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
be the r cap. 12.1 Moone that is all mutable and corruptible things these shee trode vnder foote beeing ſ cap. 2.9 rich euen in pouertie t Euseb 4. 15. 8.5 6 c. For the Christians refused life honour and riches beeing offered vnto them and which some of them inioyed rather than that they would denie Christ or conceale the profession of him Her third ornament is her u cap. 12.1 cap. 3.8.10.11 crowne which is said to be twelue starres that is the doctrine of the Lambes twelue Apostles not Peters onely authoritie * Euseb 4. 14. 21. 3. 34. 5. 14. For the Bishops continually taught those things which they had receiued of the Apostles which also they deliuered to the Church as onely true x Sabel E. 7. lib. 4. The manner of the ceremonies was bare and naked hauing in them more pietie than pompe a Euseb 4. 21. Then was the Church a virgin for as yet shee was not corrupted with vaine doctrines As concerning her childe-bearing it is said shee was fruitfull in the greatest afflictions b cap. 12. ◠2.13 For shee was with childe the faithfull taking care to hold fast that onely faith which they had receiued and heard and to spread it abroad by all good meanes Shee c cap. 12.2 crieth in her trauell by the extremity of her paines as a woman readie to be deliuered d Euseb 4. 3. For when the persecutions grew extreame certaine learned and godly Christians by their Apologies laboured to pacifie the minds of the Emperours Yea the very e Euseb 3. 30. 4. 8. Gentiles as Plinie Serenius wrote in the defence of the innocencie of the Christians vnto the Emperours Traian and Adrian The partie offendent is a f cap. 12.3.9 wonderfull enemie the Diuell Sathan that old Serpent or rather a monster compounded of diuers Serpents but for the neerenesse of his shape hee is called a Dragon meaning the Romane heathen Empire which by their idolatrie worshipped the Diuell And it is here called a Dragon that there might be an allusion to the temples of idols in g Gesner bib 5Volat lib. 25. f. 300. which were Dragons worshipped h Euseb 5. 1. p. 62. b. And so the heathen idolatrie of the Romans is here the enemie vnto the Church of Christ Moreouer because these persecutions were a spiritual i Ephes 6.12 warfare in which the Romans did march against the Christians with spirituall armies by a speech taken from their temporall armies in which the Cohorts were ledde by ensignes k Vege◠2. c. 3. in which were pictured Dragons this enemie is said to be the Dragon This Dragon is said to be first l cap. 12.3.9 Greate more terrible than those of whome Strabo speaketh which were m Strab. 15. p. 479. 80. yea 140. cubits which may be by reason of his age which at first was but a n Gen. 3.1 Serpent And whereas there is a prouerb o Eras chil centu 3. Except a serpent doe deuoure a serpent he doth not become a Dragon the serpent of the Romane Empire had subdued in a manner all these countries which were held by the former Monarchs and so became very great Then this Empire being as p Ezech. 29.3 32.2 a Dragon amongst other nations and the Dragon beeing q Isid etym. 12. cap. 14. farre the greatest of any serpents or beasts this Dragon must needes be terrible both for his nature and greatnes His colour is a cap. 12.3 Gesner l. 5. Red which commeth of choler and the ouerflowing of the gall to signifie his vnappeasable fury and rage in shedding much blood of which bloody policie and those which succeeded there it is said in her b cap. 18.24 was found the blood of the Prophets and of the Saints and of all that were slaine vpon the earth For besides the great slaughters the Romaines made to become the Lords of all and the persecutions by Nero in the yeere of our Lord c Anno 74. Carion f. 114. Euseb 3. 5. 6. 74. Ierusalem was destroyed by Titus In which d Geneb p. 490. eleuen hundred thousand perished by sword and famine one hundred thousand were openly sold sixe hundred were executed Domitian also in the yeere e Anno 94. 94. f Geneb p. 492. Abb. Vrsper who first of any commaunded himselfe to be called Lord and God required all of the line g Eus 3.17 of Dauid to be diligently sought vp and killed and he put many Christians to death persecuting them after the example of Nero. h Euseb 4. 2. 6. Traian slew many millians of the Iawes as also did Adrian He hath i cap. 12.3 seauen heads k Isid etym. lib. 2. 2. somewhat representing the Hydra of which the Poets speake In all the seuen Churches hauing l Isay 9.15 Deut. 28.13 Magistrats to deuoure the Saints But they are also said to be seuen m cap. 17.9 because Rome their Citie was built vpon n Virg. Georg. 2. seuen hilles o Chron. chro which were Palatinus Auentinus Ianiculus Caelius Aesquilinus Viminalis Quirinalis And also because it seuen times changed the forme of gouernmēt p Fulke in 17. Apo. f. 99. First ruled by Kings 2. Consuls 3. Decemuiri 4. Dictators 5. Triumuiri 6. Emperors 7. Popes and Emperors He is crowned with q cap. 12.3 seuen crownes vpon his heads like herein vnto the r Isid etym. l. 12. Cockatrice For euery policie had the soueraigntie of Kings the regall power being in their own hands Wherefore it is said to the Church thou ſ cap. 2.13 dwellest where Sathans throne is And as the Serpent t Isid etym. l. 12. Cerastes hath eight so this Dragon hath u cap. 12.3 Euseb 5. 1. tenne hornes both to allure his pray and also to push the seuen Churches and all other that stand in his way But they are tenne because the Romaine Legion consisted of * Veg. l. 7. tenne Cohorts And in the Apostles time the countries subiect to the Romanes were ruled by tenne x Strab. Geog. 17. Princes which were called Decharchae The manner of the fight is diuers as are the enemies The Church doth fight with a cap. 2. 3. patience with teares and prayers for the b Euseb 3. 33. 4. 15. Saints did very willingly both manifest themselues and offer themselues to all exquisit torments which were deuised by the persecutors The manner of the fight of the Dragon is first with his tayle for with c cap. 12.4 his tayle he drew the third part of the Starres and cast them vnto the earth that the d Iob. 3.6 night might be blacke and cursed wherein the childe of the woman should bee borne And here hath this Serpent the propertie of the true Dragons who haue more force in e Isid Etym.
decencie but after diuers did appoint diuers things The l Wolph Saracens make the Emperour tributarie vpon very vnequall conditions and spoile Corsica and Sardinia Ann. 817. Stephanus the fift went m Gebel a. 6. 41. into France taking n Moris Paâ— the office of the heathen Druides where hee crowned Pudâ—nicus Emperour who swarâ—â—o the Pope an oath of fidelitie So now the Pope doth receiue an oath of the Emperour as the Poâ—t Max. was wont to doe of the heathen Romane Kings He decreed that no o De conse d. 5. Nunquid Sacrament was perfect without the signe of the crosse Paschalis the first was chosen without the Emperours p Pencerus Sab. Plat. 124. consent Anno 817. but translated the blame vpon the people and Clergie and so pacified the Emperor which was offended for the election He also made sedition in Rome but laid the fault elsewhere He is q Geneb p. 707. reported to represse with the signe of the crosse the fire that began to consume Burgus a schoole of Englishmen Vnto r Volat. Geog. 3. f. 21. dist 63. Ego Ludouic him by letters pattents Ludouicus the Emperor gaue and confirmed all Lombardy Rauenna and Rome with their iurisdictions c. and gaue the Councell at Rome leaue to chuse the Pope And so was fulfilled that which is written by the Prophet Daniel The litle Å¿ Dan. 7.8 horne grew vp so that three of the other tenne hornes were rooted out before him that is the Popes grew vp so that three of the other tenne kingdomes or principalities were rooted out before him viz. the kingdome of the Gothes in Rome the kingdome of the Lombardes and the Exarchie of Rauenna t Geneb p. 769. A Councell was held at Aquisgraue against those that laboured against images The manner and custome u Peucerus 4. p. 183. of priuate Masses began vnder Ludouicus Pius which before a Caran f. 330 Anno. 824. were forbidden in a Councell at Mogunce Can. 43. Eugenius the second in b Platina Volat Geo. 3. his time Michael the Emperor of Constantinople sent his Orators to Ludouicus the Emperor of the West to vnderstand his minde concerning images Ludouicus reiecteth them ouer to the Pope and c Sab. En. 8. l. 9. Clergie And thus was fulfilled that which was written And d cap. 13.45 they worshipped the beast c. And there was giuen him a mouth to speake great things and blasphemies and power was giuen him to doe The e Sab. ibid. Saracens preuailed in Aquitania and Sicilia c. Thus f cap. 9.20.21 the remnant repenteth not of their idolatry c. CHAP. VII Of the blasphemie of the scarlet coloured beast and woman thereon and first how they are blasphemous in their owne persons THe beast hauing attained vnto this great power and dependance abuseth his authoritie of speaking to blaspheme and his power of doing vnto tyrannie For it is said he g cap. 13.6.7 therefore opened his mouth vnto blasphemie and to make warre with the Saints He is blasphemous euery way and that first in respect of his owne conuersation which henceforth is very flagitious For from this time the Popes doe grow to such wickednes and impietie as was neuer heard the like no not in Simon Magus or his posteritie Secondly he is blasphemous in his doctrine and that concerning God and his worship Simon Magus was noted for a singular blasphemer that durst affirme h Act. 8.9 of himselfe that he himselfe was some great man but the Popes like the Prince of Tyrus hath his heart exalted and saith I am a i Ezech. 28.2 god I sit in the seate of God in the mids of the sea the multitude of people Yea he thinketh in his heart tha the is equall with God k 2. Thes 2.4 Aug. ciuit dâ— 20. 19. For he exalteth himselfe against all that is called God or that is worshipped so that he doth sit as God and as if he were the Temple and Church of God And now poperie being an absolute complement of all abhominable heresies that can be brought to any tolerable appearance l cap. 13.6 doth blaspheme God his name his Tabernacle and them that dwell in heauen For now is come into the world m 2. Tim. 3.2 that perilous time in which men become cursed speakers And vnto their blasphemie they adde the persecution of the Saints These things are to be marked as they follow in the stories at seuerall times They are said to blaspheme the name of n Mand. 3. God which directly commit blasphemie against the person of the Godhead or else blaspheme any persons or things vpon which God is named wherefore the name of God is blasphemed when Princes are blasphemed seeing that vnto them the Lord o Exod. 22.28 Psal 81.1 hath communicated his owne name Those doe blaspheme his Tabernacle which speake euill p Act. 7.44 c. 2. King 18.30 35. of the place where God is worshipped according to his owne ordinance and the worship which God hath appointed in his word and Sacraments or where q Iere. 7.4.10.11.12 that is ascribed vnto his Church which he neuer gaue vnto it as to exalt it or any person thereof to a greater place then to be obedient vnto his word They which dwell in heauen are blasphemed when that which is proper to God is ascribed vnto them as to be patrones illuminers mediators c. or any r Psal 74.12 Isai 42.3 helpers of those which are below Å¿ Gal. 1.8 when Angels are made preachers of a new Gospel or receiuers of t Col 2.18 worships and the Saints departed u Luk. 16.24.26 are supposed to ease those in hell c. especially when they are reported to further the ambition and malice of men c. These and such like blasphemies is this beast guiltie of from this time forth The opposition of the Lambe doth still continue killing a cap. 9.15 of the third part of men and bringing a was vpon the remnant by the foure Angels which are loosed from Euphrates As b cap. 10.2 also Christ the King by Princes doth still hold open the booke of the Gospel and set his foote vpon the land and sea as proprietary and true owner of both country and people And because the beast doth labour not onely to exempt c cap. 13.12.14 himselfe from the subiection of Christ in the ministery of Princes but doth also arrogate to himselfe to be d cap. 18.7 cap. 12. Lord of the earth and sea the Lambe that is e cap. 7.17 in the throne in the person of Princes doth first f cap. 10.2 set his right foote vpon the sea that is he taketh possession of the people with great force and violence and his left foote vpon the earth that is possesseth the earth And because g cap. 10.1 his feete are pillers
the glorified bodie of Christ Victor the second Anno 1054. p Bergom 11. in a Councell at Florence depriued many Bishops for Simonie and Fornication that is for receiuing spirituall preferments of laie men and for marriage And in a Councell the q Geneb p. 872 third time condemned Berengarius r Abb. Vrsp p. 21◠His Deacon poysoned him in the communion cuppe There was extreame famine Michael the Lambe auenging the persecution of the Gospell Stephanus the tenth ſ Geneb p. 872. Ann. 1057. reprooued the Emperour for abridging the Popes authoritie By his meanes t Volat. 22. f. 253. Anno 1058. the Church of Millaine is made subiect to Rome which it had not bin for 200. yeres before Benedictus the tenth u Berg. 12. was cast out by Hildebrand onely because hee was said not to come in by the dore but by gifts a Geneb p. 873 Hitherto the stories are darke henceforth by little and little they grow most cleare in appearance for poperie but indeed against it Ann. 1059. Nicolaus the second b Volat. 22. Fox Mart. p. 170. made Robertus Guiscardus to recieue the number of his name to bee tributarie and captaine generall of S. Peters lands to subdue by force of armes all that went from the obedience of the Church of Rome for the Pope is now a legionarie king He first made c Geneb p. 873. a solemne decree d D. 23. In nomine that thenceforth the Pope should be chosen by the Cardinals accursing them all as Antichristian which opposed themselues to this kinde of election e Geneb p. 939 But this decree tooke none effect till the time of Lucius the third Anno 1181 who was the first Pope so chosen By which is to bee seene that the Popes decrees tooke then no place when they were first made He also held a Councell against Berengarius and another against Simonie and fornication as his predecessor had done meaning such Priests as receiued spiritualties of laie men and had wiues Vnto f Paral. Vrsp p. 413. him wrote Hildericus Bishop of Ausburge a very graue man an excellent Epistle reproouing him for the forbidding of Priests marriage in which is auouched the testimonie of Paphnutius the martyr affirming marriage to bee honourable and that the vse of a mans owne wife is chastitie g Berg. 12. f. 180. a. Berengarius when he could not preuaile in his opinion of the sacrament gaue his goods to the poore and liued by the labour of his handes Ann. 1062. Alexander h Berg. 12. f. 181. b. the second as a Legionarie and Martiall king warred against the Pope whom the Emperour had placed at the request of some Italians And whē they had twice fought and much blood was shed on both sides the matter was compounded For now it is vsuall with the Popes which was sometimes the manner i Caesar bello Gal. 6. of the Druides to fight for the principalitie Certaine k Trith Hirs p. 71. 75. Bishops and others to the number of 7000. went for deuotion to Ierusalem whereof scarce 2000. returned This Pope l p. 91. was earnest against that which they called Simonie Wherefore hee sent for certaine Bishops to Rome whereof one so pleased the Pope with bribes that he returned honored with an Archbishops Pall whereby it appeareth the Pope was angrie against Simonie by others because hee was willing to haue all the bribes himselfe And as it seemeth for this cause would wrest the inuestiture of Bishops out of the Emperours hands and the gift of spiritualties from laie men The Saxons and Sueues m Abb. Vrsp p. 219. 220. 221. Oth. Fris Chro. 6.34 Cran. M. lib. 5. cap. 20. p. 333. both laie Princes and Bishops breed emotions against the Emperour and bring blasphemous and incredible complaints against him to the Pope and draw the Pope to their faction The Emperour by his Embassadours whom he sent for iustice to Rome against his seditious subiects receiueth letters commanding him to make satisfaction for Simonie c. And presently the Saxons breake forth in open rebellion The n Geneb p. 878 877. Turkes get in a manner all Asia This Pope continued the opposition of his predecessors against Berengarius and the gift of spirituall dignities by laie men and was so earnest against married Priests that o Fasc Temp. f. 73. b. d. 32. praetex hoc he required none to be present at their Masse vnder paine of excommunication There p Berg 12. f. 181 b. 182. a. was a horrible famine and lamentable pestilence q The order of monkes of Vallis Vmbrosa began of a lying miracle that the crucifixe bowed the head contrarie to the rule of the scripture which sheweth idols to r cap. 9.20 Ann. 1073. be vnsensible The first Thunder GRegorius the seauenth who a Abb. Vrsp p. 221. was called before Hildebrand was chosen onely by the Romanes without the Emperours consent b Oth. Fris 6. 34 36. Whereupon grew a most grieuous schisme and most violent stormes in the common wealth and Church to the danger of bodie and soule like the darknesse of Egypt For the Pope c Mass 16. p. 223. as a most valiant champion sent word to the Emperour Henricus the fourth that if hee would confirme him in his papacie hee would resist the errors of the Emperour For so he called the bestowing of spiritualities by a laie man But when the Emperour would not yeild to the Pope Gregorie in a Councel at Rome d 1. Tim. 4.1 c. giuing heed to spirits of errors and doctrines of diuels e Trith Hirs p. 92. forbiddeth the Clergie Bishops Priests or Deacons to marrie vnder the paine of the great curse c. and f Mat. Paris p. 8. by a new example and as many thinke inconsiderate against the sentence of holy fathers forbiddeth laie men to heare the Masse of him that was married For g Poly. Jnuen 5. 4. the lawes made before against the marriage of Priests tooke none effect amongst the Priests of the West till the time of Gregorie the seauenth He h De cons d. 5. Quia dies ibidem carnem also forbad all faithfull men to eate flesh on Saturdaies and commanded all monkes altogether to abstaine from flesh i Crant Met. 5. 20. In this Councel was the Emperour accused of Simonie was called to his answer k Frising de gestis Trid. 1. 1 But he appeared not beeing detained by many seditions and rebellions and warres of the Hungarians Saxons c. which were partly stirred by Pope Alexanders faction yet when al the breadth of the Empire was filthily wasted with sword and fire the Pope excommunicated him as forlorne and forsaken of his meanes The l ibid. Chro. 5. 35. Emperor was exceedingly mooued with this new proceeding not knowing before this time any such sentence to haue beene promulged
against the Pope o Trith p. 286. There was very great pestilence which destroyed many thousands after which followed a famine to liue was a misery and to die a very great horror p Reuel 11.6 These haue power to shut heauen in the dayes of their prophecie c. and to strike the earth with all manner of plagues Clement the sixth q Trith 288. preached the crosse against the Turkes Anno 1342. promising to them that put mony into the chestes set in Churches to that purpose not onely remission of sinnes but also licence to eate egges and milkemeates in forbidden times out of Lent Henricus the Archbishop of Mogunce neither payed mony nor regarded the pardons The a Par. Vrsp p. 355. Pope in fauour of the French King excommunicateth Ludouicus the Emperour He also b Trith 289. excommunicated Henricus the Archbishop of Mogunce for not appearing before him deposed him and placed Gertacus who gat not the possession till Henricus was dead Henricus despiseth the Pope and cleaueth to the Emperour The c Par. Vrs 355. 356. Emperour by letters blameth the French King for his trouble requireth him to procure his absolution a filthy forme of articles is conceiued which is interpreted to be deuised to the destruction of the Empire The pope cruelly declaimeth against the Emperor reuiueth the processe of Iohn the twentith two against him declareth him an heretike and schismatike because he said it is in the Emperor to depose and institute the pope c. and writeth to the Electors to chuse Carolus the fourth Here Queene mony ruled all Hereupon the Empire is diuided much trouble ariseth the fauorites of Ludouicus are buried in fields out of Church-yardes d Fox Marty p. 394. 39â— Georgius Ariminensis held papists worse then Pelagians Tanlerus preached against distinction of meates and inuocation of Saints Gerardus Rhidden wrote against the Friers e Sonet 106. 107. 108. Annota in 107. Petrarch calleth Rome proud Babylon and whore and the Pope the Soldan of Babylon The f Extr. Con. 5. de pen. ner Vnigeniti Pope reduced the Iubile to fiftie yeeres promising plenary remission and g Fox Marty commaundeth the Angels to cary the soules of such pilgrimes as died by the way presently to paradise like Mahomets Martyres c. h Mass 18. p. 248. Trith p. 291. Howbeit at this time for three yere together from India to Britany there was so feareful a pestilence that in diuers places were horrible desolations In Auinion the popes seate in a manner all died There was also the plague of bloudy flixes and such inflammations as consumed the flesh to the bones not onely of liuing bodies but dead carcasses for the earth is smitten with plagues in the dayes of their prophecie i Curio The Turkes winne the noble city of Prusia Anno 1352. Innocent the sixth a Trith 293. crowned Carolus the fourth who after many troubles with much b Par. Vrsp 360. c. bribery had brought the Empire to his owne hand The Pope at c Fox Marty Auinion put two Friers to death one of them held Rome to be the whore of Babylon In his time was published the ploughmans complaint against the Pope and his Clergie d Geneb pag. 1034. Bartholdus de Baruch a begging Frier was burned at Spires Before this Pope e Ipse in defen curat Richard Archbishop of Armach in Ireland perswaded learnedly and zealously against the Friers prouing that by the abuse of their priuiledges they were hurtfull to them who were confessed to the Curates Clergie Christian people and to the Friers themselues That they were the ouerthrow of all learning and artes the decay of students and by ingrossing into their libraries bred such a want of bookes that there was not a Bible nor any good diuinity bookes to be had for mony It seemeth in these times that the question was a Specul Mino. Tract 3. f. 135. b. whether the Popes dispensations could stablish the conscience against Scripture and law The Popes would haue it receiued for good that his power was aboue all but godly men thought otherwise of his superstition withstoode that doctrine as De Poliaco had done and this Armachanus now did b Trith 297. Par. Vrsp There was a great pestilence of which many thousands perished and strange earthquakes c. Vrbanus the fifth c Geneb 1017 confirmed the order of Bridget d Pantalcon Anno 1363. which was that Friers and Nunnes should dwell together vnder a roofe onely parted with a wall Thus e cap. 13.5.7 c. is the beast furnished with strong and seuere lawes to warre with the Saints and to ouercome them And here viz. Anno 1364. f Dan. 12.11 are finished those 1290. dayes that is yeeres which Daniel doth reckon from the time that the daily sacrifice was taken away by the Romans at the destruction of Ierusalem Ann. 74. during which time by the Gentiles Arians Gothes Turkes and Popes abhominable desolation was set vp CHAP. X. Of the first resurrection and the warres which followed hereupon with their successe MIserable are now the times by reason of the grosse ignorance and superstition which preuailed For by the tyrannie of the Popes all men were seduced or terrified from the study and profession of true godlinesse And the wickednes of the Friers by purloyning in a manner all good bookes which now were but manuscripts and teaching nothing but fables had made it generally suspected that Antichrist would take this opportunitie to obliterate the Scriptures and obtrude vnto the world any such forged diuinitie which might best serue to further his ambition In the time of this palpable darkenes worse then euer was any in Egypt when as the truth lay as dead and buried for euer the Lord in mercy doth raise it from death to life And this doth cause a Dan. 12.2 such as turne others vnto righteousnes to shine as the starres in the firmament The summe of that which followeth is that b cap. 11.7 when they the witnesses haue finished their testimony the beast that commeth out of the bottomlesse pit with his hornes the Kings maketh warre against them Of this warre we are to consider the enemies their manner of fight and the successe The enemies are the two witnesses a cap. 19.13 vnder their captaine yet in the wildernes in this chapter and in the blessed time separated from Antichrist in the next chapter and b 19. the beast with his Kings The captaine of these witnesses is mighty to enable them to finish their testimony That the witnesses may the better finish and perfect their testimony Saint Iohn doth say And c 11. I saw heauen open that is an expectation of all good men which belong to the kingdome of heauen what will be the end of those cruell lawes and bloudy executions That which befell was this An d
cap. 18.1 Angel came downe from heauen hauing great power so that the earth was lightened with his glory that is the glorious Gospel which now was excluded by all men came by the mighty hand of God to be published and preached to the dispelling of the darkenes which Antichrist brought into the earth as if it had been brought from heauen by the ministery of a mighty Angel to enlighten men In the parable of this Angel by whom is signified the Lambe Iesus Christ who is preached to the world first is set downe the description of himselfe and his retinue and then his warres The parable is of a e cap. 19.11 horse and his rider as before in the sixth chapter The horse doth signifie the speedy posting abroade of the Gospel euen like lightning And this horse is white for the honour and good opinion and reputation the rider and those that followed him did get among persons of honour c. He that sate vpon this white horse was called and reputed faithfull and true euery way sincere Contrary to the dissimulation of Antichrist the Popes who were so vnfaithfull in their actions and so false in their words and writings that no man could safely trust what they said or did He is also said to iudge and fight righteously dealing vprightly with all men and iustly contending with his enemies by word and deede so that he decideth all questions truely and rightly and confuteth and impugneth his aduersaries according to the precise rule of equitie Contrary to the Popes who decide all doubts and fight all their battailes as may best serue their onely partialities and profites without respect to iustice and hereof are notoriously knowen to be guilty His ability to iudge righteously appeareth by this that a cap. 19.12 his eyes are as a flame of fire by his cleere and piercing insight truely discerning the very secrets of all things which he looketh vpon euen as they be Contrary to the Popes whose ignorance or malice maketh them vnable throughly to perceiue and see much lesse to foresee things as they be as appeareth by their continuall accusing of innocents and acquiting of vngodly persons And contrary to the popish Clergie who know nothing but what is reuealed to them by confession of such as neither will nor can tell all whereas b Heb. 4.12.13 all things are naked and manifest to him with whom we haue to doe to wit the word of God As an argument of the iustnes of his warres and iudgement he hath c cap. 19.12 many crownes on his head signifying the supreme authority of the Scriptures to bee such as that all Kings and Princes and people are in right subiects therevnto and so in this period shall acknowledge themselues to be so that when he fighteth it is to subdue his rebels Affronting the wicked Antichristian Popes who arrogantly weare a triple crowne vsurping authoritie and tyrannising ouer such as they haue no interest in but are and ought to be subiects of the word of God Of the name of this rider it is said he hath a name written which no man knew but himselfe to shew that when the Popes or others do arrogate to themselues alone the sense and vnderstanding of the Scriptures as if they were to iudge thereof alone d Specul Mino. tra 3. f. 135. b. pretending to haue all knowledge and law in the cabenet of their owne breasts they lie For the written Scriptures which are subiect to no Iudge cannot be vnderstoode but by the helpe of themselues speaking elsewhere more euidently that which seemeth darke in any place And hereof great persecution is to rise Furthermore he is said e cap. 19.13 to be clothed in a garment dipt in blood to signifie the great effusion of bloud by the martyrdome of such which should stand for the authority of the word of God against the beast Antichrist For from henceforth the great question is of the authoritie sufficiency and vnderstanding of the Scriptures about which are great contentions and persecutions His garment is also dipt in blood to teach that at last f Isai 63.1.2.3 he shall victoriously triumph ouer his enemies so as his garments shall be red with the blood of the slaine This wonderfull person in plaine tearmes is a cap. 19.13 the word of God which though lately buried by the traditions and ignorance and malice of men now commeth abroade againe The retinue of this great and most mighty Generall are said to be the b cap. 19.14 hostes that are in heauen that is such godly men as are come forth into Christian warfare and c Phil 3.20 haue their conuersation in heauen and therefore those of his side d cap. 17.14 are called chosen and faithfull professing the truth of the doctrine of vocation election and faith contrary to the vocation election and faith of those which followed Antichrist and therefore fought a good fight vnder persecutions These followed him keeping themselues in all doctrines to the steppes of the word of God speedily and honorably as vpon white horses e cap. 19.14 clothed in fine linnen white and pure hauing put on the righteousnes of Christ and f Dan. 12.10 being purified in the furnace of affliction Of the manner of this riders fighting it is said that his weapons are sure and his confidence full of all assurance Concerning his weapons it is said that g cap. 19.15 out of his mouth went a sharpe sworde so mighty and strong that with it he should smite the heathen signifying both the sharpe and feruent and mighty confutations of the wicked which should be taken from the word of God sufficient to conuince all the policy and superstition of the Gentiles the papists by a word of his mouth and also the hot warres which the preaching of the word should raise against Antichrist and the remnant c. His confidence in this warre is so great that he doth giue assurance to all that in the end He h Psal 2.9 shall rule the heathen with a rod of yron keeping them vnder by seuere and mortall lawes The reason of which assurance is that He it is that by the ordinance of almighty God treadeth the winepresse as a seuere executioner of the fiercenes and wrath of almighty God against all his enemies First in token of his confidence to triumph ouer all authority so that Kings and Lords c. shall be his subiects and seruants he i cap. 19.16 hath vpon his horsemans coate or garment a name written k cap. 17.14 The King of Kings and Lord of Lords Secondly to encourage his souldiers and terrifie his enemies he causeth it to be generally proclaimed or preached as if l cap. 14.8 18.2 there followed an Angel saying Babylon that great citie is fallen it is fallen to that basenes that whereas it was esteemed the seate and crowne of Kings and Princes now it should become the habitation
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
supper of the Lord vnder one or both kindes Podiebrachius who was next vnto the King was moued by a parasite why he liked not their religion of popery required by the example and authoritie of so many and great Princes rather then the Hussites He answered we doe those sacrifices which we beleeue are pleasing to God neither is it in our owne choyce to beleeue what we list The minde is ouercome with great reasons c. I am perswaded of my ministers religion If I follow thy religion I may perchance deceiue men contrary to my soule I cannot deceiue God which looketh into the hearts of men c. p Bucholcer Par. Vrsp 406. Calistus the third in his second yeere Mahomet with a 150,000 beseeged Belgrade Capistranus a Minorite Frier stoode to encourage the Souldiers But he vsed not any superstitions For crying out he said Iesus looke on vs be present with thy people that suffereth for thee where are thy mercies of old Come and defend thy people least they say among the Gentiles where is now their God c. The Christians got a rich and noble victory In memory whereof the Pope according to his wonted superstition foolishly instituted the feast of the transfiguration of Christ Hunniades who had been a noble victor ouer the Turkes after this his last battaile fell sicke but hee would not haue the Sacrament brought to him as the superstitious manner was but commaunded himselfe to be carried to the Church where after the confession of his sinnes he receiued the Eucharist c. Thus much of the two witnesses and the things which fell out vpon their death and resurrection Thus the remnant giueth to glory to God And now the q cap. 11.14 second woe to the inhabitants of the earth by the Turkes c. seemeth to be past But the third woe will come anon CHAP. XII Of the third a cap. 11.14 woe to the inhabitants of the earth by Kings conuerted to Christ WE are now come to speake of the third woe which shal be inflicted vpon the inhabitants of the earth namely such which doe rather desire to possesse the earth then to inherit heauen And this containeth the abolishing of the kingdome of Antichrist and the victorious reigne and triumph of the word of God That which is spoken hereof is comprehended in the doctrine which came abroad when b cap. 11.15 the seuenth Angell blew the trumpet The summe whereof is manifestly knowne and euidently spoken by all godly men as if there were great voyces in heauen expressing their assurance of the things that are to come to passe And the summe is this that certainelie it can not be but the kings will also be conuerted to the Gospell by whose onely and holy administrations The kingdomes of this world are to be our Lords and his Christs and he shall reigne for euermore Hereupon all godly magistrates and ministers called by the name of the c cap. 11.16 foure and twentie elders which make any consciecne of their places as those which sit before God on their seates First doe humble themselues euen falling on their faces and subiecting themselues to this kind of administration Secondly they doe also leaue the seruice of idols and men and in their places worship God both with praises and administration of iustice As for their praises they do in effect say d cap. 11.17 we giue thee thankes Lord God almightie which art and which wa st and which art to come euen the same God which art euerlasting for that taking the power out of the hands of mortall weake and mutable men who of long time haue trodden thy sanctuarie vnder foote thou hast receiued the entrance and possession of thy great might and hast obtained thy kingdome in due time to bee fully and alone administred by thee As for their sincere administration of iustice they shew that they so regard the faithfull profession of the Gospell that thereupon such which rather professed the vanitie of the Gentiles then Christ euen the Antichristian Papists were a cap. 11.18 angrie The cause of their anger is first that the time is come of the wrath of God to be inflicted vpon whosoeuer shall deserue it without respect of persons Secondly because they see that the time is come of the dead which haue been martyred for the witnes of Iesus that they should be iudged whether they died as innocents or not so that the proceedings against such come to be looked into and examined againe by iustice faithfully which they are angrie should be knowen Thirdly because that God hath raised vp Christian Kings that God by them should giue rewarde vnto his seruants the prophets which doe sincerely speake the truth from the Lord whereas Antichrist did tread them vnder foote Yea because the time was come that he by Princes should giue reward also to the Saints and to them that in deede doe feare his name to small and great whom Antichrist exposed to death and confiscation loading them with reproches c. Fourthly because the time is come that God by Princes should vtterly destroy them which destroy the earth be they Turkes or Papists The aduancement of the godly and destruction of the wicked according to the exact rule of iustice in the word of God being thus drifted by godly Gouernors those of the spirit of Saint Iohn b cap. 15.1 saw another great and marueilous signe in heauen the Church of God Namely that God hath prepared seuen Angels hauing the seuen last plagues which he would inflict vpon his enemies for not by men but by them euen by a diuine hand is now to be fulfilled the wrath of God Of these plagues we are to consider the place whence these Angels doe receiue them and the powring of them forth These plagues are deliuered vnto them in the temple which after the godly doe put on zeale and thankesgiuing is opened Concerning the zeale of the godly first is declared how the true doctrine of Christian baptisme is restored namely that Christians ought to be vndefiled and zealous in the cause of Christ For the lauer of regeneration is now figured a cap. 15.2 by a glassie sea mingled with fire godly Princes and people being baptised b Mat. 3.11 with the holy Ghost and fire whereas hitherto they were baptised vnto repentance with patience Here therefore stand the Boemians which had gotten the victorie ouer the beast the ciuell estate which beareth vp the whore of Babylon and of his image the Ecclesiasticall policie and his marke of superstitious ceremonies and of the number of his name his armies which he sent against them These I say stand constantly at the glassie sea mingled with fire continuing sincere and zealous professors being so farre from being ouercome that contrarily they haue the harpes of God to sing praises vnto their God for their deliuerance from Antichrist And they being deliuered from the kingdome of Antichrist which spiritually
is called Egypt c cap. 15.3 sing the like song as was that of Moses the seruant of God when he was past the red sea And they sing also the song in praise of the Lambe Iesus Christ who had deliuered them from the beast of vnsatiable rapine c. The argument of the song was in effect Great and merueilous are thy workes d cap. 15.4 Lord God almightie iust and true are thy waies king of sainctes Who shall not feare thee O Lorde and not men and glorifie thy name with the contempt of men For thou onely art holy and the worlde by the kingdome of Antichrist is filthie and corrupted And also how euer yet Antichrist doe lift vp himselfe and doe fight to maintaine his kingdome yet all nations shall forsake Antichrist and come and worship before him that is God almightie by the conuersion of all Princes to the Gospell For proofe whereof his iudgements are made manifest to all that are not wilfully blind and all godly men doe see what in the end shall come to passe a cap. 15.5 cap. 11.19 After this zeale is found in the people of God the temple of God euen the temple of the tabernacle of the testimonie was opened in heauen For as yet the b Mat. 21.12 Act. 3.1 temple called the porch or vtter court is for the most part troden vnder foote by the Gentiles The tabernacle of the testimonie being opened c cap. 11.19 there was seene in the temple the arke of the couenant of grace the doctrine of iustification beeing clearely taught other points beeing yet in question among many of the Saints And hereupon arise great emotions of lightening and voices and thunders and earthquakes and much haile by excommunications and alterations c. The complement In d Fox Mart. p. 695. 696. 697. the last yeare of Calistus when foure mightie princes were dead vz. Wenceslaus Sigismundus Albertus Ladislaus who with the assistance of all the Popes in their times had attempted with all their mights to extinguish the religion planted by Hus in Boemia the Lord by the constancie of the Hussites continued the religion For when Ladislaus the great enemie of the Gospel was dead as he was prouiding for his marriage and for a strong confederacie and assistance against the Hâ—ssites e Bucholcerus Georgius Podiebrachius succeeded him in the kingdome who did openly fauour the cause and publikely professed the religion of Hus and so the kingdomes are Christs c. Pius the second f Volat. 22. his ambition defiled all his vertues Ann. 1418. g Par. Vrsp p. 416. 417. 418. c. He sent vnto Germanie to extort the Annates or first fruits condemned in the Councel at Basil Him Diatharius the Archbishop of Mogunce withstood for the exactions which hee robbed the countrie by vnder pretext of warre against the Turkes Wherefore the thundring Pope depriued him The causes of his depriuation were these 1. He would not consent to the exaction of a tenth twentith thirtith 2. He would not be sworne to the Pope not to conuent the Princes Electors for the affaires of the empire without the Popes leaue 3. He suffered not the Popes Legates at their pleasure to conuent the Clergie The Pope excommunicated him who writeth to the Princes of Germanie against the Pope to discharge Germanie of these exactions to appeale to a Councel Some of the Princes ioyne with him and write sharpely to the Pope requiring the release of these exactions for shee is fallen because her marchants were rich and complaining of the grieuance offered to the Archbishop shee is fallen for making all nations drinke of the wine of the wrath of her fornication Par. Vrs p. 418 The Pope persecuteth the Archbishop also for aduancing the Empire and depressing the Papacie and because to speake truth against the Pope is contrarie to the oath of Bishops a Supra 3. Thunder Crantz Met. 7. required by Alexander the third Hereupon b Pencer 5. f. 225. c. arise warres or earthquakes But the Princes despised the ratles of the Popes excommunications and preuaile in the warre The Pope excommunicateth and accurseth the Archbishop and his complices forbidding any to bring them victuals or armes Againe the Archbishop and his friends forbidde the Papists letters and processes vnder paine of their heades Revvarde as shee hath rewarded you c Par. Vrsp p. 419. c. Iohannes de Wessalia lifteth vp his voice preacheth against the ciuill authoritie of the Prelates and teacheth the scripture which hath a name that none doth know but it selfe must be interpreted by scripture Hee was also against indulgences the glosse c. d Buchol anno 1460. Par. Vrsp 407. c. The Pope also excommunicated Gregorius Heimberge doctor of the lawes Against whom this Gregorius did oppose a vehement writing in which he equalleth the rest of the Apostles to Peter and prooueth the Pope to be subiect to the Councels c. c Chro. Chro. He also excommunicated Georgius Podiebrachius and all Boem but in vaine f Par. Vrs p. 411. 412. c. Fridericus the third Emperour was besieged but releeued by Podiebrachius This Pope held many things which he left in writing as marriage was to be restored to Priests with more reason than it was taken away He said the striuers were birdes the Court the fielde the Iudges were nets the Proctors be fowlers c. g Fasc Temp. f. 89. b. At this time was a great reformation of Monasteries And note that often such reformations are read of but none continued for in time they returned to their old corruptions h Hunnius labor Illiric claui Scriptura Cusanus a learned Cardinal a thing as rare as a blacke Swan liued in this time but held horrible blasphemies of the scriptures vz. that the sense of them is changeable as please the times c. For the beast and his hoste maketh warre against the word of God that sit on the horse Paulus the second i Volat. 22. something like Licinius the tyrant Anno 1468. neither learned nor well conditioned Hee held a Platina it learning enough to write and read and affirmed that himselfe had all lawes in the cabinet of his own breast and that at his pleasure he might approoue and abolish the actes of others In b Geneb Caranza his time all offices and Ecclesiasticall preferments were sold to them that would giue most and all things were disposed to them that would make money of them he deuised many of the Cardinals ornaments and by name c Polyd. inuent 4. 6. their scarlet robes for this beast is scarlet coloured d Volat. 22. He opened a gap to all vice as The mother of whoredomes and abhominations of the earth For e Peuc 5. p. 227. b. he was most notoriously infamous and exeble for most filthie sodomie of male stewes and diuellish artes or sorcerie
violence and disgrace both to the Cardinals and to all men and women The spoile was infinite and the ransomes of the great men was more The Pope was as a prisoner and him the souldiers derided setting some drunken fellowe to be carried like a Pope c. and among hand crying and terrifying the Pope and Bishops with the name of Luther i Geneb p. 1117. Lanquet Fox Mart c. The same yeare was a disputation at Berne where no Papists would appeare the next yeare the Bernites Geneua and diuers of their neighbours abolished poperie A k Par. Vrsp p. 469. 473. great pestilence was at Genua and a great famine in and about Venice of which many died A great famine is in Germanie for three yeares There was also the sweating sicknesse in England Braband and Germanie a Lanquet Stransbrough laieth away the masse and Basil is reformed b Par. Vrsp p. 471. Geneb p. 1118. At Spires the Princes assembled where a Papist preached that he rather would depart from the Gospel than from the ceremonies of the Church Thus the beast blasphemeth God and maketh warre against his word The Princes and certaine cities protested that they could not agree to certaine things concluded in that Councell because they were contrarie to the doctrine of pietie and Christian faith Anno 1530. thereupon arose the name of Protestants c Fox Mart. Then followed the most Antichristian and horrible persecution of Merindol and Cabriers d Par. Vrsp p. 474 475. The Emperour at Augusta commanded the Princes which were Protestants to bring in their confessions of their faith which they did The papists would answer them but cleane without scripture and so that they might be allowed to load the innocent cause with horrible reproches and blasphemies for the beast openeth his mouth to blaspheme There followed a fearefull inundation of the sea which destroied many in Braband Holland Flaunders and Zealand And at Rome besides most fearefull thundrings and much heate and many fires such a power of water fell from heauen that men thought they should haue perished with a second flood houses and people were carried downe the riuer Tybur In the lower places of the citie the water was 33. or 34. foote high The e Geneb p. 1119. French king erecteth Lectures in Paris for the tongues giuing reward to the Prophets Florence by fire and sword was ouerthrowne by the armies of the pope and Emperour For they killed the Prophets of the Lord Sauanorola c. f Fox Mart. The Heluetians fight one against the other the papists against the protestants but presently after enter league of perfect amitie The Turkes make an irruption into Hungarie and Austria Paulus the third m Morise papa p. 95. had a register of 45,000 harlots Ann. 1534. that paid him weekely tribute for their whoredome As yet the harlots pay euery one a Iuly by the weeke which amounteth for the most part to 45,000 Ducates by the yeere Henry n Geneb 1121. the eighth king of England defecteth from the Pope whereby the kingdome of the beast is obscured in England o Par. Vrsp. p. 478. Diuerse cities in Germany erect stipends for students of diuinitie and good artes In p Lanquet France they cruelly persecuted all such as they called Lutherans a 1535. Lanquet At this time were giuen to the King of England by the consent of the Abots all such religious houses which were vnder 300. Markes for the foules eate the flesh of great and small The Emperour rebuketh the Protestantes for taking away the goods and lands of the Clergie b Bucholcer Pomeranus reformeth the Churches in Denmark The c Par. Vrsp. p. 480. Protestants which heretofore differed in the doctrine of the supper do now accord d 1538. Lanquet Fox c. Abbies were suppressed in England and all Friers Monkes Canons Nunnes and other sorts of religious persons were rooted out of the Realme and the liuings distributed by gifte or sale to Noblemen Gentlemen and all sorts that would buy them e cap. 19.17.18 for al the foules that do flie through the middest of heauen are called to come to eate the flesh of Captaines c. f 1539. Fox But the king declined to Poperie and set forth sixe articles which caused many godly men to loose their liues The g Sleidan Lanquet same time the Emperour obiected to the Princes of Germany that they became Protestants not for religion but for the desire of the spirituall liuings and that they delighted in discord and enclined vnto his enemies Hereby the Protestants feared war and diuerse Princes and Bishops enter into a league in dispite of the Protestants There followed presently a h Lanquet yere of great heate drowght in England many gaue halfe their corne for grinding the other halfe diuerse great Riuers were dried vp many died of burning agues boyling in heate i Orig. Ephemerid In other places also was like heate drought great Riuers might be ridden ouer small Riuers were dried vp diuers woodes were burned with the heate of the Sunne There were in Germany and Boem many fiers so that at Prage the kings principall pallace was consumed with fier k Geneb 1130. The greatest part of Germany leauing the Pope desolate by forsaking his religiō begin to neglect the authoritie of the Emperour that laboured to abolish the Protestants religion l Buchol Ann. 1541. The Emperour intending to conquere Algiers in Affrica is repelled by shipwrack at sea and by stormie weather which the Emperour did iudge to be the wrath of God against him m 543. Ibid. Hermannus Archbishop of Colen attempteth the reformation of religion in his countries The n 545. Geneb p. 1130. Anno 1546. Councell of Trent began against Luther c. This Councell taking all prerogatiue and superioritie from the word of God which the Lord hath crowned a Ses 4. p. 8. 10. a. 130. 131. doth receiue and adore with like affection of piety and reuerence as well the traditions of the Church as the old and new testament and doth holde that none may interpret the Scriptures against that sense which the Church of the time holdeth b Geneb pag. 1132. 1127. Charles the Emperor hauing concluded a peace with the Turke and with the French King the better to roote out the Gospel by the instigation and with the confederacie of Pope Paul the twentie sixth of Iune maketh warre vpon the protestants who defende themselues with their swords Yea c Sleidan 17. pag. 315. b. Fernesius the Generall of those aydes which the Pope sent to the Emperor against the Protestants is reported to say that he would make such a slaughter in Germany that his horse might swim in the blood of the Lutherans d cap. 19.19 Thus the beast and the Kings of the earth and their hosts are gathered together to make battaile against the