the Emperours humiliation but desired to tread him vnder foote whom hee called the great Dragon that when hee had him vnder hee might with more ease stampe also vpon the Kings of England and France and other princes whom he called Basilisks or little kings and little serpents and might at his pleasure spoile their prelates of their treasure n p. 760. The French king taketh Damiata For o 762. which the Soldan offereth the kingdom of Ierusalem much treasure and peace so that there was hope that he purposed to become a Christian But as the pope formerly commanded all was refused by the popes Legate It seemeth that he that writeth a Annot. in Sonn 107. annotations vpon Petrarchs Sonets speaketh of this storie when he saith that the king of Spaines brother I thinke he should say the king of France his brother proclaimed the pope Soldan of Babylon which he calleth Baladac When they had refused the Soldans offer they could not afterwards intreate but found bloodie warre But b Mat. Paris 762. 763. Fridericke subdued happily many of his rebels The popes souldiers robbed them that were signed with the crosse for the holy land taking their money from them And the armie in the holy land was deuided In c 767. 768. fight the French king is taken who though at first he refused yet at last is constrained to surrender Damiata vpon hard conditions and d 772. 773. sendeth by his two brethren to the pope to relieue his shame and difficulties by the absolution of Fridericke His brethren said to the pope that it were best to absolue him els all would thinke the pope of an obstinate hatred they would remooue him from Lyons and raise all France against him Because they vrged the Pope to make peace with Fridericke as he loued the honour of the vniuersall Church and would auoid to be charged to be the cause of the losse of the holy land by his couetousnesse and marchandise of such souldiers that tooke the crosse for the aide of such souldiers that tooke the crosse for the aide of the holy land the e 777. pope craueth to be at Burdeux and groweth inexorable Then also died Fridericus the wonder of the world and so ended the sixth Thunder The seuenth Thunder COnradus a Caron the sonne of Fridericus the second Anno 1250. b Trith p. 239. who had before been chosen King of Romanes did reigne c Mat. Paris 780. In signe of the wrath of God there were exceeding horrible thunders a heauie prognostication d 781. Conrade maketh sure his prisoners that rebelled against his father and with his brethren and friends doth rise against the Pope who for the insatiable couetousnes of his whole race was hatefull to the Imperials e 783. and feared such ginnes and snares of the Romanes to recouer an inestimable summe of money from him which he caused them to lay out in his warres against Fridericke that he durst not returne to his seate in Rome f 791. Yea the hearts of many departed from the father the Pope who raged as a fierce stepfather and from the mother the Church of Rome who was cruell in persecution as a stepmother The g 792. pope departing from Lugdunum calleth the people together to bid them farwell By his Orator after other speeches concludeth that the city had receiued this benefit and almes by the Popes presence that where at his comming there were onely found three or foure whorehouses in the city he left but one and that reached from the East gate to the west Thus is the Popes courte the mother of fornications and abhominations of the earth a Mat. Prris p. 795. many heardsmen foolishly take the crosse to fight against the Turkes in the holy land The Pope setteth forth new decretals and minding peace b 798. 799. absolueth some nobles from their excommunication Whom he marrieth to his neeces by which holy marriage they which were the children of wrath become forsooth the sonnes of grace and chosen vessels But hee excommunicateth Conrade Whereupon the enemies of the Church are multiplied c Pag. 800. Conrade hauing got the fauour of many of the Princes of the Empire the Pope preacheth the crosse against him with farre larger pardons then were graunted to them that fought against the Turkes in the holy land For the fathers and mothers of such were to be pardoned that sought against Conrade When the Queene and Nobles of France saw the Pope to minde onely his ambition and to neglect their distressed King in the holy laud they tooke into their hands the goods and lands of those that were signed against Conrade bidding them liue of the Pope that fought for him The like was don in other places Hence the Pope through shame began to treate of peace with Conradus d Pag 801. There were more fearefull thunders The Pope to make peace desireth to marry a neece of his e Pag. 805. to the brother of Conradus and strengtheneth himselfe by making of new Cardinals But the Princes of the Empire conceiued much indignation against the presumption of the Pope for seeking to ignoble Princes by the marriage of his neeces William Earle of Holland being sorrowfull for his presumption in accepting the Empire resigned f Pag. 781. and hauing lost his owne Earledome and all detested the mousetrappes and promises of the Pope being constrained to begge g 808. Conrade hauing gained the fauour of all the Italians in a manner had poyson giuen him as was thought by the Popes faction but hee recouered stangely and grew into more fauour Yet would not the Pope be perswaded to crowe him least he should proue like his father h 813. but seeing the daunger of Christendome by the contention the Pope sought to make peace with his foes by giuing them his neeces in marriage Howbeit the poyson which Conrade escaped and imputed to the Pope and the contradiction of the Princes of the Empire to such presumptuous marriages gained Conrade much fauour hindred this kinde of peace and lost the Pope many friends and much credit Whereupon Conradus persecuted the Pope with fire and sworde and spoyled such as went to the court of Rome i 814. And so our father the Pope who rather followed the steps of Constantine then Peter stirred vp many calamities in the world The a Mat. Paris p. 829. Pope considering that Richard the King of Englands brother was very rich baited a hooke sweetely to catch his seruice and wealth For trusting vpon his sophistry and deceit that said All b Mat. 4.9 these things will I giue thee if thou wilt fall downe and worship me caused him to be elected and called King of Apulia Sicilia and Calabria c Mat. Paris p. 832. At this time such was the couetousnes and rapine of the Pope in England that vpon a computation which the Bishop of Lincolne caused to
p. 3â—3 wrote to the French king that himselfe was Lord of all spirituall and temporall estates through the world Thus he exalteth himselfe aboue all that is called God And said that because the French king would not take his kingdom of him hee deserued to bee depriued The French king burned his letters and despised his Legates In a Councell at Paris calleth the Pope a schismaticke hereticke and inuader of the state by the pragmatical sanctier diminisheth the Popes authoritie in France c Par. Vrsp 344. The Pope confirmeth the election of Albert vnder condition that he would take vpon him the kingdomes of Romanes and France d Fox Flores hist The king of England also couragiously withstood the Pope in the title of Scotland e Bergo 13. Trith p. 268. The French king caused him to be apprehended in his bedde and carried prisoner to Rome where hee died with sorrow c. In f Geneb p. 1004 1007. 1008. his time Ottoman the first Emperour of the Turkes arose a great plague to the professors of Christ Now the Church of Rome leaueth to reckon from the passion of Christ as before and accounteth from his Natiuitie The Mariners compasse is found out A fit instrument to spread the name of Christ where it was vnknown Clement the fifth g Mass 17. p. 244. was consecrated in France at Lugdunum going to the pallace the people thronged a wall fell Ann. 1305. and hurt many the Popes crowne fell from his head and out of it a Carbuncle esteemed worth 6000. florens An euill presage For h Trith 269. Geneb 1009. he translated the Popes seate from Rome to Auinion to the great damage of Italie Rome and all Christians i Trith 271. The Princes elected Henrie the seauenth Emperour a good man and valiant worthy the imperiall seate He k Par. Vrsp 349. sent his Orators to the Pope for his imperiall crowne And l Bergo 13. in Henr. the Pope confirmed his election vnder condition he would go into Italie to receiue his crowne according to the manner of the Emperors passing through a Par. Vrsp 349. 350. Italie he found and subdued many rebels came to Rome and is crowned and gaue out lawes concerning traitors and rebels which Rome as the head of the world and saieth in her head I sit as Queene adorned and confirmed in these words I the crown of crowns confirme vnto my Prince his power c. doe subiect vnto him cities nations of countries Eagles defend my glorie behold the Gentiles Departing from Rome he had more rebels that opposed themselues against him ouer most of whom he triumphed Then came newes to him to come into Apulia where he should finde Rupertus king of Apulia depriued and deliuered to him The Emperour went towards Apulia The b Clemen 2. tit 9. de iureiurando Pope sendeth to him to make peace with Rupertus vpon his oath of fidelitie and obedience which hee made to the Pope But the Emperour by publike instruments declareth he made no such oath Then c Par. Vrsp 350 came there a d Geneb p. 1011 Dominican Frier vnto the Emperour promising to reconcile vnto him certaine cities that stood out against him desiring to minister the Eucharist to him with which he poysoned the Emperour as e Berg. 13. in Henr. he was hired by the Florentines For that which was execrable in the Saracens f Mat. Paris p. 769. namely to poyson their prisoners is now practised by Friers against Emperours and that like the children of the mother of abhominations euen in the sacrament His death was the safetie of Rupertus and the Florentines For this murther at the place and time of the worship of God according to his word there was euery where a famine after which followed a very great pestilence The Pope in a Councell openly declareth the oath of the Emperour now murthered to bee an oath of fidelitie and obedience and requireth it alwaies so to be vnderstood g Clem. 2 tit 9. in gloss verb. futur Out of which decree is gathered that the Emperour is not Emperour before he be crowned by the Pope He h Clem. 5 tit 3. de haeres c. 1. also prouided that the walles and lockes might bee sure and that the Keepers should bee sworne where heretickes were imprisoned Hee i Clem. 3 tit 16 de vener sanct confirmed Corpus Christi day and gaue large indulgences to them that were present at the solemnitie There were at this time diuers that held many things against the church of Rome as the followers k Mass 17. p. 244. Berg. 13. f. 207. a. of Dulcinus of whom were 6000. and of them were apprehended more than 400. who were of the reliques of those whom Bernard writeth of in the Canticles vz. Petrus Abailardus c. There l Clem. 5. tit 3. c. 3. were also certaine called Begnardes that held against adoration of the Eucharist at the eleuation Moreouer very m Trith 274. 275. many euen to the number of 80,000 were of the opinion of Lolliardus who held against Transubstantiation extreame vnction c. that the Church of Rome was not the Church of Christ but of the infidel Gentiles and despised the prelates authoritie they held also against distinction of meates Of them many were burned by the inquisition The same time was a most extreame famine Buchel Anâ— 1315. Trith p. 273. that the parents restrained not themselues from the most filthie carkasses of their children and after that followed a great pestilence euery where so that in a manner the third part of mankinde was consumed Thus Michael fighteth for the word of God Many wicked things are obiected to these of Dulcinus the Begnardes and Lolliards opinion But because in the time of the heathen Emperours the diuell did accuse the brethren and in this time of Antichrist the beast doth blaspheme them that dwell in heauen their accusation may iustly be suspected to be slanderous Especially seeing they confesse that the Boemians in the time of Hus were of their sect who are very well known to maintaine none of these impieties a Paral. Vrsp 351. Arnoldus de noua villa attempted to prooue by Daniel and Sibyllaes prophecies that Antichrist and the persecution of the Church should bee betweene the yeares 1300. and 1400. b 345. 346. This Pope also put downe the Templars for their horrible wickednesse contempt of Christ and abhominable idolatrie and that they betraied Ludouicus king of France into the hands of the Soldan when he was in the holy land Hee c Berg. 13. f. 207. interdicted Venice for taking Ferrara Wherefore d Sab. En. 9. l. 7 Franciscus Dandalus a Noble man of Venice laie bound in a chaine at the Popes feete to batter his anger against Venice and to procure him to free it from interdiction The Knights of the Rhodes began Anno 1315. Iohn the twentith two
e Trith 273. 274. 275. entred when the Empire was distracted by two which the Princes deuided into factions did set vp The greater part elected Ludouicus Banarus the lesse Fridericus Duke of Austria f Par. Vrs 352. Fridericus was fauored by the Pope the French King c. It seemeth the Pope willing to aduance Fridericus whose election was not good thought to declare the Empire to be voyde that he might weaken Ludouicus of such offices in Italy c. that might stand him in stead For in his first yeere he decreed g Extr. Iho. 22. Si fratum that in the vacancie of the Empire which he said then was by the death of Henry the seuenth the regiment iurisdiction and disposing of the Empire deuolued to the Pope vnto whom in the person of Saint Peter God committed the rights of the earthly and heauenly Empire He also accursed all Imperiall offices as well spirituall as temporall that in the vacancie were not authorised by the Pope After h Par. Vrs 353. Trith p. 278. many conflicts Fridericus is ouercome and taken and by capitulation yeeldeth all to Ludouicus At this time i Trith p. 277. 278. Walter Lolliard the chiefe teacher of many against the popish Church who had written diuers treatises in the Dutch tongue applying the Scriptures to his opinions was apprehended he sharpely defended his opinions for which he was burned a Mass 18. p. 246. Michael Cesenas Generall of the order of the Minorites with the Fratricelli of the habit of Saint Francis preached that Christ and his Aopstles possessed nothing of their owne Against whom the Pope published his decree that b Extr de ver fig. tit 14. Cum inter whosoeuer held that Christ and his Apostles possessed nothing were heretiks They also taught that the Emperor is not subiect to the Pope but in spirituall causes which the Emperor beleeued and c Trith 279.280 despising the Pope who by admonition and commination required him to come to Auinion to be crowned by the Pope went into Italy requested the Pope to send some Cardinals into Italy to crowne him as Clement did for Henry the seuenth The Pope refusing so to doe d Par. Vrs 353. at Millaine the Emperor receiued his second crowne And the Emperors Chancellor vnknowne to the Emperor wrote to the Pope calling him e Reuel 13.1 the beast arising out of the sea c. Michael Cesenas wrote that the Pope was Antichrist f Fox Marty and Rome Babylon in the Reuelation Also Petrus de Carbano Iohannes de Poliaco and William Occam wrote against the Pope and his vsurped authoritie in aduancing Friers decaying purish Churches c. The * Mass 18.246 Emperor goeth to Rome and is crowned by an Antipope whom he set vp The Pope hearing hereof g Gob. aet 6. c. 68. Mass 18. excommunicated the Emperor for taking vpon him as Emperor in Italy without the Popes approbation and excommunicated Michael and all their adherents sent an armie against the Fratricelli Many were burned There h Trith 285. was a very great mortalitie euery where and such a dearth that many were famished The Syrians tooke many thousands of Christians prisoners The i Mass 18.247 Gob. ae 6. c. 71. p. 246. Pope also preacheth heresie that the soules departed did not enioy the sight of God till the last iudgement an k Geneb 1002. heresie of the Fratricelli He sent a Dominican and a Minorite to Paris l Mass 18. p. 247. to preach his heresie there Thomas Walleis an Englishman herein resisted the Pope in his publike sermons For which he was imprisoned and vexed with famine The m 246. Emperor held a Councell vnto whom Iendinus and Marcellus students of Paris doe come and comfort him confirming that the Emperor is not subiect to the Pope n Trith 279. Occam also said to the Emperor Defend me with thy sword against the iniuries of the Pope and I will defend thee with words and writing with indissoluble arguments And o Par. Vrs 354. Marsilius Patauinus wrote to the Emperour a booke called Defensor pacis maintaining that the Pope is subiect to the Emperor In this a Trith 280. Councell the Emperor deposeth the Pope as an heretike and schismatike and b Par. Vrs 354 setteth vp his appeale against the Pope c Geneb 1015. The Pope reuoked his heresie by the authoritie of the faculty of Paris He d Volat. 21. instituted a new order of Knights in Portugall of Iesus Christ and granted them the Templars goods that they might be ready to resist the irruptions of the Saracens that were next their colours were Sables a crosse gewles In the same countrie c. were the Knights of Alcantara with a greene crosse He e Extr. Con. l. 1. Supra gentes excommunicated ipso facto those that hindered the Popes Legats and messengers from being entertained and interdicted their land as long as they should stand contumacious f Trith p. 284. When he died he left an inestimable summe of gold behind him in the treasuries Anno 1335. Benedictus the twelfth g Par. Vrs 354. Geneb p. 1025. though he desired to absolue the Emperor yet for feare of the French King confirmed the censure of his predecessor * Par. Vrsp p. 355. The Emperor reiecteth the acts of Iohn the twentith two against him looking to the Canon Imperator where is required that neither the Emperor shall vsurpe the rights of the Pope nor the Pope of the Emperor and that the Emperor hath not his Empire of the Pope but of God At Franckeford in an assemblie of Princes was decreed that if the Emperor be good and Catholicke c. and that the Pope refuse to crowne him he may be consecrated by any other Catholike Bishop c. h Mass 8.447 He sent his Orator to Rome who perswaded them to administer the dignity of the senate in the name of the Church and not in the name of the King or Emperor as they had done of long How was then Rome the Popes He i Geneb p. 1027. caused the King of Hungary to restore the kingdome of Naples to Ioane from whom he had taken it because she had strangled her husband the Kings brother In reward of which restitution she gaue the city Auinion to the Pope for euer He k 1026. published a decree against this heresie of Iohn his predecessor determining against his opinion l Extr. Con. 5. de haeres c. 1. This Pope made the inquisitors the receiuers of heretikes goods and rents and to be accountable to none but the Pope * Par. Vrs 354. Dulcinus and Durandus are held to bee heretikes m Fox Marty Hagar imprisoned for preaching against the Masse Iohannes de Rupe scissa imprisoned for writing and preaching Rome was Babylon and the Cardinals were false prophets n Geneb pag. 116. Occam writeth
of Charles the Emperor putteth out the flaming eyes of the word of God and maketh the Scriptures to bee as darke as Sibyllaes oracles iumping herein with the heretike Tatianus Hosius the Popes Legat in the Councell c. are wholy against the authoritie of the scriptures Thus the beast and false Prophet with their armies maketh warre against the word of God who hath many crownes on his head and eyes like a flame of fire c. d Can. Trid. ses 25. de reform cap. 20. Vnder this Pope the Councell decreeth that the immunitie of the Popish Church and her iurisdiction was required to be defended by all Princes as the principall things of God for he exalteth himselfe aboue all that is called God e Geneb 1167. And from hence is that league falsely called holy Anno 1566. Pius the fifth f Geneb 1168. 1169. 1179. a most seuere obseruer of the Councell of Trent he twice proscribed the realme of England and exposed it as a pray to whosoeuer would take it the force of which thunderbolt the godly papists continually do pray to see howsoeuer they doe otherwise dissemble g Buchol Ann. 1566. About 400. nobles of the low-countries make supplication to the Gouernesse the Dutchesse of Parma that the Spanish inquisition might not be brought in amongst them and that she would graunt them libertie in religion a Geneb 1170. In many places images are cast downe and here begin the warres for religion in the low countries b Annales Belgiâ— Oratio Phil. Mornix Then came the tyrant the Duke of Alua into the low countries who was sent to roote out all the Protestants there He there committed most bloudie executions cruell warres and most horrible persecutions of which he insulted when he left the countries c Christopoli Apologia Yet doe the papists blame him and exclaime vpon him for his ouer much clemencie for the scarlet beast is full of names of blasphemie and nothing but death will satisfie them d Specul Tragicunt p. 97. The King of Spaine caused his sonne Charles to be apprehended imprisoned and put to death because he suspected him to fauour the distressed estate of the low countries Gregorius the thirteenth restoreth Papistrie Anno 1572. excommunicateth Queene Elizabeth and changeth the computation of the yeare This e Histo Gallica Buchol yeare after many mercilesse murthers in France at the mariage of the king of Nauar in Paris most horrible bloudie and cruell Councels were assembled and massacres committed vpon the Admirall of France and many other Nobles of the reformed religion which were insâ—sted thither As also vpon others in diuers places to the number of 30,000 were murthered at this time in France So were the French men murthered 290. yeeres before in Sicilia for their abhominable wickednes like death but farre vnlike cause f Buchol Ibid. Arias Montanus finished that excellent worke of the Bible in foure languages After these murthers in France followed g 1574. Annales Belgi a bloudy battaile at sea neere Romerswall in the low-countries where the Spaniards were ouerthrowen that yet they can recouer no strength at sea there and the sea in a manner steyned with the blood of the slaine For thou hast giuen them blood to drinke h 1588. Mer. Gallo bel Meteranus alij The Spaniards and all the confederats of the papists sent into the narrow seas against England c. a nauie which they called inuincible i cap. 13.1 c. For the beast hath the face of a Lyon which by the great and wonderfull mercy of God strangely disposing of the windes and by the valour of the English nauie was scattered and in a manner destroyed k 15â—9 Histo Gallica The next yeere the King of France Henry the third was murthered by a Frier in the same chamber in which the massacre was concluded vpon which was committed 1572. this King being then the principall person in the deliberation and consent For now of long time religious men had learned of the l Genff de Turcorum origine lib. 3. p. 152. Saracenicall Assasines to carrie kniues in their sleeues to murther Princes in their houses as a step to paradise Then did the most sacred Queene of England vnder the leading of the mirrour of true Christian nobilitie and cheualrie Peregrine Lord Willoughby send forces into France to assist Henry the fourth King of France and Nauarra against the Duke de Maine and the league who had driuen the King to an exceeding straight at Diepe By which seruice the King so succeeded against his enemies that a Mercu. Gallo Belg. if he had followed his fortunes he had cleaâ—e ouerthrowen the league for euer b 1598. Specul Trag. Apologia Christopoli historiae de Indi occidentaâ—i c. Fox Mart. At last died Philip the second King of Spaine who made peace with the Turke the better to roote out the Gospell vnder whom in Spaine England the low-countries India c. an infinit number of pore innocents were put to death Whether his death were more strange or miserable is very hard to say For he died all his partes in a manner eaten with lice c Edict of the F. K. The French King published an edict by which the Protestants in France haue libertie to professe the Gospell and to beare offices to the great increase of the Gospell there d 1603. The kingdomes of England and Scotland were most happily vnited the crowne discending to the most godly learned and excellent King Iames by the merciful dispensation of the grace of almighty God King of Scots Who to shew that he acknowledgeth to hold his crownes of Christ hath published this Sonet Basllicon doron GOd a Psal 82.1 giues not Kings the stile of Gods in vaine For b cap. 7.17 on his throne his Scepter doe they sâ—ey And as c cap. 16.17.18 their subiects ought them to obey So d cap. 4.10 5. 8 9.10 11.16 c. Kings should feare and serue their God againe If then you would e cap. 10.1.2 11.15 enioy a happie raigne f cap. 17.16 Obserue the statutes of your heauenly King And g cap. 10.11.12 from his law make all your Lawes to spring Since h cap. 17.17 his Lieutenant here ye should remaine i cap. 11.18 〈…〉 the â—â—st he sâ—â—d fâ—â—st trâ—â— and plaine Eâ—â—resse the proud k cap. 7.17 〈…〉 are the right Walâ—â— l cap. 19.12 alwayes so at euer in his sight Who guards the godly m cap. 15.1 plaguing the prophane And n cap. 1.13 c. so ye shall in Princely vertues shine Resembling right o cap. 4.2.3 c your mightie King Diuine Hallelu-iah for the Lord that God that almightie God hath reigned Amen Hallelu-iah To the Reader THere remaine yet to be powred out the sixth and seauenth Phials The great Hallelu-iahs The waâ—â—â— of Gâ—g
in by the former incursions doe beginne e cap. 17.12 tenne states as Kings or kingdomes vz. f Sabellicus 1. The common wealth at Venice 2. The kingdome of the Hunnes in Hungarie 3. The kingdome of the English men in England 4. The kingdome of the Gothes in Spaine 5. The kingdome of the French in France 6. The kingdome of the Gothes in Italie 7. g Geneb Melanct. c. The Vandals in Boemia 8. The Sueni Almanni in Germani 9. The Exarchi of Rauenna 10. The kingdome of the Lombards in Italie all which were either heathen or Arians These tenne h cap. 17.12 principalities which in S. Iohns time had not receiued the kingdome i Dan. 7.8 did receiue power as kings at an houre with the beast the Pope Amongst whom the Popes came vp another little horne or kingdome at this time k Lactan. l. 7. For LactaÌ„tius and Hierome vpon Daniel doe say that all writers affirme this Valla in Aug. de ciu Dei lib. 20. cap. 19. p. 691. that about the ende of the world shall be tenne kings which shall deuide amongst them the Romane world and among them Antichrist shall be added the eleuenth as witnesseth Valla. CHAP VI. The fift Period Of the recured beast the true Antichrist which presenteth himselfe in the beast which commeth out of the bottomlesse pit of the respect and dependance which he got and of the worship of the Dragon c. THe Empire beyond all hope was l cap. 13.3 wonderfully cured of the wound it receiued by the sword of the barbarous nations that made inundation thereinto as a floud And the Church which before had a cap. 12.1 shined as the Sunne escaped by flight b cap. 12.16 and was holpen by the earth Then was the c cap. 12.17 Dragon wroth with the woman and went and made warre with the remnant of her seede first and after with the holy citie Wee are in the first battell to consider the enemies their seuerall manner of fight the continuance and the successe The d cap. 12.17 enemies are the Dragon and the seed of the womaÌ„ The Dragon beeing now vpon the earth euen vpon the e cap. 12.18 sea sand which is f Ier. 5.22 the bounder and keeper in of the sea namely commanding and disposing of the Princes that gouerne and restraine the g cap. 17.16 people and nations c. doth warre by his deputie The beast which was wounded by the sword and did liue by meanes of Popes who are that beast which had two hornes like the Lambe The recured beast is the politicke gouernour of the publike face of the Christian world This externall face is compared to the courts which is h cap. 11.2 without the Temple whither the Kings the Priests the whole multitude and people of all sortes resorted in the time of the Law This multitude is now left to be gouerned by him which is commonly called Antichrist who was to be reuealed vnto the world presently vpon the taking away of the Empire out of the West which did withhold the Gospel in the times of the Apostles As the Apostle saith He i 2. Thess 2.7.8 which now withholdeth the Gospel shall let the disclosing of Antichrist till heâ— be taken out of the way And then shall the wicked man be reuealed c. k Chrys in 2. Thess 2. Hom. 4 Nic. Orem ex Hierom. q. vlt. ad inquisi Januarii apud Foxum Martyr p. 412. For when as the Romane or West Empire shal bee taken away then shall Antichrist come And not without cause for while the feare of the Empire shall be none shall presently be subiect to Antichrist But when the Empire shal be destroyed he shall inuade the principalities of the Empire beeing void and shall indeauour to take vnto himselfe by force the Empire both of God and man This recured beast which is called Antichrist is described to be A woman sitting on a scarlet coloured beast l cap. 17.3 The woman m Ca. 17.18 Lactant Justit 7.15 is Rome that great citie which in S. Iohns time had dominion ouer the Kings of the earth vpon which n cap. 17.13 also the kingdomes which did afterwards arise did depend Shee is described by her place apparell profession name Her place is said to bee The a cap. 17.3 wildernesse in the spirit that is in matters concerning the spirit a forlorne and desolate place a wildernesse spiritually so called in which all things are b Auenar dict hebr in Midâ—bar Shememah so confounded that a man cannot looke vpon it without sighing for griefe A place of c Isay 13.20 Psal 44.19 Dragons and Ostriges and wilde people c. Howsoeuer vngodly and ignorant men commend her for holinesse and ciuilitie So barbarous in the times following did that citie or policie prooue The place is also called a wildernes for d cap 18.8.21 c. the desolation which the citie is to come vnto in the ende As touching her apparel it is said to be much vnlike the true Church which was cloathed in heauenly apparel This woman was e cap. 17.4 arraied in purple and scarlet the f Poly. Jau 5. 3 colours of the robes by which the Emperours were knowne and with g Dan 5.7 which Princes did vse to honour them whom they would aduaÌ„ce which was ofteÌ„ also put for the h Martial Magistracie the Magistrates The signification is that that citie should by honors giueÌ„ vnto it by Princes rise vnto no lesse than imperiall soueraigntie in the time of Antichrist As also teaching that riches externall glorie princely immunitie authority should be the onely thing that shee principally laboureth for For i Hist an t ex Egn. p. 426. the Bishops of Rome were from this time of an ambition more thaÌ„ immoderate and so are men of corrupt mindes destitute of the truth which thinke k 1. Tim. 6.5 c. that gaine is godlinesse And so much vnlike the true Church that trode the moone vnder foote because shee knoweth that Godlinesse is great gaine c. Shee is further said to be gilded with gold and pretious stones and pearles trimming her selfe as a bride or rather a curtezan for the greatest Prince Her profession is l cap. 17.1.4.5 whordome in the sense of both the tables spirituall for idolatrie and m Psal 106.29 inuentions of men and carnall for adulteries which grewe to bee very common when men and women were seduced to lead a single life wherefore this woman is called n cap. 17.1 The great whore euen spiritually o cap. 11.8 Sodome For the more easie inticing of Kings and Princes of the earth to commit fornication with her shee p cap. 17.4 had a cup of gold in her hand a fit vessel for Princes to drinke in This cup is said to be full of abominations and filthinesse