will give him a truer name from his Deeds Martin Marr-Pope who at first taxes only the abuse and observes the corruptions of the Church become too notorious for any honest heart but finding no amendment nor reformation but things worse and worse makes a general defection Anno. 1522. This was no sooner done but the Reformers make a new Schism and divide between Luther and Zwinglius 1524. which rose to two grand Factions afterwards by the name of Lutherans and Calvinists towards the year 1560. the cause of much woe to Germany and never reconciled neither by Princes nor Pastors till the treaty at Munster 1648. Thus Germany and almost all Europe became divided into two General Factions or Parts Papists and Protestants but Germany into three Papists Lutherans and Calvinists which has been the principal cause indeed of all Mutations and Revolutions in all the Kingdoms and States ever since almost Hence the Revolutions of the Low-Countries of France of England of Bohemia c. must be deriv'd as from their original Head and Spring The head of the Catholicks was the Emperor and Popish-Princes of the Lutherans the Duke of Saxony of the Calvinists or Reformed the Elector Palatine VII And these preceding occasion'd also other Religions and Wars for these at least defensive For at this time of contending for Liberty and Reformation arose other Sects also aiming or pretending higher Reformation in Religion So that in the year 1525 one Thomas Munzer occasions the Rustick War of the Countrymen In the year 1534 succeeded the Anabaptists at Munster In the year 1529 arose the name Protestant in the General Assembly at Worms when the Elector of Saxony the Landgrave of Hasse the City of Noremberg and others protested against the Decrees of Caesar and appeal'd to an Universal-Council In the year following 1530 the Confession of the Protestants call'd the Augustan Confession was published VIII Upon these Grounds chiefly and a little after the Troubles and Interruptions by the other Sects mentioned breaks forth the Civil War between Caesar and the Protestants called the Smalcaldick War Anno 1547 which they began at Smalcaldia in Hassia where Caesar prevails ruins their League made there the same year begun and ended Soon after the Protestants revive prevail and in the end force the Emperor out of Germany procure the Passavian Transaction or Peace made there An. 1552 where by a perpetual Edict is established Liberty of either Religion Roman-Catholick and Augustan Confession that is Protestant So the Protestants by agreement and compact obtain'd full liberty and exemption from the Papal yoke and Peace in Germany till 1618. IX When chiefly from the same hidden causes grounds and motives the Bohemian War began For about the year 1612 Germany was again divided into two parts the League and the Union The League contained the Papist Princes the Union the Protestant Thence about the year 1618 the Bohemians according to their priyiledge rejecting the Emperor as never formally nor legally chosen as they had formerly done Uladislaus the 3d. elect the Count Palatine King of Bohemia and crown him at Prague Whence the Bohemian-War arose and spread over all Germany chang'd first into the Saxon and then into the Swedish-War for the support of the German Liberty and lasted for thirty years till the Treaty at Munster X. The Duke of Bavaria overcoming the Bohemians and the Palatine expell'd demands and obtains the Electorship which for a hundred and fifty years before had been claimed and controverted but by the Golden-Bull decided to the Palatine notwithstanding the Duke of Saxony and Marquess of Brandenburgh gainsaying but not daring to resist about the year 1620 And so the Palatine was ejected out of the upper Palatinate and the first place among the Electoral Princes Secular as well as the Kingdom of Bohemia XI And thus we are divolved amidst the late German-Wars which we can but only hint at Anno 1625 the Duke of Saxony slain King of Swede enters Germany in behalf of the Protestants and Princes Liberty An. 1630 Next year the Swede and Saxon come and prevail Swede strikes League with France King of Swede kill'd after famous Victories and Conquests Tilly General of the Imperialists dies of his wounds after glorious Victories against Bohemia Palatinate Denmark and Saxony both the same year 1632. Swede confirms his League with Protestants the next year 1633. Confederates overcome Imperialists 1634. Anno 1635 Duke of Saxony transacts with the Emperor makes Peace whereby the Duke of Brandenburgh and other States accept the Conditions and pass with him over to the Emperors part The same year the King of France denounces War against the Empire Anno 1636. Duke of Saxony slain by the Swede The Imperialists driven out of Pomerania by the Swede 1638. But the Palatine Princes are overcome Saxon and Bohemia invaded 1639. Anno 1640 The Swede repell'd out of Bohemia The War still continues hot Several Sieges and Battels till the End as there had been from the Beginning thereof In 1647 The Swede making Truce with Bavaria moves into Bohemia Is expelled thence The Emperor prepares War again and prayes to the Virgin Anno 1648 General Wrangel with the French invades Bavaria Ejected again General Conigsmark seizes on the Tower of Prague and sets against the City Munster-Treaty ensues And so the Thirty years War begun ends also at Prague wherein 325000 perished Of such direful consequence is the want of Liberty of Religion For the Emperor a bloudy enemy of the Protestants occasions this long War c. XII The Peace at Munster chang'd the state of the Empire and reduced it to that form which it now appears in For the Swede carries clear away the Bishoprick of Breme and Verd and the French Alsatta The Palatine is restor'd to his Estate in part and made Eighth Elector with the title of L. High Treasurer of the Empire which had hitherto but Seven The Protestants lastly both Lutheran and Reformed are asserted into full Liberty of Religion whom the Papists never prevail'd against so much by Force as by Cunning and Plots in time of Peace And therefore had alwayes need to add the Wisdom of Serpents to the Innocency of Doves So Peace has ever since continued to our times which we are now come unto whereof the most remarkable passages in brief are Frankendale restored to the Palatine 1652. Leopaldus Ignatius the present Emperour chosen King of Hungaria and inaugurated Anno 1655. Crown'd King of Bohemia 1657. In which year the Emperor dies also Bishop of Munster besieges Munster the same year And the States assemble at Frank-fort to chuse Emperor Leopold K. of Hungaria and Bohemia elected King and Emperor of the Romans 1658. Munster again besieged by its Bishop the Citizens stoutly resist 1660. But forc'd the next year to receive his Souldiers and lie at his mercy and a Cittadel imposed over them to keep them in awe and so reduced to obedience The same year viz. 1661. the Turks who had been
that end That in the day of this last Age might be made known by me as his last Trumpet to Nations and Peoples and Tongues of the whole Earth the last Will of God By which his Divine Majesty Wills and Commands that Kings Princes Counts and all Potentates of the Eastern and the Western of the Northern and the Southern Lands do unto the Roman Pope as unto the Babylonish Whore That all Idolaters Hereticks Atheists and false Christians adhering to her perish And that to the Turks Tartars Jews and other Nations inhabiting under the Sun Light shine forth For these ungodly long since fore-ordain'd to this damnation as who turn the Grace of our god into wantonness and deny the alone Heir God and our Lord Jesus Christ Jud. v. 4. are even they who have segregated themselves from God and his Holy Law sensual not having the Spirit v. 19. All whom God destinates to destruction by the force and right of his Law and by the force of the secular Power into whose heart he hath given and in these last dayes doth give and will give to conceive hatred against the Whore and make her deserted and naked and eat her flesh but burn her her self with Fire Revellations 17. 16 17. For to save others with fear and snatch them as it were out of the flames and to hate the Cassock Cap and Hood spotted with the touching and defilement of the flesh with which the Guardians of the Whore being indued do with a ridiculous haughtiness and opinion of sanctity besot themselves and others stalking up and down shaven like fools girt with Cords like Hangmen and with naked Feet and Thighs like Whores designing to be seen of men and to be extolled with praises Wo unto them for they have gone into the way of Cain and running greedily after the error of Balaam for reward feed themselves Clouds without Water unfruitful Trees wandring Stars to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever Jude v. 11 12 13. The Wisdom of God hath also by me lamented over the Political consusions of Kings and Princes of Lords and Subjects by denouncing his Will That there be made a Renovation of good Order after the Rule of his Law in Church and State By prescribing what manner of Persons Kings ought to be and others placed in Power And what the Ministers of the Church and Pastors of Souls with their Revenues on both hands and what Schools and all Orders universally And how in every Nation under Heaven a Monument is to be erected to oblige themselves and their Posterity after them to serve the one God The Mouth of the Lord hath spoken concerning this to me and by me unto all in the year 1651. March 26. Determining the Inscription of the Pillars in these words Our God Jehovah is one God in Essence but three in Persons Whom alone we will serve for ever through all our Generations Amen therefore So be it That it may be fulfilled what was foretold Zeph. chap. 3. v. 9. That it should come to pass that a pure Language be restored to the people that they may all call upon the Name of the Lord to serve him with one shoulder And as in Rev. 15. v. 4. That all Nations come and worship before God because his judgments are manifest That all under Heaven may profess the Doctrine of Faith delivered by Moses and the Prophets Christ and his Apostles and to the Faithful their successors to these very last times of the World in which the Wisdom of God by me also cries and sounds as with a Trumpet by declaring his Will That errors of all kinds cease But the Verity of the Words and Life of the Lord Jesus to shine forth after the ruine of Mystical Babylin and the going forth of the People of God therefrom as it is written in the Revelations which who so reads let him understand being certain that no Prophesie of Scripture is of any private Interpretation For that the Prophesies came not of old time by the will of Man but holy Men of God spake and do speak as they were or are moved by the Holy Ghost 2 Pet. 1. 20 21. Know therefore know all Nations and Tongues of the universal World high and low rich and poor learned and simple in whom soever the fear of God and the use of sound reason is That the Speeches written by me and often watered with tears now with sear now with joy have not been nor are my Speeches proceeding forth from my will or Wit and my Judgement which is plain and simple in me and too dull for such and so great things as these but from the mouth of God the Creator God the Redeemer and God the Sanctifier and represented unto me intelligibly and to my mind and memory as a man perceptibly To which I give and do give wholly give belief by many now and various Experiments undoubtedly made certain and secure that the Holy and Blessed Trinity will own them for theirs and in very deed and fact demonstrate their verity Not then or so when and how I or thou whosoever thou art will or will'st but then when the time and hour of the Judgement determined by the Will of his Majesty shall come Because it is necessary that that remain true once pronounced A thousand years are with the Lord as one day and one day as a thousand years I therefore every way weighing and pondering the matter I denounce to every one contradicting me in these things and condemning them for something not yet approved by the event Behold I denounce That I cite him to day and will cite to morrow and so long as I or thou be alive and in the point of mine and thy death and in the day of that last tremendous Judgement in the illustrioous coming of our Lord Jesus Christ I cite him I say into the presence of the Clarity of the most High and most True God with whom is no acceptation of persons who alone is Judge of Quick and Dead judging not according to the sight of the Eyes nor reproving according to the hearing of the Ears but judging the Poor in righteousuess and reproving for the Meek of the Earth in equity Isa 11. 4. And I cite him into the presence of Seraphims and Cherubims and the whole coelestial Hierarchy I cite him into the presence of the Patriarks Moses and the Prophets and Apostles I cite him into the presence of the boly Doctors or Teachers of the Church Cyprian Ambrose Augustine Bernard c. And of the Martyrs Wickliff Hus Jerome c. And into the presence of the holy Reformers Luther Melancthon Calvin and their Successors faithful Lights of the Church c. Full of hope and confidence towards God and the Father of the Lord Jesus that if any one of you O men whosoever he be shall condemn me the least of all the Servants of Jesus Christ with this my Work perform'd dutifully yet laboriously to his
pretty quiet ever since the Janizaries had deposed and kill'd the Grand Senior 1648. now invade Transylvania The Imperialists march against them into Hungary and Transylvania The Turks subdue a great part of Transylvania and constitute a new Prince thereof Abaffy 1662. Count Serin spoils the Turks Countries Turks take Fogaras Castle domineer establish Abaffi who besieges Clausenburg Rais'd by the Imperialists Turks make a treacherous and perfideous Truce in Transylvania The Turks again invade Hungaria 1663. Besiege and take Newhausel and other places in Upper-Hungary The Emperor married to the Infanta 2d Daughter of Spain 1664. Zeckeild and Clausenburg betrayed and sold by the Souldiers to Abaffi Count Serin with Auxiliary Forces invades the Turks Countries takes strong places Burns the five Protestant Churches returns loaden with prey But kild by a wild Boar after Peace made with the Turks the year after viz. 1665. Assembly of Emperor Electors and Princes and States of the Empire to consult against the progress of the Turk and to sollicite Kings Princes and States for help At length Peace made with the Turk 1665. War between the Elector of Mentz or Mayence and the Elector Palatine 1664 not yet allay'd Also between the two Dukes of Luneburgh for the division and succession into their elder Brother's Estates begun and ended almost at the same time towards the beginning of 1665. Between the United Provinces and Bishop of Munster during their differences with England but soon ended 1668. Battel fought between the Palatine and Lorrainers Victory dubious rather inclining to the Lorrainers Palatine seeks help Endeavours for Peace now on foot The Revolutions of the Electoral Estates c. To the Revolutions of the Empire pertain those of the Electoral Princes under which the Kingdom of Bohemia those of Hungary and the three grand Principalities Transylvania Walachia and Moldavia Of which briefly All the Princes of Germany anciently were Electors in common and no distinction between Electors and Non-Electors The Princes and consequently the Electors were and are absolute Princes in their own Estates Electors began about the year 1000 under Otho the third by permission only for convenience of taking Votes and avoiding Confusions and by the prevalency of the more potent under specious pretences No certain number of Electors at first but sometimes more sometimes less By use and tacit confent at last Seven onely introduced chiefly about the year 1200. But finally establish'd and confirm'd by the Golden Bull 1356. An Eighth instituted for the Palatine by the Treaty of Munster 1648 who was outed of the fifth The Ecclesiastick Electors had the precedency through the usurped Soveraignty of the Pope above the Emperor and power of the Clergy and Bishops in those dayes The Arch-Bishop of Mentz Chancellor through Germany Dean and President of the Colledge of Electors to convocate preside propose and conclude He hath the priviledge of crowning Caesar except at Aken i. e. Aix la Caplle in the Dukedom of Juliers which belongs to the Elector of Colen The Arch-Bishop of Tryers Chancellor through France And of Colen Chancellor through Italy who pretends right of crowning Caesar whence in the Diet at Ratisbone some ten years since he departed without saluting Caesar And this had like to have broke out into a publick quarrel The Secular are the King of Bohemia the Duke of Bavaria Saxony Brandenburgh and the Palatine The Electorship of the Palatine with his Country the Upper Palatinate was conferr'd on the Duke of Bavaria by Munster-Treaty 1648. It was anciently call'd the Electorate of Bavaria the Palatine being of that House And so that long dispute ended which had lasted above three hundred years The Duke of Bavaria exercises the Vicarship in vacancy of the Empire But the Palatine disputed it at the chusing of this present Emperor 1658. The Duke of Saxony convocated the Protestant Princes 1630 for a Defensive League who conclude to maintain Liberty by Arms and so it becomes a Saxonick War He unfaithfully and unjustly transacts Peace alone with the Emperor after the Battel at Norlington and other Princes yield to his Articles 1635. This Peace causes a new War with the Swede and French confederate never ended till 1648. Duke of Saxon marries 1663 with the eldest daughter of Denmark The Marquess of Brandenburgh has the largest Dominions of all being Duke of Pomerania many ages since Prussia was divided between him and Poland he to have the title of Duke of the whole and to hold his part with some Homage to Poland An. 1525. The Swedes since have disturb'd him both in Pomerania and Prussia By the Treaty of Munster Upper Pomerania and Stetin c. to remain to the Swede the Lower to Brandenburgh The Arms and Titles to both He obtain'd the Fee-Simple of Prussia 1611. In 1658 Prussia is made an absolute Dukedom free from all dependance or homage on Poland Understand still the Duke's part of Prussia Konigsberg refused yet 1662 acknowledges the Elector Supream Prince And his Soveraign Power over Prussia establish'd 1663 when they swear to him again The Elector Palatine was made 8th Elector and so who for so many years had been first was now last of all the Princes Electors He is restor'd to the Palatinate in part since Munster Peace War since with Mentz 1665 and Lorrainers at present before hinted Late Revolutions of Bohemia in short The King of Bohemia Elector and one of the Estates of the Empire first among the Secular Electors has now only a Vote but not the right of Session and Suffrage in the Electoral Colledge nor Universal Diets of the Empire Bohemia distracted and ruin'd came at last to forreign Kings and in the end to the House of Austria above an hundred years since and so continues Moravia and Silesia were many ages since added to Bohemia and have ever since followed its fortunes The Kingdom of Bohemia was ever elective till the late Bohemian Wars lost them that priviledge as it were About the year 1618 they exclude the Emperor according to priviledge a bloody enemy of the Protestants and choose the Palatine King as has been shewn Chief heretofore of the Electoral Princes and Head of the Protestants Cavinists whence ensues the bloody War of Thirty years durance Since which made in a manner an Hereditary Province of the Empire and House of Austria The Empire having no open formidable enemy at present save the Turk in Hungary and Transylvania we shall here subjoyn the present face of things there Of Hungary Hungary being ruined by the Tartars about Anno 1242 began to seek forreign Kings about the year 1300. At length the Emperor and Austrian Family obtains it about 1440. But afterwards ensu'd grievous wars with the Turks against whom Huniades a famous Hero The Emperor contending with the Prince thereof who was chosen by the Estates of the Kingdom and for his assistance made use of the Turk about the year 1520 loses the greatest part thereof to Solyman the Magnificent whence continual
since the occasion of War between them He then besieges Smolensko 1634 and there receives a great and shameful Overthrow and Destruction by the Poles which Dukedom has ever since been the Apple of Contention as well as formerly betwixt them He reigned till 1645. To whom succeeded his young Son Alexius the present Emperor In 1646 they made peace with Poland and during the Kings minority there was some troubles and distempers in the State and an horrible Sedition 1648. but all soon quietly setled Anno 1654. The Moscovites invade Lituania overcome Smolensko and 1655 take Vilna invade Livonia 1656 The Cossacks a Confederate Army of Rogues and Robbers that take either side for their Prey or Money or other ends and designs or as they are pleased or displeased with affairs and belong chiefly to Poland they joyn with the Poles and defeat the Moscovites anno 1659. The Poles prosper But the Cossacks at last break Faith and again rebel to the Moscovites and invade and spoyl some Provinces An. 1660 Czarneckie in Lituania beats the Muscovites Their Army also in Poland under Zeremetzie reduc'd to straits and forced to surrender themselves to the Poles Vilna in Lituania besieged by the Poles till next year An. 1662 The Moscovite beats the Tartars Overcomes the Cossacks under Chimilinsky But again overcome by Cossacks and Tartars And 1664 The Moscovites overcome and beat by the Pole Peace since between them The Emperor of Moscovia now sollicits for the election of his Son to the Crown of Poland offers fair Conditions and that he shall change his Religion from the Greek to the Roman which would have much influence upon the Jesuites perhaps and zealous Religionists of the Papists if Reason of State otherwayes did not hinder The great Enemies you see of the Russes then are the Pole the Swede and the Tartar helpt by the Turk Anno 1230 the Tartars over-ran all Russia and made it tributary and for three hundred years kept their Power over it more or less and gave and took away Dukes over them as they pleased Anno 1500 Basil shook off this yoke Yet Anno 1570 an hundred thousand Tartars on a sudden overran Mosco and laid it wholly in Ashes The Poles and Russes strive for the Dukedom of Smolensko and Severia which both claim and both win and take continually Of late years the Cossacks with all Ukrain revolted to the Russes But since Peace and Compositions of things made The Swede and Russe contend for Livonia The Swede by success of Arms has expell'd both the Russe and the Pole and annex'd it to their Crown Hence the Wars between the Russe and Swede continually Riga has been often attempted and besieg'd in vain by the Russe But we pass to their next neighbour Poland The Revolutions of Poland Poland has for many ages been a distinct Soveraignty The first that was elective was Piastus after the failure of the former line a plain Country-man elected Duke of Poland An. 800. Afterwards became a Kingdom still in Piastus's line An. 1320. Silesia fell from Poland to Bohemia and could never be recovered An. 1386. They made the Great Duke of Lituania by marriage into their King's Family King and so joyn'd that great Dukedom to Poland An. 1466. Casimir adds Prussia and 1561 Livonia is added to it also The Royal Family being extinct they chuse forreign Princes anno 1573. and first chuse the Duke of Anjou Brother of Charles the 9 th King of France about the year 1575. But he quickly left it for the Crown of France An. 1579 they chose Bathor Prince of Transylvania by recommendation of the Turks He firmly united Livonia to the Crown and had a great hand upon the Moscovites He dying without issue they chose Sigismund the King of Swede's Son about the year 1590 whose posterity has ever since enjoy'd it but now the line fails He joyn'd the Kingdom of Swede and Poland But turning Papist endeavours by the Jesuites perswasions to disturb Religion in Swedeland and so was ejected and losing his Patrimonial kingdom only keeps Poland Hence those lasting Wars between the two Nations To him succeeded Uladislaus famous for the memorable Victory against the Moscovites besieging Smolensko an 1634. After whose death Anno 1647 The kingdom became extreamly imbroyl'd by Factions specially by the mutinous and seditious Cossacks a Rebellious Army as it were of Boors and Moss-troopers that live upon prey and rapine and serve any side as was hinted risen first and chiefly out of the wild parts of Poland Lituania c. next Russia who at this time began to be more troublesome than ever during all the present king Casimir's Reign and not fully setled till very lately and perhaps not to hold long neither King Casimir succeeded an 1648. so troubled all his dayes that he has been a long time weary of his Crown and now at last laid it down not obtaining leave to nominate his Successor The better to understand the late Revolutions of Poland in brief take them thus Poland has suffered great Revolutions and Troubles from forreign Enemies Rebellious Cossacks and Confederate Nobles Grand Enemies are the Swede the Russe the Tartar and the Turk The Wars with the Swede are for Livonia for pretence to the Crown of Swede for Titles and Arms. Hereupon the late king of Sweden overran in one year almost all Poland but lost all again the next But these pretences now cease in the present king having no heirs With the Russes for several causes before mentioned With the Tartars commonly call'd the Crim Tartars distinct from those in Asia these bordering upon Russia and Poland who make yearly Incursions almost for prey and plunder either as friends or enemies all 's one Therefore the Tartars do not seek to conquer so much as to plunder Poland But the greatest Enemies are the Turks ever since they got Walachia Moldavia and Transylvania the Walls Bulwarks as it were of Poland and also the Tartars to be subject to them But they have yet threatned more than done any thing and little has passed besides consultings and fears hitherto betwixt them The seditious and mutinous Cossacks have done most mischief One of the chief causes of their Rebellion was the great oppression of the Natives by the Jews in all the Customs and Tributes almost of the Kingdom granted to them by King Casimir and ever since possessed by them by the means of Esther a Jewish in behalf of her Nation who obtain'd great Priviledges for them And in the late fatal Confusions of Poland the Russians again besieged Smolensko and seiz'd not only on it but all Ukrain or black Russia and great part of Lituania The occasion whereof was first the Jesuites taking away the Russes Temples and hindring the free Liberty of Religion to them Next the Nobles Tyranny over the Peasants killing them at their pleasure Hence inraged they rise up against their Masters kill the Jesuites and Priests call the Cossacks and Tartars to their help
and other Princes put in for others But all lies in the will and pleasure of the Nobles as they can agree The present king Casimir is above threescore years old and besides his age and the ordinary cares of a Crown has never had one peaceable moment but perpetual troubles all his dayes either with the Cossacks or Tartars or the Moscovites or the Swedes or the Confederates So that he has had reason enough to be at last weary of a Crown in his old days and to rest And indeed layes it down not without honour having first reduced the Confederates and setled affairs else had done it sooner lest it should be thought he did it by force and because he could keep it no longer rather than choise and rather outed of it than voluntarily left it Note that these Cossacks so often mentioned inhabit the Eastern parts of Poland towards the Russes and Tartars and made but one Body under their General Chimilnisky who some years ago made a great noise in the World But were of late divided into three Bands whereof one adheres to the Moscovite the other to the King of Poland and a third contend for Liberty under the Orders of their General Tetera Beside the Army of the Confederates that was but now dissolved By all which it appears that Poland has declined much 1. By the loss of Walachia and Moldavia to the Turks 2. By the Revolt of the Cossacks and black Russes with all Ukrain 3. By the Moscovites possessing or spoyling and laying waste a great part of Lituania 4. By the Confederacy and Civil War of the Nobles with the King Victors in fight under Lubomirsky though at last weary of their own Confusions both sides hearkned to Reason and made a Composure And thus much of the confused story of Polands Confusions Sweden lies next concerned in our way The Revolutions of Swedeland The three Kingdoms of Denmark Norway and Sweden of old were often united and reunited till at last 1523 finally severed For Christiern the 2 d King of Denmark conquering Sweden us'd his Victory so cruelly and his own Subjects so insolently that both Kingdoms enrag'd rose up against him as a Tyrant outed him of all his Kingdoms and cast him in Prison where he miserably ended his dayes after thirty six years Imprisonment An. 1559. For Erick of an old Royal Blood of Sweden being carried by Christiern after his Conquests as a pledge into Denmark pittying his own Country escapes from amidst of Hunting in the habit of a Cowherd or Fisherman or both secretly to Lubick and from thence privily convey'd to Swedeland where he gets an Army against Christiern whose Uncle Frederick renouncing all right to Sweden makes a League with Erick and so both Nations joyn to deliver themselves from the Tyrant This Erick first brought in Protestantism i. e. Luthers Doctrine 2. Erick seeing the liberty of making Kings begot and continued troubles obtain'd of the States to make it an Hereditary Kingdom 3. His Son succeeded Anno 1561 who wars with the Dane and at last for Tyranny outed of his Kingdom by his Subjects and cast into Prison dyed miserably 4. The next King deliver'd Livonia from the tyranny and heavy pressures of the Russians after the year 1570 and added it to his Kingdom which he enlarged far and near through Lapland part of Russia all Ingria and Livonia 5. Sigismund his Son by the Sister of Sigismund King of Poland was created King of Poland Anno 1587. and succeeded in Swedeland anno 1593 thereby uniting both Kingdoms But chosen King of Poland with this condition that he should adde Livonia for ever to the Crown of Poland But being a Papist he would have brought Jesuites and the Roman Religion into Sweden and they refusing would have done it by force whereupon his Uncle Charls the former kings Brother began to oppose him whence a grievous and long War between both Kingdoms He had been made Governour and Vice-Roy as it were during his Brothers absence in Poland and at last King by the favour of the Calvinists who now began to appear in this kingdom the Lutherans being not very favourable thereunto Anno 1607 He made perpetual Wars against the Russes Poles and Danes and so prepared his Nation by use of Arms as it were for the succeeding Wars of Germany under 6. Gustavus Adolphus his Son the Greatest and most victorious of all the Kings of Swede and who first rais'd its fame in the World with incredible success of Arms overruns Germany frees the oppressed Princes of Pomerania and Brandenburgh restores the Duke of Meckleburgh takes all Places and Cities that lie in his way beats Tilly in two great Battels overruns a great part of Bavaria and at last kill'd in fight 1632 after such two or three years Success only During his Daughters minority the Wars are continued in Germany till the Treaty at Munster 1648. By which War the Swedes obtain'd besides vast Riches and Spoils and inestimable Treasure large Provinces near the Baltick-Sea or Sound the Dukedom of Breme and Verd saving the Liberty of the City to it self still all the further Pomerania Vismar and other smaller Territories c. Anno 1650 Christiana is crown'd a Princess for Arts rather than ARms or Government and weary of her Kingdom or Subjects or they of her leaves it An. 1654. Before which the same year Conigsmark invades the Bishoprick of Breme again and possesses it Christiana turns Catholick travels to Rome c. Her Story is common She having no Heirs her kinsman Charles Gustavus the 10 th descended from a Sister of Gustavus Adolphus Daughter of Charles the 9 th King of Swede succeeds is crown'd the same year and married to the Duke of Holsteins eldest daughter and for glorious feats of Arms and Conquests immitates his Uncle Gustavus Adolphus and soon also taken away An. 1656 The Moscovite invades Livonia in xain attempts Riga An. 1657 King of Denmark invades Breme takes Verd whilst the King of Swede is busie in Poland who hastens thence invades Holstein drives the Dane from the Dukedom of Breme besieges Verd in vain The Elector of Brandenburgh having the same year deserted the Swede and agreed with the Pole An. 1658 The Swede invades Fuinen Island marches over the Sea on Ice with his Army into Sealand drives the Dane to the Peace at Rotchild to follow Poland again but before all things fully ended and for some new actings and emergencies invades Sealand again the same year takes Cronenburg and at last besieges Copenhagen it self a long while which reduced to straits the Hollanders to relieve with Provisions and Forces have a Fight in the very Danish Creek or Strait About the same time also the Brandenburgh and Imperialists march into Holstein against the Swede and drive him out An. 1659. Fuinen Island recover'd by the Dane and his Confederates with other Islands and th' Swede overcome there The Elector of Brandenburgh also with his Confederates the Poles
with the State in order to the good of the Church necessarily And therefore the Church must now comprehend the State And as it was above it so now must rule it for it's own good as the less worthy for the more worthy And therefore the chief Churchman must be both Supreme Bishop and Emperor or high Priest and King That is the Vicar of Christ must be like his Master and of the same Authority in the World to whom all power was given both in Heaven and in Earth thus the Mystery of Iniquity wrought with all deceitfulness c. Accordingly the next year or two after Alexander the 2 d is elected by the Cardinals only without the Emperor who complains of this as against his right Hildebrand stoutly maintains it That the Emperor had no right in the Election of Popes Alexander inclining to yeeld to the Emperor is soundly box'd by Hildebrand then imprisoned and at length poysoned to make way for this mighty man of mettal this Universal Monarch Pope Hildebrand by name who the first usurps the Power and Right of Supreme and Universal Monarch as Boniface had before of Supreme and Universal Bishop at least layes the foundation thereof and endeavours it Thus Hildebrand and Boniface notoriously founded the Popedom or Kingdom of the Beast For first An. 1073. he sets up himself without any election either of Emperor or Clergy but the thing being disputed and the Emperor striving to vindicate his right He refers himself to the Emperor and Princes The Emperor Henry 4 th thereupon confirms him but the Imperial Majesty was thereby debased and impair'd For 2. afterwards he sets himself might and main against him And 3. excommunicates and so deposes him and sets up Competirors among the Princes and Electors sending a Crown to Rodolph or Ralph with a verse upon it to this sense The Crown which Petra gave to Peter Peter on Ralph bestows in Meeter Petra from whence Petrus or Peter signifying The Rock that is Christ and makes him rebel against his Master And likewise sets up a second after him when he was foyl'd and involves Germany and Italy in horrible confusions and fractions and Pope-like pronounces Absolution thus We do absolve from their Oath of Allegiance all that are sworn to excommunicate Princes So arrogating the power of deposing and making Emperors to himself and confirming his usurpations by a pack'd Council held at Rome At last 4 ly the Emperor through these means and practises deserted by all is fain to submit and to get off his excommunication and be absolv'd forced to come suppliant together with his Emperess and young son the Prince before Hildebrand barefooted and bare legged in the cold of Winter all ragged and torn and with a pitious Countenance and in a lamentable posture to knock at his Palace Gate and with tears beg admission there to wait three days fasting till his Highness now as well as his Holiness with his Minion Madam Mathilda or as they called her St. Peters Daughter that left her own Husband to live with this Holy Father and other Grandees and Roman Courtiers despisingly looking out of his window i' th' mean while could be at leasure But at last on the 4 th day having it seems done penance enough being admitted by her mediation he imposes on him most intolerable conditions and unworthy of the vilest Slave and by Oaths Curses and horrible imprecations obliges him never to receed from obedience to the Pope These things so transacted not only the like are practised by his Successors to the Emperors following as the story will shew But not long after also they likewise decreed it by their Canons and Ecclesiastick Pontificial Laws viz. The Roman high-Priest to be over all not only in Spirituals but also in Temporals All Kingdoms and Empires to depend on him and to order and administer all as judged convenient for the Church c. That is to be Supreme Head both of Church and Sate And in one word Supreme Universal Monarch of the World So that now the Pope begins to take upon him as High Emperor or King that is above all Kings and Emperors as well as High-Priest and to play Rex indeed At least laid the foundation or groundwork and first beginnings of all that tremendous and terrible Pontificial Power and Omnipotency namely in Church and State too afterwards over all the World The Pope then is now become both Universal High-Priest and King For so their Canons Canonists would now about this time have him to be viz. Supreme nay Only Monarch of the World and Universal over all For so Baronius a cheif Author contends at this time That none on Earth ought to be called Monarch but the Pope We shall have him God too by and by And the same Baronius sticks not at that but proclaims him not only greater then Emperors and all Kings but also calls him Lord God And the Canon saith no less both for his Kingship and Godship too But we must for brevity pass by these things c. After these usurpations of Hildebrands the succeeding Popes follow his practises towards the succeeding Emperors and never leave excommunicating and deposing them till either by force or fraud they brought them in a manner under their Girdle and that at last they durst no more come into Italy nor medle with the affairs thereof but by their stirring up or backing of parties and factions were finally outed of all their Provinces and Estates there and not only so but in the end lost almost all their power and authority in Germany too as after we shall see The Princes and Nations also after grievous Wars Quarrels and Troubles caused partly by his and his Clergy's and Zealous Religionists means being by degrees brought under and subdued one after another did by their consent also at length approve those their Decrees and Canons and own him as Head at least of the Church to excommunicate c. consequently to depose from Government of the Christian-Flock as Infidels and Enemies of the Church And so subjected their Kingdoms both People and Clergy very much in temporals also which they did either for fear of the Clergy and superstitious people who had a carnal and furious zeal for the Pope as Christs Vicar the Church as out of which no Salvation and that Religion as most suited to the natural man and the peoples humours and lusts and very apprehensions of God Religion and the way of Salvation c. or else through their own blind Devotion and Religious Superstition or at best pious Veneration of the Christian Religion Church and chief Pastor and Priest thereof at their first turning Christians which was for the most part but to an outward christianity neither c. and in those times of gross darkness and ignorance of the inward Mystery thereof c. All which things by the sequel of the story will more plainly appear And now being thus raised to an earthly
that is called God was the first Pope in Heaven and the Father of these his Sons on Earth About 1605. He excommunicated the Venetians for maintaining stoutly their Rights of state and withstanding his incroachings whereupon War insued Baronias exhorting the Pope thus Arise and Eate the Venetians as if it had been as easie as to eate his dinner But he found them a tough Morsel which he could not get down and so was held to hard meat But a Cardinal of France made up the business as well as he could but could not without enough dishonour to his Popeship He by briefs or writings sent to the Loyal Catholicks of England forbad the Oath of Allegiance to King James from his own Subjects He laid a great Tax also on the Clergy in Italy to uphold the good old Catholick cause in the Wars of Germany about 1618. and a new Order of Knighthood was erected at Vienna the Imperial Court for all Heroick Catholicks under the Patronage of the blessed Virgin St. Michael and St. Francis to root out the Hereticks But all would not do For they increased and multiplyed The Powder plot in England was also in the beginning of his Popedom set on foot by the Jesuits and their complices in England An. 1605. An. 1621. Gregory the 5 th elected by way of adoration instigates the French King against the Protestants Canonizes Ignatius the founder of a company of Incendiaries that is Jesuits for so they have proved ever since Baptized with not the Holy Ghost but with Fire answerable both to his Name and Motto and their Natures Quarrels with the Venetians for entertaining Greeks now they had no wars with Infidels the Turks To whom the Venetians wisely replyed That they held all Infidels that opposed their Commonwealth An. 1623. Twenty four of the Cardinals grew sick upon the quarrelsome and ambitions choise of Urban the 8 th whereof ten lost their lives with divers of others Father Paul a venerable Religious Monk who stood up high for his Venetians against the Jesuits who pragmatically stood up for their Pope for which they were deservedly banished by the State not till now smarts and is wounded for his crime of Loyalty to them and petty treason as it were against the Jesuits c. this Pope made War against the Duke of Parma and Florence for the Dukedom of Castro c. And no doubt he had an underhand or little finger at least in the bloudy Massacre of Ireland 1641. by the Catholicks Afterwards Innocent the 10 th pronounces void and goes about by his Legate to null the Peace of Germany made at Munster 1648 between the Protestant and the Papal princes where the Protestants both Calvinists as well as Lutherans were esserted into full and free liberty of their Religion as hurtful and dangerous to the Church forsooth But Germany no longer now fears their loud Bulls roarings and bellowings as formerly and do but laugh at such the vanity of his Omnipotent Impotency After 1654. Alexander the 7 th determines new Articles of Faith against the Jansenist's and condemnes them for Hereticks The Church of France begin to vindicate their Liberty against such new decrees and power of the Pope It grows to a great faction between them and the Jesuits The Pope and his Instruments make the King look upon them as a dangerous Sect and as it were a new kind of Calvinistical Papists that would both joyn against the true French Catholicks and endanger France both Church and State as much as formerly those Hugonots But they increased notwithstanding and several Bishops Clergy men and others adhered to them against the Novel Usurpations and determinations of the Pope who would feign have been accounted infallible in his Court and pack'd Consistory at Rome without a general Council And fowl work had like to have ensued but that the King and Pope together have lately within this year or two devised an expedient latitude for the dissenting Bishops and Leaders least the rent should be made greater willing to make use of any Salvo for such a Sore c. An. 1662. The Popes Guards by his Brothers design against the interest of France assaults the French Embassador which was connived at by the Pope and his Brother who set it on foot countenanced and due Justice evaded The King demands satisfaction prepars a great Army to enter Italy whereof some had in a manner begun to enter which made the Pope tremble and the French sing hartily Rome is ours already c. yea the grand Ball at Court since become a common Tune or Air too in England began thus Great King will you profane Your Rapier in vain Your young brave Conquering Blades ' Gainst Chaplains only with Beads c. But his Holiness wisely submits and drives on a Treaty for Satisfaction and Accommodation and thereby condescended to set up at Rome a Piller of Remembrance as it were for the Injury and Affront offered Upon which submission the King of France recieves his Embassadour through all his Kingdom with extraordinary Magnificence and ever since has been very kind to his Holy Father and lately out of complement granted the present Pope leave to take down this too lasting a Monument of their reproach but all no doubt for further ends to himself which he is driving on in the world c. And while the King was thus good to the Church The Pope takes that opportunity to see if he could get to be owned as infallible in France and supreme Judge and determiner of Controversies and differences of Opinions in Religion finding by woful experience they should never have that property of a Vice-God Omnipotency in the World before they had thisof Infallibility This was towards and in the year 1666. by Alexander the late Pope But that year has not proved so kind and lucky to their projects as they looked for Nor could they fool France into such a premunire This Pope has had little to do yet but patch up the Jansenian Breaches to avoid further mischief as but now hinted To mediate between France and Spain as much as he could and to invite Princes against a less worse Enemy to Christendom than himself the Turk who never did it half so much harm nor ever will Yet the Noble Venetians deserve Succour and the Pope destruction Yet so it is that the Kings Princes Clergy and People of the Earth have so drunk of and been intoxicated with the Cup of Romes Fornications that notwithstanding all the evill they have suffered by her Domineering and Tyrannizing over them their Kingdoms Subjects and People both Soul and Body as by the foregoing story may in part appear yet they love to commit folly and abomination with her still and her fine and goodly Religion so carnal so pleasing and sutable to flesh and bloud But in the end sure God will put it into their hearts when he shall once have opened their Eyes to see what miseries and mischiefs she has brought
most excellent and useful things of Nature Art and Religion That so true Religion Learning Arts Sciences Commerce and Traffick and all things else for the Common weale of mankind may flourish and be advanced in the World that Mercy and Truth may meet together Righteousness and Peace may kiss each other on the Earth which they have so long for saken But first There are a sort of Popelings yet behind Must ride the Devil off on 's legs and break his wind CHAP. II. Of the future State and Revolution of Europe both of Church and State OUT OF The last Visions and Revelations of Drabicius the Seer concerning wonderful things shortly to come As the ruine of the House of Austria of the Pope of Spain c. by the Turks Tartars King of France c. conversion of the Turks Jews and Heathens Reformation of the World and Church by the Secular Powers The Renovation and Restitution of all things at hand New Heavens and new Earth viz. Church and State c. The Preface VVE should now finish this Table but that we think it meet to add a second Chapter of the Prophetick History of Europe not from the uncertain conjectures of Astrologians and Politicians but Revelations truly accounted Divine If it more immediately concern all to know the present State of Christendom and of this last age above all before that are past and gone and almost forgotten yet that is principally in order to what is to come And so much more it concerns us to consider what shall be hereafter then the things that have been and are And indeed this all mens minds generally are most inquisttive after yet few will have faith to believe And hence the knowledge of things to come is one part of History as well as of those that are past Wherefore I shall think it no unacceptable service to my Country men and not unbefitting this place to represent to view a summary draught also of those wonderful Visions and Revelations of Dabricius by the Godly and Learned esteemed Divine at least that few yet dare say are meer phanatick delusions or diabolical that so this Historical Table or Representation of things last past and next to come may be for more profit and advantage and of greater use to the English Reader 'T is certain all the world expects some great Catastrophe and Revolutions at hand and great have lately past in all Nations preparatory thereunto All Astrologers gaze for it All Politicians presage it all Theologers divine it And generally All People Jews Turks Christians Papists and Protestants seem to bespeak as much As if some dark intelligence were hovering up and down to abode and whisper some such matter presently to betide the world The Jews stand gazing for the Kingdom of their Messias the Turks of their Mahomet The Christians of their Christ and the Papists of their Antichrist The Planetary Conjunction and new Stars the dreadful Comets and terrifying Prodigies The remarkable predictions and prophetick Spirits yea the very false prophets too in several Countries The wonderfull providences and strange revolutions and alterations of this last Age specially those of late as the great Eclipses not many years agoe The new Star in 1572. in 1604. and lately in 1660. The fiery Trigon begun 1603. and ended with that great Conjunction of the two superior Planets Saturn and Jupiter in that fiery Trigon in 1663. never before this eight hundred years viz. at the beginning of the German Empire by Charls the Great and hoped to be the last being the seventh only of the world having never happened but six times before since the Creation And this being also the third Conjunction of those superior Planets which is every twenty years in the seventh fiery Trigon and falling in the year 1663. Rome Rome remember sixty three and three was said of that year by the Astrologers and the great congregation of all the seven Planets in the fiery signe of Sagittary also preceeding it which whether ever happened before since the beginning of the world is not known makes some not only take a Sign but a beginning of some great Mutation in Religion and Government In Religion namely the conversion of Jews Turks and all the Nations of the Gentiles In State the subversion of all Tyrannicall Rule and Domination and all manner of oppression and violence in the Earth The too late Prodigious Comets succeeding about a year after as well as those in 1652. and 1618. Saturn being in the House of Infirmity for six month before concerning which there is extent a strange Prophecy found by Capistranus above two hundred years agoe and printed above an hundred agoe at Venice and afterwards upon the Comet in 1618. appearing at Pargue in Germany in 1620. and said by the said Capistran to be one of the Sybill's twenty years before Christ concerning the ruine of the Pope and Emperor and return of the Apostolick times There is also some thing particular mentioned in Capistrans explication concerning France and others Aix la Chapelle which is forgot The Prophecy said to be of the Sybills was only in figures of a Woman with a Triple Crown embraced by a Crowned King or Emperor With a Wheel with twelve spokes denoting the Cardinals like the twelve Apostles with the Arms of France Low-Countries c. with other particulars forgotten From one Angel appeared a blazing Star darting upon the Woman and Emperor c. Capistran by a prophetick Spirit wrote an explication of every particular in short Motto's writ underneath each which he buried in a wall not daring to make it known in those times Being an enlightened Monk and was found an hundered years after and Printed as was said at Venice The Motto under the Comet is only remembered viz. Saturn in the house of Infirmity which some Astronomers say could be meant of no former Comet but this last only having examined it by their Rules Since this we have seen the sudden irruption of the French into Flanders c. and the peace soon made again at Aix la Chapel and yet indeed as good as no peace but rather a truce It were well this prophecy were better looked into to see whether any thing solid to be observed therein or any thing that may answer and concern the present affairs or the late Comet yea or no. In fine the most lamentable Wars Plagues Fires and sad calamities and heavy and grievous judgments of Gods wrath abroad in the Earth especially the astonishing Blazing Fire of London soon after in 1666. The powerful approach and threatning of the Turks and their dreadful design upon Christendom the universal unsettlement shakings of Kingdoms and Nations the high Animosities and Jealousies of Princes and States the cry of Subjects and general failing of mens hearts for fear and expectation of others and the total deluge of prophauness atheisme impenitency and unbelief with their desperate effects namely all injustice oppression wars and persecutions and universal
beseeching you all by the adorable name of God to suffer your selves to be perswaded that nothing under Heaven greater can at this time be undertaken and performed by you then this very question to be determined Is it the Voice of God that sounds here or no c. Seeing O Kings Princes Common-wealths your duties are here set before your eyes with wholesome Counsels for the publick safty be you intreated in the name of God and by your own and the Worlds salvation this thing in the first place to take these very Books into your protection and command them to be exposed openly through all the Book-sellers Shops of your Kingdoms and Provinces as freely as any other Books whatever of good note Instilling into the Christian People the fear of God reverence of Kings and amendment of life As freely I say as other Books of this nature as the Book of the three men and three spritual Virgins Hermis Pastoris Ugutine the Monk Fryar Robert and Hildegard Elizabeth and Mathilda published by Jacob Faber at Paris 1513. who all had Revelations and Visions like these c. Hear O Kings Princes Common-wealths and every Power among Christian People this Book which is offered to you stirs you up against no man but exhorts you all in the name of God to do your duty in stopping the confusions brought in by Satan and restoring the order instituted from God As yet promising Benediction if you yet admit counsel or denouncing the last Wrath Plagues and Destruction if you yet harden your selves Let the fear of the Lord therefore be with you and deligently put in execution all things It is your glory O Kings to be nursing Fathers c. and also it is your Duty to restrain any Church that degenerating into Babylon exercises fierceness cruelty and if the Spouse of Christ putting on a whorish dress waxes wanton to hate the Whore and make her desolate and naked and to eat her flesh and burn her with Fire God putting it into your hearts to do his pleasure And no longer to give your Kingdoms to the Beast till the Word of God be finished Rev. 17. But behold in our times the words of all the Prophesies old and new are consummated which the universal commotion of Nations which you see and the universal change of things which you shall shorrly see do witness Ho! therefore take again unto you your power and leave not your Scepters any longer in a strange and wrong hand I have commanded you O Kings and Princes that you your selves Govern For you have even your name from me Gods on the Earth not from an Angel or any creature saies the Word of God to Drabricius c. But what must you do when you take unto you your power O Kings That very thing which the King of Kings whose Ministers you are at this time requires of you TO REFORM THE WORLD AND ALL THINGS IN IT THROUGH ALL NATIONS For he who has long since by the mouths of his most holy Prophets said that he would make all things new on you O Kings as his Vicegerents he confers this Honor that this glorious Renovation be begun by your happy undertaking and be done by your Co-working and Authority through the whole world And then shall be the peaceable state of the World and of the Church in the Kingdom of the Messiah promised in Paradise in the destroying of the Devils Kingdom And which all the Patriarcks looked for and the Prophets prefigured in types and the Apostles prophesied of and the Prophets and Prophesies of God ever since have declared And which is so often reiterated in these Books that Peace shall return to the Earth before the end of the World with the divine benediction poured forth upon all Drabricius Rev. 107. Peace such as never was the like from the beginning of things Rev. 149. when all Wayes all Paths all the Trumphets all Books all Voices and Languages of all People and Nations shall agree in one angle of PEACE and in one common CHARITY Rev. 384. when the spiritual Jerusalem shall be built anew so beautifully that the very times of Solomon may not be compared to these Cotterus 18. When the Messias shall plant new Hevens and new Earth viz. new Churches and a new State wherein dwells Righteousness Which manner of things seeing they cannot but be an exultation to true Christians and that this Book declares them suffer it as well ye O Roman Chatholicks Princes as others whosoever love the coming of our Lord Jesus suffer it to live and to be taken for a publick Testimony of Gods being yet God doing nothing without revealing his secret to his servants the Prophets And for a publick looking or perspective-glass rationally to view all things which are here doing in the Ages of the world And for the last protestation and bearing witness of God that it will not be his fault if a new deluge come upon the impenitent world And then lastly for a Publick Alarum or Sermon-Bell to Universal repontance and for the last Trumphet after whose sound great Voices shall be made in the Heaven of the Church The Kingdoms of the World are become the Kingdoms of the Lord and of his Christ who now shall Raign throughout all Ages forever Rather do this O Kings and Powers for the Honour of Christ now taking unto him the Kingdoms of the World under the whole Heavens Learn who is the King of Kings against whom the Heathen rage in vain and the People imagin a vain thing c. To whom the Nations are given for an inheritance and the ends of the Earth for his possession who shall rule them with a Rod of Iron and shall break them as a Potters vessel Understand now therefore O ye Kings be instructed ye Judges of the Earth serve the Lord with fear and rejoyce before him with trembling learn discipline lest his wrath at length be kindled ye perish in the way understand the mystery of these times why the Nations are troubled and distrubed and the Kingdoms declining why the whole Earth is moved at the Voice of God Namely that these are the works of the Lord and set as Prodigies and Signs upon the Earth to take away War even unto the end of the Earth To snap the bow in sunder to break the Weapons in peieces and burn the sheilds with Fire Therefore cease O ye Kings from War see that the Lord is God that God will be exalted in the Nations that he will be exalted in the Earth c. O therefore Christian Kings take heed any longer to stand against the Prince of Peace Christ with your furious Arms disturbing and laying wast his Kingdom w ch Kingdom you your selves are as also the Universal Christian People committed to you Or it shall come to pass that he will find some one to send upon you even from the utmost East to devour your Armies if you will not know the thoughts of the Lord
Servant Drabricius some ten years since therfore will your Majesty also vouchsafe a peculiar Audience to his Messengers sent not with naked words but with testimonies gaining credit and with most ample instructions unto you Read O King or deliver these things to be read by your wise men You Great Lewis King of France does the great Lord by name invite yea call hither to his Glorious work of renewing the World Take counsel with your Collegues the Christian Kings of Europe to Convocate a Council of the Christian World to settle Truth and Peace and Righteousness therein That Angels may again sing Glory to God on High on Earth Peace Good will towards men If you will follow most Christian King with other Christian Kings the conduct of the Counsel of this Book undoubtedly all the World will shortly become Christian and the Times Peaceful Religious Inlightened and Happier than Solomons according as God did of old promise and does now remind us of that they are approaching Prepare for Christ a quiet Kingdom in the Earth removing his proud Rival Rejoyce that the like things are commanded and promised to you as once to Cyrus To be the Shepherd of the Lord that is a keeper of his Flock the Church the whole Church not any part only thereof as the Greek or the Latin or the French or the English or German-Churches c. For whoever calls on the Name of Christ are the People of Christ and the Sheep of his Flock fulfilling all his will saying to Jerusalem Thou shalt be built c. Isa 44. 28. and 45. 1 2 3 4. Cyrus the King when after the Conquest of Babylon he read the Prophecy of Isaiah presented to him by the Jews as Josephus witnesses and saw his name expressed believed God and presently freed the People of God from captivity O second Cyrus revived will not you imitate c. It is the work of the Devil and of Antichrist to destroy and take away the Liberty of Humane Nature which is the top of the Image of God in Man Whoever therefore shall be the Instrument of this Glorious Restitution of things shall be more than Cyrus more than Alexander more than Augustus more than Constantine or Charles the Great Arise therefore against all Antichrists i. e. Oppressors of Liberties thou King of France King of Liberties for so the word signifies And succour the Christian Nations where-ever groaning under any Corporal or Spiritual yoke Make to cease unchristian Wars and destroyings of one another by Rapines Fires Slaughters c. But especially free the Christian People from the Slaughterhouse of Consciences which they call the Inquisition and execute by Swords Halters Burnings alive Prisons Banishments and other kind of Tortures Let this most abominable Abomination be cast out of the Christian World as the manifest work of Satan by his Antichrists which he began by the impious Kill-Brother Cain and continued by Pharao's Saul's Ahab's Jezebel's Antiochus's Caiphas's Nero's Julians c. but has brought to the height only among us these one or two Ages last past Christ practised or commanded no force but only to teach the Nations and shake off the dust of their feet c. There 's no necessity for Force and Violence because Religion cannot be forced nor compelled They are plainly unteachable who do not observe that those former Persecutors gain'd nothing so but at length to ruine themselves Christ lives conquers reigns with his but Tyrants perish one after another with theirs Therefore take away that foolishness as Lactantius calls it from the Christian People most Christian King Take away that violent Tyranny of Consciences and Bodies from the Catholick People King of Liberties Most Serene of Kings God and the Christian People expect nothing but to answer your Name and what the Names and Titles given you by the Providence of God sound forth Lewis Deodat XIV most Christian King of France Lewis Refuge of the People Deodat Given of God XIV Most Christian King Christ's Vicegerent not Antichrists Of France i. e. Of Liberty The Devil and malicious and evil-minded men O King will stand in your way which two things you and all that love you for God's sake ought to fear For the Devil loth to have his Babylonish Kingdoms disturb'd will undoubtedly withstand you And malignant men seek your ruine as they did of your Heroick Ancestors c. But wise men fear more lest you your own self raise Impediments to your self and to your Victories O King by harkning to evil Counsellours and Instruments rather than to God But and if you refuse God will find out another to plead his Cause We do not stir you up against the Church greatest King but for it Nor against the Roman Church but for it also to restore it to its primitive Apostolick state from which it is deeply fallen God threatens here to send the barbarous Nations to reform us if none else will lend an helping hand Be intreated therefore by your own Salvation and of your most ample Kingdom and the whole Worlds not to let pass into the empty Air these Voices both Humane and Divine The Holy Spirit write in your Heart if not in Golden yet in flaming Letters that twice-made Protestation to negligent Eli High-Priest and disobedient Saul Those that honour me I will honour But those that contemn me shall be contemned of me In the Information to the Readers But are these things certain or are they not fables contriv'd and composed by the Art of some ingenious and witty to deceive T is answered It might be doubted at the first and was every-where doubted as the History of these things will shew But now there is no time for doubting seeing these things are confirmed both by abundant witnesses and confirm'd by divine signs and miracles as the same History will shew and now publickly appears And lastly where the truth of the Predictions are in apparent view and the very event does seal their divine authority Machiavillian Politicians Atheists imagining the World to be ruled by Humane Counsels have laughed at these as Phanatick things But behold God shews himself to be the Rector of the World These things being powerfully fulfilled which he hath commanded to be fore-denounced in his Name If any shall say therefore This Book is the Trumpet to Wars It must be answered 'T is so indeed but the Book of the Wars of the Lord as the Revelation of St. John and the Book of all the Prophets yea and the Book of the Gospel it self perhaps according to that of Christ Do you think that I came to send Peace on Earth c. For this Book describes 1. The Wars of God Jehovah against Idols As Ezek. 30. 13. 2. The Wars of the Lamb against the Beast already heretofore sounded Rev. 1714. 3. The Wars of the holy Spirit of God against all erroneous and unclean spirits in the Earth Zach. 13. 2. I say That here is the Revelation of the Revelation of
are in the place of God on Earth both Governors of States and Churches too humbly to plead this Cause before them Now if they be of Man or the Devil none ought to fear them but contemn them And therefore none should be offended that they are thus brought to light and into English For we intend them here only as a most wonderful History of the present Age not to be passed over without taking notice of For be they true be they false they will be found exceeding useful to the Age and to Posterity The Sum and Substance of the chiefest Prophesies of Kotterus Christina and Drabricius three late German Prophets OR A Summary View of some most Solemn Divine Visions and Revelations Had in these our Dayes By Kotterus a Selesian from the year 1616 to 1624. By Christina a Bohemian Virgin in the years 1627 1628 1629. By Drabricius a Moravian from the year 1638 to 1668. For the use of this Age. Wherein I. Lamentable Complaints are made of the extream Corruption of the Christian People II. And the terrible Plagues of God denounced against the Impenitent III. And how God will raze out the Babylon of false Christians Jews Turks Pagans and all Nations under Heaven and set up a new truly Catholick Church to shine forth most gloriously with the Light of the Gifts of God and what its future State is now to be even to the end of the World ALL Prophesies before they have their effects are Riddles and Ambiguities to men But when the time comes and that happens which was prophesied then the Prophesie has a clear exposition Irenaeus Book 4. ch 43. Certainly it must needs be confessed That these things are once to be or have already been or God to be accused of a lie For there is so great felicity promised to Christians in the Divine Oracles and such perfect knowledge of God and obedience and such universal Peace as neither is nor ever has been in the World c. Castellio to our King Edward the Fourth I confess that I also was in that Opinion that there were no Revelations of Divine Authority since Christ and his Apostles and so also I taught But after that I read these things more accurately I use to say That greater wisdom shines forth in them then that men can be their Authors much less those from whom they proceed And that they seem to be things of a better Nature and so constantly continned such for many years then that they can be attributed to the Devil Testimony of a great Divine Prophets are seldom or never believed Another Divine Witness Jeremiah the Prophet and all the Prophets of old Jerem. Chap. 36. And the Word of the Lord came unto Jeremiah saying Write in a Book all the Words against Judah and Israel and against all Nations If perchance they will hear and return Therefore Jeremiah call'd Baruch to write from his Mouth all the Words of the Lord. And commanded him to go into the Temple and to read them before the People Who did so Which thing being known the Princes assembled in the House of the King and sent to Baruch to come unto them with that Volumn and said unto him Sit and read these things in our Ears And he read who when they had heard were astonished saying every one to his next Neighbour We ought to tell all these words to the King But they said unto Baruch Go and hide thy self thou and Jeremiah And they went in unto the King Who when he had read three or four Leaves he cut it with his Pen-knife and cast it into the fire Neither were they afraid neither the King nor his Servants but commanded to apprehend them But the Lord hid them And the Word of the Lord came unto Jeremiah saying Take another Volumn and write in it all the former words and thou shalt say unto the King Thou hast burnt the Book Therefore I will punish and bring all the evil I have pronounced And Baruch wrote from his Mouth all the former words And there were added besides uuto them many like words The Lord said unto me Write these things and hasten to divulge many hundred Copies through all parts of the World For this is my Will that all Nations of the Earth read those things which I have spoke unto thee Drab Rev. 55. Now for these Prophesies we shall first give you the scope and sum of them beforehand in general and then come to the Revelations and Visions themselves in particular The utmost scope of all these Revelations is according to the manner of the Ancient Prophets 1. To shew unto Christians the manifold sins and aberrations wherewith they have provoked and do provoke God and sad Lamentations thereupon 2. To discover the Causes of the present Plagues and Judgments wherewith God breaks in pieces the World and the Causes why Gods Wrath waxes hot so against Christendom and to excite and forewarn men to attend seriously to the terrible threatnings of Wrath and comfortable promises of Grace 3. To shew the way of escaping the Wrath and preventing the last destruction and of obtaining the Grace 1. By general and universal Humiliation Repentance Reformation and Amendment 2. By universal mutual Love Charity and peaceableness one with another of all Parties Sects and Religions That all Names of distinction be laid aside and factious contendings about Opinions cease and that one common Faith and Love prevail among Christians of all sorts to preserve the Unity of the Spirit in the Bond of Peace And that all wicked unchristian-Christian Wars and Fightings and such cruel devourings of one another not becoming that Name whether for Religion or worldly Interests be laid aside And 3. by offering and communicating the same common Mercy and Benefit that is the Light and Blessing of the Gospel and thereby Universal Peace Truth Righteousness and Salvation to the Nations of the Earth For that now God would have all the World reformed and blessed with all true Felicities and Universal Salvation both Temporal and Eternal In a word the Kingdom of God come and the State of the Divine and Holy Life tryumph and be exalted over the Animal Sensual Beastial and Devilish 4. And lastly That otherwise Christendom shall feel the Power of Gods Anger and of his wonderful Judgments and the Vials of his Wrath be poured out c. For that Christians ought first to reform and begin this Universal Restitution Else that God will find others but destroy them by one another or by letting in the Barbarous Nations the Turks and Tartars c. in upon them That the time of destroying and overturning is at hand This and such like is their general scope And more particularly to stir up Princes Priests and People all to their particular Duties Kings to execute the call of their high Function To do the Will and Work of God on Earth i. e. To reform both Church and State and to take unto them their Scepters and
Hierarchy was founded by Boniface as Universal Bishop and high Priest And from him to Hildebrand for about 400. years more Hence the Titles of Divine Celestial Majesty The Popedom Temporal was founded by Hildebrand as Universal Monarch Hence from both Innocent the 8th is stilled one above all Principalities and Powers and every name that is named in this or the other World And the Height and flourishing of both under Alexander the 3d. and Boniface the 8th who boasted that all powers were become subject to him c. to the dawning of the Reformation by Wicklif c. another four hundred years the Brightnes whereof has been ever since by degrees a consuming it And if we may guess by the Stars the last great Conjunction of the two Superior Planets in the fiery Trigon in 1663. which never happened before since Charls the Great 's time 800. years agoe they bode no good predictions for the Popedom but look as if they would burn up Alsted sayes all the dross and dregs of Rome more then the fire of London was ever like to do as they accounted of the Protestants But we must not think that Rome is only in Rome though there she sits as a Queen seing no sorrow During the first 400. years they contended for preeminence priviledges dominion and riches to maintain it and began to Lord it over and incroach upon other Churches as the best the most orthodox and most Apostolick as the chiefest and most flourishing and Imperial Church For Pope Victor about the year 192. excommunicated the Eastern Bishops for not keeping Easter the same day with him concerning which point the West or Roman Church afterwards prevailed under Constantine the Great by the Council of Nice the Eastern standing for the tradition of St. John and Philip the Western for that of St. Peter and St. Paul Afterwards they induced Constantine upon his Infant conversion as the first Christian Emperor to be good to the Church which had so suffered under the Heathen Emperors and to make it great glorious and flourishing in the world and peace setled in the Church together with Dignities Dominions and Preferments in a politick and prudential way namely to avoid Heresies Schismes and Factions of Opinions c. they began now to Lord it over one another and over Gods Heritage which they had not opportunity to do before under persecution nor sufficiently to shew the rottenness of their Religion at the heart They brought Constantine to decree Tithes to be paid of all things to all Churches At which time was heard this voice in the air now is poyson poured into the Church which refers to the pride of the Bishops and Clergy which these riches occasioned afterwards For Hormisda was so malpert upon 't about the year 500. as to excommunicate the Emperor because he stood upon 't That it was the Emperors part to command and not be subject to Bishops During the next 400. years they contended with the Eastern Bishops and Patriarchs of Constantinople for Universal Supremacy devising divers sad stories and complaints and incroached more and more upon the Emperors and civil matters of State and became as well Troublers of the Empire as of the Church For the other four hundred they contended with the Emperors themselves for Universal Monarchy or Supremacy in Church and State iuterwove Temporal Jurisdiction with Spiritual and at last withdrew themselves from all subjection to the Emperors and brought them indeed under their feet usurping and inlarging power and dominion to themselves out of others ruines c. as by the forgoing story may partly appear But this last neer 300. years they have swelled only with Titles and big words and roared a little with their cursed Bulls with short Horns And thus Pride begat Prelats Prelats Patriarchs Patriarchs Popes answerable to worldly Empire and Dignities and Popes would be Kings and Emperors and not only so but Gods too but indeed and in truth very Devils For Pope Sixtus they say gave his soul to the Devil for seven years Popedom Such a sweet proud Tyranny it is And now this long lived Popedom is come to its old age and drawing towards its end and from 666 plainly lyes a dying against which year it strove as it were for life again once more in England Ireland Holand France Poland Suitzerland Piemont c. with struglings in the world afresh are to be reckoned but as lightenings before death Unto which if it fill up the 100. current or more 't will but be answerable to such tough and lasting heart of Oak too great to be rooted up in one generation In a word four hundred years or more a rising as we may say four hundred a growing and increasing and four hundred more a flourishing in it's height and towards three hundred a decreasing So that least of all of any Kingdom can it be said of this Few though evill have the dayes of the years of the Popedom been Taking evil for wicked and mischievous or doing evil c. And so significently enough and not unworthily may his Evilness now be stilled Pope that is Ancient or old Father But There is another Reason Would you know why Their Bastards swarm as thick as Stars i' th Sky But we meddle not with the Personal Vices of his Holiness Conclusion Thus have we seen in this last and worst age of the World all Christendom all on a flame of Wars and Confusions like Wildfire every where catching from Country to Country and then taking its course round Neither has any Nation escaped scot-free from Stupendous Revolutions both Ecclesiastick and Civil We have seen within the compass of a few years above a thirty years bloudy War in Germany almost laying it desolate which divided it self into several Streams as first the Wars of Bohemia then of Denmark then of the Swedes of Saxony of the French of Hungary and of Italy too c. Above a fourscore years War in the Low-Countries with all the cruelties imaginable and at last the most mighty Monarch of Christendom outed of his own dominions by his Subjects and forc'd to acknowledg them a free State by a publick Treaty at Munster 1648. A twenty years War between the two most mighty Monarchs and Sons of the Church with the Revolt of Catalonia A threescore years Usurpation of the Kingdom of Portugal from the right Heirs brought to nought in a day and without bloud but neer a thirty years effusion of bloud and Treasure ensuing thereupon yet at last that great Monarchy forced to consent to the lopping off this so Principal a member from its body by a late Peace 1667. above a twenty years Wars of the hugeous Grand Turk against Christendom We have seen a lamentable twenty years Civil Wars in England c. The whole Subversion both of Church and State A Glorious King brought before the Tribunal of his own Rebellious Subjects and unmercifully put to death by a faction of Republicans An ancient and
flourishing Monarchy laps'd into a short liv'd Commonwealth A State A Protector and a Miraculous return to where they began an unheard of Restitution of the Banished and wonderful preserved Prince without War or Bloud-shed We have seen the mightiest Emperor deposed and strangled by his own Vassals in the same year 1648. and his Successor much a-doe to escape the Rout in 1656. that made sixteen Bashaws one Vizier forcing the Emperess and the High Priest almost equal with the Emperor himself to the Seraglio c. And the Brother of a King to depose his Prince under pretence of Loyalty and the publick good keep him in durance Rule in his stead and make the Father and High Priest of the Church give his Queen to him for wife and all the Princes of Christendom even their late Master of Spain too himself by their Embassies and for their own Interests to approve in a manner all and to Complement the new Prince Regent from all parts We have seen also above twenty years civil Wars Broyls Commotions and Factions in Poland and the poor old King made weary of his Scepter by his own restless and unconstant Subjects We have seen him and a Queen besides to lay down their Crowns of their own accord for a more quiet and happy life We have seen a Universal Calme as it were and Peace for a while but a sudden Eruption of fierce Wars again both by Sea and Land and again a present deep Silence and stand as it were of a sudden and the World gazing on one another what they are about to do c. Lastly we have seen Grand Eclipses Conjunctions Comets and new Stars Innumerable Prodigies and Signs in the Heavens in the Earth in the Waters a raging Plague marching from Country to Country together with raging Wars and the most dreadful Fire that ever was designed or contrived of one of the greatest and most flourishing Cities in Christendom And behold greater things yet to come ch following c. An additional Observation concerning the late Popes designes There has already been hinted his new Negotiation with the Kings of the Earth to establish the Papal Sea's Infalibility He had a great zeal besides in rapairing the Church of St. Peter Paul and to erect there a new Apostolick Chair And would have imposed this Inscription thereon although hindred by the wiser Cardinals In the year of the Apostolick Authority restored the first He spent likewise all the time of his Priestdom in adorning Rome with new Palaces and Basilicon's especially in raising a Palace designed for the future choice of Popes called the Conclave into a stupendons Grandure To Erect which that there might not want room he commanded many Streets of the City with Temples and Monasteries to be demolished and sent for all sorts of Artificers out of Italy as if like Nebuchadnezer he meant to say This is Babilon the Great which I have built for an house of my Kingdom and for the Glory of my Majesty c. And now we should pass to the Foundations and Revolutions of the present Religion of Christendom but that they would swell this Table of the general heads of things only into a volumn already too larg And for that they may be also somewhat apprehended from this general View of the Revolutions of States and Kingdoms Behold the desolutions of the Earth For want of the King of Peace to rule The Pretensions and Interest of Europe The pretensions of Europe are either of one part to another as of England to France Spain to Portugal c. of which 't will be needless to speak a word or else to other parts of the World as to Asia Africa or America Of which a word or two These pretences are founded on wrong and false titles as Right of discovery or of Christianity and Religion and the Popes donation and disposal of the whole Infidel world accordingly thereupon For towards the year 1500. Pope Alexander the 6th as if he was Master of the whole Earth distributed by his Bull all the new World between Ferdinand the 5th King of Spain and John King of Portugal Here was a wonderful donation indeed of the World from East to West parted between two Princes And to make them agree it was accorded that the Portuguess should equally share from the fortunate Islands or Canaries by one streight line from North to South for the first Meridian an hundred and eighty degrees that is one half of the World Eastward and the Spaniard as many Westward And that both one and the other should have right to take possession of all the Earth they could seize on and all upon this title forsooth That they should convert the Infidels and Barbarous Nations to the Christian Faith which they did indeed more like Infidels and Barbarians then Christians So mankind preys one upon another like ravenous Beasts and Birds of prey Neither can the Protestans perhaps much reproach the Papists upon this account and both will alwayes agree in this point that glory and gain are not to be neglected what ever becoms of Christianity or humanity it self But when the Portuguese through ignorance and impudence judged that they had wrong done them as yet ignorant that the World was round or might be sail'd round by great importunity they extorted that the first Meridian should be removed from the Canary Islands to the Azores three hundred miles more Westward Hence the first Meridian ever since has place not in the Canaries but the Azores Islands the cause of which mutation is not the declination of the Margent and variation of the Needle or Compass but this division between the Portuguess and Spaniard Now by this change it happened that the Portugals afterwards obtained Brasil in the West Indies which fell within the Meridian of the Azores but the Spaniards reaped a far greater advantage because they from that time chalenge right to the greatest part of the East Indies viz. the Philippy Islands which they have to this day to the Molucco's and others c. then out of dispute the Portugals And this made the Spaniard alwayes retire and adhere to the Azores for the first Meridian As for the Interests of Europe in these sad dis-unions revolutions and confusions of Christendom The Interests of the whole and of every part seems mainly to be to agree in Religion and known Articles of Faith and not devour one another as Infidels and Pagans for Opinions or Ceremonies and exclude not only one another their Church but their Nation and the World too for Hereticks or if not agreement at least Freedom and liberty of Religion which is no unpracticable Romance we see also for Christian Princes to unite not so much against the Turk as with one another and not destroy and ruine one anothers Kingdoms and so many Subjects lives in unnatural unchristian Wars and quarrels and lastly each Nation to accord and conspire together into mutual correspondence and free intercourse in all their