head euen from top to toe nothing was lefte whole or sound This mighty Champion is he which came from Edom and Bosâ—a whose garmentes were sprinkled with bloud his clothes were rayed euen as of those that tread the wine presse For his manhoode suffred most shameful painâ—full death He him selfe alone trode the wine presse of his wrath and had none to helpe him He his owne self was wouÌ„ded for our sinnes and our infirmities were layd vpon him and by his stripes we are healed And his name was called the word of God Christ Iesu the sonne of god is that eternall and euerlasting word of God which was from the beginning by God by whom also heauen and earth are made and all that in them is the verye â—mage of his substance in whom the father is represented wherby also we vnderstand and know the wil of the father for the word of God is a true guid of the conscience This word was made flesh that is became maÌ„ for our sakes sauing iusâ—ifying and glorifying all those that beleeue on him And the warriers which were in heauen followed him vpoÌ„ white horses These are the true faithfull ministers which follow their maister and câ—ief captain Christ Iesu vpon white horsses that is in innocency of life and godly coÌ„uersatioÌ„ which they professe These horsses are nothing else than their mortal bodies redy to battaile For true christiaÌ„s mortifie their flesh y t concupiscence therof bring their carnal lusts vnder subiectioÌ„ their bodies obedient to y e spirit They become seruauntes to righteousnesse and not to sinne they are worthy Souldiers of God for they follow the Lord of â—ostes suche an armie saw the seruauÌ„t of the Prophet Elizeus in Doathim in a visâ—on They wâ—re clothed with fine linnen white and pure signifying the simplicitie and innoceÌ„cie which they haue in Christ Iesus their captaine and good and perfect gifts which the Lord giueth them As S. Iohn him selfe expounded them a little before where he sayeth that the fine linnen are the true iustifications which they haue of none other but from theyr head Christ. These are y e spirituall weapons wherof S. Paule speaketh saying Though we walke in the flesh yet we do not war after y e flesh for the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty through god to cast down holds and out of his mouth weÌ„t a sharp sword which is that wonderful iudgment of his word Through this sharpe sword are the faithful and beleuers saued to â—ife euerlasting and the wicked infidels iudged to euerlasting death and damnation For it is vnto some a sauior of life vnto life and to others a sauior of death vnto death With this sword shall be cut of the dead braunches which in him beare no fruicts and the rotted members from the body In like manner shal be the good from the bad and the Goates from the shéepe with this sword deuided and separated Oh how terrible fearefull and sharpe shal be the iudgement of the
Signifying and representing all manner of false Prophets vngodly teachers which are in their intents purpose wholy and altogither beastly idle carnall and corrupted They are also abhominable in the imagitions of their malitious harts not seking god but their belly not y e honor of christ but their own aduancemeÌ„t vain glory They rise out of the earth enclined giuen wholly to earthly worldly wisdom The desire and lust which they haue to raign in this world maketh theÌ„ to preach not for any loue or zeale which they bear to truth The desire of money couetousnesse thrusteth them in Thei go forward in al kind of wickednesse shall continue til the Lord destroy theÌ„ euen as the godly goeth on in vertue godlinesse til y â— time that they shall sée â—od face to face in that euerlasting Sion This beast was a murtherer from the beginning first of all in Cain and consequently in the carnal children of this world Namely in Cham the first vnshamefast sonne of Noe in Ismael Esau in Iames and Iambres in Balaam and al the false prophets of Baal in Annas and Caiphas in Baricha and Diotrephe and is now a dayes risen again in Friers Monkes Chanons Priests and Chanters as euery one haue he neuer so little a sparcle of light in him may easily sée and perceiue especially in their cathedral church where they haue their â—ull course Thys beast had .ij. horns like the Lamb but couÌ„terfaited altogither fals For she spake like thâ— Dragon The horns of Christ are hie great wherout only springeth the sweete comfortes of the promises of God giuen to his Church congregation and people Gods word is right and the Scepter of the auâ—thority of Christ and the rod of his righteous ordinaunces that wheresoeuer this worde ruleth there are none other straÌ„ge scepters institutions or customes The Lambe of God vpon the Mount Sion signifying Christ Iesus hath seuen hornes for in him consisteth the fulnesse of al truth This beast hath but iâ— hornes and those counterfaited and false They haue well a shew to be Christes hornes but of a truth they are not These then do signifie the corruptyng and falsifiyng the meaning both of the old and new Testament expounded and wrested to a worldly and carnal vnderstanding Wherout it is too apparant and manifest that it is but a false shew ful of dissimulation and altogither contrary to the Lordes meaning not discearning the true meaning of the holy Ghost This letter without the spirite of God is death and nothing agreable vnto Christ neither hath any regarde vnto him He is the truthe and life this is very lies and death His word is spirite and life theirs is but sounding Erasse or tinkling Cimbal fantasticall â—ained Sophistical and crafty although they séeme to haue a likenesse to Christ yet are they to none more vnlike They are onely the hornes of the beast to maintain the kingdome of Antechrist and not of Christe for Christes â—yngdome is not of thys worlde They chaunge the true vsage of the good creatures of God making Idols of trees adornyng and deckyng stockes and stones with golde siluer silke veluet and other iewelles turning the holy estate of Matrimonie into shamefull whoordome and to all kinde of vnchafte liuyng to make vs to wander from that seruice which God hath commaunded vs to their false moste abhominable superstitions so to abolishe and make of nâ—ne effect Gods commauÌ„dement and to establish their wicked traditions to bring leade men at length to detestable idolatrie wherof they are ful and to worship things forbidden And for the maintenaÌ„ce of their estate they haue wyth the ayde and helpe of Sathan their chief captaine wrested chopped and chaunged the scriptures to proue the adoratioÌ„ of the departed Saintes to be necessarie their masse meritorious and their workes of supererogation profitable their purgatorie to bee a fearefull and horrible thyng and other innumerable These beastly asses and belly God byshops are not ashamed to saye that by the â—yter whyche they doe weare is represented the olde and newe Testamente whiche to be true they defende wyth toothe and nayle They confesse as it is in deâ—de that they do weare but the figure of the thyng for it is but a shadowe in déede and an outwarde shewe not to the glorie of â—od but their owne ambition profite and coÌ„moditie séeking an occasion to persecute the very truthe They are of a truthe the false Prophetes the very limmes of Sathan deceyuers Wolues hie mynded inconstant shakyng wyth all manner of wyndes traitours and very folowers of Iudas dreamers liers idolaters enimies and aduersaries of truthe and veritie serpents and generation of vipers Foxes destroying the vineyarde of the Lorde deceiptful workers â—aintyng pastors blynde watchmen dumbe dogs diuels incarnated wycked or euill routes insatiable beastes whose belly is theyr god and their end perpetuall confusion and shame All these and many more names the holy Ghoste doth attribute vnto them bycause they myngle the swéetenesse of the word of God with the bitter worme wood of their Traditions so that almost the whole worlde is defiled with the dregs of their inuentions This beast did all that the first beastâ— coulde do before him This beastly generation hath the selfe same lying power to deceiue the pâ—ople and vnder the shew of holynesse to continue and vpholde thoroughout all the worlâ—e the same abhohominations as that greate Antâ—christe hath done euery where Namely vnder the Pope in Euâ—ope and in Asia and in Affrike vnder Mahomet Fynally there hath Sathan his chayre wheâ—e any sâ—range worsâ—yppyng or false seruyng of God is admitted And he caused the earthe and them that dwell therin to worship the beast They make not those onely to commit idolatrie that are ignorant and blinde but force suche as haue knowledge and vnderstandyng Oh how many are at this instant in Brabant Flandeâ—s and the low countrey and else where whiche agaynst their belefe conscience and the holy ghost maintain allowe and permit the maniâ—est â—abylonicall abhomination communicating the venemous dregges of the barbarous cup of these Baals priestes They had rather to tarrie ignominiously in this beggerly trashe and filthie ceremonies than to be depriued of this worldly friâ—ndshyp to forsake father mother childreÌ„ estate office and liuing banished persecuted or aduenture their liues and if néede so require to loose it for the truthe so delectable and swéete these worldely pleasures are vnto them They rather with Samuels sonnes wyll perishe transgressing the ordinances of GOD and with Dathan Chore Abiron be swallowed vp and sinke into Hel amongst the wicked than to suffer wyth Christe any trouble contempte reproche pouertie or other calamitie Suche I say as séeke and loue the commoditie and ease of their owne fleshe
their honour profite more than the aduauncement of Gods truthe lette them not persuade them selues to bée worthy of his grace for they must worshyp the beast whose deadly wounde was healed hys olde and abolyshed Relygion polyshed and vernyshed vp a newe and hys woren Romyshe trashe pâ—tched and newly redressed embrace vpon payne of death To those hellishe dogges and infernall Cerberus must be rendred and giuen for a time more honour reuerence and worshyp than to GOD hym selfe Their wicked and moste fylthie traditions must now be more in our countrey sette by than the pure worde of God and the eternall veritie And why should it not be so Haue not they erected a new sinagoge and congregation wherein the wounded head of the beast is nowe altogether cured and made whole They haue amended botched and renued agayne their Idols to some they hauâ— made a newe nose hand arme or legge other some are paynted vp or coloured vernyshed and made a new so that they now more like mad men do carrie them rounde aboute the Citie in Procession honouryng the same images which they â—aue so newly arayed and decked wyth silke veluet golde pearles and precious stones beades gyrdles purses flowers greene bowes and all manner of swéete herbes with song and sundry musicall instrumentes torches candles offerings and all other kynde of seruice and knéelyng before them bare headed they worship serue and holde vp theyr handes to them They keepe and obserue nowe againe their diuelyshe feastyng solemne processions and church holy dayes They eate they drinke they laugh they quaffe and run after whoores they fight and pike quarels their stewes are furnished wyth whoores ruffians and bauds are nowe good vittaylers and are haunted fréely yea all manner of filthynesse iniquitie and wickednesse are coÌ„mitted with al greedinesse Briefly the kingdom of Sathan is in all things newly erected fortified and established the head of the beast wel annointed and redressed so loÌ„g as the popish church staÌ„deth so long must they obserue his comaundementes of his religion and maintaine and vpholde his customes so long shall the true seruauntes of God the good Christians be persecuted bannished blamed slaundered mocked and scornefully intreated cried out vpon taken imprisoned killed myserably slayne and burned in suche sort that their corpses are cast here and there abrode hanged on trées gâ—bets and bushes and no man will burie them But thys diuelysh generation and fleshly mynded and wycked people clappe their handes together in token of greate ioy they daunce and leape they make mery and are gladde they make great diners and sende presentes one to an other being wonderful wel disposed bicause they sée those that dyd rebuke them of their wycked conuersation and vngodly behauioures so irkesomly intreated they sing and make ballettes they compose in metre and sette forth bookes of greate slaunders blasphemies and lyes against GOD his Christe and his Churche whyche thyng surely dothe sufficientely proue the wickednesse of their hearts they rage and fume they are woode lykâ— bloud thyrstie Tyrantes they gnashe as fierce and cruell Lyons and they are very sorie that any shoulde escape theyr bloudy handes Thys may those testifie whiche haue hearde the Sermons of one B. Cornelis y â— Hisper at Bruges B. Iohn vanden Hagen at Gaunt and that worthie knaue that preached at S. Goule whiche for his behauiour was banyshed oute of the Haghe in Hollande as the rest of them were woorthie to bée But God be thanked that the Papistes of oure countrey can none otherwyse clense them selues than wyth suche â—oule and filthie dishe cloutes and fyght wyth such darts wherwyth they hurte them selues And it was permitted to hym to gyue a spirite vnto the image of the beast so that the image of the beast shoulde speake After thys sorte come they then hauyng receyued power of the diuell flatteryng to the Image to maynteyne their malycious wickednesse saying after thys manner Your maiestie is the most vertuous the most gratious the most valiant the most wisest the most puissant the most noble the most blessed and most learned of all Christian Princes and Potentates all other are but Asses yea nothing in comparisoÌ„ of your highnesse If it please your maiestie to coÌ„maund this or that or establish ordaine any thing in your realme and iurisdiction who is he that dare withstaÌ„d your maiestie yea if it were against the commaundementes of God twentie times it must be obserued and kept Upholde then the old Catholike religion of our mother the holy Church of Rome against these Heritickes so can ye not doe amisse God shall prosper you in all your affaires Command therfore throughout all your dominion and straightly charge them by law and Proclamation sending one vpon an other so straightly as it is possible to shew manifestly that you are the liuely Image of the Pope It is our duetie to make the Image of the beast to speake Therfore lift vp your voice speak out with a corage commaund and charge that against the word of God our old Decrées traditions and Ceremonies be obserued let them be published and cried abrode in your name and authoritie in euery streate and cause euery one of your subiects to keepe your placate vpon paine of death And albeit other Realmes or Princes blame or check you for that you gouerne not well and according to equitie make ye no account of them neither regard their sayings but go forward stil and obstinately persiste and stand to that which séemeth good in your owne eyes Giue ye straight charge that all be put to death that wil not worship the Image of the beast or how their knees before it and keepe all his ordinaunces Thus doing ye shal be our welbeloued sonne Let no man escape your haÌ„ds Let none of them liue but slay and kill them either by fire water sweard rope or any other torments spare no man neither olde nor yong rich nor poore great nor small man nor wife maried nor vnmaried yoÌ„g man nor maiden for they al speak against vs and oure Dragon wherby our kingdom should fal we should lose our best profits and suffer great damage and losse Cause also that all and euery one great and small riche and pore bond or free be marked on their right hand or on their forehead And aboue this that al Massemongers Monks Friers and Priestes be shauen their fingers greased and then holding vp theyr right haÌ„d which they are not ashamed to call it the second baptisme promise and swear by othe to obey and reuerence the Pope and the Romish Church and there to vowe chastitie Moreouer that Emperoures Kings and Princes Archbishops Bishops and Doctors scholes and all estates receiue also a token by oth which they sweare to him that they shall take nothing in hande which is agaynst the Pope and his Decrees lawes and ordinaunces his Seat and priueledges yea that all men receiue this marke in the forehead For he that
it nor beleeue any parte of it so long as it agréeth not wyth the doctrine and gaye Ceremonies of our holy father the pope our mother the Romish churche Vpon the .xij. Sonet or vision I saw sayth S. Iohn a woman sit vpon a scarlet colored beast This woman did a far off seeme to be honest vertuous but in deede she was farre otherwise as ye shal heare This beast is that great Antechrist of whom we haue spoken right now or rather the bodie of the diuel containyng within him the Pope Cardinals patriarkes legates bishops doctors abbots priours chanons Monkes friers prebendaries priests indulgences bulles Nonnes and the reste of all suche diuelyshe sectes beyng full of hypocrisie and dissimulation reignyng wythin the whole Popedome In lyke manner all Magistrates and secular powers that fortifie and defende as well the Pope him selfe as also the abhominations and detestable idolatrie which the Romishe church doth vse be he Emperoure King or Prince Duke Earle or Lorde Maior Iudge Chauncellor Bailie Constable or whatsoâ—uer that maintaine defende and vpholde by force and violence any thing against God and his truth Of whose number I my selfe haue bene sometime and that to myne owne great griefe be it spoken thorough méere ignorance thinkyng to do God great seruice Wherof I am now ashamed and most â—arnestly repent me and am sory for it And I pray God that this nor any of the rest of my sinnes be layde vnto my charge but that he will pardon me thorough hys infinite goodnesse and mercie in the name of his dearely beloued Sonne Iesus Christe oure onely Sauioure and redéemer And I thanke hym from the bottome of my hearte that it hathe pleased hym of his mercie without my deseruings to haue called me wyth the Apostle S. Paule out of the shadowe of death and the companie of hys enimies to the knowledge of his eternall wisedome in the felowship of his true spouse his churche Of these I say which seeke not themselues nor any thing in this worlde but seeke the glorie of him that bought them and the accomplishment of his kingdomâ— counted in the sight of the world as outcastes but glorious in the sight of God This beaste is whole of the colour of scarlet reddish in token of greate tyrannie sheddyng of bloud and murthers which they coÌ„mit against those which will not agree to their wicked diuelish institutions She is also ful of ignominious blasphemous names as your holynesse your clemencie your lordship your fatherhod your mastership your serenitie your worthinesse honour reuerence magnificence bounty vicar of Godâ— spiritual lord phisition of the soule defenâ—er of the faith supreme head of the church and many otâ—er as it is seâ—ne dayly by their letters and writyngs Moreouer their too too muâ—he knowâ—e trumperies and Iack an Apes plays are no lesse blasphemous than processions confirmations greasyngs purgatorie Masses for al soules pilgrimages pardons mattins Aue Maria stella or Salue regina Placebo Candlemasse Palm sonday c. This beast had seuen heades and ten hornes signifiyng all his subtil practises his craftie fetches and false conspiracies therby to impeche and withstande the graces of God and giftes of the holy Ghost And vnder a cloke of authoritie through tyraÌ„nish violence resist the commauÌ„dements of God And this woman was arayâ—d in purple and gilded with golde and precious stones and pearles Which signifieth their coapes of gold corporal stoales staues miters c. and other like trumperies of silk purple crimosin sattin redde coloured bordered wyth golde pearles and precious stones and aboue this their counterfaite pietie and shewe of holinesse This painted pampred vp and so gaily decked Romish churche bragged and boasted muche of hir Gospel and hir Apostles of golde siluer wood or stone decked and arayed wyth all kinde of costlynesse whiche is but an outwarde appearaunce for they looke for nothyng lesse than to imitate or follow and to expresse them in their conuersation She had a cup of golde in hir hande full of abhomination and filthinesse of hir fornication This cup is hir false and cursed Religion whiche she dayly communicateth distributed aboute the Chalice whiche hir Merchauntes doe so wickedly abuse It containeth all kynd of false and dyuelish doctrine all kinde of erroures lyes and beastlynesse all manner of craftie workes of hypocrites all manner of inuentions of fleshly wysedome all mans wittie deuises eyther by crafte arte or otherwise inuented as also all straunge kinde of worshippyng of idolatrie fornication Sodometrie and all other kynde of iniquitie Outwardly she séemeth to be gilded she reporteth yea boasteth to sette forth the glorie of God namely the magnfying of the name of Christ. They say they preache the sacred Scripture they lyue in chastitie and all is nothyng else but a false a counterfaite and deceiptfull shewe of holynesse full of hypocrisie and dissimulation a couer or cloke of all mischiefe and abhomination it is but the bare letter and the onely name as the rest of all their doings are And in hir forhead was a name written a mysterie great Babylon A name declaring what manner of woman she is She is knowne wel inough by hir naughty fruites of such as are skylful of godly knowledge and haue also the spirite of vnderstandyng So that they bâ—yng illuminated conducted and ledde by the spirite of GOD maye easily perceyue iudge and knowe accordyng vnto the Scriptures that shée is nothyng else but an vnshamefaste and pestyferous whoore full of all iniquitie abhomination and wyckednesse But thys iudgement is hydden from the Infidels the whyche are so bewitched and inchaunted by the meanes of their fayre outwarde shewe their humble knéeling creepyng and gaye Ceremonies that what soeuer she doth speaketh or commaundeth and taketh in hand they make muche of it worship and imbrace it as holy honest perfect good which thing God permitted for theyr vnbeliefs sake She is called mother of whoredomes and abhominations of the earth muche passyng the towne of the Chaldees in all kinde of wickednesse for she is the mother and fountaine both of spiritual and carnall whordome and abhomination And I saw that she was the maried wyfe of the deuyll For I saw hir dronke of the bloud of Sainctes and with the bloud of the martyrs of Iesus which she outragiously and most seuerely hath persecuted and slayne And when I saw hir so I maruelled with great maruell not onely bicause I saw hir defiled and sprinkled of murther and sheding of innocent bloude but also bicause of hir greate and abhominable blasphemies And most of al I was aboue measure amazed and maruelled that almightie God coulde or woulde suffer or permit so long hir intollerable wickednesse and detestable and horrible impietie This woman is called of the Angell the great whore that great Citie which ruled ouer the kings of the earth namely Rome It is no meruaile though she be called that
troubled you scornefully intreated yea and by hir Traditions iudged and condemned you euen vnto death so nowe do ye likewise rebuke hir and exhorte hir of hir wyckednesse iudge hir like a very harlot and condemne hir by the mightie and true worde of God to euerlasting fire whiche can not be quenched And giue hir double according to hir workes And in the cup that she hath filled to you fill hir the double That is render vnto hir double in all punishmentes and giue vnto hir euen for worldly punishements whiche she hath brought vpon the elect of God hellishe torments For corporal and bodily troubles and vexations eternal pains and torment of the minde for the blame and ignomynie of thys worlde perpâ—tuall shame and confusion for temporall death euerlastyng damnation both of body and soule And the cup. c. That is al kinde of troubles aduersities and miseries whiche she filled to you out of hir cup that is caused to come vpon you shal be doubled to hir againe for as it is sayd she shall receyue for temporall euils euerlasting The holy Ghost calleth here double that which is withoute comparison euen as a little tyme to no time or euerlastingnesse Hir pleasure and ioy shall be conuerted into sorowes and griefes hir mery and pleasaunt talke hir iestyngs and laughyngs into weepyng mournyng wringyng of handes and gnashyng of teeth Hir commaundings shal be turned into crauings hir reuerence into contempt hir honoure into shame c. For she hathe pretended moste faynedly an holy kynde of priesthode she boasteth and braggeth much oâ— that whiche they are furthest from She hath vsurped and wroÌ„gfully taken vpon hir and proudely claimed vnto hir a royall maiestie and highnesse Whiche two kynde of dignities she hath yet worse vsed lette hir thereâ—ore wayte and attende on the plagues and punishementes due vnto hir pernicious temeritie and arrogancie Take away hir pleasaunt Euphrates wyth the spoyle and greate reuenues wherewithall she hath hytherto so vniustly maintained and kepte hir selfe and throw hir in the deepe pit of all misâ—ries and wretchednesse For she sayth in hir heart I sitte being a Queene enuironned with ioy and pleasure I am the chiefe of the vniuersall worlde on me dependeth the Catholike and holy Churche I haue authoritie and power in Heauen earth and Hell I haue also might to binde and to loose to saue and condempne It standeth not with me as it doth with thâ—se that be not of this worlde for all thyngs here are at my commaundement I am no widowe I am not dâ—solate The hyghest powers and gouernours of thys worlde do assiste and defende mee putting to death al those that lay against me Nero Domitian Traian or Maxence were neuer more addicted to the defence of my predecessours than are now adays the Princes of our tyme readie to maintaine wyth fire and faggot my Decrées Traditions and Ceremonies Therefore I shall see no mournyng I shall continue alwayes I shall be called Madame at all tymes my kyngdome shall abyde for euer my seate shall no man take awaye from me I shall neuer fall nor any euil can come vppon mée After thys sorte boaste wyth no small presumption our Papistes also saying That the lyttle vessell of Sainâ—â— Peter may wel by the reason of weather and tempeste be shaken and with the waues of the sea troubled but neuer can be ouerwhelmed or perishe hereby goyng aboute to proue that theyr superstitious and Romyshe churche should abyde styll and neuer be ouerthrowne But they consider not of what abilitie and power the Lambe is whiche abideth vppon the mount Syon against whom they stick and make warre against continually whose congregation and little flocke they persecuâ—e daily with great tyrannie crueltie and rigorousnesse Therfore shal hir plagues come at one day God shall once poure vpon this wicked race malignant â—hurch Death sorowes hunger and swâ—rdeâ— euen as he dyd sende vpon the â—ynfull Cities â—ire and Brymstone They shal be depriued for euer of the life wâ—iche is in Christe Iesu they shall remaine in sobbes and teares tâ—ey shal not ceasse to mourne to wring their handes and gnashe their teeth they shall be inheritours oâ— eueâ—lastyng darkenesse theyr worme shall neuer die they shall hunger and neuer be satiâ—fied And this whoore with the whole generation of hypocriâ—es shall be burnt with vnquencheable fyrâ— prâ—pared for the deuyl and his auâ—gels This sentâ—nce is not so seuere as true for the Lorde who shal iudge them is of power and might he is holy and faitâ—ful in mercie true in his worde and promise maruellous in all his workes fearefull terrible and righteous in his iudgementâ— against the wycked No man then shall be able in those dayes to withdrawe any part of the threatned vengeaunâ—e of hys wrath from the euill doer Neither oure Lady with castyng of hir bâ—ades into the ballaunces of S. Michaell neyther S. Iohn Baptist with hys lambe holdyng a crosse neyther S. Peter wyth hys Key nor S. Paule wyth his sworde as they vse to make them yea and if Moyses Samuel and the rest of the Prophetes with Noe Dauid and Iob would make intercession yet shoulde they not be hearde And the Kings of the earth namely the worldly and carnall Princes whiche haue committed fornication and lyued in pleasure with hir in all vncleannesse and filthynesse shall bewaile hir when they shall see hir ouerthrowen and so yll intreated it shall grieue them sore that they may or can not maintaine and defende hir with water fyre and sworde against â—od and hys saincts for they shall be nothyng well pleased with the ordinaunces and institutions of Christe bycause they doe hate nothyng more than the workes of the spirite that is to frame theyr liues according to the will of God It shall anger them to the hearte that they are not able to burne still and slay all those that speake write or preache agaynst the deedes of the fleshe and do reproue them of their fornication adulterie and theyr mischeuous and inordinate lyfe and rebuke them of theyr moste abhomynable idolatrie And lamente ouer hir when they shall see the smoke of hir burnyng And shall stande a farre of for feare of hir tormentes crying and saying Alas alas that greate citie Babylon that mâ—ghtie Citie Alas our mother the holy Churche of Rome so many holy fathers Popes Cardinalles and Byshops Alas for our Monkes Chanons and Friers with their so holy so deuoute and straight lyuâ—s and rude garmentes Alas for so many Pardons Indulgences and confessions so many principall bye Feastes Holy dayes and gay Coapes and Garmentes Alas for oure holy Water holy Candelles holye Palmes holye Ashes hallowed Belles organs play and prick song and the resâ— of our so gay ceremonies With these and the lyke wordes shall they bewayle hir trembling and quakyng for feare crying out on this maner Wo wo to that