enuie dissimulation falshoode and inconstancie vaine glorie iniquitie sorcerie superstition and impietie than doth in this one dominion of Antechrist He alone hath more contaminated Gods holy Temple than all the infidels together that euer were they haue most shamefullye intreated and iudged the very electe people of God which are the vessels of his glory They haue most miserably and narowly kept vnder and as it were in prison the true Ministerâ— of God by their Decrées and traditions The seueritie and rudenesse of Pharao Antioche and Caiphas is nothing in the comparison of theirs for in them is all kind of beastlinesse vncleanlinesse wantonnesse concupiscence and carnall securitie No reason or humanitie hath any place amongst them they are more lyke beasts than men The rigorous Proclamations against the Iewes at the request of wicked Ammon and of Antioche are nothing to speake of to the ordinaunces and statutes of the Antechrists for those were only against the body but theirs are against the soule and conscience of man also After this sort doth the PopedoÌ„ which is the dominioÌ„ of Antechrist bear the Image of the Leopard of the Bear of the LioÌ„ bicause it is not only partaker of al y e wickednesses with othâ—r realmes but it excéedeth and surmounteth al other viâ— times double in all kinde of iniquitie idolatrie abhominations y t euer were coÌ„mitted vnder heauen They haue the mouth of a Lyon always blasphemyng cursing and banning Their feete lyke a beare signifiyng their insatiabâ—e couetousnesse runnyng headlong to euery kinde of mischiefe very ready to sheade bloud as leopards are they polluted and spotted with dyuers and sundry inconstant mindes institutions obseruings neuer stedfast or constant but in al thinges chaungeable and foolishe for suche as receiue not Gods truthe are worthily forsaken of God Therfore God shall sende them strong delusions that they shoulâ— beleeue lies that all they might be damned which beleue not the truth but haue pleasure in vnrighteousnesse The Dâ—agon sayth S. Iohn which is Sathan the Diuellâ— gaue to the beast or cursed generation of Antechrist his beastly membres his whole power his seate of blasphemie and his great authoritie To giue them his power is nothyng else than to make them perfect and skilfull by all maner of crafte subtiltie and dissimulation cunnyngly to seduce the simple silly soules and so forth to confirme and stablysh them in al kinde of wickednesse and falshods To gyue vnâ—o hym his seate is to leaue him heâ—e a glorious kingdome full of vain glory â—isâ—imulation other wickednesse To giue him hiâ— great authoritie is to worke by false miracles signes and wonders and by false and â—rrâ—nious doâ—â—rine to allure the pâ—â—ple and to draw the vnbâ—leuing infidels the rather to the pâ—t of perditioÌ„ and euerlasting torments On this maner is that greate Antechrist a king with Sathan â—uer all the children of pride and darknesse He occupieth and possesseth â—alsly with Lucifer the seat and â—oume of God taking vpon hym euen to search and créepe into mens consciences For he bâ—steth him self to stand in Gods stede to deceiue thâ—m that â—well on the earth to reigne and to beare rule ouer them for so much as they hauing a blind guide are lâ—d into the ditche of all errour and false doctrine the very way vnto euerlasting peâ—dition Touchyng the seat euen as Christe our Lorde with his Father raigning eternally sitteth in heauen vpon the seate of his Maiestie in eternall glory felicitie eueÌ„ so sitteth â—ntechrist the Pope of Rome I meanâ— with his â—ather the Deuil full of pride and blasphemie in the seat of coÌ„demnation in eternal darknesse ignomie and shame CoÌ„cerning his power euen as Christ receiued his power of God his father euen so hath he recâ—iued his authoritie of his father the Deuil Euen as Christ is full of mercy truthe euen so is this Antechrist ful of enuie and hate vntruthes and lies and al other mischiefs of whose abhominations errors the vnbeleuing and infidel hath tasted As the holy ghost and the sprite of Christ openeth the misteries of the truth in his elect euen so on the other side hath the spirit of erroure since the death and reuelation of Christ darkned truth and set forth the secretes of his malice in the ennimies of Christ. CoÌ„cerning his aucthority as christ being man receiued his aucthority of god to doe such miracles as no man else could do Euen so doth this Antichrist by the Deuill and Gods permission amongs the infidels and vnbeleuers So that he in all power and aucthoritie vniustly vsurped foloweth yea passeth his father the deuil For as he robbed the godly man Iob and spoiled him of all his substance goods children seruaunts and cattel and tormeÌ„ted him in his body with â—oils and Botches euen so doth this rauenous and greadye Leuiathan and cruell murtherer vexe consume and oppresse the poore people by his spoiling Grashoppers defrauding the poore of their sweat and bloud of theyr paines trauaile necessitie and liuing no not sparing the féeble and sicke neyther widow nor fatherlesse No kind of good be it neuer so vniustly gotten being brought to them in shriuing of some one burdened in conscience but that they are coÌ„tented to receiue it and that by the way of restitution Yet neuerthelesse do they which is worst of all lead mennes mindes to dissimulatioÌ„ false belief and other diuelishnesse doubtfull desperate and comfortlesse Finally euen as in the body of Christ dwelleth fulnesse of the whole Deitie Euen so in this body of Sathan dwelleth the whole masse of impietie subtilitie fraud and malice with power to worke all maner of mischiefe mightely substantially and corporally And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death with the sword of his mouth that is through the anouncing and preaching of the Gospell Which thing is come to passe since the time of Iohn Hus in Boheme after that in Germanie and is since God be praised daily more and more that the head of the Beast is wounded in places where gods word is preached As in England Fraunce Scotland Poland and else where as euery one may wel perceiue except he will needes be blinde For it is euident to al men that in most places Buls and Pardones of the Pope are little set by hys power and might troden vnder féete hys name blotted out his Purgatory Masses Pilgrimages Idols and other like trumperies cried out vpon If this be not a deadly wound on the head of the beast I think it to haue none at all If this be not a manifest token of his fall to come there is none to be looked for But his deadly woundes were healed Although the Gospel hath ben preched in sundry and diuers places and the popes abhominations cast vpside downe yet remaineth in some places their false priesthood vows not to mary Sodomish chastitie auricular
nought but flying vanitie So I knowing the worldes vnstedfastnesse Sith onely God surmountes the forcâ— of tyme In God alone do stay my confidence ON hill a frame an hundred cubites hie I sawe an hundred pillers eke about All of fine Diamant decking the front And fashiond were they all in Dorike wiâ—e Of bricke ne yet of marble was the wall But shining Christall which from top to base Out of deepe vaute threw forth a thousand rayes Vpon an hundred steps of purest golde Golde was the parget and the sielyng eke Did shine all scaly with fine golden plates The floore was laspis and of Emeraude O worldes vainenesse A sodein earthquake loe Shaking the hill euen from the bottome deepe Threwe downe this building to the lowest stone THen did appeare to me a sharped spire Of diamant ten feete eche way in square Iustly proportionde vp vnto his height So hie as mought an Archer reache with sight Vpon the top therof was set a pot Made of the mettall that we honour most And in this golden vessâ—ll couched were The ashes of a mightie Emperour Vpon foure corners of the base there lay To beare the frame foure great Lions of goldeâ— A worthie tombe for such a worthie corps Alas nought in this worlde but griefe endures A sodaine tempest from the heauen I saw With flushe stroke downe this noble monument I Saw raisde vp on pillers of Iuorie Whereof the bases were of richest golde The chapters Alabaster Christall frises The double front of a triumphall arke On eche side portraide was a victorie With golden wings in habite of a Nymph And set on hie vpon triumphing chaire The auncient glorie of the Romane lordes The worke did shewe it selfe not wrought by man But rather made by his owne skilfull hande That forgeth thunder dartes for Ioue his sire Let me no more see faire thing vnder heauen Sith I haue seene so faire a thing as this With sodaine falling broken all to dust THen I behelde the faire Dodonian tree Vpon seuen hilles throw forth his gladsome shadâ— And Conquerâ—rs bedeâ—ked with his leaues Along the bankes of the Italian streame There many auncient Trophees were erect Many a spoile and many goodly signes To shewe the greatnâ—sse of the stately raceâ— That erst descended from the Troian bloâ—d Rauisht I was to see so rare a thing When barbarous villaines in disordred heape Outraged the honour of these noble bowes I hearde the tronke to grone vnder the wedge And since I saw the roote in hie disdaine Sende forth againe a twinne of forked trees I Saw the birdâ— that dares beholde the Sunne With feeble flight venture to mount to heauen By more and more she gan to trust hir wings Still folowing th' example of hir damme I saw hir rise and with a larger flight Surmount the toppes euen of the hiest hilles And pierce the cloudes and with hir wings to reache The place where is the temple of the Gods There was she lost and sodenly I saw Where tombling through the aire in lompe of fire All flaming downe she fell vpon the plaine I saw hir bodie turned all to dust And saw the foule that shunnes the cherefull light Out of hir ashes as a worme arise THen all astonned with this nightly ghost I saw an hideous body big and strong Long was his beard and side did hang his hairâ— A grisly forehed and Saturnelike face Leaning against the belly of a pot He shed a water whose outgushing streame Ran flowing all along the creekie shâ—are Where once the Troyan Duke with Turnus fought And at his fâ—ete a bitch Wolâ—e did giue sucke To two yong babes In his right hand he bare The tree of peace in left the conquering Palmeâ— His head was garnisht with the Laurel bow Then sodenly the Palmâ— and Oliue fell And faire greene Laurel witherd vp and didâ— HAâ—d by a riuers side a wailing Nimphâ— Folding hir armes with thousand sighs to heaueÌ„ Did tune hir plaint to falling riuers sound Renting hir faire visage and golden haire Where is quod she this whilome honored face Where is thy glory and the auncient praise Where all worldes hap was reposed When erst of Gods and man I worshipt was Alas suffisde it not that ciuile bate Made me the spoile and bootie of the world But this new Hydra mete to be assailde Euen by an hundred such as Hercules With seuen springing heds of monstrous crimes So many Neroes and Caligulaâ—s Must still bring â—orth to rule this croked shore VPon a hill I saw a kindled flame Mounting like waues with triple point to heauen Which of incense of precious Ceder tree With Balmâ—like odor did perfume the aire A bird all white well fetherd on hir winges Hereout did slie vp to the throne of Gods And singing with most plesant melodiâ— She climbed vp to heauen in the smoke Of this faire fire the faire diâ—persed rayes Threw forth abrode a thousand shining leames When sodain dropping of a golden shoure Gan quench the glystering flame O greuous chaunge That which erstwhile so pleasaunt scent did â—elde Of Sulphure now did breathe corrupted smel I Saw a fresh spring rise out of a rocke Clere as Christall against the Sunny beames The bottome yellow like the shâ—ning land That golden Pactol driues vpon the plaine It seemed that arte and nature striued to ioyne There in one place all pleasures of the eye There was to heare a noise alluring slepe Of many accordes more swete than Mermaids song The seates and benches shone as Iuorie An hundred Nymphes sate side by side about When from nie hilles a naked rout of Faunes With hideous cry assembled on the place Which with their feete vncleane the water fouled Threw down the seats droue the Nimphs to flightâ— AT length euen at the time when Morpheuâ— Most truely doth appeare vnto our eyes Wearie to see th'inconstance of the heauens I saw the great Typhaeus sister come Hir head full brauely with a morian armed In maiestie she seemde to matche the Gods And on the shore harde by a violent streame She raisde a Trophee ouer all the worlde An hundred vanquisht kings gronde at hir feete Their armes in shamefull wise bounde at their backes While I was with so dreadfull sight afrayde I saw the heauens warre against hir tho And seing hir striken fall with clap of thunder With so great noyse I start in sodaine wonder I Saw an vgly beast come from the sea That seuen heads ten crounes ten hornes did beareâ— Hauing theron the vile blaspheming name The cruell Leopard she resembled much Feete of a beare a Lions throte she had The mightie Dragon gaue to hir his power One of hir heads yet there I did espie Still freshly bleeding of a grieuous wounde One cride aloude What one is like quod he This honoured Dragon or may him withstande And then came from the sea a sauage beast With Dragons speche and shewde his force by fireâ— With wondrous signes to make all wights adore The
title and supremacie ouer them â—or that onely belongeth vnto Sathan for the Diuell is sayeth Iob the onely chiefe head of the proude And power was giuen vnto them sayth our text for .xlij. monâ—ths to rule which are the thrée yeres and a halfe of Helias and one halfe tyme of Daniel and the thousande two hundreth and thrée score dayes of S. Iohn He openeth his mouth to blasphemie against God and his name and to blaspheme his holy Tabernacle and inhabiters of heauen The tabernacle of God is Christ Iesu in whom the fulnesse of the godhead abideth wholy and perfectly By the inhabiters of heauen is ment his true church whereout the Aungels are not excluded These inhabiters then are those whiche leade an heauenly lyfe in a true and vnfained faith séeking the things which are aboue and not on earth worshipping god the father in spirite and truthe abidyng stedfast and immoueable to the ende Many haue entred into this heauen but are not founde faythful and constant vnto the ende whiche is lamentable And to this beast or beastly Antechrist was giuen power to fight against the Sainctes They trouble and vexe continually with force and violence by their wicked and vngodly Decrées lawes and ordinances by their worldly aucthoritie and power the true witnesses and godly preachers of Christ instructed and taught euen as the Apostles were of God him self in the truth of his holy word eueÌ„ as the wicked Phariseis in the time of Christ and his Apostles did They persecute them by writs proclamations by banishments fire and sword as the cruell tirant Pharao and Antiochus did to shew manifestly that Christ is that stumbling stocke and the stone of offense whereat the world stumbled They search and seeke héere they hunt there neuer ceassing vntill they haue him fast in prison and forth-comming wherat they are not yet satisfied till such time as they haue procéeded openly before all men following theyr placcate thereby to fortifie men in theyr error against them And so vanquished as they boast to condemne theÌ„ although they are otherwyse before GOD. Then either they make him to recant or else if he abiâ—e constant in the faythe of Christ they put him to most cruel death either by fire or water And power was giuen vnto the Beaste ouer euery kinred tongue and nation For these wicked and abhominable Antechristes spare no man small nor great yong nor olde high nor low riche nor poore sicke nor whole learned nor vnlearned but that they must bow before them and become subiecte to their most wicked commaundements either by force or otherwise they must haue them at the least once a yeare at shrift before them to knowe their minde and intention whether they be Towne dwellers or Straungers Gouernours or common people No excuse will serue or take any place in this behalfe or else they must wyth Christ raigne at the Barre among Théeues And thys power they haue not onely in one place but in all places tongues and in euery Towne yea they must haue to doe amongst euery familie destroying the true and godly fayth of all men For all that dwell vpon earth shall worship the beast They must all consent to their great abhomination They muste blaspheme and offend God obserue and keepe their most filthy traditions and Romishe trashe They that dwell vpon earth are such as doe loue them selues more than God their owne affection more than Gods truthe putting theyr confidence comfort and hope in the only beggerly merites and vile deseruings of these beastly and abhominable Hipocrites and not vpon the swéete promises of God in his worde Whose names are not wrytten in the booke of the Lambe They which are not confessed of Christ nor accepted by his word and promisses They which wyth the righteous as members of one spirituall body and â—idden in him are not marked nor Registred whose part and portion is not in the land of the liuing that are not of the nuÌ„ber of those which the father hath giuen vnto Christ to be participant of one spirit with him They which are not ordeined predestinated nor written in his forknowledge neither of him before the foundations of the world elected chosen to be hys childreÌ„ immaculate in Christ. Al these I say must worship the Dragon The Lambe is Christ Iesu the which only taketh away the sinnes of the world in whom is only life for he is the life him selfe of them namely which beleue on him which was slaine from the beginning for all them which are created to saluation So that his only death resurrection and ascentioÌ„ through the promise of God is the saluation of theÌ„ all for they all haue tasted of one spirituall meat dronke of one spiritual stone Albeit he came a long season after them in the flesh he onely did tread downe the head of the Serpent Also he hath bene slaine from the beginning in his members as it is to be seene euidently in iust Abel Ieremy Iohn Baptist many more But those which are not written of the Lamb in the booke of life be sealed in the booke of death and kept as S. Peter saith with the Diuel and his angels to eternal death bicause of their vnbeliefe He that hath cares to heare let him heare sayeth the text He y t hath any wit let him giue place to y e admonition which followeth he that will be wise let him iudge according to the demonstration of these things After this sort doth the holy Ghost certifie hys faithfull warning them to consider that all which is written is wrytten to our learning and edification He that leadeth into captiuitieâ— shall goe into captiuitie Thys warning giueth the Lord let them take héede iâ— they lust for he wil that his iudgments be knowne They which doe afflict and vexe the faithfull in their bodies outwardly shal be vexed and punished in the spirit with inward darknesse and strickeÌ„ with blindnesse of the minde to abide the rather in the net of Sathan and sinne God wil leaue them in a reprobate sense and inordinate lust and suffer them to enter into great errors and diuelishnesse to belieue all manner of lies that they might be damned If any kil with the sword the pore and innocent for their faith must also be killed iudged and condemned throughe the sword of the spirite which is the worde of God The word which I haue spoken saith Christ shall condemne them at y e last day as he testified also in his Reuelation in the eleuenth Chapter If any will molest or trouble them the fire shall procéede forth of their mouth to consume their aduersaries Aâ—d I saw yet sayth S. Iohn an other Beast rising out of the earth hauing two hornes like the Lambe
affectioned to raigne vnto heauen â—ayde Mountaynes one vppon an other to ascende vp thyther but all in vayne fallyng at lengthe headlong downewarde themselues They are as Saincte Ambrose sayth like vnto those which would by the ladder of Worldly honour clâ—mbe into Heauen Sainct Cyprian testifieth saying That which thou thynkest to be authoritie and power is poyson â—ydden vnder a faire shew aâ—â— miserie vnder a costly couer Whereby S. Austine sayth that the more a maÌ„ is lifted vp in authoritie the greater danger he is in Aâ—istophanes y e Poet describeth setteth forth y e god of riches which they cal Plutus to be fearful and to trust no man bicause that riches and promotions make men to doe so and that bicause of the great daunger they be in continually For to get goodes euery one looketh abrode The thief lyeth in waite to steale the crafty merchant the dissembling lawyer by guile and subtiltie to deceiue Children and other that be inheritors wish the death of their parents and friends to possesse their goodes Other ambitious persons do long for the death of suche as are in office that they might enioy their places Promoters and other officers searche and séeke narowly to finde any occasion to make the goodes forfaite Wherby Iuuenal sayth Riches gotten by greate care and labour choake and kill oftentimes their possessor whervnto he alleaged many ensamples Seneca confirmeth also That as wilde beastes or fishes are caught by the false hope of a daintie morsell in snares and hookes Euen so sayth he are men by the vayne trust of the gyfts of Fortune whiche in deede ought not to be called gifts but rather deceytfull shifts yea snares daungerous rocks Consider I pray you howe many we sée goe to wracke bothe bodily and spiritually temporally and euerlastingly Howe many realmes and countreys haue ben subuerted and cast vpside downeward What tirannie or crueltie hath not bene shewed What robberies both vpon sea and lande what periâ—ries murthers pilling and pollyng violâ—nce and force inceste and all kyndes of myschieues are not committed of the greedie and insaâ—iable desire to attaine to riches and estimation yea of the most puissant kyngs and mightie men whiche Daniell called Treasurers And what shal we say then of worldely loue and carnall concupiscence Also of the passions and vnnaturall affections whiche thence ensue Plato sayth that Loue at the beginning giueth some swéetenesse but in the ende engendreth one mischiefe vpon an other Loue is the first whiche hath founde out and brought forth the sundring and renting of the hart and troubling of the spirite And these things followyng proceede from carnal loue to wete carâ— sorrowes and griefes weakenesse of the braynes curiousnesse in apparell madnesse dreames thoughts and sighyng calamities errours anguish vnquietnesse trouble foolishnesse vncomlynesse wantonnesse mystrustfulnesse iealousie and other lyke Men I say are intangled in these by loue euen as Vlisses felowes whiche thorough the melodie and swéete songs of the Syrenes woulde abide in Afrike forgetting themselues and their natiue countrey Loue maketh a man oute of hys wyttes and cleane besyde hym selfe it casteth hym backewarde and seduceth hym thorough swéetenesse and flatterie it counselleth nothyng accordyng vnto reason and equitie but leadeth vnto al enormities it robbeth a man of all temperancie it is lyke to a hooke whiche plucketh all maner of things vnto it it is a soft enimie swéete sorrowe and sadde gladnesse Loue maketh men slaues diuideth them from themselues He is hurte grieuously vtterly perished which falleth in loue it is insatiable neuer saying it is ynough Terence sayeth that it seduceth and leadeth oute of thâ— way euen those that seâ— and theÌ„ that are learned and wyse â—e is happie that by other mens example wiâ—l take warnyng and through the spectacle of others fal wareth wyse â—riefly all and euery kinde of euyll procéedeth of those thrée wyth theyr adherentes wherewith the whole worlde is polluted as witnesseth saincte Iohn in hys Canonicall â—pistles saying Loue not the worlde neyther the thyngs that are in the wâ—rlde If any man loue the worlde the loue of the Father is not in hym For all that sayeth he whych is in the worlde is the luste of the eyes and the pride of lyâ—e is not of the father but of the worlde and the worlde passeth away and the lustes therof but he that fulfylleth the wyll of God abydeth for euer Touching whiche thrée â—ices I might rehearse of all sortes of people more than tenne thousande examples Whereof some I speak but temporally and not of matters concernyng the soule haue lost theyr money goodes and estymation some their friendes libertie life goodes But what neede I to spend my time and to trouble my braines about it Al bookes whether they speake of the Assyrians Egiptians Persians or Medians Grecians or Iewes Romaines or other countreyes are full of it Wherof rede Diodorus Siculus Iosephus Plutarch Titus Liuius diuers other historiographers which haue written vntil our age and time and we shall finde that all kinde of euill at the least coÌ„meth out of one of these thrée and daily we find it by good experience that al mischiefe springeth out of these yea euen in such as had incorporated and ioyned them selues to the church of Christ foreseyng persecution crosses and tribulations to ensue therby and by and by for feare of a little losse of worldly goodes commodities honours or otherwise forsoke and turned againe like the dogge to their vomite and like the sow after she hath washed hir self to hir puddle and mire And to sette the vanitie and inconstancie of worldly and transitorie thyngs liuelier before your eyes I haue broughte in in here twentie sightes or vysions caused them to be grauen to the ende al men may sée that with their eyes whiche I go aboute to expresse by writing to the delight and â—lesure of the eye and eares according vnto the saying of Horace Omne tulit punctum qui miscuit vtile dulci. That is to say He that teacheth pleasantly and well Doth in eche poynt all others excell Of which oure visions the learned Poete M. Francisce Petrarche Gentleman of Florence did inuent and write in Tuscan the six firste after suche tyme as hée had loued honestly the space of .xxj. yeares a faire gracious and a noble Damosell named Laurette or as it plesed him best Laura borne of Auinion who afterward hapned to die he being in Italy for whose death to shewe his great grief he mourned ten yeares togyther and amongest many of his songs and sorowfull lamentations deuised and made a Ballade or song containyng the sayd visions which bicause they serue wel to our purpose I haue out of the Brabants speache turned them into the Englishe tongue The first then is That he being vpon a day alone in his window where he saw as it were in his minde by a vysion a very faire hinâ— and also two swift
time many other realmes as of the Chaldes and great Cartâ—age and other ar likewyse perished So Rome neuer obtained the like estimation since as it had before being in his floure as it is to be séene yet by some auncient monuments buildings columnes walles which appere there as yet to beare witnesse of Gods vengeance which came vpon them for their sin and wickednesse to the ende that all godly and well disposed persons mighte perceiue that God can and will perfourme his promises the which he hath thretned in his worde Besides all this the Romaine Empire hath ben without an Emperour .iij. hundred twentie yeares namâ—ly since Augustus vntill Charlemayn In the meane time the Bishop of Rome began to forget all maner of simplicitie humblenesse and pouertie and to neglect the seruice and administration of a true pastoure and to put his minde vpon temporall dominion and rule beginning so through the liberalitie of many great Princes as King Pepin and manye other great Lordes which he inchaunted vnder the pretence of holinesse to become so great that at length he hath set him selfe in the chaâ—re as soueraigne aboue all the rest that euen Emperoures were at his commauÌ„dement elect and deposed For the feruent zeale deuotion was in many Christians already cold many of them were addicted and giuen to worldly quietnesse great estate and all maner of inteÌ„perancie and voluptuousnesse so that they had more mind to securitie and idlenesse than to labor and paine to sleepe than to work to take than to giue to banquet than to preache and had rather to take their pleasure in this wicked world than to enioy the heauenly pleasures in the world to come After this dissention rose amongst them for the supremacy then sought they ambitiously to rule and gouerne euer all the whole world They wold wel be confessors as they termed them but few or none woulde be Martirs for preachyng was cast aside and pride had occupied the roum of it wherupon did folow of necessitie as Scripture speaketh where as Gods word is not preached ther the people perish many and diuâ—rs heresies schismes and sects as Sabellians Arrians Emonians Macedonians Priscellians Nestorians and Eutichians which diuers and sundry wayes erred in the doctrine and faith coÌ„cerning the diuinitie The Maniâ—hes contempned and made light of the olde Testament The Donatisâ—s did holde it necessary to be rebaptised again The Pelagians taught that men could deserue heauen by merits without grace other like to theÌ„ Amongst the Bishops was discorde in all places In the Râ—mish church were many mutations about their elâ—ction Betwene Liberius Feliciê° was great disâ—ord about y â— popeship Likewise was it betwéen Damasiê° Vrcisiê° Boniface Aulatiê° Simache and Laurence Boniface and Dioscore ConstaÌ„tine and Philip Eugenius and Sisine Formosie and StepheÌ„ Sâ—rgie and Christopher Benedict and Leo Gregorie and dyuers other Amongest which many were accused of heresies some of incest and some of other kyndes of euill of whiche some were banished some deposed some sâ—landred some had their eyes put out other some miserably slaine and murdered no practises fraudes guiles nor violence or oppression was left behind to none other ende than to attaine vnto promotion honor dignitie and great estate and to obtaine their malicious purpose After this sorte did the bishops procéede in al kindes of vanitie and idlenesse to become loytering prelates puffed vp in pride and presumption wherby veritie and truth was defaced and quite abolished The Sunne began nowe to be darkened and become blacke as a hairen cloath and the Moone like vnto bloud the starres of heauen to fall downe For they dayly practised to get newe and more dominions they attempted by al means possible to increase their aucthoritie and power all their whole study and labour was to aduaunce their hâ—nour and dignitie héere vpon the earth not without scattering of the commons and innumerable murthers of the people Iohn Archbishop of Constantinople debated to be Primate and soueraign of all other Patriarkes Boniface the third of that name Bishop of Rome tooke vpon him to raigne and rule ouer all and to be the lieuetenaÌ„t of God vpon earth Again Mahomet comming afterward would be adored as a great prophet and messanger of God So that by the meanes of couetousnesse ambition and carnall concupiscence the truth is darkened the church of Christ moste miserably scattered and dispearsed The Iâ—wes by a craftie sleight wrested the scripture to maintaine their Talmuith the Sarazens their Alcorane and these prelates and Bishops their Decretals and all other errors and herisieâ— which were vnder that false prophet Mahomet in Asia and Affricke and vnder the Pope in Europe with all their curssed traditions and trifles They haue banished abolished Christe and his doctrine euery where preferryng their owne ambition profit coÌ„moditie ease Whervnto to obtain it the rather they haue brought in many superstitions traditions of men as Latin seruice bicause y e comon people should not vnderstaÌ„d their doings bells organs play cymbales incense palmes candles tapers purgatoriâ— masses for al soules diriges obsequies Pilgrimages indulgences to deliuer the soules out of purgatorie after thei haue gotten money inough Item church holy days RogatioÌ„ dayes Relikes yea coales wherwith S. Laurence was broyled Iosephs â—osen the armes of S. Cornelis with many more trifles and other relikes They procâ—ed further to the forbidding of mariage meate egges butter in lyke manner images and crucifixes were sette vp woorkyng thereby false miracles alwayes foreseing to their Maoâ—in that is great shops churches temples chapels and Altars where they might sell their trumperie fréely not without great gain yea so wel that they were mounted â—o hie in power riches and voluptuousnesse as we haue seâ—ne by experience and dayely is to be seene in places where they are that they rule aboue emperors kings princes all this vnder a shewe of pietie and holynesse as we heretofore haue sayâ—e Of these S. Iohn in his reuelation doth warn vs in his sixte chapiter where he sayeth manifestly that wheÌ„ the lambe had opened the seueÌ„th seale he saw a pale horse and he whiche satte vpon it was named death for this coÌ„gregation of hipocrites notwithstanding their copper faces and carbuncled noses through their vnmeasurable gluttony and dronkennesse are yet in their soule pale deadish black and blew as vnholsom dead bodies for thâ—i haue no true life within theÌ„ nor y e blessednesse that coâ—sistetâ— in Christ Iesu his holy word And he which sate on it was death Their doctrine and teaching is nothing but death and damnation For hypocrisie engâ—ndreth nothing but desâ—ruction of saluatioÌ„ their fâ—uits are shame and confusion For hell foloweth them to destroy those that are seduced by them Daniel and Paule they haue foretold that Antechrist shoulde be borne of the subuersion of the Empire and
desolation of Rome And to the ende we myght speake more at large of the thing I haue taken foure visions out of the reuelation of S. Iohn where as the holy ghost by S. Iohn setteth him out in his colours I saw a beast sayth S. Iohn rising out of the sâ—a signifiyng the congregation of the wicked and proude hypocrites which exalt and aduaunce them selues as the Ceder trées of Libanus they are vnnaturall and beastly like vnto Elmas the inchanter ful of fraude and guile full of falshod and pride they are whelpes and generations of the deuyll subuerting the ways of the Lord. Thys beast is described here as the pale horse in the fourth age the cruel Grashoppers in the fift age and the mad horsses with LioÌ„s mouths in the vj. age This beast meaning the odible fals damnable errors pestiferous inspirations of the diuel which at this time reign in the beastly meÌ„bres of that monstrous body of the beast as namely in the outragious bishops spiritual lawyers priests hypocrites and false Magistrates for their heads are their subtiltie and their hornes signifie their tyrannous might It had also ten crownes vpon his ten hornes signifiyng their greate dominion and superioritie throughout the whole worlde The diuell is their prince and Captayne most cruell and that through the iniquitie and ingratitude of the people but in this point differ the dragoÌ„ and the beast from the diuell and his membres Sathan and his carnal and beastly congrâ—gation for he had seuen crounes vpon his seuen heades and they haue ten crownes vpon their ten heads mening that that which he onely hath stirryng vp of the thyng that haue they The signification wherof is that Sathan is only of abilitie and power to blowe into their eares the thing whiche they with violence and by force maintayne where as he is but able by fansies and inspiration there are these his méete instruments to perfourme it put in execution by violence and power by menaces and compulsion Wher as he he dallieth onely by playe there do they seriously force and violently compell When he hath only engendred and fouÌ„d out any error or false doctrine they with al diligence as an infallible truth allow confirme and stablishe it and make of it a necessarie article to beleue on as they haue put in practise their purgatorie auricular confession transubstantiation worshippyng and carying about of dumb Idols Images the hearing of latin seruice Masse and other abhominations As he hath found out any lye as he is the fatâ—er of all lies and hath ben since the beginning so may they holde it for a perfecte written veritie makyng it of good authoritie and might as experience may testifie they haue done Hereout and such like it is manifest that they being hys ghostly ministers and spirituall instrumeÌ„ts may eâ—ecute effectually more wickednesse than he him selfe alone as their works may wel testifie SathaÌ„ was not of power to put Christ to death if it had not beÌ„ through Iudas into whom he entred afterward by the bishops Scribes who persecuted him vnto deth The Apostles tru ministers other witnesses of Christ shold neuer haue beÌ„ persecuted whipped scourged tormeÌ„ted and miserably slaine neither shold they at this present if these popish prelates did not folow maintain their old accustomed maners and fulfil y e mesure of their fathers And vpon his heads were names of Blasphemie against the Lord and his Christ. Al this is nothing else than their shining glorious titles wher with they suborne and make great their supremacie their estimation as holy and blamelesse to bee regarded among men and before the world wherevnder is couered comprehended all maner of iniquity What ar Popes Cardinals patriarks legates chief heads archbishops pronotaries archdeacons officialls commissaries prebendaries vicars lorde abbot master or doctor and suche like what are these I say else but names of blasphemie for these offices titles are not of the holy ghost neither is there any mention made of them in the holy scripture What is it I pray you else than a great abhomination blasphemy that the Pope claimeth to him selfe to be the most holy father to be the Uicare of Christ God on earth supreame head of the Church the only steward of the gifts graces and misteries of God What meaneth it that Priests and Bishops do arrogaÌ„tly ascribe to theÌ„ selues to be Bridegromes to stand in Gods stead to haue power to pardon sinne and to be our Ladies clean and vndefâ—led knights What be these else than names of blasphemie For they are nothing else as Zacharie termeth theÌ„ hauing no care of féeding of the flock but through â—â—â—re negligence and slouth sette a side preaching of the word through these vain titles than very offending Idols Their Decrées Decretals traditions rules ordinaunces statutes customes of the Fathers general Counsels Sinodes and other of their vsages not grounded on the word of God and his wil are nothing else but dampnable hipocrisie and diuelish dissimulation blaspheming the name of the Lord. For the names of blasphemy on his heade is nothing else but to maintaine vnder an honest and vertuous shew that which is blasphemous to his own aduaÌ„cement This beast was like the Leopard spotted and blemished tokens of inconstancie chaungeablenesse and temeritie His feete like to a Beares feete fearful and horrible il fauored of fashion and deformed signifying crueltie stubbornesse stoutnesse and vncleanesse And his mouth as the mouth of a Lion declaring héereby the pride theft murther and all kinde of wickednesse of those Prelates Daniel saw in a vision a Lion wherto that proud kingdom of the Assirians and Chaldees were to be compared Unto the Beare which he sawe was likened the barbarous and rude realmes of the Medes Persians By the Leopard is meant the vnstedfast kingdome of the Grecians The Assirians and Chaldees were for their stealing and Pride rebuked and curssed of the Prophets Esay Nahum and Abacuck The Medeans and Persians kept the people of God in captiuitie and bondage As it is to be séene in the bookes of Hester Paralipomenon and Esay The Grecians also were very spitefull and full of reproche to the people of God in the time of that cruell Tyrant Antiochus as it appeareth in the Booke of the Machabees But this beast whiche S. Iohn speaketh of here dothe comprehende all these thrée which Daniel saw namely the bodye like vnto a Leopard pawes like vnto a Bear and the mouth to the Lion Whereby the holy Ghost teacheth vs that within thys one curssed Popedom or kyngdom of Antechrist should be as much and more abhomination Idolatrie fornication murther and all kind of wickednesse as were in all these thrée realmes aforesaid As at this day it is to be séene and we haue had good experience No where raigned at any time more pride idlenesse cruelty Idolatry fornication adultery vncleannesse Sodometrie
selling of their Oile Creame Salte Holy water Shrift Candels Blessings Crosses Banners Ashes Palmes Incense Waxe Beades Bulles and Pardons letters of Dispensation to contract Matrimonie licences to eat flesh egges butter c. All which not God but they vpon paine of euerlasting damnation to their owne commoditie and profite haue forbidden Of like qualitie are their Images Ringing of Belles their Reliques Bones of departed Sainctes and other like things Whereby and by many other of their fained holinesse they are become through the aboundaunce of their goods and richesse so lusty spiteful proud and lofty that they haue obtained the possession and gouerning of Countreis and Realmes of Cities Fortresies and Castels and mâ—ny other pleasaunt places Woodes Warrennes Parkes Farmes Conduits Fountaines Hounds Horsses and Mules So that in aucthoritie and power in riches and substance and in all kinde of plesant things they are nothing inferior to Kings and Princes Moreouer they are not ashamed to take other mennes wiues to fulfill their most filthie and vnsatiable desires yea honest mennes daughters maidens and seruauntes yea and yong men too which they most abhominably and shamefully defile marre and spoile I leaue you to consider what gaines Bishops Prelats gather of the first fruiâ—ts of the tenths of Buls Pardons and resigning of benefices Againe it can not well be tolde what golde and siluer they get by singing and saying of their Collects by going and gathering of their yearely Offerings and the great liuings reuenues and rentes which their Cathedral Churches Abbeis Religious houses and Couents haue so that in al things they passe the welthiest There is no kind of pleasure come it neuer so farre off be it neuer so deare and costly but they wil haue a tast of it NotwithstaÌ„ding they caÌ„ play so wel the hipocrites at their sermons y t it séemeth they regarde nothing lesse than the vanitie of this world and praise aboue measure fasting and abstinence But they haue their rewarde héere and shall héereafter haue their portion with the dissemblers and hipocrites where shall be wéeping wringing of hands and gnashing of teeth And I hâ—ard another voice an other warning of the spirite whereby the true and faithfull ministers of God are instructed and taught warning vs and saying Goe out of hir my people come away with Esdras out of that wicked Babylon goe forthe with Abraham out of Caldee runne and flie with Lothe out of filthye Sodomâ— and meddle no more wyth that whoorish Church of Rome denie forsake and detest wholly hir false and fained holynesse hir foule and filthy ceremonies abhorre hir dissimulation and hypocrisie curse and ban their trifles and iestings and haue no felowship more wyth these whooremongers Nicolaites Balaamites Lifte vp and repent from the bottom of your hearts your former follie and abhominations which you haue done in times past and come to me sayth the Lord all ye that trauail and are heauie loden and I shall refresh you Get ye away from among them without looking behinde you that ye be not partakers of their sinnes which is the veÌ„geance and ire of Gods wrath and indignation At all tymes and seasons there haue bene holy and godly men and well learned fathers whiche through their excellent and diuine woorkes and writings haue exhorted and cried especially since the comming vp of the Pope for redresse and reformation of the churche for the amendemente of many faultes and to sée brotherly exhortation and christian discipline vsed in the same As by Bertrandus Herebaldus BereÌ„garius Thuronensis Bruno Andegauensis Peter Damianus Valeriane Medeburgensis Bernardê° ClareualeÌ„sis Robertus Tuitiensis Ioachim Abbas Cyrillus Graecus IoaÌ„nes Salisburgensis Gilbertê° LaÌ„tcestrius Angelus Hierosolimitanê° Guilhelmus de sancto Aniore Guido Bonatus Nicolaus Gallus Hubertinus de Casali Pelius Casali Petrus Ioannes Marcilius Patauinus IoaÌ„nes Paris Arnoldê° de villa noua Michael Caesenas Gulielmus Occam Nicolaus de Luca Marcus de FloreÌ„tia IoaÌ„nes wiclefus IoaÌ„nes Hus Michael de Bononia Ioannes Hildeshem Dante 's Aligerius FraÌ„ciscus Petrarcha Nicolaus Clemadis Petrus de Aliaco Ioannes Gerson Laurentius Valla Lodouicus Arelatensis Ioannes Segebius Thomas RedoneÌ„sis Gallus Mattheus Palmarius Dauid Boys Dionysiê° Chartusianê° IoaÌ„nes Miluerto Ioannes Gorchius Ioannes de Vsalia VVormaceÌ„sis Ioannes Ghyler IoaÌ„nes Crutser VVessalus Groenegensis Eneas Siluius Redoricus Samorensis Iulianus Brixiensis and Hieronymus Sauonarola Beside these there be other which are of oure time as IoaÌ„nes Reuchlin Baptista Mantuanus Baptista Panetius Iohannes Crestonê° Erasmus Lutherus Zwinglius Caluinus and more other All whiche the Papistes for the moste parte haue condemned for heretikes To rehearse here their wrytings their reasons and testimonies it would require to much time I muste therefore leaue it behynde I haue onely rehersed some of their names to thys end and purpose that it myght appeare to the Reader that at all tymes God hath had one or other that hath not ben in all poynts consenting to their blasphemies Albeit the light of Gods truthe was not then so perfectly reueled vnto them as it is now a dayes God be praised vnto vs. Many godly and vertuous Emperours Princes haue by generall Counsels and by al other meanes possible assayed and proued to haue a refourmation and amendemente made of all absurdities and abuses whiche were crepte into the churche but they haue alwayes met with wicked and vngodly princes which resisted them and letted them of their vertuous enterprises whiche also maintained those Antechrists in their impietie wickednesse defending them with toothe and nayle to the vttermoste neuerthelesse it is without any doubt that these as Pharao with all his power in the red Sea and as that proude kinde of Phariseys and priestes of the Iewes in the Citie bicause of theyr manifeste blasphemies perished so shall likewise at the hour and time of God appointed all these perishe and vanishe away For the sinnes of this whoore or the innumerable blasphemies of this false religion the great abhomination and filthie idolatrie the burning hangyng drowning and sheading of innocente bloude are come vp into Heauen there to desire the vengeance of God for their vncleannesse vnshâ—mefastnesse hath caused prouoked Gods wrath and indignation against them And God hath remeÌ„bred their iniquities The multitude greatnesse wherof ar come vp into heauen Therfore haue they most iustly deserued the threatened plagues of the most righâ—eous God no lesse than Sodome and Gomorre for their transgression and wickednesses which when it was foretolde them made light of it and went forwarde to al mischiefe vntil God pouring out his vengeance destroyed them with fire and brimstone Rewarde hir euen as she hath rewarded you Measure vnto hir againe with such measure as she did measure vnto you Take ye good héede and looke narowly ye that haue gotten the iudgement seate Crie vpon hir euen as she dyd crie vpon you snare hir as she hath snared you Againe as she hath heretofore wrongfully molested and
troubled you scornefully intreated yea and by hir Traditions iudged and condemned you euen vnto death so nowe do ye likewise rebuke hir and exhorte hir of hir wyckednesse iudge hir like a very harlot and condemne hir by the mightie and true worde of God to euerlasting fire whiche can not be quenched And giue hir double according to hir workes And in the cup that she hath filled to you fill hir the double That is render vnto hir double in all punishmentes and giue vnto hir euen for worldly punishements whiche she hath brought vpon the elect of God hellishe torments For corporal and bodily troubles and vexations eternal pains and torment of the minde for the blame and ignomynie of thys worlde perpâ—tuall shame and confusion for temporall death euerlastyng damnation both of body and soule And the cup. c. That is al kinde of troubles aduersities and miseries whiche she filled to you out of hir cup that is caused to come vpon you shal be doubled to hir againe for as it is sayd she shall receyue for temporall euils euerlasting The holy Ghost calleth here double that which is withoute comparison euen as a little tyme to no time or euerlastingnesse Hir pleasure and ioy shall be conuerted into sorowes and griefes hir mery and pleasaunt talke hir iestyngs and laughyngs into weepyng mournyng wringyng of handes and gnashyng of teeth Hir commaundings shal be turned into crauings hir reuerence into contempt hir honoure into shame c. For she hathe pretended moste faynedly an holy kynde of priesthode she boasteth and braggeth much oâ— that whiche they are furthest from She hath vsurped and wroÌ„gfully taken vpon hir and proudely claimed vnto hir a royall maiestie and highnesse Whiche two kynde of dignities she hath yet worse vsed lette hir thereâ—ore wayte and attende on the plagues and punishementes due vnto hir pernicious temeritie and arrogancie Take away hir pleasaunt Euphrates wyth the spoyle and greate reuenues wherewithall she hath hytherto so vniustly maintained and kepte hir selfe and throw hir in the deepe pit of all misâ—ries and wretchednesse For she sayth in hir heart I sitte being a Queene enuironned with ioy and pleasure I am the chiefe of the vniuersall worlde on me dependeth the Catholike and holy Churche I haue authoritie and power in Heauen earth and Hell I haue also might to binde and to loose to saue and condempne It standeth not with me as it doth with thâ—se that be not of this worlde for all thyngs here are at my commaundement I am no widowe I am not dâ—solate The hyghest powers and gouernours of thys worlde do assiste and defende mee putting to death al those that lay against me Nero Domitian Traian or Maxence were neuer more addicted to the defence of my predecessours than are now adays the Princes of our tyme readie to maintaine wyth fire and faggot my Decrées Traditions and Ceremonies Therefore I shall see no mournyng I shall continue alwayes I shall be called Madame at all tymes my kyngdome shall abyde for euer my seate shall no man take awaye from me I shall neuer fall nor any euil can come vppon mée After thys sorte boaste wyth no small presumption our Papistes also saying That the lyttle vessell of Sainâ—â— Peter may wel by the reason of weather and tempeste be shaken and with the waues of the sea troubled but neuer can be ouerwhelmed or perishe hereby goyng aboute to proue that theyr superstitious and Romyshe churche should abyde styll and neuer be ouerthrowne But they consider not of what abilitie and power the Lambe is whiche abideth vppon the mount Syon against whom they stick and make warre against continually whose congregation and little flocke they persecuâ—e daily with great tyrannie crueltie and rigorousnesse Therfore shal hir plagues come at one day God shall once poure vpon this wicked race malignant â—hurch Death sorowes hunger and swâ—rdeâ— euen as he dyd sende vpon the â—ynfull Cities â—ire and Brymstone They shal be depriued for euer of the life wâ—iche is in Christe Iesu they shall remaine in sobbes and teares tâ—ey shal not ceasse to mourne to wring their handes and gnashe their teeth they shall be inheritours oâ— eueâ—lastyng darkenesse theyr worme shall neuer die they shall hunger and neuer be satiâ—fied And this whoore with the whole generation of hypocriâ—es shall be burnt with vnquencheable fyrâ— prâ—pared for the deuyl and his auâ—gels This sentâ—nce is not so seuere as true for the Lorde who shal iudge them is of power and might he is holy and faitâ—ful in mercie true in his worde and promise maruellous in all his workes fearefull terrible and righteous in his iudgementâ— against the wycked No man then shall be able in those dayes to withdrawe any part of the threatned vengeaunâ—e of hys wrath from the euill doer Neither oure Lady with castyng of hir bâ—ades into the ballaunces of S. Michaell neyther S. Iohn Baptist with hys lambe holdyng a crosse neyther S. Peter wyth hys Key nor S. Paule wyth his sworde as they vse to make them yea and if Moyses Samuel and the rest of the Prophetes with Noe Dauid and Iob would make intercession yet shoulde they not be hearde And the Kings of the earth namely the worldly and carnall Princes whiche haue committed fornication and lyued in pleasure with hir in all vncleannesse and filthynesse shall bewaile hir when they shall see hir ouerthrowen and so yll intreated it shall grieue them sore that they may or can not maintaine and defende hir with water fyre and sworde against â—od and hys saincts for they shall be nothyng well pleased with the ordinaunces and institutions of Christe bycause they doe hate nothyng more than the workes of the spirite that is to frame theyr liues according to the will of God It shall anger them to the hearte that they are not able to burne still and slay all those that speake write or preache agaynst the deedes of the fleshe and do reproue them of their fornication adulterie and theyr mischeuous and inordinate lyfe and rebuke them of theyr moste abhomynable idolatrie And lamente ouer hir when they shall see the smoke of hir burnyng And shall stande a farre of for feare of hir tormentes crying and saying Alas alas that greate citie Babylon that mâ—ghtie Citie Alas our mother the holy Churche of Rome so many holy fathers Popes Cardinalles and Byshops Alas for our Monkes Chanons and Friers with their so holy so deuoute and straight lyuâ—s and rude garmentes Alas for so many Pardons Indulgences and confessions so many principall bye Feastes Holy dayes and gay Coapes and Garmentes Alas for oure holy Water holy Candelles holye Palmes holye Ashes hallowed Belles organs play and prick song and the resâ— of our so gay ceremonies With these and the lyke wordes shall they bewayle hir trembling and quakyng for feare crying out on this maner Wo wo to that