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
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
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
awaye the synnes of the worlde In hym onlye ys the lyfe for he is the lyfe yt selfe Yet ys he the lyfe of noÌ„ other but of those that onlye beleue in hym 11 In that he was kylled from the worldes begynnynge is sygnifyed that he dyed for all them which were create to be saued and that hys onlye deathe ys all their helthe rayse and remedye by the promes of God For all they haue eaten of one spyrytuall meate and dronke of one spyrytuall rocke though yt came in the fleshe longe after them He onlye trode downe the head of the Serpent SeÌ„s the begynnynge hath he bene slayne in hys members also as manyfesâ— yt ys â—n ryghtouse Abell Hyeremy Iohan Baptist soche other lyke They that are not wrytten of the lambe in the boke of lyfe for the chyldren of God are regestred in the boke of deathe for the chyldreÌ„ of perdycyoÌ„ reserued to eternall deathe for their infydelyte with the deuyll and hys angels 12 He that hath an eare sayth the text lete hym take good hede He that hath an vnderstaÌ„dynge lete hym be admonyshed by that which foloweth here Or he that hath receyued the wysdome of the sprete lete hym iudge hereof accordinge vnto yt Thus doth the holye Ghost aduertyse the faythfull to consider that what so euer thinges are written they are written vnto owr lerninge 13 He that leadeth into captiuite shall go into captiuite And he that kylleth with a swerde must with a swerde be slayne This warninge geueth the lord take it if they list For he will haue his right iudgements knowne He that vexeth or afflicteth the iust beleuers in bodye by outwarde ponnishmeÌ„ts he shall be afflicted in the sprete with an inwarde darkenesse or blindenesse of the sowle that he maye be the more captiue to synne and to Sathan God will delyuer him vp into a lewde minde and will geue him stronge delusion to beleue al maner of lyes that he might be dampned 14 He that killeth the poore innoceÌ„t for his faythe with the proÌ„swerde or sleeth him with anye other torment with the swerde of the sprete which is the lordes worde shall he be both iudged and condempned The worde that I haue spokeÌ„ sayth Christ shall iudge them at the latter daye And this is in maner all one with that was sayed in the .xi. chapter afore If anye manne will hurte theÌ„ fyre shall procede out of their mouthes and consume their enemies 15 Neuerthelesse to the christiane is persecucion necessarye For here in this life is the pacience of the sayntes proued aÌ„d their faithe required Here was AbrahaÌ„ tempted and Iob sore vexed and both they were founde Gode true faythfull seruauntes Here were the Apostles contempned reioysinge that they were fouÌ„de worthye for Christes sake to suffer rebuke The rightouse the lorde trieth as golde in the fornace He chasteneth euerye seruaunt that he loueth and scourgeth euerye sonne that he receyueth Onlye is it faythe that all the euyls of this worlde by pacience ouercoÌ„meth and so obtayneth the victorye The frute which riseth to eternall lyfe is peaceable sufferaunce in faythe And that must be here in this lyfe where as we are vnperfight to make vs perfight The Text. 1 And I behelde an other beaste 2. comynge vp out of the earthe 3. And he had two hornes lyke a lambe 4. and he spake as ded the Dragon 5. And he dyd all that the fyrst Beast coulde do 6. in his presence 7. And he caused the earthe theÌ„ which dwell therin 8. to worship the first Beast whose deadlye wounde was healed 9. And he ded great woÌ„ders 10. so that he made fyre come downe from heauen 11. in the syght of men 12. And deceyued theÌ„ that dwelte on the earthe by the meanes of those sygnes which he had power to do in the syght of the Beaste 13. sayenge to theÌ„ that dwelte on the earthe that they shulde maâ—e an Image 14. vnto the Beaste which had the wounde of a swerde and dyd lyue ¶ The Paraphrase 1 And I behelde sayth saynt Iohan in thys secrete reuelacyon of my lorde an other Beast arysynge out of the earthe A figure ys thys of all false Prophetes aÌ„d vngodlye preachers Beastlye are they euermore vayne carnall and corrupt in their stodyes abhominable in the practâ—synges of their wicked hartes not sehinge God but their bellyes not Christes glorye but their owne pryde and vayne glorye 2 From the earthe they aryse all geuen to earthlye wysdome The onlye affectes of thys worlde doth moue theÌ„ to teache aÌ„d no good zele of the truthe Eyther are they tyckled with ambytion prycked with auaryce or els sturred with malyce to inueye These are the commoÌ„ affectes of the wycked Thys goynge vp haue they froÌ„ wyckednesse to wyckednesse shall haue still tyll the lorde destroye theÌ„ lyke as haue the iust beleuers froÌ„ vertâ— to vertu in the sprete tyll soche tyme as they see hym face vnto face in the euerlastynge Syon From the worldes begynnynge hath this Beast rysen vp in Cayn the first murtherer in the fleshelye chyldren of menne in Cham the shamelesse chylde of Noe in Ismael and Esau in Iannes and Iambres in Balaham and Baals prophetes in the Beniamytes and Bels chaplaynes in Phassur and Semeins in Iudas Annas and Cayphas in Barichu and Diotrephes And now sens their tyme most of all in Mahumetes doctours and the Popes queresters Yea styll they are aloft in their beastlye beggerye and wyll be tyll their mysschef be fynyshed Who seeth not now adayes that hath lyght in the sprete the malygnyte Hypocresye hawâ—e crafte and deceyt in serteÌ„ false Prophetes at Paules crosse in London and in other places els 3 This Beast had .ij. hornes lyke the laÌ„be at 〈◊〉 blushe but all counterfett and false in verye dede for he spake as ded the Dragon The hornes of Christ are hys hygh kyngedome in the worde Onlye aryseth hys churche by faythe in the glad tydynges and promysys of God That worde ys the scepture of Christes power and the rodde of ryght order where as he regneth Non other straunge scepturs are there neyther tradycyoÌ„s nor customes Seuen hornes had Christ for in hym was the fulnesse of the veryte This Beast hath but two and yet they are but false and couÌ„terfeâ—t They seme to be Christes ad are not These are the corrupted letter of the .ij. testameÌ„tes falselye interpreted and for a carnall purpose alleged And therfor yt ys but apparent Hypocrityshe and deceytfull yea cleane repugnaunt to the lordes meanynge not hauynge the iudgement of hys sprete Thys letter without the holye Ghost is deathe and nothynge perteyneth vnto Christ. He ys the veryte and lyfe this ys but a fable or fyccyon Hys worde ys sprete and lyfe thys is but a brasse pot sowndynge or a latten candelstick tynkelynge fantastycall aÌ„d â—aynt sophistycall slayghtye Though these seme lyke Christes yet are they non of hys but the verye hornes of the Beast For
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
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
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
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
water shuld all they resort that are thurstye therof to take refreshynge 6 Vpon this glassye see were they sene of Saynt Iohan that had obtayned victorye of the Beast of hys Image of his marke and of the nombre of his name By whom are ment those constaunt christianes whych hath for all ages firmelye affermed the truthe For non aduersyte declinynge from it Strongelye haue these sens the Apostles tyme resysted the aduersaries of God by his only worde perfystynge therin vnto the deathe as ded Steuen Iames and Antipas with soche other his faythfull witnesses Uictorye haue they gotten by faythe both of the Beast aÌ„d his Image both of the great Antychryst and his supporters of the Pope and of Mahomete wyth theyr maynteyners Emprours kynges and magistrates and of all them that vsurpe theyr tytle name seate auctoryte pompe or power 7 They haue blemyshed lykewyse by the sayd worde not onlye the marke of the Beast whych is a corrupted faythe but also the nombre of hys name whych is the denyall of God Them haue they to theyr rebuke vttered and to their confusion declared They haue proued their orders dampnable their doctrine deuyllyshe their religion hypocrisye and their spiritualte playne wyckednesse condempnynge them by the scripturs as vngodlye dyssemblers denyenge the lorde which bought them These are they whom the lorde tenderlye norryshed and gracyouslye brought forth vpon the refreshynge waters conuertynge their sowles to his godlye feare and loue 8 These stande euermore on the glassye see they sett sure fotynge vpon the rocke stone Unmoueablye they perseuer in the truthe neuer denyenge yt afore menne 9 And they haue in their handes the harpes of God whych are deuoure myndes geuen all vnto godlynesse aÌ„d reioysynge in spirituall thynges 10 Harmonyouslye they synge the tuneable songe of Moyses the faythfull seruaunt of God and the melodyouse swete songe of the lambe Iesus Christ. 11 Of both testamentes they make vtteraunce declarynge the wonderfull workes and terrible iudgementes out of the olde lawe and out of the gospell of gladnesse the most swete mercye of the lorde Wythout ceasynge open they the scripturs vnto other inwardlye reioysinge in spirituall hymnes and psalmes hauynge this euermore for the standynge tenoure of their songe 12 Inestimablye great is thy goodnesse and wonderfullye maruelouse are thy workes O Lorde God almyghtye 13 Iust are thy promyses and most perfightlye sure thy wayes thu gloriouse kynge of Sayntes and graciouse gyde of the godlye beleuers 14 Who shall not euermore feare the o mightye lorde who shall not alwayes in hart gloryfye thy blessed name 15 Thu alone art holye iust aÌ„d perfight for non is there good but thy self onlye Thu art owre onlye maker redemer aÌ„d coÌ„fortoure Non other haue we for owre God but the. 16 No doubt of it but the tyme will be that all kyndes of peple both Iewes and Gentyles faythfull and heythen shall seke vnto the and shall faythfullye in veryte and sprete worship before the acknowlegynge the for their onlye lorde God 17 Because thy wonderfull iudgementes that sumtyme were secrete are now to the worlde made openlye knowne aÌ„d manifest Though this songe be lyttle and small yet is therin contayned all veryte that both Moyses and Christ confesseth at large Moreouer what so euer the scripturs comprehendeth eyther of the great omnipoteÌ„cye of God or of his most wonderfull workes eyther of hys louinge mercye or of his benigne pytie towardes manne of his gloriouse name or myghtye power or that he is to be magnifyed and feared or how that the faythfull perteyneth only to his kingedome or how that all peple shall finallye be conuerted vnto hym All is compendiouslye in this brefe songe here contayned what though it be not so worde by worde expressed And as concernynge that ys here last spoken that his iudgementes are made manyfest it is to be vnderstanded of those faythfull creaturs whom he calleth clereth and iustyfyeth and of non other For vnto them onlye are his heauenlye veritâ—es knowne to whom he wytsaueth to open them Though the other outwardlye se the iudgements of God yet do they not inwardlye perceyue theÌ„ though they boast it neuer so moche For it is not geuen them so to do They must haue eyes and not se eares and not vnderstande The Text. 1 And after that I loked 2. beholde the teÌ„ple of the tabernacle of testymonye 3. was open in heauen 4. And the seuen angels 5. came out of the temple 6. which had the seuen plages 7. clothed in pure and bryght lynnen 8 and hauynge theyr brestes gyrded wyth golden gyrdels 9 And one of the foure Beastes gaue vnto the seueÌ„ Angels 10. vij goldeÌ„ vyalles 11. full of the wrathe of God whych lyueth for euermore 12. And the temple was full of smoke 13. for the glorye of God and for his power 14. And no man was able to entre into the temple 15. tyll the seuen plages of the seuen angels were fulfylled ¶ The Paraphrase 1 And a non after that sayth Saynâ— Iohan I loked yet more aduysedly And sodenly as it were the euerlastynge teÌ„ple of the tabernacle of wytnesse was open in heauen 2 A mysterye this is verye ernestlye to be marked as a thinge of great wayght The lorde almyghtye is this eternall teÌ„ple He is the temple not made wyth haÌ„des vncreated gloriouse and full of mageste comprehendynge in him all thinges and he within non agayne comprehended He is the lorde of all He measureth heauen wyth his spanne he ouer reacheth all the worlde with his .iij. fingers In hym we lyue we moue and haue owr beynge The tabernacle of wytnesse is the lambe Iesus Christ. He is that verye tabernacle of God that was here amonge menne bearinge that faythfull wytnesse which geueth wysdome to babes He is the propiciatorye or mercye seate wherin we are harde and forgeuen Neyther was thys tabernacle of thys maner buyldynge but moche more perfyght and greatter This holye tabernacle is within the aforesayd temple for Christ dwelleth in the father and the father in him 3 Open is this temple in heauen and the tabernacle seane whan God is knowen by true preachynge and Chrystes doctrine beleued For he came into the worlde and for that purpose was borne to beare wytnesse vnto the truthe whom the father wylled onlye to be harde concernynge faythe 4 This temple and tabernacle open or God and his worde ones knowne in thys latter age the seuen Angels cometh forth The eternall decrees of Gods secrete iudgementes apereth and are fulfylled in their tymes As Angels or massengers of God they haue in his eternyte their iust plages in their season appoynted to be exhybited 5 And therfor are they seyd to come out from the temple which is God Nothynge hath he purposed to the worlde but he hath decreed yt afore the worldes constitucyon For his purpose mynde and pleasure is as he is euerlastynge And as it falleth to the worlde by his assignement it becometh a massenger
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
this present tyme remaynynge the other head is not come as yet but wyll come her after This head remayninge is the sixt and it is that feble empyre that Rome now holdeth and haue holden sens Iohans tyme. The power of this empyre is ruynouslye demynyshed and the notable fame therof decayed betwixt the Popyshe prelates and the Frenche menne a great part of the landes becommynge Saynt Peters patrimonye To make it a fytte head of the Beast to the vpholdynge of this whorishe churche the auctoryte therof maynteyninge her lawes Gregorye the fift Pope coÌ„mytted the emprours chosynge vnto .vi. princes of Germanye .iij. of them beynge Archebyshoppes He appoynted also the kynge of Bohem for the seuenth than beynge trybutarye vnto him and his owne feed man as an odde persons to waye vpon their sydes yf nede place and tyme shuld requyre yt Prouyded alwayes that he shuld take his othe and receyue his crowne imperyall at Rome So that now thowgh it styll be the same in tytle that it was in Iohans dayes yet is it so dyuerse from it through dimynishment of power and so vnlyke in outwarde magnifycence as it neuer had bene the same 7 The seuenth head that is not yet come is the Papysticall kyngedome of owr Romyshe spiritualte For therof apered nothynge in Iohans tyme nor yet more than .v. hondreth years after it The Byshoppes of Rome as they call them from Peter to Syluester were verye poore sowles symple creaturs and menne not regarded but despysed of the worlde They were no newe lawe makers for the more part but rather they gaue their whole dilygence to se those lawes obserued whom the holye ghost had made to their handes Neyther were they anye Masse sayers sowle syngers or procession goers but as was Saynt Paule with the other Apostles symple preachers onlye and for theyr syncere preachynge they suffered the deathe of theyr bodyes But after the Donacyon of CoÌ„stantyne and other plentuouse almesses commytted vnto theyr handes for the socoure of the poore they became all confessours and toke them to their ease at home Than was laboure verye tedyouse vnto them preachynge verye troblouse and peynefull Than stodyed they all to please the powers peceablye to holde styll their plesaunt possessions and by spyrituall polycyes to increase them more and more the poore in a maner forgotteÌ„ Then came in that holye ceremonye and that with latten howres seruynge of Sayntes aÌ„d prayenge for the dead to prouoke men to offer to Corban Thus crept they vp in hypocrisye daye by daye tyll soche tyme as Iohan of Constantinople contended with Gregorye of Rome for the supremyte In the which contencion thowgh Gregorye layed for him self Saynt Peters keyes with manye other sore argumentes and reasons yet was he commaunded by Mauricius the Emperour after the generall Synode to obeye the sayd Iohan as the vnyuersall head bisshop of the whole worlde Than were these holye fathers compelled to tarrye a layser and vnder craftye colours to wayte their praye In processe of tyme whan Phocas was Emprour Bonifacius the thirde a manne of a wylye practyse perceyuynge him moche geuen to bayne glorye and couetousnesse greatlye also to dissalowe the actes of Mauricius his predecessour through flatterye and mede obtayned of him that the churche of Rome shuld be holden from thens forth for the head churche of the worlde aÌ„d he for the head byshop WhaÌ„ this was ones gotten than rose they vp so hygh that the Emprour became their fore stole and all other chrysten princes their waytynge â—laues to ryde and ronne make and marre stryue and fyght slee and kyll at their commaundement and pleasure Thus became the Romyshe Pope the seuenth kynge that was in Iohans tyme yet to come If thu marke in the crouycles good reader thu shalt fynde that Phocas the first Pope maker slewe his master the Emprour Mauricius signifyenge in my sterye the sayd Pope makynge to be an vtter destruccyon to the empyre The Popes name was also at that tyme Bonifacius which is as moche to saye as bona facies a good face Which betokened that this newe raysed kyngedome shuld shewe a fayre face euermore or a shynynge pretence of holynesse what myschef so euer it wrought eyther agaynst God or manne in abhominable supersticyon 8 And whan this seuenth kynge commeth sayth the text he must contynue a space or abyde a lytle season He must haue a tyme by the permyssion of God strongelye to delude the vnbeleuers whych wyll neyther se nor heare reade nor yet thankefullye receyue his worde of saluacyon so gratyouslye offered them So corrupt are the fleshelye affectes of menne that moche more prone they are to lyes and supersticyons than to the veryte of the lorde which is to be lamented Chryst came first in the name of his heauenlye father but him wyll they not receyue The Pope commeth in his owne wycked name and to hym ronne they by heapes Whose contynuaunce here hath bene but a tyme. For yet is it not a thowsande years sens the Papacye first beganne vnder Phocas which is but as a daye before God and that daye wyll he shorten by hys owne promes for hys electes sake whych to remember is their great conforte And a great cause whye For sone after that shall they be fullye restored in to the perfyght nombre of the chyldren of God 9 And the execrable beast sayth the text that of late dayes was in auctoryte ouer all the worlde yea syttinge aboue God in the conscyences of menne and now is become of no reputacyon amonge menne God openinge his myscheffes is euen the eyght in noÌ„bre And yet neuer the lesse is one of the .vij. heades For both is he the beastlye bodye it self comprehendynge in him the vnyuersall abhominacyons of all the earthlye kyngedomes and in that poynte dyuerse from the seuen heades and so the .viij. in nombre 10 And also he is one of the .vij. heades and the seuenth in nombre in vsurpynge this proude worldlye kyngedome thus after a vayne temporall sort Ouer besides all this maye he also be called the eyght in the cursed remnaunt which after the peceable sylence of christen lyberte Sathan loosoned shall most cruellye persecute Chrystes congregacyon a freshe as in the .xx. chapter here folowynge wyll apere 11 This Beast with his carryage the Antichrist with his churche or Sathan with his Sinagoge shall not onlye go in to destruccyon here by the mightye breathe of Goddes mouthe or the true preachinge of his Gospell but also into dampnacyon euerlastinge in the ende of the worlde with the deuyll his angels The Text. 1 And the ten hornes which thu sawest are ten kynges 2. whych haue not yet receyued the kyngedome 3. but shall receyue power 4. as kynges 5. at one houre with the Beast 6. These haue one mynde 7 and shall geue their power streÌ„gthe vnto the Beast 8. These shall fyght with the lambe 9. and the lambe shall ouercome them 10. For he is lorde
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