enuyouse manne The whole bodye foloweth the heades As the deuyll ys malycyouse wycked ferce cruell tyrannycall falâ—e execrable and deceytfull â—o are all hys members In the prudence of the fleshe after him they walke in Idolatry hipocreyse aÌ„d all other fylthynesse And lyke as a fore Christes 〈◊〉 these heades were in the Serpe 〈◊〉 the golden Calues in the kyngedome of Babylon in Nemroth in Pharao in antiochus and in the pharisees and Sâ—ribes byshoppes lawers and prestes so haue they bene sens hys tyme vnder the vâ— seales openynge and the. vij trompettes blowynge after the same 〈◊〉 Under the first he had a Serpentes head in the Iewes most malycyouslye and subtyllye withstandinge Christ and hys Apostles preteÌ„dynge the zele of God hys lawes Under the seconde he had a calues head in the Idolatours which slâ—we the consâ—eunt wytnesses of Christes veryte Under the thirde the head of a proude lyon in the bolde rable of heretykes presumynge agaynst Gods worde to afferme vngodlye thynges Under the forth the head of a Beare in the gredye multytude of holye hypocrites and spirituall Antichristes which hath rauyshed vp the substaunce of thys worlde vsurpinge the empyre of the same For then begonne the papacye with Mahometes myscheff Under the fift the head of a leoparde in the dyuersyte of pestilent sectes or execrable locustes of whome euerye one reioyseth in hys owne colour and inuention For then ded they sore increase Under the sixt the head of a Beast vnlyke to all other in the Tyrannye of wycked gouerâ—â—â—â—â— blynded and perswaded by the Prestes to flee Gods seruauntes for the vpholdynge of their stynkinge generacyon For then was and ys yet done moche murther vpoÌ„ soche as confesseth the truthe Under the seuenth or last seale openynge shall he haue yet styll the head of a maÌ„ne in fleshelye polycyes and falshede of the pope and hys prelates in the doctours and prestes tyll God vtterlye shall destroye them with the breathe of hys mouthe 4 The seyd dragon had also .x. hornes or all subtle wayes wherwith to impugne the feble weake nature of manne or to prouoke hym euermore to rebell agaynst Gods commandementes 5 Upon hys seuen heades he had .vij crownes sygnyfieÌ„ge therbye that both he and hys members hath not onlye possessed the afore named vices but also they haue ouer the worlde reigned in theÌ„ and yet do to thys daye In pryde falshede malyce crafte cruelte wyckednesse all other myscheues triuÌ„phe they yet 6 And hys tayle drue towardes hym the third part of the starres in conclusion shrewe them downe to the â—arthe By worldlye promocyons lucre fauer and other flatterynge fanâ—asyes hath he tangled manye lerned menne and plucked theÌ„ cleane from Christes true churche and from the lyfe of the gospell so pronoâ—â—ynge them whollye to geue them selues to the stodye of erronyouse doctryne and lyenge prophecyes to seduce the worldlye multitude and kepe them in perpetuall blindenesse 7 So that they are now cast into the earthe They are become all carnall fylthye and vngodlye in al their wisdome stodye aÌ„d workes in all their counsels preachynges and teachinges Now are they the wycked Apostles of Sathan no longar maye they shyne in the fyt mament The Text. 1 And the dragoÌ„ stode before the woman which was redye to be delyuered 2. for to deuoure her childe as sone as it were borne 3. And she brought forth a man chylde 4. which shulde rule all nacyons with a rod of yron 5. And her sonne was taken vp vnto God and to his seate 6. And the woman fled into wyldernesse 7. where she had a place prepared of God 8. that they shulde fede her there 9. a thousande two hundred and thre score dayes 1 Before the afore seyd trauaylinge womaÌ„ stode thys dragon redye to deuoure her childe so sone as it were borne Euer more â—s the deuyll waytinge his praye where as the gospell is syncerelie taught least anye therbye shuld become the children of God 2 He selâ—eth all craftes polycyes and ingynnes to take the worde from the harâ— least they beleuynge yt shuld be saued Thus Tought he to deuowre Christ after the letter appoyntinge Herode to slee hym sone after hys byrthe and whaÌ„ he se that waye wolde not take yet left he not of tyll the Iewes had slayne hym Not thus yet satisfyed he laboured by the byshoppes to extynguishe the faythe of hys resurreccyon least that shuld profyght vnto lyfe More ouer where as the Apostles aÌ„d other godlye meÌ„ne hath geueÌ„ Christ vnto other in maner as they receyued hym he hath left no cauteles vnsought by hys malygnaunt members euer sens to depryue Gods people therof 3 Soche a man chylde sayth Saynt Iohan brought thys woman forth as with an yron rodde shuld rewle all nacyons Neuer ys the true churche Idle but conceyueth Christ at the gospell preachynge retayneth hym in faythe and bryngeth hym forthe in teachynge other the same No woman chylde ys he impotent weake and feble but a manchylde brynginge with hym alwayes a strange myghtye and inuincyble sprete wher as he is vnfaynedly receyued For he is the mightye lorde that ys valeaunt in battayle 4 With the yron wande of hys worde inuyncible shall he gouerne hys meke spreted flocke that non other lawes shall they require With the same also shall he subdue al powers which are not of hym and dryue them downe to the bottom of helle For by faythe onlye in him to the victorye gotteÌ„ ouer the worlde 5 This childe was also takeÌ„ vp to God and vnto his trone Where as the deuyl thought to deuowre hym and to wrappe hym vp for euer vnder deathe he put hym besyde hys purpose Uyctoryouslye he arose vp from deathe to lyfe he ascended vnto heauen and now sytteth vpon the ryght hande of God the father almyghtye And where as he ys now there shall hys faythfull folowers and mynysters be here after for that is hys is also theirs byrthe lyfe deathe resurreccion and ascencion 6 The womaÌ„ fledde after this into the wyldernesse What els doth te iust people of God but flee the coÌ„tagiousnesse vanyte tumulte fornicacioÌ„ Idolatrye and fylthinesse of this worlde sekynge God in the solytarye hart aÌ„d not in outwarde fantacies I gote me awaye farre of sayth Dauid and remayned in the desert Monkes nonnes chanons fryres hath fledde into monasteries couentes aÌ„d howses but nothynge after this sorte For in all voluptuouse pleasurs haue they there lyued The vnfayned solitarye manne after Hieremye continueth peceablye with him self aÌ„d hath his hart aboue 7 In the sayd wildernesse had she a place prepared of God Which is noÌ„ other but Gods proteccioÌ„ defence sauegarde promised in the scripturs That the lord shuld preserue vs as he ded his chosen peple of Israel whan he wente before them in a clowde vpon the daye and in the nyght in a pyller of fyre Dauid boasted hym self that God was his refiuge and that he dwelled vnder
the fifte brought he the worlde into a damnable peace of Idolatrye and supersticyoÌ„ And for the sixt seynge he can not yet preuayle he maketh open warre vpon the remnaunt of her sede 14 Now doth hys Synagoge of Prelates Prestes Hypocrites and tyrauntes make wycked lawes agaynst them Now do they persecute them for kepynge the commandementes of God in marryage in receyuinge meates with thankes geuynge and in not goynge out to seke Christ here and there in their Masses and mutterynges in their outwarde colours and shaddowes 15 Now put they them to deathe which haue the Testimonye of Iesus Christ preachynge hym for an onlye teacher necessarye for an onlye mediatoure and aduocate for an onlye sauer and redemer for our onlye ryghtousnesse wysdome and helthe For their warre ys onlye agaynst them that kepe Gods commaundementes and that haue the wytnesse of Iesu Neyther ys yt agaynst bawdes nor whores agaynst murtherers nor theues agaynst Idolatours nor Hypocrites sorcerers nor Sodomytes aduowterers nor glottons Idyotes nor lyars Idle prestes nor vagabondes scysmatykes nor traytours Non of these seke they out Non of these accuse they as their sessyons but the onlye readers of thâ— gospell and poore fauorers of Gods truthe 16 Vpon the â—re sande stande they euer more with their graÌ„de captayne to fyght thys battayle NoÌ„ other lawes haue they to grownde themselues vpon but their owne tradycyons and â—customes with soche fantastycall actes as they daylye make or procure to be made of Princes for their owne wycked purpose And as their lawes are beggerlye and weake so is their vsurped auctoryte so are their proude tytles so are their myters their anoyntinges and pompouse funccyons All are sande duste and rotten powder before God not grounded vpon hys worde All are vnprofytable chaffe Yea their selues are a grounde vnfrutefull sandye and vnsure fytt for the dragon to staÌ„de vpon to fyght agaynst Christes members For they are the verye seate of Sathan and hys contynuall dwellynge place And that he can not do by hymselfe he bringeth euermore to passe by them Innumerable also are their deuyllyshe practyses their wyles aÌ„d their subtiltees to vpholde their master as aâ—â— the sandes of the see The .xiij. Chaptre By the monstruouse owgelye and most odyouse Beast rysynge out of the see with .vij. heades and .v hornes ys mente the vnyuersall or whole Antichrist compreheÌ„dinge in hym all the wyckednesse furye falshede frowardnesse deceyt lyes craftes slayghtes subtyâ—tees â—ipocresyet tyrannye myscheffes pryde aÌ„d all other deuyllyshenesse of all hys malycyouse members which hath bene sens the begynnynge The excedynge presumpcyon of them that hateth the blessed lorde sayed Dauid aryseth daye by daye Contynuallye thyne enemies growe alwayes they increace and euermore they prospere in thys worlde Not from the stedefast or sure grounde which are the lordes peple aryseth this beast but out of the waueryâ—ge see or from the fyckle felyshyppe and moueable multitude of the vngodlye For the wycked sort after Esaye are the ragynge see that can not rest whose water fometh with the myre and grauel No peace ys amoÌ„ge the vngodly sayth the lorde no vnyte no charyte nor mutuall christeÌ„ loue It pleased therfor the holye ghost to prouoke Iohan after hys secrete vysyon to describe thys myghtye Antichrist thus in hys ryght colours accordinge to that he had seane to the fore warnynge of Christes peple The Text. 1. ANd I sawe a Beast ryse out of the see 2. hauynge seuen heades and ten hornes 3. and vpon hys hornesten crownes 4. and vpoÌ„ hys head the names of blasphemye 5. And the Beast whych I sawe was lyke a Catte of the mountayne 6. and hys fete were as the fete of a Beare 7. and hys mouthe as the mouthe of a lyoÌ„ 8. And the dragon gaue hym 9 hys power 10. and hys seate 11. and great autoryte ¶ The Paraphrase 1 I behelde sayth Saynt Iohan an execrable Beast verye odyouse and hatefull to loke vpon rysynge out of the rauenouse roarynge see For the wycked auaunceth themselues as the grene baye tree in vngodlynesse and the Synagoge of proude Hipocrytes ryseth vp aloft settynge vp their cristes as doth the fatte Cedar trees of libanus All beastlye are they as was Elymas the sorcerer full of fylthynesse gyle and falshede yea the verye whelpes of the deuyll subuertynge the wayes of God Non other ys this Beast here described than was the pale horse in the forth age the cruell multytude of locustes in the fift age and the horses of incomparable wodenesse for the sixt 2 SeaueÌ„ heades and .x. hornes had thys cruell beast not vnlyke therin to the aforesayd rede dragon or Serpent For â–ª loke what pestyleÌ„t suggestyons in errours and lyes and what deceyuable power in sygnes and wonders hath regned in the deuyll for all ages the same also hath regned in the wycked members of hys Besty all bodye in the furyous byshoppes lawers doctours prestes Hypocrytes and false magistrates for their heades are their vnyuersall craftes and their hornes their tyrannouse auctorytees vsurped primacyes or malygnauÌ„t magistrates Thy stroÌ„ge myghty power lorde sayth Dauid hath broken the dragons heades in the ragynge waters Thu hast smytteÌ„ in peces the heades of the greateleâ—â—athan Inhaunce not yowr hornes so hygh ye styffnecked Antichristes for the hornes of the vngodly wyll the lorde plucke downe and exalte the hornes of the ryghtous in the howse of Dauid hys seruaunt More are the hornes here in nombre than are the heades For greatter ys the power than ys the suggestyon the vsurped auctoryte than the crafte the Mageste than the erroure and moche more myscheff maye worke 3 Thys Beast had vpon hys .x. hornes .x. crownes sygnyfyenge hys vyctorye domynyon and prymacye ouer the vnyuersall worlde and that he through the wyckednesse of the peple ys the vnworthy captayne and prince therof In thys onlye poynt â—yffereth the Dragon from the Beast the deuyll from hys members or sathan from hys carnall Synagoge He had .vij. crownes vpon hys .vij. heades They haue .x. crownes here vpon their x. hornes For that he hath but in symple suggestyon they haue in double power of coaccyon Where as he doth but dallyenglye persuade they maye enforce and coÌ„pell Where as he doth but easelye moue they maye by rygorouse auctoryte constrayne Whan he hath propowned aÌ„ erroure they maie by their power establyshe yt for an infallyble truthe and make of yt a necessarye artycle of the christen beleue as they haue done of purgatorye pardons confessyoÌ„ sayntes worshyppynge latten seruyce hearynge and soche lyke WhaÌ„ he hath ones made a lye as he ys the father of all lyes they maye auctoryse yt for an vnwritteÌ„ veryte lyke as they haue done manye Moche more myscheff maye they do beynge hys spyrytuall instrumenteâ— than he can do alone as largelye apereth by their workes Neuer coude Sathan haue putt Christ vnto deathe had he not entred into Iudas and so betrayed hym had he not entred into the
hardened Pharao agaynst them which sent his sonne Iesus Christ to saue them and yet suffred the Prestes to murther hym coÌ„sideringe he ys that potter which maketh both the vessels of honoure and dishonoure 13 Breuelye to conclude the whole of this matter sayth the Angell the gorgyouse aparcled womaÌ„ or glytteringe churche of aÌ„tichrist which thu sawest here of late in misterye ys also in resemblaunce the great cyte Babylon the mother of all the spirituall abhominacyons and Idolatryes done vpon the earthe For lyke as from Syon hath the lawe commeÌ„ forth and the worde of God from Hierusalem so hath yssewed forth from this Babylonyshe Rome soche a false Relygyon into Emprours princes and peples as with fylthyr superstycyons hath poysoned all the worlde 14 For a kyngedom she hath ouer the kynges or noble gouernours of the earthe a false power a vsurped auctoryte and a seate of verye pestylence Alas for pytye that so worthye potentates shuld be in subieccyon to so slynkynge an whore to so vyle an harlott beynge so the seruauntes of synne and captyue slaues to all wyckednesse from the which the lorde ones delyuer them Amen ¶ Thus endeth the seconde parte The Chapters ¶ The contentes of the seconde parte THe .xi. Chaptre begynneth Fo. 4. wherin Iohan measureth the temple the aultre and theÌ„ that worshippe therin The .ii. wytnesses do their appoynted offyces the Beast makynge warre agaynst them and sleynge them A greate earthquake foloweth and the seconde wo ys past ¶ The .xii. Chaptre begynneth fo 21. wherin the seuenth Angell bloweth hys troÌ„pet In heauen apereth a woman all clothed with the sunne whom the Dragon diuerselye vereth Michael fighteth with the Dragon and ouercometh hym The woman fleeth into the wyldernesse and there ys preserued ¶ The xiii Chaptre begynneth Fol. 43. wherin a Beast ryseth out of the see with seuen heades and ten hornes receyuinge auctoryte of the Dragon One of hys heades ys wounded and healed agayne Another beast commeth out of the earthe with .ii. hornes which deceyueth the eartlye dwellers and rayseth vp an Image lyke vnto the Beast In the ende ys couÌ„ted the nombre of the Beast ¶ The .xiiii. Chaptre begynneth fo 74. wherin the laÌ„be standeth vpon the mouÌ„te Syon and the vndefyled congregacyon with him An Angell sheweth the euerlastynge gospell an other declareth the fall of the greate whore An other ys coÌ„maunded with his syckle to cutte downe the grapes of the vyneyarde ¶ The .xv. Chaptre begynneth Fo. 94. wherin Iohan seeth the seuen Angels hauynge the seuen last plages of the wrathe of God On the glassye see standeth menne hauynge the harpes of God and they synge the songe of Moyses and the songe of the laÌ„be The tabernacle of testymonye is seane in heauen ¶ The .xvi. Chaptre begynneth Fo. 114. wherin the seueÌ„ Angels poure out their vyalles of Gods wrathe The first vpon the earthe The seconde vpoÌ„ the see The thirde vpoÌ„ the ryuers The fourth on the sunne The fift vpon the seate of the Beast The sixte vpon the greate flood Euphrates And the seuenth into the ayre ¶ The .xvii. Chaptre begynneth fol. iii. wherin an Angell sheweth vnto Iohan the iudgemeÌ„t of the great whore which sitteth vpon the Beast He descrybeth both her and the Beast at large Fynally he sheweth the meanynge both of his heades hornes with other greate mysteryes more ¶ Marke in the .xiiii. Chaptre the. 75. aÌ„d 88. leafe the .ii. Images sett clerelye out of ordre by the onlye neglygence of the printers ¶ The poore persecuted churche of Christe or immaculate spowse of the lambe Apoca. 12. ¶ The Dragon was wrothe with the woman which fledde into the wyldernesse and went and made warre with the remnaunte of her sede which kepe the commaundemente of God and haue the testymonye of Iesus Christ. ¶ The proude paynted churche of the pope or synnefull Synagoge of Sathan Apoca. 17. ¶ I sawe a woman sytt vpon a rose coloured Beast full of names of blasphemye decked with golde preciouse stone and pearles with whome the Kynges of the earthe committed whoredome and the inhaâ—iters of the earthe are dronken with the wyne of her fornycacyon ☞
sonne and gloryous as an armye of menne with their banners and stremers Thys woman ys bewtyfullye decked with the shynynge sonne of ryghtousnesse NoÌ„ ys of her that hath not done on Iesus Christ beynge renewed in their hartes by faythe Her chyldren are not they that persecuteth Gods worde no more than was Annas and Caiphas Ioannes and Alexander Thys women 〈◊〉 to haue the moâ—ne vnder her fâ—te To the churche or congregacion of God are all other creature 〈◊〉 â—ll 〈◊〉 thinges haue the lorde suâ—dewed vnto her She ys the ryght â—heyre and inheritoure of them through Christ they with her to be delyuered from the bondage of corrupcyon to serue in liberte 4 Vpon her head was also a crowne of twelue starres which betokeneth not onlye the twelue Apostles declarynge the glorye of Christes kyngedome immediatlye after hys deathe but all other godlye mynistres of the worde also which haue done the same euer sens Onlye regneth the true Christen churche by the worde of God by the syncere scrypturs by the doctryne of the Apostles and neyther by superstycyons nor ceremonies neyther by cownsels nor customes by doctors nor fathers by myters nor rochettes by typpettes nor whodes by shauen crownes nor syne gownes by crosses nor copes by belles nor torches by shrynes nor gylâ—e Images nor yet by .xii. cupples in a â—yuerye with golden cheanes and garden 〈◊〉 Her bewtye consisteth onlye in faythe and in the obseruacyon of Gods holye commandemeÌ„tes Her true mynysters or preachers as verye chosen Starres sheweth forth hys glorye to the edyficacyoÌ„ of other not their owne pompe aod magnificence 5 And she was as ys the woman with chylde She cryed trauelynge in byrthe and was payned as one redye to be delyuered With Christ ys the churche bygge whan her members are in full faythe In the hart ys he euermore conceyued and delyuered forth soche tyme as he ys declared vnto other For thys cause Christ called them hys mother which had faythe and thervpon ded the wyll of hys father Of faythe in the first promes that Christ shuld destroye the Serpent was be first conceyued in Adam and Eua and so grewe forth in ryghtouse Abell in Seth Enos Enoch Noe Sem Thare Melchisedech Abraham and Loth. And as the promyses waxed stronger as in Abraham Moyses Dauid and the Prophetes and the peple of God more in nombre so wexed the woman byggar and byggar tyll the fulnesse of her tyme was come that she shuld be delyuered Which was soche tyme as Christ apered to the worlde taught and was coÌ„uersauÌ„t here amonge meÌ„ne And this course haue she kepte euer seÌ„s shall do to the latter daye in theÌ„ that beleue Thus haue she had Christ in her wombe sens the beginninge 6 And beynge full of hys heauenlye sprete she hath cryed in the Patriarkes and Prhphetes in the Apostles faythfull mynysters as one trauelynge in byrthe Her crye was the myghtye and stronge declaracyon of Christes doctryne the feruent zele and desyre of the glorye of God and of all-mennes helthe in Christ. She trauayleth euermore a newe lyke as ded Paule tyll Christ be fashioned in her Christen members Wyth all her strengthe she laboureth that the promysed Sede maye increase in the faythe of all menne 7 Fynallye she ys payned with labours dolours blasphemyes trobles and terryble persecucyons and neuer ys delyuered without them Neuer ys Christ ernestlye receyued tyll some of her membres doth suffre The constaunt sprete and inuyncyble standynge by the truthe in them hath conuerted manye And lyke as the payned woman in all her agonyes ys moche conforted by the hope of a chylde so are Gods faythfull wytnesses trustynge that by their pacyent and glad sufferaunce Christ shuld be receyued and ryghtlye fashyoned in manye Yea thys causeth them to reyoce in all aduersite and lyttle to esteme their paynes The Text. 1 And there apered an other wonder in heauen 2. for beholde a great reed Dragon 3. hauynge seuen heades 4. and ten hornes 5. and seuen crownes vpon hys heades 6. and hys tayle drue the thirde parte of the starres 7. and caste them to the earthe ¶ The Paraphrase 1 After thys sayth Saynt Iohan apered in heauen an other token or maruele all dyuerse from the first The true churche which is Gods kingedome was neuer yet without coÌ„tradyccyoÌ„ nor with out the craftye assaultes of enemyes Adam was not so sone created but he was immedyatlye assaulted of Sathan Christ entered not so sone the worlde but he was bye and bye persecuted The deuyll goeth aboute lyke a roaryngely on sekynge whome he maye deuowre 2 For beholde there was seane a great reed dragon betokenynge the seyd deuyll with his whole retynewe full of deceyt craft malyce poyson pryde and fercenesse to enforce the psore weakelynges to coÌ„sent vnto hys falshede All reed hys bâ—â—ye semed in token that they which are of hym are all full of cruelte spyght and bloud shedynge afflyctynge the constaunt beleuers for withstandinge hys assaultes SeldoÌ„ ys ke out of the earthe as wytnesseth Iob but commonlye in the companye of menne impugninge the faythfull And no powre ys able to matche hym vnlesse yt commeth from aboue 3 The seyd dragon had seuen heades sygnyfienge all the craftye wyles and subtle suggestyons that he hath practysed and vsed agaynst Christ hys worde vnder all the .vij. seales openynge the vij trompettes blowynge â–ª Verye easye yt is to coÌ„iecture what maner of heades they were markynge other places of the scripture A Serpentes head shuld seme to be the first consyderinge that in the SerpeÌ„t he deceyued our first pareÌ„tes with his benemed craftes This heade so malycyouslye poysened maÌ„ne that God repeÌ„ted hym of hys creacyoÌ„ and destroyed hys whole kynde in the flood .viii. persones onlye reserued After the flood had he the head of a Calfe for the seconde in sygnificacyon of the shamefull Idolatrye and wycked worshyppynge that then begonne in Nemroth and so contyned in the heythen The thirde was the head of a lyon full of pryde and oppression expressed first in the cruell reigne of the Assyryanes and Caldeanes aÌ„d after in the proude byshoppes and prestes The forth was a Beares head full of rauyne and cruelnesse betokenynge the fâ—rce kyngedome of the medes and perseanes Consequentlye hys fift head was lyke a leopardes head of manye colours full of fycklenesse and change ablenesse And that was the vnconstaunt reygne of the Grekes Hys sixt was the head of a Beast farre vnlyke all other beastes which sygnyfyeth the kyngedome of the Romanes with their monstruouse lawes more than nedeth The seueÌ„th ys not vnlyke to a mannes head includynge all carnall wysdome with all deuyllyshe polycyes and craftes and thys ys the verye papacye here in â–ª Europa whych ys the generall Antichrist of all the whole worlde almost whych hath alreadye subdued and destroyed the Empyre of Rome For he ys called the Apostata and manne of synne By thys onlye head ys the Dragon named the
Bysshoppes and lawers and so condempned hym Neuer had the Apostles nor all other godlye preachers sens their tyme bene sent out of the waye had not those mytred Mahometes ' and prestes wrought styll their olde feates 4 Vpon thys be astes head was writteÌ„ the names of blasphemye agaynst the lorde and hys Christ. Which are non other thaÌ„ the proude glitterynge tytles wherwith they garnyshe their vsurped auctoryte to make yt seme gloriouse to the worlde hauynge within theÌ„ contayned the great mysterye of inyquite What other els ys pope Cardynall Patriarke legaâ—e Metropolytane primate Archebysshoppe Dyocelane Prothonotarye ArchedeakoÌ„ Offycyall Chaunceller Commissarye Deane PrebeÌ„de Person vycar my lorde Abbott master doctor and soche lyke but verye names of blasphemie â–ª For offyces they are not appoynted by the holye Ghost nor yet ones meÌ„cyoned in the scripturs What other ys yt but abhominacioÌ„ the pope to wryte hymselfe the most holye father the generall vycar of Christ the supreme head of the Chrisâ—en churche and the onlye dystrybuter of the treasurs of God The bysshoppes and prestes also to call them selues their churches brydegromes sytters in Gods stede forgeuers of synne and our ladyes chaste knyghtes Non other are they so abusynge their flocke in leauynge the iust office of syncere preachynge vnder soche vayne tytles after the mynde of Zacharye but verye shamefull Idols in dede Their decrees decretals ConstytucioÌ„s Canons Rewles Statutes prouyncyall and synodall tradycyons lawes fatherlye customes and vsages not grounded vpon Gods commandementes are verye deuylyshnesse and Hipocresye blasphemynge the name of God For whye to haue the name of blasphemye vpon their heades is non other than vnder a gloryouse tytle to maynteyne that thinge whych ys blasphemouse gloryfyenge themselues in the same The vngodlye sayth Dauid with mockes hath dysdayned the lorde and with open mouthe hath vttred wyckednesse agaynst God 5 And the stranÌ„ge fashoned beast sayth Saynt Iohan whom I sawe in thys vysyon was lyke in similitude to a catte of the mountayne full of manye coloured spottes in token of inconstancye varyete and fycklenesse 6 Hys fete were as the fete of a beare ferce rough and yll fauored in sygnyficacyon of cruelte stubbernesse and vnclennesse 7 And hys mouthe semed as the mouthe of a lyon declarynge hym to be full of pryde rauyne aÌ„d excesse To soche beastes as here are mencyoned compareth Danyel vnder hidden misterye serten myghtye kingedomes of the worlde As to the lyonesse which here ys called a lyon for the more cruelte now vsed than was in those dayes the proude kyngedomes of the Assyryanes and Caldeanes To the Beare the cruell kyngedomes of the Medes and Parthyanes And vnto the Catte of the mountayne the vnstedefast kyngedome of the Grekes Of pryde spoyle and roborye are the Assyrianes and Caldeanes condempned by Esaye Nahum and Abacuch the Prophetes The Medes and Parthianes helde captyue the peple of God as wytnesseth Hester Paralipomenon and Esaye The Grekes most spyghtfullye were bent agaynst them vnder the cruell kynge Antiochus as in the Machabees ys euydent No abhominacion nor mysterie of inyquyte as Paule calleth yt was euer founde in these kyngedomes but now reygneth manyfolde in the detestable Papacye or monstruouse kyngedome of Antichrist as all the worlde maye se. No where was euer more pryde vanyte and cruelnesse Ydolatry whoredome and fylthynesse hypocresye falshede and fycklenesse extorcyon vayneglorye and couetousnesse sorcerye superstycion and vnfaythfulnesse More than all the vnfaythfull kyngedomes vnder heaueÌ„ haue thys sodomyticall spyritualte defyled with their wytcherye the hoâ—ye temple of God whych is the Christen churche They haue most shame fullye abused gods chosen peple which are the vessels ordayned to hys glorye They haue holden hys fre seruantes most myserablye captyue vnder their wycked decrees and tradycions The cruelte of Pharao Antiochus and Cayphas compared to their tyraÌ„ny ys but as yt were a playe dallyaunce or shaddowe In them ys all letherye and vnclennesse all ragynge lustes and wantonnesse all fleshly abuses and beastlynesse no naturall order obserued Nothinge in a maner are the cruell constytucions made ageynst the Iewes by the suggestyon of Aman and by Antiochus to their wycked lawes and ordynaunces For they were onlye ageynst the bodye theirs are ageynst mennes sowles So that the papysty call kyngedome of antichrist are to be sonne both the lyon the Beare and the Catte of the mountayne they not onlye partycypatynge with all vnfaythfull regyons but also doublynge with them in all abhomynacyons vnder the skye The mouthe they haue of a lyoÌ„ roaryng out euermore blasphemies curses and bytternesse The feaâ—e of a Beare sygnyfieth their rauenous affeccyons ronninge vnto all pernyciouse euyls â—erye swyft also to the shedynge of bloude cencyon 11 And finallye as concernynge auctoryte lyke as Christ beynge manne toke power of God to do soche myracles as non els coulde do so ded he of the deuyll beynge his wreched bodye to worke proâ—igyouse maruels and wonders in hipocrisye amonge the vnfaythfull multitude by the secrete sufferaunce of God So that in all peruertynge power supremyte and auctoryte he foloweth his father Sathan yea in euerye poynt For lyke as he depryued simple Iob a manne that feared God of his substaunce catell chyldren aÌ„d seruauntes and vexed him in his fleshe with most greuouse botches so doth this gredye leuiathan this malyciouse murtherer the manne of synne and bodye of the deuyll with his deuourynge locustes robbe the poore peple of their sweare labours trauayle and necessarye lyuinge sparynge neyther sycke nor socoâ—rlesse poore wydowe nor fatherlesse no goods gotten by thefâ—e mannesslawter extorcyon brybâ—rye pollage Idolatrye bawdrye and all other vngodlynesse commynge to them amysse in their priuate confessyons And that is most to be lamented they defyle â—heir sowles wyth all supersticions false beleue and deuylishnesse leauynge their consciences all doubtfull desperate and confortelesse Finallye to conclude lyke as in the bodye of Christ dwelleth the whole fulnesse of the godhede corporallye so dwelleth there in this bodye of Sathan the whole fulnesse of falsehede crafte subtylte malyce with power to worke all maner of myschef effectuallye reallye substanciallye and corporallye The Text. 1 And I sawe one of his heades as it were wounded to deathe 2. and his deadlye wounde was healed 3. aÌ„d all the worlde wondered at the beast 4. And they worshipped the Dragon which gaue power vnto the Beast 5. and they worshypped the Beast 6. sayenge 7. Who is lyke vnto the Beast 8. Who is able to warre with hym ¶ The Paraphrase 1 And one of his heades sayth Saynt Iohan semed vnto me as it had bene wounded vnto deathe And it was not so in dede for his deadlye wounde was healed agayne Euydent it is that in Iohans tyme Rome the mother of all who redome had subiect vnto her the .vij. clymates or vniuersall partes of the worlde with all their powers gouernours kynges possessions pompes false worshyppinges and soche lyke Whome some writers suppose mete to be taken
here for the .vij. heades of this beast But I fynde an other thynge in it the bodye of these .vij. heades beynge but one and styll contynuynge so For thowgh all were at that tyme vnder her yet is it not so now aÌ„d yet styll remayneth this beast Therfor I do take it for one vnyuersall Antichrist as I ded afore comprehendynge in hym so well Mahomete as the Pope so well the ragynge tyraunt as the styll hypocrite and all that wyckedlye worketh are of the same bodye The seuen heades of this Beast maye so well be his presumptuouse doinges for the .vij. ages of the churche as anye thynge els and yet no preiudyce done to that hath bene sayed afore What shuld ayle this wounded head here not to sygnyfye his supremyte suppressed his vsurped auctoryte and power dyminihsed and his whole prodygyouse occupyenge condempned in this latter age of the churche I suppose nothynge more manifesâ— vnlesse we haue eyes aÌ„d wyll not se. Are not now in manye partes of Germanye and in Englande also the Popes pardons layed asyde His power put downe his name abolyshed his purgatorye pelgrimages and other peltryes vtterlye exyled and so lyke to be wythin short space in other regyons also If thys be not a deadlye woundynge of one of the Beastes heades I thynke there is non If thys be not an apparent lykelyhode of his falle there is non to be loked for 2 But the healynge agayne of this mortall wounde is lyke to marre all and make the last errour worse thaÌ„ the first In manye places where as the gospell hath bene preached the Byshoppe of Rome deposed sectes shrynes and sanctuaries destroyed monasteries prioryes and fryeryes turned ouer remayneth styll their poyson with those same instrumeÌ„tes wherwith they haue wrought all myschef Styll continueth their more than Iewyshe ceremonyes their prestybulouse presthode their vowynge to haue no wyues and their Sodomyticall chastite Styll remayneth their sale masses of all abhominacioÌ„s the principall their prodigiouse sacrifices their sensynge of Idols their boyeshe processyons their vncommaunded worshyppinges and their confessions in the eate of all trayterye the fountayne wyth manye other strauÌ„ge obseruacyons whoÌ„ the scripture of God knoweth not Nothynge is brought as yet to Christes clere institucyon and syncere ordynaunce but all remayneth styll as the Antichrystes lefte it Nothyng is tryed by Gods worde but by the auncyent auctoryte of fathers Now passeth all vnder theyr tytle Thowgh the olde Byshoppes of Rome were of late years proued Antichrystes and theyr names raced out of owr bokes yet must they thus properlye for olde acquaytaunce be called styll owre fathers If it were nought afore I thynke it is now moche worse For now are they become lawdable ceremonyes where as before tyme they were but ceremonyes alone Now are they become necessarye rytes godlye constitucyons semelye vsages and cyuyle ordynaunces where as afore they had no soche names And he that dysobeyeth them shall not onlye be iudged a fellon and worthye to be hanged by their newe forged lawes but also condempned for a traytoure agaynst hys kynge though he neuer in hys lyfe hyndred but rather to his power hath furdered the common welthe To se this also wyth soche lyke put in execucyon the Byshoppes haue auctoryte euerye moneth in the yeare yf they lyst to call a sessyon to hange and borne at theyr pleasure And thys is ratyfyed and confermed by acte of Perlament to stande the more in effect If thys be no healynge of Antichristes wounded head neuer is lyke to be anye Whan menne shall defende fre wyll and allowe their popyshe Masse to be a sacrifyce fatysfactorye for the quycke and the dead latoure they anye other thynke yow than the healynge of thys wounder He lykewyse that in an open audyence mainteyneth owr owne workes to iustifye by Dimitte nobis and other not ryghtlye vnderstanded scripturs doth he anye other than prepare a salue for the same Nay surelye No lesse also doth he that setteth menne to open penaunce at Paules crosse for holye water makynge for procession and sensynge with other popetishe gawdes constraynynge them to promyse the anauncement of the olde faythe of holye churche by soche fantasticall fopperyes as Bonner bishopp of London ded now of late to the lawhynge game and wonderment of all the worlde Alas how is the peple abused Non other do they but mocke Christen princes with flatterye that geue them olde popyshe tytles and blasphemouse names of Antichrist As to call them most Christen kynges and defenders of the catholike faythe meaninge the Popes olde tradicions to heale the head of the beast This is surelye non other but with the sayd Beast to receyue auctoryte seate and power of Sathan Lete them therfor take hede least they be fownde the same Antichristes that they haue condempned and so throwe them selues double vnder the same plage Necessarye it is they beware what they drynke or what tytles they take vpon them at their appoyntment least they forgettynge them selues be founde dronken by takynge excesse of the Babylonishe cuppe and so peryshe with the wycked Marke here dilygentlye this worde head and ye shall well perseyue how wonderfullye the storye agreeth with the mysterye 3 And all the worlde sayth saynt Iohan wondred at the Beast All folyshe carnall and worldlye peple not vnderstandynge the wysdome of Gods holye sprete depeÌ„deth all vpon their beastlye baggage thinkinge all that they do to be godlye meritoryouse spirituall They magnifye it prayse it and haue it in most hygh estimacion yea they haue it in moche more pryce than anye thinge that is of God In no wyse wyll they from their olde frenesye soche is their excedinge blindenesse For whan they here tell their customes shall continewe their gouernours agreynge to the same they clappe their handes for Ioye and synge Gaudeamus with the prestes 4 Yea they worshypp the Dragon which gaue soche power to the Beast With their hartes they reioyce trustinge vpon longer contynuaunce whan they se his head restored agayne in their rewlers the godlye teachers burned aÌ„d the preachers put to sylence 5 They worship also the Beast so manye as worshipped the Dragon For as they which worship Christ worship his father also so they that worship Antichrist agreynge to his lawes and decrees doth also worship the deuyll of whom he receyued his pryde They wonder with the Iewes that seketh cauyllacions to coÌ„tempne Christes doctrine as doth the filthye familye of the doâ—â—ynge dodypolles prestes and vnlerned lawers They worship with the heythen that admitteth their power and alloweth their factes as doth the folyshe multytude that neuer wyll be godlye wyse Non other iudgement remayneth in these dayes to these wonderers and worshippers of the newlye restored head of the Beast than ded vnto them that wyth double deuocion agreed to the abhominacions of Mahomete and the Pope 6 And thys wyll be theyr saynge as foloweth in the text spoken in the tyme past for the certente of the
the tempest ys great and the suâ—â—feraunce therof excedynge paynefull As the lorde ys myghtye so are hys iudgeâ—mentes whan they fall VehemeÌ„t ferce and stronge ys the lorde sayth Esaye 〈◊〉 ys the tempest of hayle breakynge ou◠〈◊〉 euerye syde and bearinge downe stroÌ„ge holdes The .xvij. Chapter OFt hath occasyons be geueÌ„ me in this boke to speake of great Babylon and of the execâ—able Beast but here is place offred to describe theÌ„ more at large The Text. 1 And there came one of the seuen Angels which had the seueÌ„ vyalles 2. and talked with me 3. sayenge vnto me 4. Come I will shewe the. the iudgement 5. of the great whore 6. that sytteth vpon manye waters 7. with whom the kynges of the earthe haue commytted whoredome 8. and the inhabyters of the earthe are dronken with the wyne of her fornicacion 9. And he caryed me awaye 10. into the wildernesse in the sprete ¶ The Paraphrase 1 After this came sayth Saynt Iohan one of the .vij. Angels or vnuaryable decrees of the lordes eternall iudgemeÌ„tes which had the .vij. vyals of his wrathe as afore hath bene declared 2 And this Angell or sett purpose of God as an heaueÌ„lye massenger talked with me in mysterye 3 Of fauorable goodnesse in secrete maner he assertayned me therbye of this woÌ„derfull iudgement here folowinge to be fulfilled at the latter ende of the worlde And thus yt sayd vnto me 4. Come hyther frynde Iohan I wyll shewe the in secretenesse the terryble iudgement of the great whore or couÌ„terfett churche of Hipocrites as God hath appoynted yt Nedes must thys whore bâ— Rome for that which ys here after spoken that she ys the great cyte which reâ—neth ouer the kynges of the earthe Euident yt is both by the scripturs and cronycles that in Iohans dayes Rome had her domynyon ouer all the whole worlde And beynge infected with the abhominacyons of all landes ryghtlye ys she called Babylon or cyte of confusion not onlye in this reuelacyon but aâ—so in the first Epistle of Peter And lyke as in the scripturs oft tymes vnder the name of Ierusalem ys ment the whole kingedome of Iuda so vnder the name of Rome here maye be vnderstanded the vniuersall worlde with all their abhominacyons aÌ„d deuylyshenesses their Idolatries withchecraftes sectes supeâ—stycyons papacyes presthodes relygyons shauinges anoyntings blessinges sensings processions and the deuyll and all of soche beggeries For all peples seÌ„s Christes ascencyon hath this Rome infected with her pestylent poysons gathered from all Idolatrouse nacyons soche tyme as she helde ouer theÌ„ the monarchyall suppremyte And lyke as Babylon had the Israelytes captyue vnder a bodylye trybute so hath this Rome had the Christianes both in their bodyes aÌ„d sowles At the writynge of this Propheâ—ye felt Iohan of their cruelte beynge exyled into Pathmos an Ile of Lycya for the faythfull testymonye of Iesu. And so ded I poore creature with my poore wyfe and children at the gatheringe of this present Commentarye fleynge into Germanye for the same 5 No maruele though she be here called a great whore For no where were euer yet seane so manye Idolle wurshyppynges so many vayne obseruacyons so manye superslycyouse sectes so manye errours in Hipocresye so manye false Prophetes and so manye prodygyouse kyndes of fylthynesse no not in Sodome yt self nor yet in miserable Egypt 6 This Babylonyshe whore or disgised Synagoge of shorelynges sitteth vpon manye waters or peples that are fantasticall fyckle or folyshe For noÌ„ are in coÌ„science subiect vnto her that are constaÌ„tlye grounded in the sure doctryne of faythe Onlye alloweth her tradycyons the wauerynge witted multytude the slypper and vnstedefast noÌ„bre obeynge theÌ„ in their hartes of feare and not of loue so throwynge themselues into a most coÌ„fuse Chaos or vawte of doubtfull doâ—rage 7 With this stynkynge strompett haue the myghtye potentates of the vnyuersall earthe the Emprours Kynges Princes and other notable gouernours commytted most shamefull whoredome in the sprete by manye strauÌ„ge worship pynges agreynge amonge themselues to her wyckedlye decreed lawes and customes To longe shuld we stande here in this place yf we shuld describe them all seuerallye in their colours at large as they be 8 Through the craftye legardemayne of the Prestes on the one syde and the cruell constytucyoÌ„s of Princes on the other syde the dwellers of the earthe or worldlye mynded multytude are dronken with the wyne of her fornycacyon spyrituall or practysed worshypyynges besydes the prescripte rewles of Gods worde Not onlye they which haue bene couetouse carnall lewde and wretched hath folowed their abhomynacyoÌ„s but also an innumerable sort of the electe nombre hath beleued their lyes and errours Yea they haue bene so dased with their dottages and so tangled with their customes that as menne losynge their wittes without all godlye remembraunce reason wysdome dyscressyon vnderstandynge iudgement and grace the lawes of God layed a part the coÌ„maundemeÌ„ts neglected and the scripturs despised they haue noâ— onlye kneled crossed kyssed set vp lygâ—tes and holden vp their handes before rotten postes but also called them theiâ— fathers in heaueÌ„ Yea I axe God mercyâ— a thousande tymes I haue bene one oâ— them myself And this ys to thys daye â— principall religyoÌ„ of that whoryshe chuâ—â—che called deuowte pilgrymage or hoâ—lye stacyons of prayer manye great paâ—â—dons graunted and manye false promyâ—ses made to allure the peple thervntoâ— 9 But blessed be the lorde whose woâ—â—de in this age both admonyshed manyâ— as the Angell ded Iohan and broughâ— them also cleane from her abhominacyâ—ons into a secrete consideracyon of thâ— sprete vnknowne to the worlde therâ— both to se her pryde and also to vnderâ—stande her iudgemeÌ„t For yt foloweth iâ— the text that the angell coÌ„uayed Iohan awaye into the wildernesse in the spretâ—â— 10 In mysterye here the holye ghost dâ—â—clared afore what the lorde shuld workâ— in meÌ„ne hauynge hys grace at the latteâ— dayes of the worlde Into the wylderneâ—â—se flee they with Dauid which leauyâ—â—ge the customed wayes of menne afteâ— the course of the scripturs seke vp theiâ— lorde God in faythe worshyppinge hym onlye in sprete and in veryte The Text. And I sawe a woman sitt vpon 2. a rose coloured Beast 3. full of names of blasphemye 4. which had seuen heads and ten hornes 5. And the woman was â—rayed 6. in purple and rose coloure 7. and decked with golde precyouse stone and pearles 8. and had a cuppe of golde in her hande 9. full of abhominacions 10. and fylthynesse of her whoredome 11. And in her fore heade was a name written 12. A mysterye 13. Greate Babylon the mother of whoredome and abhomynacyons of the earthe 14. And I sawe the wyfe dronken with the bloude of Sayntes and with the bloude of the wytnesses of Iesu. 15. And whan I sawe her 16. I woÌ„dred with great maruayle ¶ The Paraphrase 1 And I sawe sayth Saynt Iohan in mysterye a woman for an whore at the first blushe semeth onlye a
woman syetynge vpon a rose coloured Beast This Beast ys the great Antichrist that was spoken of afore or the Beastlye bodye of the deuyll comprehendynge in hym Popes Patriarkes Cardynalles legates Byshoppes Doctours Abbottes Pryors Prystes and Pardoners MoÌ„kes Chanons Fryres Nonnes and so forth Temporall gouerners also as Emprours Kynges Princes Dukes erles lordes iustyces deputyes iudges lawers mayers balyues constables and so forth leauynge their owne dewtyed offyces as to mynyster ryghtlye to serue their abhominacyons 2 All rose coloured ys thys Beast in token of tyrannouse murther and bloud shedynge ouer those that wyll not agree to their deuyllyshnesse 3 Full of blasphemouse names ys this Beast also as your holynesse your grace your lordeshyp your fatherhode your mastershyp your reuerence honor hyghnesse worshyp magnyficence goodnesse Gods vycar spirituall syr ghostlye father phesycyan of sowles defender of faythe head of the holye churche and so forthe besydes the names of their propyrtees feates and pagentes as processyon byshoppynge anelynge purgatorye pylgrymage pardon Masse mattens eueÌ„songe placebo candelmasse daye palme sondaye ashe wedynsdaye holye roode daye Saynt Thomas daye and so forth 4 This Beast had .vij. heades and ten hornes sygnyfyenge his vniuersall craftes and suggestyons to destroye the graces and gyftes of the holye ghost and also hys falselye borowed primacyes and tyrannouse auctorytees to withstande the commandementes of God 5 Upon this Beast sitteth a woman For what els auaunceth or beareth out thys malygnaunt muster â–ª in their copes crosses oyles myters robes rellyckes ceremonyes vygyls holye dayes blessynges sensynges and folynges but a wanton folyshe and fantastycall relygyon a vayne gloryouse pompe and a shynynge pretence of holynesse in superstycyoÌ„ callynge yt their holye churche She ys seyd here to sitt vpon this bloudye Beast as to be stayed quyeted and satled by them Marke what labours and peynes that craftye and wylye Winchester taketh with BoÌ„ner Toâ—stall and other of hys faccyon as her owne sworne â—ouldy our to holde vp this gloryouse whore in her olde estate of â—omyshe religyon Oh he grunteth and groueth he sweteth aÌ„d swelleth he fretteth and belleth he bloweth and panteth he calkeâ—â—s and â—aÌ„teth he sturreth aÌ„d neuer ceaseth to brynge hys matters to passe 6 In token that this hipocriticall churche standeth in the murther of innocentes thys woman ys here gorgyouslye appareled in purple as gyltye of their deathes which hath bene slayne and also in freshe scarlett as euermore freshe and rydye to continue in the same bloud shedyng For yf soche terrible slaughter were not the true Christen faythe shuld increase to the great dymynyshment of her glorye 7 She ys in lyke case floryhshynglye decked with golde precyouse stone and pearles not onlye in her manyfolde kindes of ornamentes as in her copes corporasses chesybles tunicles stooles fannoms and myters but also in mysterye of couÌ„terfett godlynesse Manye outwarde bragges maketh this paynted churche of Christ of hys gospell and of hys Apostles sygnyfyed by the golde precyouse stone and pearles which ys but a glytterynge coloure For nothynge mindeth she lesse than to folowe them in conuersacyon of lyuinge 8 More ouer â—n her hande which ys hee exteryoure mynistracyon she hath a golden cuppe full of abhomynacyons and fylthynesse of her execrable whoredome This cuppe ys the false relygyon that she daylye mynistreth besydes the chalyce whom her merchantes most dampnablye abuseth And yt contayneth all doctryne of deuyls all Beastlye errours and lyes all deceytfull power all glytterynge workes of Hipocrites all craftye wysdome of the fleshe and subtyle practyses of mannes wytte besydes philosophye logyck rhetoryck and sophystry Yea all prodygiouse kyndes of Idolatrye fornicacyon sodometrye and wyckednesse Outwardlye yt semeth golde pretendynge the glorye of God the holye name of Christ the sacred scripturs of the Byble perpetuall virgynyte of lyfe and all are but counterfet colours and shaddowes of Hipocresye in the outwarde letter and name 9 Full of abhominacyons ys the drynke of the execrable faythe of that Romyshe relygioÌ„ receyued of other aÌ„d full of fylthynesse also For both retayneth the peple therof innumerable kindes of Idoll worshippinges vnder the tytle of Gods seruyce and also their shauelynâ—ges of prodygyouse beastlynesse in lechâ—â—rouse lyuynge vnder the coloure of chaâ—â—tyte Here were moche to be spoken oâ— Saynt Germanes euyll Saynt Sythe keye Saynt Dâ—câ—mbers ores masteâ— Iohan shornes bote Saynt Gertrude rattes Saynt Iob for the poxe Saynâ— Fyacre for the ague Saynt Apolyne foâ— totheâ—ake saynt Gracyane for lost thrifâ— Saynt walstone for good haruest saynâ— Cornelis for the fowle euyll and all oâ—ther Sayntes els almost 10 Of the buggerye boyes also amonâ—ge prelates and prestes ghostlye father and relygyouse might moche be sayde hâ—â—re were yt not for infectynge meÌ„nes eâ—â—es eares vnderstandynges For all thâ—se noyfull nocumentes are the holye frâ—â—res of the whoredome of that holyâ—whoryshe churche 11 In the forehead of this glytteryng whore which ys her outwarde shewâ— ys wrytten a name expresselye declaâ—rynge what she ys By her vngodlye frâ—â—res ys she knowne to the elect seruanâ—tes of God hauynge the lyght of thâ— Scripturâ— â–ª In their consciences aperetâ— she non other than a postyferouse whoâ—re by the iudgementes of the same 12 Averye misâ—â—â—ye is this shewe to thâ— infydels an hydden secrete an vnknoâ—ne woÌ„der For they are so blynded with her foppryes and tangled with her toyes that they iudge all that she doth holye relygyouse and perfyghâ— And all this suffreth God for their vnbeleues sake destroyenge neuerthelesse the wysdome of the wyse and prudence of the prudent in his 13 Her verye name agreynge to her frutes ys thys Great Babylon in myschete farre aboue the cyte of the Chaâ—deanes and moche more full of confusyon For she ys the oryginall mother the cause the begynninge the rote the sprynge and the fountayne of all spirituall fornycaâ—yoÌ„s and in a maner of all fleshlye abhominacyons also done vpon the earth Thys is to the faythfull sort as a written name of her euydent clere open and manyfest But to the vnfaythfull yt ys onlye as a mysterye hyddeÌ„ darke obscure and neglect For so are the secretes that God openeth to babes and hydeth from the wyse 14 And I sayth Saynt Iohan perceyued yt euidentlye in mi fore vnderstaÌ„dinge that this woman the verye wyse of the deuyll and of hys beastlye bodye for the Byshoppes are the husbandes of their Romyshe churches was all dronken in the bloudye slaughter of the Sayntes or ernest ChristeÌ„ beleuers in the excedinge tyrannouse murther of thâ— faythfull wytnesses of Iesu or syncereâ— preachers of hys worde For neyther oâ— both she spareth Besydes all Godlyâ— wysdome ys she and forgetfull of her self through this same bloudye dronkeâ—â—nesse so great excesse hath she taken 15 And whan I perseyued and sawe her with all her adders whelpes so beasâ—â—ty she sayth Saynt Iohan with excedynge wonder I marueled Not onlye thaâ— she was thus ouersett with bloud drinâ—kinge or outragyouse murtherynge oâ— innocentes
but also of her excedynge great abhomynacyons 16 And most of all I wondered that the almyghtye God coulde with so moche paâ—cyence suffre her in soche myschefe The Text. 1 And the Angell sayde vnto me 2. wherfor meruaylest thu 3. I wyll shewe the the mysterye of the woman and of the Beast that beareth her which hath seuen heades and ten hornes 4. The beast that thu see it was 5. and is not 6. and shall ascende out of the bottomlesse â—ytte 7 and shall go into perdiâ—yon 8. And they that dwell on â—he earthe shall wondre 9. whose names are not wrytâ—en in the boke of lyfe from the â—egynnynge of the worlde 10. whan they beholde the Beast â—hat was and is not ¶ The Paraphrase 1 And as I was thus wyth my selâ—â—aruelynge the Angell or a fore named â—ecre of the Lorde sayd vnto me these wordes â— Wherfor dost thu thus maruele thu mortall manne For thy gentyll and meke expectacyâ—n I shall shewe vnto the the misterye of this wretched woman aÌ„d of the cruâ—ll Beast that beareth her which hath â—ij heades and .x. hornes By this shalâ—â—hu knowe the true churche from the â—alse the iust preachers from the hypoâ—rites the syncere doctrine from theyr subtyle sophysmes aÌ„d their lawfull anâ—â—oryte from their cruellye vsurped presumpcyons For that sheweth the lorde vnto his electes that he wyll not haue knowne of all menne 4 The execrable Beast or carnall kyngedome of Antichrist which thu hast se aâ—ne here in misterye was as concerninge his beginninge in Cain first of all aÌ„d so continued forth in the fleshlye chyldren of menne in the chaplaynes of Pharao Hieroâ—oam Baal aÌ„d Bel in the cruell byshoppes prestes and lawers with soche other lyke tyll the deathe of Chryst and so forthe 5 And now the sayd Beast is not in power and aucâ—oryte as he hath bene For in Iohans tyme serten years before the wrytinge of this reuelacyon was the proude clergye of the Iewes vtterlye destroyed by Titus aÌ„d Despasiane in the terrible syege of Hierusalem Not withâ—standinge yet shall this beast ryse agayne in the Romyshe pope and Mahomete aÌ„d in their false prelates doctours 6 He shall ascende out of the bottomlesse pytte from the stinkynge denne of Sathan exaltynge him self in worship aboue all that is called God But in the conclusion he shall haue an ende 7 Into perdicyon shall he go wythout fayle The Lorde shall first vtter his wickednesse as now in this age and than with the sprete of his mouthe consume him and destroye him So that his high clymynge vp shall at the last be the chefe cause of his fall Yet shall his wicked remnaunt ones agayne sett vp theyr crystes and persecute a freshe but that shall â—â—e no full rayse vnto him 8 And the rable of reprobates which dwell on the earthe or for earthlye commodytees contempneth Godes truthe shall wonder ones agayne not without moche inwarde reioyce that their churche ryseth agayne out of the olde hypocresyes 9 Whose names are not regestred in Christ which is the large boke of lyfe and hath bene both the lyfe aÌ„d the lyghe of menne sens the first constitucyon of the moueable worlde No they are not nombred amonge those ryghtouse that shall regne with him in glorye 10 These aduersaryes of God and his worde shall haue moche gladnesse in their wycked hartes whan they beholde the Beast thus commynge vp agayne that was of soche magnificence and now is but a thynge of nowght that was estemed aboue God and now is proued dampnacyon So longe is this beastlye Antychryst as he worketh the mysterye of iniquite in the reprobâ—te vesselâ— and whan he leueth that workynge than is he no longar Marke in this processe past the nature of Gods eternall decre for this age of his churche First it sheweth and than it condempneth the cursed Sinagoge of the deuyll In significacioÌ„ wherof the true preachers of our tyme hath many festly opened her wickednesse vnto all the worlde wherupon her vtter destruccyon must shortlye followe Watche good Christen reader aÌ„d praye ernestlye The Text. 1 And here is a mynde that hath wysdome 2. The seuen heades are .vij. mountaynes 3 wheron the woman sytteth 4. They are also seuen kynges 5. Fyue are fallen 6. and one is 7. and the other is not come 8. Whan he commeth he must contynue a space 9. And the Beast that was and is not is euen the eyght 10. and is one of the seuen 11. and shall go into destruccyon ¶ The Paraphrase 1 Here is a meanynge which comprehendeth wysdome A syncere vnderstaudynge shall herin be requisyte Necessarye it is therfor to take hede least thu holde the harlot and Beast for that they boast them selues to be to thy dampnacyon 2 The .vij. heades of the Beast aforemencyoned by the playne diffinicyon of the holye ghost are here to be taken for vii mountaynes or the vniuersall princelye monarchies of the .vij. clymates of the worlde 3 Upon these the woman that Babylonyshe harlot Rome from whome hath yssewed all spirytuall whoredome in most proude maner sitteth hauinge ouer them a vniuersall dominyon For in Iohans tyme to Rome was all the worlde subiect Under whose cruell regne was Christ done to deathe so hath his faythfull members bene ener sens by a newe rayseâ— kyngedome in the same 4 These heades are also .vij. kynges or goueunours of the aforesayd monorchyes seduced by all kyndes of craftye errours and deuylyshe suggestyons of that Beast So that yâ—yâ— marke well this place the head with the tayle and the cause with his effecte in these present significacyons shall no preiudyce be founde to that hath bene sayd in the other though they seme verye dyuerse For both the gouernours and also the landes or the peples subiect vnto them haue vniuersallye bene blynded by their wylye toytchecraftes And so haue the worldlye porentates wyth the spyrytuall Antychrystes agreed that both they haue vsurped one malygnauÌ„t medlynge ouer the sowles of menne to corrupt their faythe the prynces applyenge their powers vnto the same And that causeth the holye Ghost here to call them the beastes heades vnder the tytle of mountaynes and kynges For vnder their princelye auctoritees hath all their myschefes bene fulfylled to vpholde this whoore agaynst Christ and his worde 5 Fyue of these heades are fallen from the vnyuersall monarchye of Rome All the dominyons of Affrica and Asia hath renounced the obedyence of her empyre Onlye cleaueth Europa vnto her which is the least of the thre and yet not all therof Whan the Papacye grewe the whole empyre of the Grekes called Constantynople fell cleane from the laâ—nes and became with other dyuerse monarchyes the possession of Mahometes secte or of the Agarenes and Turkes Of the other empyres maye a lyke coniecture be had Thus haue they declyned from her not so goynge forth nor yet rysynge vp vnto Christ for only is it sayd here that they were fallen 6 And one head is sayth the text at
of all lordes 11. and kynge of all kynges 12. And they that are on his syde 13. are called and chosen and faythfull ¶ The Paraphrase 1 And the .x. hornes sayth the Angell vnto Iohan which thu sawest here vpon the heades of this rose coloured Beast are in significacyon .x. kynges Some hath taken these .x. kynges for all those Emprours of the larynes sens Charle mayne which haue sworne them selues obedyent to the Bishop of Rome Some haue thought them to be those prynces which here in Europa haue afore tyme bene subiect to the Empyre of Rome As the kynges of Englande Fraunce Spayne Portyugale Castele Denmarke Scotlande Dngarye Goheme and Napels But these considre not that they be yet more in nombre as Aragone Nauerre Cycyle Cypresse Sardyne Swethen Pole and soche other and are all included in the seuen heades as members of the afore rehersed empyres Neyther marke they that they are aboue the heades as hornes aÌ„d more in nombre than the heades betokenynge a rygorouse auctoryte and ferce power which they proudelye vsurpe ouer them euerye where Afore they were but suggestyons but here are they ernest doers For in euerye region hath the beastlye Antichrist of Rome his Metropolytanes and primates As in Englande are Caunterberye and Yorke in Fraunce Thuronensis and Remensis in Spayne Tholetanus and Teâ—raconeÌ„sis in Portingale Hispalensis aÌ„d Bracarensis in Irelande Armachanus and Dublimensis in Dennemarke Lundensis and Opsalensis in Germanye Colonâ—ensis and Maguntinus in Hungarye Serigonâ—ensis and Colocensis in Italye Pisanus and Rauennas in Sycyle Panormitanus and Messanensis with an infynite nombre of byshoppes prelates prestes and religiouse besydes the fyghtynge orders of the Rhodes the Prussyanes the Redemers of captyues the Aragondes the Beorgyanes called de alga the Monteseanes the Castylyanes the Lusitaneanes the Calatraneanes and Saynt Iames warryours 2 These had not yet at that tyme receyued the deuylyshe kyngedome of pestilent vsurpacyon ouer the sowles of menne For though in Iohans dayes arose certen Antichristes as Hebion Cerinthus Diotrephes Carpocras and so the lyke yet were they nothing to these 3 But now in dede they haue receyued the same self auctoryte and power with the Beast that he toke afore of the Dragon in maner of kynges to rewle in the hartes and consciences of menne to his behoue 4 For so moche as their auctoryte is not of God lyke as is the auctorite of kynges it is sayd here as kynges or as menne counterfeatynge them in vsurpynge a gouernaunce not frelye geuen them of God but of the deuyll 5 All at one houre receyued they thys auctoryte wyth the Beast And that I suppose was in the generall counsell of Laterane at Rome gathered vnder the tytle to recouer Hierusalem agayne Where as confession in the eare was cruellye extorted of Christen peple vnder peyne of deathe and dampnacion by the whole consent both of the princes and bishoppes at the former suggestioÌ„ of innocent the thirde besydes other wicked thinges As to heare lattyn seruyce to go procession on Sondayes to praye vnto dead Sayntes to worship Images to bye Masses for the dead to fast the fridayes with purgatorye pardons merytes and fryres orders In the sayd counsell became the Metropolytanes as kynges 〈◊〉 by the auctorite therof appoynted they that 〈◊〉 Balyues and other 〈◊〉 as byshoppes Curates and Pariâ—â—he Prestes to haue cure and charge of so idle and in the sayd eare confession to receyue theyr accountes 6 These counterfett kynges are all of one deuyllishe mynde practyse and purpose agaynst God and his â–ª veryte 7 And fullye they are fixed to geue their whole power their stodye and theyr streÌ„gthe vnto the behoue of the Beast â–ª Not accordinge to Gods mynde wyll they rewle but all after his wyll pleasure agreynge alwayes vnto him as meÌ„bers to their heade to serue wickednesse after wickednesse in BabiloÌ„ His popisshe decrees wyll they seke his deuylishe decretals wyll they folowe his ceremonials wyll they obserue nothynge of the sacred scripturs What lerning so euer they haue what giftes of nature fortune or grace all must be to the maintenaunce of his fantastycall fopperyes To hym are they sworne to do hym homage to obeye his lawes to kysse hys fete for hys gloryes sake to persceutâ— the Gospell 10 And in so doynge they shall fyghâ— with the lambe which ys Iesus Christ. They shall impugne hys truthe whan they thinke to do hym seruyce For that myschese they do to one of his they do to hys owne persone 9 But be they neuer so dogged yet shall the lambe ouercome them in hys faythfull members yea by pacyent sufferaunce onlye The vyctorye sayth Saynâ— Iohan which ouercometh the worlde is a sure Christen faythe Vpon their syde fyghteth he which ys most myghtye aÌ„d stronge yea the lorde that ys valeaune in battayle And he shall first ouercome them in this lyfe with the myghtye breathe of hys mouthe scatterynge them awaye as dust from the earthe And after thys shall hys terryble iudgement for euer condempne them 10 For he ys by the auctoryte geuen hym of hys father the lorde of all lordes and by hys owne eternall Godhede the Kynge of all kynges hauinge all power in heauen and in earthe He ys constytâ—â—te iudge of the quycke and the dead hauynge alone the euerlastynge Empyre with his father and the holye ghost and of his kingedome shall neuer be an ende â–ª 11 By his permyssion doth all kinges regne he hath their hertes in his hande and iudgeth their thoughtes Both maye he geue them hys sprete and also take yt froÌ„ them and of his enemyes he shall make hys forestole He ys the same stoâ—ne after Danyell that without anye haâ—â—des was cut out of the mounte which breaketh the IroÌ„ the copper the earthe the syluer and the golde in peces By whome are ment the vnyuersall kyngedomes of this worlde 12 Of this hys vyctorye are all they paâ—â—tyners with hym which are vpon hys syâ—de by faythe Most specyallye those truâ— seruauntes of hys which after they arâ— called by grace and chosen by faythe perseuer styll constaunt feruent faythâ—full and sure in his veryte to the latteâ— ende of their lyues 13 Not onlye the lambe therfor shall oâ—uercome the Beast but they also afteâ— the doctryne of Paule that are called aÌ„d chosen in him not fallynge from his trâ—â—che for anye temptacyoÌ„ or grefe but staÌ„â—dinge fast by yt vnto the verye deathe For those that the lorde hath prefixed afore he hath called iustifyed and allowed These auaunceth not themselues with the proude but mekelye they submit their crownes referrynge all vyctorye to the lambe as menne that coulde haue done nothinge in that behalfe with out hym The Text. 1 And he sayde vnto me 2. The waters which thu sawe it where the whore sitteth 3. are people folke and nacyons and tuÌ„ges 4. Ad the teÌ„ horns which thu sawest vpon the beast 5. are they which shall hate the
thynge as the maner of the scrypture is 7 Who is lyke vnto the Beast in outwarde glitterynge workes or in the eâ—terne obseruacions of counterfett relygyon 8 Who is able to warre with her the worldlye powers now so depelye maynteyninge her quarell All seketh the papistes that they can in the worlde Imagyne to vpholde the glorye magnificence and bewrye of their holye whoryshe churche or malignaunt muster No cautels nor câ—aftes leaue they vnsought nor vnserched out to cause the peple to esteme her of incoÌ„parable power No small labour toke standyshe in hande in whittington College whan he made his more than folyshe boke of reproche ageynst Barnes beynge dead Nor no lesse dylygence the wyse Poete Iohan Hontyngton whan he regestred in his Genealogye of heretykes without grace wyt and lernynge the names onlye of soche godlye menne as were the popes enemies no heretyke agaynst God ones meÌ„cyoned Nomore ded Thomas Smythe Richard Dallyson William Stawne SteueÌ„ Prowett frire Adriane quarrye the pardoner wyth soche other blynde Popishe Poetes and dirtye metristes whan they vttered their shitten â—ymes and poesies And sure I am that manye more be yet abrode of the same wycked zele and sprete to the great blasphemye both of God and his truthe now that the Beastes wounde is made whole agayne by so manye newâ— actes so manye newe tytled Bishoppes so freshe sale of benefyces mastershyppes and dignitees spirituall offyces degrees and auctorytes as plentuouse as euer was in Rome And least we shuld be depryued of our newe plesaunt Euphrates and so be compelled by the worde of God to folowe the Monkes Chanons Nonnes and fryers in their bannyshementes We haue procured serten actes to be made for our commodyte and those onlye to be publyshed amonge the peple ones in a quarter or so oft as shall please vs to blemyshe all godlye preachinges of the scripturs Thus seke we our selues and not God our owne streÌ„gthe and not hys our owne glorye not Iesus Christes But lete vs not thynke that he sleapeth with Baall the false God knowinge the most hydden toughtes of the harte but that he wyll within short space sende forthe hys lyghtenynges and scatter vs bryngynge our heythnyshe deuyses to nought For the kyngedome of one fayth in vs and the pope thus manyfestlye in certen poyntes deuyded must surelye decaye The Text. 1 And there was geuen vnto hym a mouthe 2. to speake great thinges and blasphemyes 3. And power was geueÌ„ vnto him to do .xlij. monethes 4. And he opened hys mouth vnto blasphemye agaynst God to blaspheme hys name and hys tabernakle and them that dwell in heauen 5. And yt was geuen vnto hym to make warre with the sayntes 6. and to ouercome theÌ„ 7. And power was geuen hym ouer all kynredes tongue and nacyon 8. And all that dwell vpon the earthe worshypped hym 9. whose names are not wrytten in the boke of lyfe 10. of the lambe 11. which was kylled from the begynnynge of the worlde 12. If anye man haue an eare lete hym heare 13. he that leadeth into captyuyte shall go into captyuyte 14. He that kylleth with a swerde must be kylled wyth a swerde 15. Here is the pacyence and the faythe of the Sayntes ¶ The Paraphrase 1 To this beast sayth Iohan was geuen a mouthe not of God but of Sathan to speake great mightye thinges and blasphemies So well is this spoken of the one as the other so manye as hath done vpon the Antichristes lyuerye title power auctorite or name Whan the veryte of the lorde was opened before them they gaue no thankes for it but became vayne in their thoughtes wherfor God gaue them ouer into a lewde mynde darkenynge their hartes So that now thynkinge them selues wyse they apere more folyshe than afore 2 Now speake they great thynges in theyr conuocacyons seanes and sermons and all are sore blasphemyes agaynst God his Crist. Now must they serue God by most streyght commaundement with olde Romyshe beggerye though he most hyghlye abhorreth it aÌ„d no scrypturs maye be red in the tyme therof For the scripturs must onlye passe as we wyll haue them How shuld the Beastes head els be healed agayne or how shuld our churche be knowne els to be his owne Image Oh beastlye abhomynacion and most hellyshe decre Now must Christ be taken for no sauer at all without owr deseruynges The supper of the lorde that was sumtyme a mutuall pertycypacyon of Christes bodye and bloud must now be a newe crucyfyenge of him one traytoure playnge all partes Iudas Annas Cayphas Herode Pylate and the Iewes Matrimonye must be iudged vnclennesse thowgh it be the ernest institucyon of God No Popyshe vowe maye be dissolued though it be well knowne a matter so deuilyshe as hath made an hondreth thowsande Sodomytes The Eucharystye maye not be receyued in both kyndes thowgh it be the expresse commaundement of Christ so to be vsed Without the blynde bussynges of a Papyst maye no synne be soluted for that is the vpholdynge of theyr kyngedom wyth manye other lyke blasphemyes Certen other great thynges are vttered by this mouthe which now I passe ouer least I shuld be tedyouse to the reader How be it thys one great blasphemye that ys spoken I can not leaue vntowched Where as they boast theÌ„selues yet styll alone to be the holye churche by the onlye vertu of their vnccyons and shauynges receyued first of the pope the layte secluded And vndre thys most falselye vsurped tytle they wyll styll be takeÌ„ for the redemers of meÌ„nes sowles For they saye that their Masses are satysfactorye sacryfyces for the quycke and the dead iustyfienge releuynge and sauynge theÌ„ both from dampnacyon ex opere operato And ouer that abhominable swarme of Antichristes fylthye mynysters make they now their kynges the heades most blasphemously onlye to be by them vpholden now in all their myscheues Truthe yt is that a kynge is the â—polytyque head supreme gouernour aÌ„d great staye vndre God of the peple to hys charge commytted after that sort their myghtie monarke also by the scripturs which they haue afore thys tyme denyed worshyppinge them for most holye sayntes which haue most presumptuouslye rebelled in that behalfe But ouer that whoryshe churche of theirs whom Chryst neuer planted is Sathan the onlye head by the holye Ghostes fore iudgementes here For to that beastlye brode gaue the Dragon hys power hys seate and hys myghty auctoryte God forbidde therfor that anye Christen prynce shuld at their false suggestyoÌ„s admitt so blasphemouse a tytle The deuyll sayth Iob ys the onlye head ouer all the chyldren of pryde That voyce therfor maye be blasphemouse as commynge from the mouthe of the serpent yf yt be not take good hede to 3 * And power was geuen to the Beast to do these thynges for the space of .xlij. monethes which is the .iij. years and an half of Helyas the tyme tymes aÌ„d half tyme of Danyell aÌ„d the thowsande two hondred
and thre score dayes of Iohan. Not onlye for thys age of the churche but also for all other ages and by other heades also hath the mouthe of thys Beast vttered great thinges in blasphemy lyes in Hypocresye and wonders vnder a deceytfull power But as concernynge thys latter healed head of the Beast the tyme therof wyll be short as here after shall apâ—re in the .xvij. chapter 4 He opened hys mouthe sayth the text in reproues agaynst God speakynge yll of hys name of hys tabernacle of theÌ„ that dwell in heaueÌ„ Thys is in a maner all one with that was spoken afore in the .xi. chapter of the temple the auâ—ter and of them that worshyp in the temple saue onlye that hys name ys here for hys temple In token that whan hys temple ys blasphemed whych ys hys coÌ„gregacyon hys name ys blasphemed by the same so ys hys tabernacle Iesus in whom bodelye dwelleth the fulnesse of the Godhede so are also they that dwell â—n heaueÌ„ wherbye ys meÌ„t the true churche from whom the angels are not secluded beynge their fellawe seruauntes These dwellerrs be they that haue their conuersacyon in heauen vnder an vndefyled faythe that seke those thynges which are aboue and not vpon earthe that worshyp the father in sprete and veryte and that perseuereth true christyanes to the ende Manye entreth thys heauen of the lorde but all contynueth not in yt to the ende of their lyues the more ys the pyte 5 Power was also geuen vnto this beastlye Antichrist to make battayle with the sayntes and to ouercome them Contynuallye do they with vyolence vexe by their cerâ—all polycyes auctoryte and lawes the syncere wytnesses or preachers of the lorde sanctyfyed of hym through faythe in his holye worde as were hys Apostles lyke as ded the malycyouse clergye of the Iewes-Yea they ded resist them with their more than tyrannouse proclamacyons commissyons and commandemeÌ„tes wyth cruell Pharao AmaÌ„ and Antiochus to proue Christ in them the sygne of contradyccyon stone of reproche They seke here they honte there and neuer leaue ragynge tyll they haue closed them vp in presons 6 Yet are they not so contented tyll they haue ouercomen them in the syghe of the blynde worlde though not before God Eyther shall they be compelled shamefullye to recante or yf they persyst in the veryte to suffer most peynefull deathe By one waye or other they must be ouercomeÌ„ to holde the peple in erroure The Gardyner of wynchester was not ashamed now of late as I harde yt credyblye reported to saye vnto one that was accused of hys malygnaunt multitude whan he was no longar able to withstaÌ„de the manifâ—st truthe Master Seyton we knowe ye are lerned and plentuouslye knowe ye are lerned and plentuouslye endued with knowlege in the scripturs yet thynke not that ye shall ouercome vs. No no sett your hart at rest loke neuer to haue yt sayed that ye haue ouercomen the byshoppes for yt shall not be so In dede yt is truthe For neyther Christ nor hys Apostles ded euer yet ouercome yow Their vyctorye ouer yow ys not in thys worlde your kyngedome beynge here But be certen and sure of yt ye shall be ouercomen to your moche more rebuke at the latter daye whan all wronges and iniuryes shall be reuenged which is not farre of Your lordelye estymacyon which maye not be hyndred here wyll apere there not verye precyouse Yet do ye well to holde vp a proude pecockes head as longe as ye maye Lose not an ynche of your hyght hardelye but with your gogle eyes loke vp lyke a manne with a garde at your tayle lyke a sort of tormentours in a playe And with your lyenge iudgementes ouercome these beggerlye vagabondes and burne them also rather thaÌ„ fayle to fulfill the measure of your holye fathers 7 And autoryte was geuen to thys Beast vpon euerye kyndred peple tonge and nacyon For non these Antichristes spare neyther hygh nor lowe ryche nor poore sycke nor hole lerned nor vnlerned But a iurisdiccyon they must haue ouer theÌ„ though yt be vsurped Ones in the yeare must they haue them in confession to knowe which waye they are bente That salue haue they gotten in ageyne to heale vp their wounded head Be he naryâ—e or be he straunger be he a rewler or be he coÌ„moner he must obeye them no remedye or els stande forthe at the sessyons with Christ amonge theues Not in one regyon or where as one maner of language ys vsed haue they thys auctorite but in euerye lande in euerye shere in euerye towne and in euerye famylye must they haue to do corruptynge euerye mannes faythe 8 For all that dwelle vpon earthe must worshyp thys Beast They must agree to the great thynges no remedye They must blaspheme God as they do But blessed be the lorde noÌ„ doth that in their hartes but they onlye that dwell vpon the earthe that haue their felycyte here that seketh the prosperyte of thys worlde and regardeth non other lyfe than therin is The lambes of Christes folde geueth hede to hys voyce they regarde hys calle they folowe hys worde they walke in hys lyght They seke for no holynesse but onlye in hym neyther in water nor bread ashes nor palmes robes nor relyckes masses nor anoyntinges He ys their onlye sufficient wisdome ryghtousnesse holynesse aÌ„d redemptioÌ„ His worde ys their lyuinge water the fode of their sowles the lanterne that shall gyde them and the lyfe that wyll not fayle them Non other doctryne do they couete nor yet other preceptes of lyuynge Though they be here in the earthye yet dwelle they not vpoÌ„ yt No contynuynge cyte haue they here but they seke vnto an other of moche more bewtye and pleasure not buylded of menne And for that they are redye rather to render by their lyues than to renouÌ„ce the veryâ—e Onlye they which dwelle here doth worshyp the Beast louinge theÌ„selues better than God and their fleshe better than hys truthe hauynge their whole trust in the mangye merites and dyrtye deseruynges of these beastlye Hipocrites and no thynge at all in his swete promyses 9 And therfor are not their names written of the laÌ„be in the boke of lyfe which lambe was slayne from the begynnynge of the worlde Christ hath not allowed them by hys worde and promes With the ryghtouse are they not regestred as members of one mystycall bodye in hym In the similitude of hys deathe are they not grafted vnto hym as the braunches vnto the vyne to be partyners of hys resurreccyon Their porcyon ys not in the lande of the lyuynge with hym They are non of those whom the father hath geuen hym to partycipate with hym in one sprete Predestynate they are not vnto lyfe by hym nor so written vp in the foreknowlege of God Chosen they were not of the lorde before the worldes constitucyoÌ„ to be hys vndefyled childreÌ„ in Crist. 10 He ys the meke lambe that was slayne He alone taketh
they vpholde Antichristes kyngedome and not hys a worldlye glorye and not hys for hys kingedome ys not of thys worlde No longar are they hys wordes hys lawes nor hys testimonyes thaÌ„ they maynteyne hys ryght honoure No newlye practysed worshyppynges alloweth he for hys but vtterlye abhorreth theÌ„ all as thynges rawe aÌ„d vnsauerye 4 And therfor yt foloweth that thys Beast spake as ded the Dragon The doctrynes and teachynges of these false Apostles and deceytfull masters are lyes in Hipocresye and the verye doctryne of deuyls vnder tytle of the veryte repugnaunt to the same Not vnlyke to that the Serpent sayd vnto the woman ye shall not dye yf ye eate of the forbidden frute but ye shall be surely as Goddes knowinge both good euyll They do as ded Sathan in the desart Alwayes they perswade vs eyther of stones to make bread or els to throwe our selues downe warde or els to worshyp the deuyll That is to change the good creaturs of God from their ryght vse as trees into Idols sylkes veluettes clothe golde and syluer into superstyciouse ornamentes chast Marryage into stynkynge whoredome and Sodomye with soche lyke To declyne from the dewtyes coÌ„maunded of God to their Idle obseruacyoÌ„s so makynge hys commaundementes of non effect for the bayne tradycyons of menne And fynallye to fall vnto forbidden worshyppynges or abhomynacyons of Idolatrye of whome they are full And for these they haue with Sathan also their mangled scripturâ— to laye for theÌ„ to proue that the helpe of dead sayntes ys necessarye their masses merytes workes more than nede expedyent the fyre of purgatorye a fearefull thynge with the deuyll and all of soche fantasyes These are the prelates of Antichristes churche the iâ— horned monsters or great bellyed Byshoppes ryghtelye described here of the holye ghost in this two horned beast These beastlye bushardes are not ashamed both to saye and to wrytte that in their myters they beare the fygure of both testamentes whose veryte they impugne with â—oâ—he and nayle Verye trulye they saye that they carrye the fygure for in dede yt ys but a shaddowe they bere Not to gloryfye God but their owne beastlye bodyes with golde pearle stone lyke Mahowndeâ— in a playe for hys truthe they most cruellye persecute These are the verye false Prophetes the instrumeÌ„tes of Sathan the deceyuers wolues wagelynges Iudasses dreamers lyers Idols aduersaryes adders whelpes foxes destroyenge the lordes vyneyarde deceytfull workemenne desperate shepeherdes blynde watchemenne dumme dogges deuyls incarnate wycked sede vnsaciate beastes whose God ys their bealy glory their confusyoÌ„ To all these to manye other soche doth the Holye Ghost compare them for that they haue with their errours and lyes turned the swetnesse of the scripturs into bytternesse scarselye leauynge one place therof vndefyled with their fylthye dregges 5 Thys Beast sayth Saynt Iohan ded all thynges that the first Beast coulde do euen be fore hys owne face The same lyenge power to deceyue in Hypocresye hath thys beastlye brode that the great Antichrist hath the same wylye craftes and the same beastlye kyndes of Idolatrye and so doth vse theÌ„ The same abhominacyons maynteyne they the worlde ouer that the pope maynteyneth at Rome and Mahomete in barbarye of Turkeye Yea the same supersticyons aÌ„d sorceryes the same execrable tradycions beggeryes The same ceremonies haue they that he hath the same vnccioÌ„s the same orders and the same Masses The same idle obseruacions with vnknowne cloynynge clatteringe and wawlinge are styl vsed in Englande lyke as they were vsed afore with no lesse blasphemy to God 6 To do soche thinges in the first Beastes presence is to do them where his power and auctorite is raygnynge or where as is the seate of Sathan which is euerye place that admitteth straunge worshippinge 7 Both the earthe and them that dwell in the earthe coÌ„pell they to worship this first Beast Not onlye enforce they theÌ„ to wycked Idolatrye that neuer wolde knowe the truthe but also manye of those which hath great knowlege in the same Oh how manye are in Englande and in other regions also that in these dayes worketh agaynst faythe knowlege and the holye ghost admittinge the prestes abhominacioÌ„s Rather had they to dwell styll in the earthlye beggerye with the blasphemye of God thaÌ„ eyther to be out of fauer or to loose ther offices to haue their goodes hindred or to hasarde their lyues so swete are these waÌ„ton worldlye pleasurs Rather had they to peryshe with the sonnes of Helâ— and Samuel for abusynge the ordinaunces of the lorde and with Core Dathan aÌ„d abiron for rebellinge agaynst them to synke vnto hell than with Christ to take peynes in pouerte But let not them thynke to be worthye of Christ that better loueth their owne carnall commodyte than his heauenlye veryte 8 Well the Beast must they worshyp whose wounde is made whole His olde rustye rewles newe bournished and his olde Romishe ragges new patched by a newlye confermed auctorite must they enbrase in peyne of deathe The lambe shall not yet be suffred to apere Styll for a tyme must these terrible teâ—magauÌ„tes haue more worship thaÌ„ God their tradicioÌ„s preferred to his most pure worde And whye shuld it not be so haue they not now a newe refourmed churche in whom the Beastes wounded head is newlye restored So longe as it is lyke the popes churche it must folowe his rewles and cleaue to his ordynaunces It shall not folowe Christ in faythe and in doctryne tyll it apere lyke that churche which he left here behynde him whan he ascended And that is not lyke to be yet 9 First must there be wrought great wonders Fyre must be compelled to come downe from heauen in theÌ„ syght of menne by this twohorned Beast The discyples of Antichrist with their byfurked ordinaries must violentlye pluckâ— from the true christen churche whose regne is not of this worlde the eternall worde of the lorde 10 Then must they take from them the consumyge fyre that Christ sent downe into the earthe of meÌ„nes hartes to drye vp all malyce and synne Yea they must depriue them of the clouen fyerye tonges which the holye ghost poured vpon the Apostles to the confort of all the worlde The treasure that Christ hath left here to socoure vs they must hyde vnder the grounde and the candle that he lyght vs to se ouer the howse coÌ„uaye vnderneth the bushell 11 And these wonders shall they worke in the presence of menne All redye haue they taken in Englande from the Bybels the annotacions tables and prefaces to perfourme this their dampnable enterpryse They haue streyghtlye forbydden the readynge therof for tyme of their Romyshe seruyce Some haue they burned and some put to sylence and all in the face of the peple Yea they reysed the maydes of Ippâ—swhyâ—e aÌ„d of kente to worke wonders maruelâ— and now of late the folyshe Northâ—n menne to fyght for their churche What practyses they haue
had in that eare and that eare to fetche awaye the true fauorers and preachers of the Gospell at dyuerse tymes he that well considereth maye saye that the holye ghost hath here ryghtlye described theÌ„ callynge theÌ„ workers of wonders The discrete cytezen of London master Packyngton was slayne with a gonne at saynt Thomas of Acres as they call it not without their preuyelegerdemayne But this with other of their miracles I intende to declare more at large in an other treatyse the lorde lendynge me lyfe It is not longe ago also sens Alexander Seyton an excellent lerned manne with poore master Tolwyn recanted at Paules crosse Nor yet loÌ„ge afore sens good doâ—tour Crome was compelled to do the same And now last of all to take the scripture cleane awaye they haue sought out great fawtes in the translacyon of it aÌ„d thervpon taken them awaye from the common peples readynge Great peynes they take to put it downe but they neuer swerr yet in the settynge vp of yt Thus mynde they to worke their wonders tyll they haue buryed it all in the earthe They lacke now but .iiii. knyghtes to hyre to kepe yt downe styll that it ryse no more vp O very 〈◊〉 of helle and lymmes of the deuyll how vayne are your stodyes and how wycked your practyses I haue no doubt but within short space God wyll destroye the counsels and dyssypate the strengthes of them that please meÌ„ne Yet lete no manne maruele though they do these feates for the tyme. For yf the gospel were taught without checke in a whyle â–ª shuld nothinge remayne of that generacyon neyther myter nor rochet shauen crowne nor anoyntinge aÌ„d that knowe they wele ynough For the worde of the lorde ys the breathe of hys mouthe that shall destroye them and the deuowringe fyre that shall consume theÌ„ 12 By the meanes of these sygnes sayth the text which thys Beast had power to do in the syght of the other Beast or where hys abusioÌ„s doth reygne with outchecke he deceyued theÌ„ that dwelt on the earthe Manye in thys age are woÌ„derfullye abused through the dysseytful workinge of Sathan in these horned whoremongers but yet non other than are earthlye mynded Of some menne in dede the eyes are bleared with their craftes of some menne the weake iudgemeÌ„tes blemyshed wyth their subtiltees for want of dyscernynge the scripturs Some meÌ„ne are tangled with doubtes some trobled with terrour some tormented with feare consideringe that for thys newe lernynge as they will haue yt called some haue bene hanged as were the thre poore yonge menne of Sothfolke for the rotten rode of Douercourt Some burned some be headed for thinges of nought as ys knowne to all the worlde These thinges daseth their wittes and amaseth their myndes And earthe ys the cause of all this Were yt not that they moche more loued this worldes pleasures than Godt it shuld neuer be so 13 All the perswasyons of Antichristes prelates and preachers hath euermore bene and are now styll vnto soche earthlye inhabitauntes that they shuld make an Image lyke vnto thys Beast Which is alwayes to chose soche an Emproure with other worldlye gouernours as shall be for their commodyte He must by the worldlye peple be compelled to take autoryte sceptur and crowne at their handes so sworne to maynteyne their fleshelye libertees He must also be fashioned by their wycked doctrynes and false counsels in confessions lyke them in all superstyciouse lyuynge and in the tyrannouse murther of innocent Christen menne Where soche an head Ruler ys appoynted there ys hys owne fygure made and where soche a Gouernour ys constitute there ys hys own Image seâ— vpp For we must consyder that this reuelacioÌ„ is in all poyntes no storye speciallye here as manye wryters haue thought it to be in supposynge an Antichrist to be borne at the latter ende of the worlde But it is a misterye comprehendinge in it but one generall Antichrist for all which hath regned in the churche in a maner sens the Ascencyon of Christ. And in this one poynt are all the commeÌ„tours that I haue seane most fowlye deceyued yea the best lerned of them I knowe wele if there be anye yet to come he shall be but a meÌ„ber of this Agayne to owr purpose 14 Speciallye must they make a ryght Image of that Beast which had the wounde of a swerde and ded lyue This betokeneth that in these dayes they shall sturre about them leaue no caâ—tels vnsought neyther anye false counsels vnfet froÌ„ other realmes to do their feates with and to fashyon the ChristeÌ„ Gouernours to their myndes As winchester ded the last tyme he was in Fraunce After whose comminge home manye great wonders were wrought in EnglaÌ„de and fyre was made to come downe froÌ„ heauen Consider the storye afore for the storye declareth the misterye That wounded head now healed must be vp holdeÌ„ 15 He had a greuouse wype with the â—worde which is the lyuynge worde of the lorde whan he lost his monkes chanons and fryres his purgatorye pilgrimages and shrynes Yet was he not all dead For thowgh their cowles coctes and roâ—hettes were of yet had they styll the same popyshe hartes and the same superâ—â—iciouse frowardenesse that they were wonte to haue This myght haue bene founde true if it had bene serched wâ—an serten popishe prestes of mastre whartons retinue not farre from Bongaye in Sothfolke ded calke for Cromwell and for other els if the worlde had noâ—â—haÌ„ged to their myndes I write not this thinknyge they can harme by theâ—e calkinge where as faythe is resideÌ„t but onlye to shewe that their hartes are yet alyue how vertuously they are occupied Manye thinges I coÌ„sidre at this instaunt poynt coÌ„cerninge prince Edwarde whoÌ„ I doubte not but the lorde hath sent for the singular coÌ„fort of EnglaÌ„de Not that I â—emâ—rously diffiue anye thinge to come coÌ„cerninge him coÌ„sideringe it onlye in the lordes powre But I desyre the sayd lorde to preserue his bringinge vp froÌ„ the coÌ„tagiouse drinkes of these false phisicianes And this is to be prayed for of all meÌ„ne if ye poÌ„der well the text marke their wonderfull workinges where the beastes head is restored ¶ The Text. 1 And he had power to geue sprete vnto the Image of the Beast 2. and to make that the Image of the Beast shulde speake 3. and shulde cause that as manye as wolde not worshyp the Image of the Beast shulde be kylled 4. And he made all both small and great ryche poore free and bonde 5. to receyue a marke in their ryght handes 6. or in their fore heades 7. And that no man myght bye and sell. 8. saue he that had the marke 9. or the name of the Beaste 10. eyther the nombre of hys name ¶ The Paraphrase 1 For power they haue to geue sprete to the Image of the Beast It ys surelye geuen them of the deuyll whan they haue ones fashyoned out the Beastes ryght Image or made of
an Emproure a tyrâ—â—â—t or set in the place of a godlye gouernour 〈…〉 murtherer vp of gods peple by flatteringe prayses to encorage them to all my chefe and by wycked counsell to prycke theÌ„ forewarde to make cruell actes of murther for vpholdynge their beastlye generaâ—yon The sprete that they do ministre vnto princes euermore ys not the correccyoÌ„ of synne the amendement of lyfe redresse of the common welthe prouisyon for the poore nor the sekynge of Gods glorye But by flatterynge prayses to vpholde theÌ„ in their euyls moche after thys soort of speakinge Your magestes or graces are called most vertuous most valeaunt most worthye most wyse most myghtye and best lerned amonge all Christen potentates They are all but Asses in comparyson to your worthynesses If yt be your magestes pleasurs to do this or that within your owne domynyon who shall be so bolde to withstande yow No though Gods holye lawes be an hundred tymes agaynst yt Support the olde relygyon of holye churche agaynst te Heretykes and ye can not chose but prospere in all your affayres Lete it be treason agaynst your owne persones accordynge to the actes of the Emperour Sigysmundus and of kynge henrye the fift if they do but ones speake agaynst beâ— corrupt customes Make cruell coÌ„stâ—â—ucâ—ons apace proclame theÌ„ abrode to shewe your selfes the popes liuely Images 2 Our office it is to cause the Beastes Image to speake Let therfor your voyces be harde Be no dumme Idolles â–ª but speake with bolde stomakes In hys sprete make vtteraunce without Gods worde of his olde Romishe rewles Sende forth your proclamacions to be publyshed euerye where concernynge his masses his confessions his ceremonies and his whorishe chastite Let all thynges be blowen forth vnder your tytles names and auctoritees to be obserued vnder peyne of deathe If other realmes report that ye abuse the dewtye of heysers or kynges whych is the offyce of God esteme not their saynges but stande well in your owne consaytes Interprete the scripturs at your owne lust aÌ„d pleasurs as your lawe master of Rome hath done afore your tyme. 3 Cause so manye to be kylled as wyll not worship the Image of the Beast or obeye soche wicked lawes agaynst the veryte of God as hath bene made by those Emprours that were the popes eldest sonnes by the kynges of Fraunce which were his yonger sonnes or by other princes els which were the defenders of hys churche lete noÌ„ escape your â—aÌ„des that inueyheth agaynst our kyngdome but make hauocke of them on euerye syde as of heretykes and traytors to proue the holye ghost true here in hys fore iudgementeâ— For that is your offyce not appoynted of God but of Sathan And in our coÌ„mssiyon froÌ„ him also we haue it to be no slacke mouers of yow thervnto So hath Christ tolde afore in this reuelacyoÌ„ vnto saynt IohaÌ„ the EuaÌ„gelist This is the ghostlye counsell that we the horned Beastes thus haue in coÌ„mission to geue vnto yow froÌ„ the mouthe of the DragoÌ„ WhaÌ„ soche an Image or Idâ—louse prince is thus vpset or coÌ„stytuted by auctorite his othe ones made that he shall alwayes defende them he maye in no wyse speake but out of that sprete that their coÌ„iurers confessours I shuld saye haue put in to him He maye make no lawes but at their spiritual appoyntmeÌ„t lyke as the Emprour Carolus doth now in these dayes Moche after this sore became the eÌ„prour Nero this beastes Image immediatly after Cristes asceÌ„sioÌ„ by the subtle slaightes of that spiritual sorcerer SimoÌ„ Magus at Rome to withstande the Christen preachers Peter and Paule as largelye witnesseth Egesippus in hys thirde boke de Hierosolâ—moruÌ„ exci-dio the secoÌ„de chaptre This SimoÌ„ Magus by flatteringe prayses crepte first into his fauer promisinge him helthe longe lyfe increace of power and enlargement of his empyre with coÌ„tynuall vyctorye ouer hys enemyes in case he wolde folowe hys counsell vpon thys became he not onlye hys chefe couÌ„sellour but also the hygh byshop of hys sowle and conseruatoure of hys bodye the preseruacyon of hys whole helthe lyfe to hym committed onlye All thynges after that was done vy hys counsell to stoppe the Apostles preachynge he taken for the Emprours most familyar frynde and a manne most profitable to the common welthe of the Romanes and they sone after suppressed and putt vnto most cruell deathe 4 And he made all sayth Saynt Iohan both great and small ryche and poore free and bonde to receyue a marke in their ryght handes or in their fore heades WhaÌ„ this newe raysed Image of the Beaste or sworne power to Antichrist ys ones raysed vp or admitted by their autoryte be he kynge or Reyser prince or other potentate he must strongelye defende that Synagoge of the deuyll with whole mageste crowne and scepture By their onlye counsell must he than make lawes for they must geue hym sprete and sende out commandementes abrode that their holye decrees be obseued Commissioners and vysyâ—ours must out vndre that autoryte as wele to the clergye as layte Than must all be sworne to it and so obeye yt both hygh and lowe both Gentylman and ye man both owner and farmer both zytezen and townesman both merchande aÌ„d plowgh man both mastre and seruaunt both natyue dweller and denyson Yea both Prystes in their colleges Monkes in their abbayes Chanons in their couentes and fryers in their cloysters must after their sorte do the same Thys rewle hath bene alwayes for the coÌ„modyte of that kingedome where as the powers haue bene thus by them peruerted Moche were it to shewe the manyfolde examples in that behalfe Charles the .v. now eÌ„proure to make thys good and to shewe hymselfe to be the seyd Beastes Image caused soche actes to be publyshed through out hys whole domynyon agaynst the Christen doctryne wherin all they are declared heretyques scysmatyques and excommunicates which taketh not the pope for saynâ— Peters onlye vycar and head of the christen churche non excepted neyther kynge nor Coruester as there are now dyuerse of the contrarye opynyon The artycles of the louanyanes vndre hys pryuilege and the actes of the parysyanes vudre the frencâ—e kynges autoryte proclamed in thys present yeare of our lorde A M. CCCCC.xlv wyll make all this matter good 5 And what is this els both in theyr clergy and commons but to receyue a marke in their right handes or foreheaâ—es for in admittynge those artycles actes they graunte to obeye those blasphemouse doctrynes that shall both corrupt their lyfe aÌ„d faythe both their workes and conseyence For in consentinge vnto errours in their faythe they spott their foreheades hauynge so their consciences marked with an hote yron In full grauntynge also to do them in effecte they defyle their handes perfourminge soche workes as are vnpure before God If they were gone quyte froÌ„ Christ that wrapped them selues agayne with the workes of the lawe appoynted of God before his commynge moche more are they gone from
him that tangle them selâ—es with soche workes of bondage as he neuer knewe as are all their Idell obseruacions hauynge no expresse commaundementes of the worde of God Onlye loke we saith Paule in sprete to be iustyfied through faythe which by loue is mightye in operacyon 6 And for them that so beleueth is this disiunctyue or put betwyn theyr handes and foreheades For all they that outwardlye kepe these heythnishe obseruacyons haue not their conscyences defyled with them for their inwarde faythes sake though they perfourme the outwarde workes doubtynge the terrour of the lawes Yet wolde I counsell them not therin to trust but at the worde of the lorde to go from it For though loth dwelt in Sodome yet at the lordes voyce he departed from thens 7 This Image made also that no maÌ„ne myght vye or sell saue he onlye that had the Marke or the name of the Beast or at the least the nombre of his name The actes of Iustynyane the Emproure shall make this good so shall the constitucyons of Adelstane and Edgare and manye other kynges here in Englande which for the ordre and commodyâ—e of the clerge made manye polytyque lawes Specyallye kynge Inas Gouernour of the west Saxons which first gaue the Peter Pens vnto Rome and made him selfe a monke there But in thys spyrytuall generacyon amonge them selues is non allowed for a merchande vnlesse he come in by Symonye Non was made bysshopp pastoure nor â—urate but payed for it their taxed sommes byshoppes to the pope and the prestes to the byshopps besydes Irem in brybes Non myght els be allowed to vtter to auauntage the wares of the beast or distribute the rytes of that holye whoryshe churche 8 Neyther were anye made free of that marte vnlesse they had the marke of the beast which is not onlye the outwarde sygne of their head shauinge and anoyntinge of their fingars but also the inwarde prynte of their consciences receyued by profession made to that wicked monster For lyke as true faythe in Iesus Christ is the marke of a perfyghâ— christiane so is a false beleue in popishe tradicions a token of Antichristes member By their frutes sayth Christ shall ye knowe them For the one foloweth the rewle of Gods worde the other hath counterfet workes of mennes prescripcion 9 Els must they haue the name of the Beast to be called spyrituall menne or the holye consecrate nombre as his holye fatherhode is called 10 Or at the least they must haue the noÌ„bre of his name which is a note of magnificence and worthynesse Lesse caÌ„ they not be called than lordes so manye as are sworne to that spirituall markett The most ragged ronegate and idle ydiote amonge them is no lesse thaÌ„ a â—yre which is a lorde in the Lattyn as sir Iohan sir Thomas sir Willyam In the Lattyn onlye hangeth their great lordeshippes Amonge their vnknowne lattyn howres their masses and their dyrigees lyeth their plentuouse patrimonye in their portasses and masse bokes Noâ— he that leaueth all wyth poore peter maye be called from fishynge nor wyth Mathew from the custome howse to do these offices But he that catcheth all with Iudas aÌ„d Symon Magus must come from Symonye to do them Not he that is called of God as was Aaron shal haue cure of sowle but he that offereth to Corban with Annas and Cayphas Soche a worlde hath it bene and is yeâ— styll in the worlde abrode amonge them The Text. 1 Here is wisdome 2. lete him that hath wytte 3. counte the nombre of the Beaste 4. For it is the noÌ„bre of Manne 5. And his nombre is sex hâ—ndred sextye and sixe ¶ The Paraphrase 1 Here is wysdome to be had sayth saynt Iohan. Lete hym that hath wytte count the nombre of the Beast for it is the Nombre of manne And his Nombre is sixe hondred sixtie and sixe 2 For so moche as Christ hath willed vs diligentlye to searche the scripturs and the holye Ghost here doth committ the iudgement of this secrete to the witte of manne some wryters hath deducted thys Nomber out of serten Greke wordes betokeninge thys great Antichrist because thys present Reuelacion was first written in the Greke language As out of antemos which signifyeth one contrarye to Gods honoure out of Arnume which signifieth a denyer of God and out of Teitan which betokeneth the sunne All these .iii. voâ—ables though they seme dyuerse yet contayne they after the Greke rewles neyther more nor lesse than thys sett Nomber And all this maye stande both with scripture and reason For he that ys not with Christ ys agaynst hym callynge that ys good yll and that ys yll good mynystrynge darkenesse for lyght Soche lyenge masters as hath brought in sectes of perdicyon hath denyed the lorde that bought them They are not the lyght as they boast themselues to be for all they loke to be called spyrituall but they are the fallen Starres and verye Apostaraes froÌ„ God SathaÌ„s traÌ„sfonemynge themselues into the angels of lyght by dyuerse kyndes of Hypocresye 3 Some expositours leauynge the Greke hath practysed the same thynge by these .ii. latyne wordes Dic lux contaynynge in numerall letters the same setâ— NoÌ„bre Which sygnifyed that they call them selues the lyght or menne of a spyrytuall sort beynge nothynge lesse For they in dede are the same self darkenesse that wyl in no wyse receyue the light but rather persecuteth yt with most spygâ—t and cruelte After thys sort myght I brynge in Diabolus incarnatus or filius perdictonis the deuyll incarnate or the sonne of perdycyoÌ„ for both they are the names of this beastlye Antichrist by the scripturs the one wantynge in the numerall letters but .iiii. of the NoÌ„bre the other but .vi. which myght be supplyed in the other letters But a monge all these thys worde Arnume most nyghlye towcheth the myâ—erye which ys as moche to saye as I denye Euydentlye semeth he to haue the marke of the Beast or to be sealed with the Nombre of hys name that sayeth whan he heareth the manyfest veryte I wyll neuer admitt ye whyle I haue a daye to liue it is ageynst good order yt standeth not with laudable custome our doctours agree not thâ—â— vnto our holye canoÌ„s alloweth yt not yt hath not the holye fathers consent vs prayâ— aÌ„d hope for it hath great likelyhode of a moche farder apperaunce â— Sens the worldes begynnynge haue the misterye of iniquite wrought in Caâ—n and in hys posteryte and so contynued in the Beastlye meÌ„bers of Antichrist and so shall do styll to the latter daye Therfor is yt no lesse than the Nombre of manne sixe hondred sixtye and sixe Thus ys he tokened with all wyckednesse that admitteth the false faythe of this Beast and foloweth the same in hys lyuynge by the subtle perswasyons of the Bishoppes and their lyenge Prophetes and ys sealed vp to eternall dampnacyon vnlesse the lorde call hym in tyme. Not onlye in Englande ys healed
the beastes wounded head but also in other serten regyons But for so moche as yt ys most lyuelye done there and thys boke written in that language I haue onlye brought forth here examples therof in that purpose The .xiiii. Chapter IN thys present chapter declareth the lorde vnto Iohan and vnto hys faythfull seruauntes by him the degre estate and condycyon of hys true beleuynge churche now after he hath afore lyuelye described the bestyall churche of Antichrist and of hys horned spyritualte by the afore named .ii. moÌ„struouse Beastes And thys ys that hys louers shuld knowe what they be which are of hys howsholde aÌ„d what an helper they haue of hym in the middes of their aduersitees to the confort of their sowles And though they be here a monge those ragynge tyrauntes in terryble agonyes and peynes persecucions and trobles he ys neuer absent from them nor wyll not be tyll he hath rewarded them with vnspekeable Ioyes The Text. 1 And I loked and lo a lambe stode in the mounte Syon 2 aÌ„d with him an C. and .xliiij. thousande 3. hauynge his fathers name writteÌ„ in their foreheades 4. And I herde a voyce froÌ„ heauen 5. as the sounde of manye waters 6. and as the voyce of a great thundre 7. And the voyce that I herde was 8. as the harpers that playe vpon theyr harpers 9. And they sange as it were a newe songe 10. before the seate 11. and before the foure Beastes 12. and the Elders 13. And no maÌ„ coulde lerne that songe 14. but the hundreth and xliiij thousande 15. which were redemed froÌ„ the earthe 16. These are they which were not defyled with womeÌ„ 17. for they are virgynes 18. These folowe the lambe whither so euer he goeth 19. These were redemed from menne 20. beynge the first frutes vnto God and to the lambe 21. and in their mouthes was founde no gyle 22. for they are without spotte before the trone of God ¶ The Paraphrase 1 I â—oked saith saynt Iohan on the other syde and in a thought as it were I behelde that a lambe stode vpon mounte Syon Euen the lambe of God Iesus Christ that alone toke awaye the synnes of the worlde Alone doth he gouerne his faythfull churche as the onlye aÌ„d immediate head therof hauynge non other to assist him in that office For who is the kynge ouer Syon but he Who shall reduce Israel agayne to his folde but he Onlye is he with his congregacyon to ayde them with his worde to bolden them with his sprete to streÌ„gâ—then them with his grace 2 And with him were present an hondreth and .xliiij. thousande hauynge his fathers name written in their fore heades So manye as haue in hart receyued his worde and in faythe digested his veâ—e are the verye chyldren of Abraham and are marked vpp for the sonnes of God by the seale of the holye Ghost 3 For power haue they geueÌ„ theÌ„ to be Gods chyldreÌ„ that beleue in hys name And thys is yt to haue hys name written in their fore heades For their faythe declareth them Gods sonnes Lete thys set Nombre be non impediment to the reader to be taken here for the vnyuersall multitude of the faythfull as well of the Gentiles as of the Iewes that beleueth though yt otherwyse apereth in the .viii. chapter of thys boke For so well ys the Gentile that hath faythe a perfyght Israelyte as ys the Christen Iewe. Yea moche rather was Zacheus for hys faythe iudged Abrahams chylde than was Symon for fulfyllynge the workes of the lawe For God ys not parcyall What so euer he be that feareth hym and worketh ryghtousnesse ys accepted with hym And so ys yt ment here And therfor ys not the differeÌ„ce written here as in the other place but all ys Ioyned in one to coÌ„preheÌ„de all vnder one And as touchynge the equall certente in Nombre both here and there Lyke as yt ys therâ— certeynlye knowne vnto God euen so ys yt here though yt be vnto vs both innumerable and vncertayne Not as concernynge the Nombre yt self but the common vnderstandinge therof in the scripturs For yf the Nombre of one seuenth be an infinite Nombre there moche more of many seuenthes 4 And I harde a voyce from heauen sayth Saynt Iohan which ys all one with the aforeseyd Syon and ys the vnyuersall congregacyon of Christ all clere from the superstycyons af menne For from Syon cometh the lawe of the lorde after Esaye and the worde of God from Ierusalem 5 Thys worde ys as the noyse of manye waters whan yt ys in the mouthes of manye dyuerse peples of dyuerse natyons and languages one not vnderstandynge an other and yet knowynge yt yche peple amonge themselues 6 Verye lyke ys yt also to a great thoÌ„der cracke myghtye feare full and terrible to the fleshe Very harde ys thy worde lorde sayd Christes disciples who is able to abyde yt 7 And the voyce that I harde saith IohaÌ„ was moche after the noyse that the harpers make whan they playe vpon their harpes Full of agrement are the holye scripturs yea full of swete hermonye and concorde More precyouse are the verytes of the lorde than ys golde and their melodye more swete than honye 8 With them reioysed Dauid before the arke of the lorde In theÌ„ toke Paule a stomake and confounded the Iewes at Damasâ—us 9 And swetelye they vttred with their voyces a songe that semed all newe before the seate of the lorde before the .iiii. Beastes and before the auncyeÌ„t elders This songe is the worde of the lorde all newe both to the good aÌ„d to the yll The faythfull it reneweth in the sprete of their myndes prouokynge them to do on a newe maÌ„ne in Christ. The hartes of the vnfaythfull it so hardeneth that they in disdayne and spyght doth call it newe lernynge as ded the ignoraunt multitude at Capernaum and the worldly wyse menne of Athenes 10 Before the seate of the lorde was this songe vttred which is the godlye disposed multitude For lyke as the harte of an hipocrite is the verye seate of sathan so is the hart of a faythfull manne the seate of God and habitacle of the holye Ghost 11 Before the .iiii. Beastes was it opened also by this nomber of godlye teachers Which Beastes are the pryuate congregacions of the lorde remayninge here yet in the fleshe in the .iiii. quarters of the worlde â—â— Finallye before the elders was it songe also For non other doctrine is it nor Gospell of glad tydinges than hath bene sens the begynnynge nor thaÌ„ hath bene thankefullye receyued of owr olde auncetours the Patriarkes the Prophetes the Apostles and the faythfull fathers 13 And no manne coulde lerne that newe songe but the aforesayd hondred aÌ„d xliiii thousande which were redemed from the earthe On mightye wonderfull yea and terrible sentence of the lorde Non that take them selues for the peple of God caÌ„ be accepted afore him for the true sede of AbrahaÌ„ nor for the iust
water ¶ The Paraphrase 1 An other Angell sawe I sayth Saynt Iohan flye in the myddes of heauen For Chryst was the first Angell or massenger of the euerlastynge couenaunt of the father This Angell here mencyoned is non other than he that had the seale of the lyuynge God in the vii Chapter and he that was clothed wyth a clowde in the tenth chapter And he betokeneth those feruent mynysters whâ—m God hach sent in this latter tyme to admonishe his peple to fle from the errours of Antichrist and returne to his heauenlye veritees 2 He flyeth in the myddes of heauen An ernest feruent and faythfull course take they in the middes of Gods congregacion which is his heauenlye kyngedome here to whoÌ„ this reuelacion is written lyke as ded Paulus Sylas Barnabas Timotheus Titus and ClemeÌ„s with other of the Apostles syncerelye to declare his worde Mightye stomaked are they in Gods cause both in their wordes and wrytinges 3 An euerlastinge gospell had this angell to preache vnto them that sytte and dwell vpon the earthe to all nacions kynredes and peple His eternall testament and couenaunt of peace hath the lorde geuen vnto them to preache delyueraunce to the captiue helthe to the wounded lyfe to the dead and remission to the sinnefull Yea to vtter that worde that is stronger than is heauen or earthe and that shall neuer fayle him that trulye beleueth 4 The sounde of this gospell must go the worlde ouer as in the Apostles tyme Euery where must it be spredde to the increase of faythe Amonge all nacions of the earthe amonge all kynredes of the Israelytes amonge all laÌ„guages of the worlde aÌ„d amonge all kyndes of peple of what sort so euer they be whether they sytte vpon the earthe or dwell vpon the earthe whether they be hygh or lowe gouernours or subiectes masters or seruauntes owners or fermers So that they sytt not nor dwell not within the earthe or haue their felicyte here For that is holye shuld not be geuen vnto dogges nor yet pearles layed before swyne 5 And he cryed wyth a lowde voyce With a mightye feruent sprete do they beate it into the heades of menne both by wordes writinges and all they can make to haue the feare of God and to geue him his dewe honoure And this is the doctrine they teache and the counsell they geue 6 Feare ye God in all that ye do for the first poynt of godlye wysdome is to dreade least we offende him Be constaunt in the worde aÌ„d feare no displeasure of menne For nomore can they do in their anger but slee the bodye and brynge it to the rest of God No power haue they ouer the sowle Feare him onlye therfor that whan he hath destroyed both maye throwe them into helle 7 Geue honour vnto him worship him and serue him alone Prayse him aÌ„d glorifye him aboue all But yet after non other sort thaÌ„ he hath appoynted which is in faythe sprete and veryte and not in outwarde shaddowes with obseruacyon of tymes He trulye honoureth him that trusteth in hym that beleueth hys worde and that in spyght of all Antychristes confesseth it afore all menne After this sort therfor feare him and worshyp him nothynge doubtynge the assaultes of enemyes 8 For the howre of his iudgement ys come At hande is it that all the Antychristes and hipocrites shall by the invincyble worde of God be iudged condempned and destroyed From heauen shall his wrathe be declared vpoÌ„ all their vngodlynesse With the sprete of his mouthe shall the lorde consume theÌ„ and not longe after wyll the great daye of his indignacion towardes them lyght sodenlye vpon them 9 With all faythfull obsequy worship him therfor that create heaueÌ„ and earth in wonderfull strengthe and bewtye 10 That made the see and the fountaynes of water with all that in them doth moue whose power is eternall knowlege non other God but hym Non other helper redemer nor sauer but his Crist. For all other Chrystes not sent of him are but Antychrystes Onlye bowe your knees vnto him for onlye is hys strength euerlastynge Onlye obeye his lawes for onlye aâ—e hys lawes cleane The Text. 1 And there folowed an other Angell saynge 2. She is fallen she is fallen euen BabyloÌ„ that great cyte 3. for she made all nacions drynke of the wyne of her whoredome ¶ The Paraphrase 1 And there folowed an other angell sayth Saynt Iohan which betokeneth an other sort of preachers whose offyce is here appoynted theÌ„ of the holye ghost to declare vnto the peple the certente of the fall of the aduowterouse cursed aÌ„d malygnaunt churche of hipocrites here fygured by wreched BabiloÌ„ For though all the true prophetes and preachers haue but one worde of God in their mouthe yet passeth it diuerslye from them Vnto yche of them is geueÌ„ a dyuerse vtteraunce of the sprete to edifye One is softe meke and gentyll as was Dauid Iohan aÌ„d Peter an other is boystuouse harde aÌ„d vehement as was Helias Esaye and Paule And all this worketh the self same one sprete This diuersyte of teachers was neuermore plentuouse in the worlde than now in owr tyme figured here by these two angels Praysed by the lorde therfor 2 And the tenoure or grounde of this latter sort of preachers is this She is fallen she is fallen euen myserable Babylon thâ—â— great cyte of whordome because she made all nacyons to drynke of the wrathefull wyne of her fornycacion So sure is it that the execrable churche of Antichrist shall be ouerthrowne and vtterlye destroyed as it were now perfourmed in dede Nothing shall be vnroted out that the heauenlye father hath not planted Sonner shall heauen earthe peryshe than this promes be vnfulfylled 3 For with the stinkinge whoryshnesse of her supersticiouse worshippynges haue she poysened all nacions peples vnder heaueÌ„ The great gouernours aÌ„d lerned lawers of the worlde hath she made in maner of beastlye dronkerdes wytlesse faythlesse aÌ„d gracelesse by their prostibulouse doctrine And this shall be declared more at large in the .xvij. chapter folowynge where as she is more plentuouslye described The Text. 1 And the thirde angell folowed them 2. saynge with a lowde voyce 3. If anye worshypp the beaste and his Image 4. aÌ„d receyue his marke in his fore head or on his hande 5. the same shall drynke of the wyue of the wrathe of God 6. which is poured in the cuppe of his wrathe 7. and he shall be punnyshed in fyre and brymstone 8. before the holye angels 9. and before the lambe ¶ The Paraphrase 1 The thyrde Angell also sayth Saynt Iohan folowed them in the thyrde kynde of preachynge of the same self massage that in the mouthe of .ij. or .iij. faythfull wytnesses all veryte myght stande 2 And by this angell are they signifyed that by the worde of God stifflye impugne their wicked lawes and vngodly ordynaunces whose maner of ernest preachinge is this 3 If anye maÌ„ worship the Beast
which is the great Antichrist And his Image which are those gouernours that taketh vpon them his blasphemouse titles names auctoryte or defence If anye manne also receyue his marke in his fore head beleuynge their lawes to be a chrysten doctrine or haue the prynâ—e of hys seale vpon his ryght hande which is to fashion his outwarde workes after the same The same manne shall drynke of the wyne of Gods wrathe whych are the dregges of the pure wyne powred in the cuppe of his hygh dyspleasure He shall tast of the euerlastynge dampnacyon that is reserued in the latter curse or fearefull sentence of their most terryble iudge To worshyp the Beast aÌ„d his Image is to accept them in conscyence and in the outwarde obedience with full consent of the hart For that they blasphemouslyâ— pretende without gods auctoryte As the Pope for Gods vycar or forgeuer of synnes Mahomete for the great Prophete of the lorde the â—ewlers of the earthe for the popes elder or yonger sonnes for most christen kynges and defenders of the faythe of that holye churche 4 To receyue the Beastes marke in their fore heades and handes is both to agre to soche decrees tradycyons lawes constitucyons actes and proclamacyons as they vnder those tytles haue made onlye for their owne couetousnesse and pompe and neyther for the glorye of God nor yet for the right mayntenaunce of the chrysten common welthe as I haue declared afore And also to be sworne to the same to subscrybe to it to geue counsell or ayde to it to maynteyne it by lernynge to mynister in it to execute vnder it to accuse poÌ„nyshe and put to deathe for yt or to thynke yt lawfull and godlye with soche lyke 5 These marked worshippers shall tast of the cuppe of Gods indygnacyon of calamyte sorowe and wrechednesse in the dayes of their fall here and after the last iudgement of vnspekeable peynes and most greuouse tormentes in euerlastynge fyre prepared for the deuyll aÌ„d his angels 6 The dregges that the lorde hath poured out sayth Dauid shall the wycked of the earthe drynke Cleane contrarye are these Angels to the horned mynysters of Antychryst For they maynteyne the Popes errours these the onlye verytees of Chryst. They laboure for the glorye of theyr Pope these seketh the onlye honoure of God They praâ—e that their holye churche shall coÌ„tinewe these saye it shal downe with shame They requyre worshyp to the Beast and his Image these will report it blasphemouse and the rewarde therof dampnacyon Marke in these .ij. sortes the preachers of owr tyme and iudge which are of God Agaynst both beastes in Chrystes quarell shall these Angels contende Agaynst the Pope and his bishoppes Mahomete and his doctours wyll these godlye mynisters replye whoÌ„ the lorde hath sent in thys latter age for that purpose condeÌ„pnynge by the scripturs their auctoryte iurisdiccion and power declarynge also the plages that wyll fall vpon them for wytholdynge the truthe of God in vnryghtousnesse 7 For these Antichristes and their worshippers with so manye as beareth their token shall be ponnished in fyre and brymstone before the holye Angels and before the lambe Fyre shall be kyndled sayth Moyses in the anger of the lorde and shall burne vnto the bottome of hell Vpon the vngodlye sayth Dauid shall he rayne snares Fyre brymstone storme and tempest shall be ther porcyon to drynke The vehemeÌ„t indignacion and myghtye iudgement of God shall lyght vpon them as vpon Sodome and Egypt and shall both deuoure them and consume them 8 And this shall be in the syght of Angels Which are not onlye the spretes of heauen but also the churche of the faythfull Yea the ryghtouse shall reioyse whan he â—â—yth the destruccion and shall washe his handes in the bloude of the wycked 9 In the presens of the lambe shall it be also For he is euermore with his flocke and shall be vnto the ende of the worlde wherin he shall sytte and conâ—dempne them The Text. 1 And the smoke of their torment ascendeth vp euermore 2. And they haue no rest daye nor nyght 3. which worship the Beaste and hys Image 4. aÌ„d who so euer receyueth the prynt of his name 5. Here is the pacycyence of Sayntes 6. Here are they that kepe the commaundementes 7. and the faythe of Iesu. ¶ The Paraphrase 1 And the smoke of their torment ascendeth vp euermore as the flame of a fornace wyth most horryble stynke for a perpetuall sygne of their ponnyshment lyke as it ded from Sodome and Gomor whaÌ„ the lorde ouerthrewe theÌ„ 2 So that they haue no rest neyther day nor nyght so manye as worship the Beast and his Image receyuynge the print of his name 3 Both in this lyfe are they crucyatâ— with a troblouse and doubtfull conscience and also after this lyfe with vnspekeable peynes For neyther shall theyr worme dye nor yet their fyre be quenched all fleshe abhorrynge them 4 Thus shall they be wyth the Beast tormented which haue the sprete of the beast For lyke as all the faithfull which hath bene from the begynninge belongeth to one mistycal bodye in Christ aÌ„d shall be preserued by hym so doth the wicked perteyne to one mystycall Antichryst hauynge all one sprete with him and so shall with him perishe 5 Here is the pacience of the Sayntes In this lyfe are their trobles No pleasure is for theÌ„ in this worlde but hate rebukes slaunders lyes persecucioÌ„s deathe of their bodyes Their lyfe vpon earthe is coÌ„tinual affliccioÌ„ but gloryouse is the frute of their labours Manyfolde are the mysfortunes of the rightouse but the lorde cleareth them of all 6 Here are they vexed that kepe the commaundemeÌ„tes the faythe of Iesu. Here are they had in derisioÌ„ that behaue theÌ„ selues as the ministers of God in moche pacience affliccions nede anguyshe laboure strypes imprisoÌ„meÌ„t soche lyke 7 Here are they chastened of the lorde with many sore stormes that they shuld not be dampned with this worlde Moche haue they here to suffre of enemyes that onlye cleaueth to the worde of God in lyfe and doctrine The Text. 1 And I herde a voyce froÌ„ heaueÌ„ sayeÌ„ge vnto me 2. write 3. Blessed are the dead which hereafter dye in the lorde 4. eueÌ„ so sayth the sprete that they maye rest froÌ„ their labours 5. but their workes shall folowe them ¶ The Paraphrase 1 And I harde a voyce from heaueÌ„ sayth Saynt Iohan saynge vnto me 2 Wryte with thy penne or marke surelye this senteÌ„ce folowinge for theÌ„ that here suffreth in the truthes quarell 3 Blessed are the dead or they which are alredye departed and that also shall here after depart in the lorde This voyce from heauen are the infallyble scripturs assertanynge the faythe of Iohan of the swete rest of the Sayntes in the handes of God And that their ende is not without honoure as the vayne sort supposeth but they are counted amonge the dere chyldren of God Let them therfor that suffer in this
whore 6. and shall make her desolate naked 7. aÌ„d shall eate her fleshe 8. aÌ„d burne her with fyre 9. For God hath putte in their hartes to fâ—lfyll hys wyll 10. and to do wâ—th one consent 11. for to geue her kyngdom vnto the beast 12. vntyll the wordes of God be fulfylled 13. And the woman which thu sawest is the greate cytye 14. which reygneth ouer the Kinges of the earthe ¶ The Paraphrase 1 And after this longe communicacyoÌ„ sayth saynt Iohan the aforeseyd Angel sayd thus vnto me to make vp his tale with 2 The wauerynge waters which thu sawest here now of late in mysterye where as the Babylonyshe whore sitteth vpon the rose coloured Beast are in sygnyficacyon all maner of peples of the carnall nacyons and the superstycyouse folke of manye sondrye tonges 3 Not onlye in one place of the worlde rewleth this wanton relygyon of Antichrist but in euerye lande in euerye domynion in euerye cumpanye amonge all occupacyons and languages The folyshe multytude euerye where beynge blynded by their subtyle sorceryes neyther hauynge faythe nor yet the feare of God before their eyes as a ragynge flood the bankes broken downe â—oâ—â—eth headlynges into all blasphemie and deuyllyshnesse 4 More ouer the afore named .x. hornes sayth the Angell which thu by the will of God beholdest here in sprete vpon the seyd Beast of destruccyon are those verye persones which also shall hate the whore Her abhominacyons ones knowne by the Gospell preachinge they shall abhorre her lawes despyse her auctoryte and contempne her customes They shall defeate her of those landes and possessyons which now she vniustlye hoâ—deth 5 They that afore were her fryndes shall than be her mortall enemyes denyenge her both tribute obedyence and seruyce so leauynge her without all coâ—fort Not onlye are these the temporall gouernours as the kynge of Englande the kynge of Denmarke the Duke of saron the Landgraue of hesse and other Princes of Germanye with soche other as wyll here after folowe the same pryncyples but also the Metropolytanes and Byshoppes the Doctors and Prelates As are all redye Thomas CraÌ„mere the arche Byshop of CauÌ„terburye Hermannus de weda the archebyshopp of Coleyne Godryck the Byshop of Holye Barlowe the Byshop of Saynt Dauids Byrde the Byshop of Chestre Thuâ—â—leby byshop of Westmynstre 〈◊〉 tymer and Nicolas Sharton of late years Byshoppes of Worcester and Salysburye with soche other lyke as wyll here after folowe their trade Though they were afore the hornes of the Beast for defence of the whore yet are they now fallen from hym and more shall euerye daye to make her desolate of honoure aÌ„d naked of rentes and possessions 6 So shall they chace that Babylonyshe harlot Rome with their preachers that neyther shall they leaue her coloure nor yet bewtye Considre what IohaÌ„ Reuclin Martyne Luther Erasmus Occolampadius â—winglius Pomeran Buter Capito Melanchton Grineus Calninus Brencyus Frances LaÌ„bert Bullinger aÌ„d soche other hath done agaynst her alredye Lyke wyse here in Englande Bylneye Cyndale Frith Barnes Cromwell Couerdale Turner George Ioye Rose Rydleye Warde BecoÌ„ aÌ„d other els leauynge her neyther Rellyques nor Rodes Sectes nor Shrynes Abbeyes nor Pryoryes manye more coÌ„mynge after them of the same sort These shall make her so desolate that no maÌ„ne shall in processe of tyme regarde her They shall leaue her so naked that all the worlde shall abhorre her that shall loâ—â— vpon her Yea in the conclusyon they 〈…〉 her fleshe 7 Besydes the takynge awaye of her carnall profyghtes and pleasurs they shall confounde her flâ—shelye vnderstandinge of the scripturs and vtterlye consume the superfluouse obseruacyons of her whoryshe câ—remonyes 8 Finallye with fyre shal they burne her in brynginge vnto nought all her abhominable rewles customes kyndes of Idolatrye All these ones plucked awaye by the euydent worde of God no longar shall this harlot apere For no loÌ„gar contynueth the whore than the who redome ys in pryce Take awaye the rytes and Ceremonies the Iewels and ornamentes the Images and lyghtes the lordeshyppes and fatherhodes the aulters and Masses with the Byshoppes and Prestes and what is their holye whorâ—she churche any more Not onlye is this fleshe eatynge and burnynge declared now adayes in outwarde experymentes as in the rebellyouse Monkes and Prestes of Englande and in theÌ„ that arose there in the Northe specyallye in fryre forest and Margareâ—â— Chenye which were for their churche consumed lyke as were Baals chaplaynes at the broke of Cyson by Helyas but also misticallye in that is spokeÌ„ of here afore 9 For God hath sayth the Angell all blindenesse secluded put it into the hartes of those and soche other Godlye menne by the infusyon of his sprete to fulfyll hys decreed will so pleasure in this behalf as vtterlye to destroye the Popyshe relygyon or fylthye abhominacyons of Antichrist 10 He hath geuen yt them more ouer to do these thynges to hys glorye through the agrement of faythe that they haue in the vnyte of his Godlye truthe to the abolyshment of all Sectes false Prophetes and coniurers of Egypte 11 Fynallye by hys grace he hath moued them through knowlege of his worde to rendre vp her blasphemouse kyngedome whom sumtyme of ignoraunce they vsurped vnto the malygnaunt Beast agayne as the hornes of hys pestyleÌ„t heades After this sort ded good Latimer and Shaxton geue ouer their Bysshop-ryckes and so hath dyuerse other Godlye menne their promocyons and liuinges as manye more yet here after wyll do 12 For as they haue begonne so shall they contynue in demynyshynge the abhomynacyoÌ„s of this whoryshe churche tyll the wordes and promyses of God by hys Apostles and Prophetes which can neuer fayle be whollye fulfilled in effect and tyll hys last iudgement do fynyshe all But thus do not all they which haue done of the yoke of the Popes obedyence or blotted out hys name For the greatter nombre of them retayneth styll the blasphemouse obseruacyons and Ceremonies of hys Romyshe relygyon some makynge newe lawes of deathe for the establyshment of the same as ys in Englande the acte of the .vi. Artycles with dyuerse other more And for this remayneth here styll the Beast as receyuynge the rendred kyngedome of the whore In whome ys also comprehended the wycked reÌ„naunt that shall worke the last myschefe whome the lorde shall ende with hys seyd iudgement This Beast ys not without hys lyuelye Image styll workynge the same feates that hymself wrought afore though his head be greuouslye wounded in diuerse quarters of the worlde Neyther ys he without craftye Phesycyanes to mynystre lyfe to the same Who euer forswore the Pope more ernestlye thaÌ„ ded Stokyslaye and Sampson Gardyneâ— and Tunstall wylson and fryre wattes with soche other holye prelates Yet labour they tothe and nayle to haue Babylon styll Babylon Sodom Sodom Egypte Egypte But maruele not of the ordynauÌ„ce of the lorde which all at one tyme prouyded Moyses to gyde his peple and yet