the tempest ys great and the suâ—â—feraunce therof excedynge paynefull As the lorde ys myghtye so are hys iudgeâ—mentes whan they fall VehemeÌ„t ferce and stronge ys the lorde sayth Esaye 〈◊〉 ys the tempest of hayle breakynge ou◠〈◊〉 euerye syde and bearinge downe stroÌ„ge holdes The .xvij. Chapter OFt hath occasyons be geueÌ„ me in this boke to speake of great Babylon and of the execâ—able Beast but here is place offred to describe theÌ„ more at large The Text. 1 And there came one of the seuen Angels which had the seueÌ„ vyalles 2. and talked with me 3. sayenge vnto me 4. Come I will shewe the. the iudgement 5. of the great whore 6. that sytteth vpon manye waters 7. with whom the kynges of the earthe haue commytted whoredome 8. and the inhabyters of the earthe are dronken with the wyne of her fornicacion 9. And he caryed me awaye 10. into the wildernesse in the sprete ¶ The Paraphrase 1 After this came sayth Saynt Iohan one of the .vij. Angels or vnuaryable decrees of the lordes eternall iudgemeÌ„tes which had the .vij. vyals of his wrathe as afore hath bene declared 2 And this Angell or sett purpose of God as an heaueÌ„lye massenger talked with me in mysterye 3 Of fauorable goodnesse in secrete maner he assertayned me therbye of this woÌ„derfull iudgement here folowinge to be fulfilled at the latter ende of the worlde And thus yt sayd vnto me 4. Come hyther frynde Iohan I wyll shewe the in secretenesse the terryble iudgement of the great whore or couÌ„terfett churche of Hipocrites as God hath appoynted yt Nedes must thys whore bâ— Rome for that which ys here after spoken that she ys the great cyte which reâ—neth ouer the kynges of the earthe Euident yt is both by the scripturs and cronycles that in Iohans dayes Rome had her domynyon ouer all the whole worlde And beynge infected with the abhominacyons of all landes ryghtlye ys she called Babylon or cyte of confusion not onlye in this reuelacyon but aâ—so in the first Epistle of Peter And lyke as in the scripturs oft tymes vnder the name of Ierusalem ys ment the whole kingedome of Iuda so vnder the name of Rome here maye be vnderstanded the vniuersall worlde with all their abhominacyons aÌ„d deuylyshenesses their Idolatries withchecraftes sectes supeâ—stycyons papacyes presthodes relygyons shauinges anoyntings blessinges sensings processions and the deuyll and all of soche beggeries For all peples seÌ„s Christes ascencyon hath this Rome infected with her pestylent poysons gathered from all Idolatrouse nacyons soche tyme as she helde ouer theÌ„ the monarchyall suppremyte And lyke as Babylon had the Israelytes captyue vnder a bodylye trybute so hath this Rome had the Christianes both in their bodyes aÌ„d sowles At the writynge of this Propheâ—ye felt Iohan of their cruelte beynge exyled into Pathmos an Ile of Lycya for the faythfull testymonye of Iesu. And so ded I poore creature with my poore wyfe and children at the gatheringe of this present Commentarye fleynge into Germanye for the same 5 No maruele though she be here called a great whore For no where were euer yet seane so manye Idolle wurshyppynges so many vayne obseruacyons so manye superslycyouse sectes so manye errours in Hipocresye so manye false Prophetes and so manye prodygyouse kyndes of fylthynesse no not in Sodome yt self nor yet in miserable Egypt 6 This Babylonyshe whore or disgised Synagoge of shorelynges sitteth vpon manye waters or peples that are fantasticall fyckle or folyshe For noÌ„ are in coÌ„science subiect vnto her that are constaÌ„tlye grounded in the sure doctryne of faythe Onlye alloweth her tradycyons the wauerynge witted multytude the slypper and vnstedefast noÌ„bre obeynge theÌ„ in their hartes of feare and not of loue so throwynge themselues into a most coÌ„fuse Chaos or vawte of doubtfull doâ—rage 7 With this stynkynge strompett haue the myghtye potentates of the vnyuersall earthe the Emprours Kynges Princes and other notable gouernours commytted most shamefull whoredome in the sprete by manye strauÌ„ge worship pynges agreynge amonge themselues to her wyckedlye decreed lawes and customes To longe shuld we stande here in this place yf we shuld describe them all seuerallye in their colours at large as they be 8 Through the craftye legardemayne of the Prestes on the one syde and the cruell constytucyoÌ„s of Princes on the other syde the dwellers of the earthe or worldlye mynded multytude are dronken with the wyne of her fornycacyon spyrituall or practysed worshypyynges besydes the prescripte rewles of Gods worde Not onlye they which haue bene couetouse carnall lewde and wretched hath folowed their abhomynacyoÌ„s but also an innumerable sort of the electe nombre hath beleued their lyes and errours Yea they haue bene so dased with their dottages and so tangled with their customes that as menne losynge their wittes without all godlye remembraunce reason wysdome dyscressyon vnderstandynge iudgement and grace the lawes of God layed a part the coÌ„maundemeÌ„ts neglected and the scripturs despised they haue noâ— onlye kneled crossed kyssed set vp lygâ—tes and holden vp their handes before rotten postes but also called them theiâ— fathers in heaueÌ„ Yea I axe God mercyâ— a thousande tymes I haue bene one oâ— them myself And this ys to thys daye â— principall religyoÌ„ of that whoryshe chuâ—â—che called deuowte pilgrymage or hoâ—lye stacyons of prayer manye great paâ—â—dons graunted and manye false promyâ—ses made to allure the peple thervntoâ— 9 But blessed be the lorde whose woâ—â—de in this age both admonyshed manyâ— as the Angell ded Iohan and broughâ— them also cleane from her abhominacyâ—ons into a secrete consideracyon of thâ— sprete vnknowne to the worlde therâ— both to se her pryde and also to vnderâ—stande her iudgemeÌ„t For yt foloweth iâ— the text that the angell coÌ„uayed Iohan awaye into the wildernesse in the spretâ—â— 10 In mysterye here the holye ghost dâ—â—clared afore what the lorde shuld workâ— in meÌ„ne hauynge hys grace at the latteâ— dayes of the worlde Into the wylderneâ—â—se flee they with Dauid which leauyâ—â—ge the customed wayes of menne afteâ— the course of the scripturs seke vp theiâ— lorde God in faythe worshyppinge hym onlye in sprete and in veryte The Text. And I sawe a woman sitt vpon 2. a rose coloured Beast 3. full of names of blasphemye 4. which had seuen heads and ten hornes 5. And the woman was â—rayed 6. in purple and rose coloure 7. and decked with golde precyouse stone and pearles 8. and had a cuppe of golde in her hande 9. full of abhominacions 10. and fylthynesse of her whoredome 11. And in her fore heade was a name written 12. A mysterye 13. Greate Babylon the mother of whoredome and abhomynacyons of the earthe 14. And I sawe the wyfe dronken with the bloude of Sayntes and with the bloude of the wytnesses of Iesu. 15. And whan I sawe her 16. I woÌ„dred with great maruayle ¶ The Paraphrase 1 And I sawe sayth Saynt Iohan in mysterye a woman for an whore at the first blushe semeth onlye a
woman syetynge vpon a rose coloured Beast This Beast ys the great Antichrist that was spoken of afore or the Beastlye bodye of the deuyll comprehendynge in hym Popes Patriarkes Cardynalles legates Byshoppes Doctours Abbottes Pryors Prystes and Pardoners MoÌ„kes Chanons Fryres Nonnes and so forth Temporall gouerners also as Emprours Kynges Princes Dukes erles lordes iustyces deputyes iudges lawers mayers balyues constables and so forth leauynge their owne dewtyed offyces as to mynyster ryghtlye to serue their abhominacyons 2 All rose coloured ys thys Beast in token of tyrannouse murther and bloud shedynge ouer those that wyll not agree to their deuyllyshnesse 3 Full of blasphemouse names ys this Beast also as your holynesse your grace your lordeshyp your fatherhode your mastershyp your reuerence honor hyghnesse worshyp magnyficence goodnesse Gods vycar spirituall syr ghostlye father phesycyan of sowles defender of faythe head of the holye churche and so forthe besydes the names of their propyrtees feates and pagentes as processyon byshoppynge anelynge purgatorye pylgrymage pardon Masse mattens eueÌ„songe placebo candelmasse daye palme sondaye ashe wedynsdaye holye roode daye Saynt Thomas daye and so forth 4 This Beast had .vij. heades and ten hornes sygnyfyenge his vniuersall craftes and suggestyons to destroye the graces and gyftes of the holye ghost and also hys falselye borowed primacyes and tyrannouse auctorytees to withstande the commandementes of God 5 Upon this Beast sitteth a woman For what els auaunceth or beareth out thys malygnaunt muster â–ª in their copes crosses oyles myters robes rellyckes ceremonyes vygyls holye dayes blessynges sensynges and folynges but a wanton folyshe and fantastycall relygyon a vayne gloryouse pompe and a shynynge pretence of holynesse in superstycyoÌ„ callynge yt their holye churche She ys seyd here to sitt vpon this bloudye Beast as to be stayed quyeted and satled by them Marke what labours and peynes that craftye and wylye Winchester taketh with BoÌ„ner Toâ—stall and other of hys faccyon as her owne sworne â—ouldy our to holde vp this gloryouse whore in her olde estate of â—omyshe religyon Oh he grunteth and groueth he sweteth aÌ„d swelleth he fretteth and belleth he bloweth and panteth he calkeâ—â—s and â—aÌ„teth he sturreth aÌ„d neuer ceaseth to brynge hys matters to passe 6 In token that this hipocriticall churche standeth in the murther of innocentes thys woman ys here gorgyouslye appareled in purple as gyltye of their deathes which hath bene slayne and also in freshe scarlett as euermore freshe and rydye to continue in the same bloud shedyng For yf soche terrible slaughter were not the true Christen faythe shuld increase to the great dymynyshment of her glorye 7 She ys in lyke case floryhshynglye decked with golde precyouse stone and pearles not onlye in her manyfolde kindes of ornamentes as in her copes corporasses chesybles tunicles stooles fannoms and myters but also in mysterye of couÌ„terfett godlynesse Manye outwarde bragges maketh this paynted churche of Christ of hys gospell and of hys Apostles sygnyfyed by the golde precyouse stone and pearles which ys but a glytterynge coloure For nothynge mindeth she lesse than to folowe them in conuersacyon of lyuinge 8 More ouer â—n her hande which ys hee exteryoure mynistracyon she hath a golden cuppe full of abhomynacyons and fylthynesse of her execrable whoredome This cuppe ys the false relygyon that she daylye mynistreth besydes the chalyce whom her merchantes most dampnablye abuseth And yt contayneth all doctryne of deuyls all Beastlye errours and lyes all deceytfull power all glytterynge workes of Hipocrites all craftye wysdome of the fleshe and subtyle practyses of mannes wytte besydes philosophye logyck rhetoryck and sophystry Yea all prodygiouse kyndes of Idolatrye fornicacyon sodometrye and wyckednesse Outwardlye yt semeth golde pretendynge the glorye of God the holye name of Christ the sacred scripturs of the Byble perpetuall virgynyte of lyfe and all are but counterfet colours and shaddowes of Hipocresye in the outwarde letter and name 9 Full of abhominacyons ys the drynke of the execrable faythe of that Romyshe relygioÌ„ receyued of other aÌ„d full of fylthynesse also For both retayneth the peple therof innumerable kindes of Idoll worshippinges vnder the tytle of Gods seruyce and also their shauelynâ—ges of prodygyouse beastlynesse in lechâ—â—rouse lyuynge vnder the coloure of chaâ—â—tyte Here were moche to be spoken oâ— Saynt Germanes euyll Saynt Sythe keye Saynt Dâ—câ—mbers ores masteâ— Iohan shornes bote Saynt Gertrude rattes Saynt Iob for the poxe Saynâ— Fyacre for the ague Saynt Apolyne foâ— totheâ—ake saynt Gracyane for lost thrifâ— Saynt walstone for good haruest saynâ— Cornelis for the fowle euyll and all oâ—ther Sayntes els almost 10 Of the buggerye boyes also amonâ—ge prelates and prestes ghostlye father and relygyouse might moche be sayde hâ—â—re were yt not for infectynge meÌ„nes eâ—â—es eares vnderstandynges For all thâ—se noyfull nocumentes are the holye frâ—â—res of the whoredome of that holyâ—whoryshe churche 11 In the forehead of this glytteryng whore which ys her outwarde shewâ— ys wrytten a name expresselye declaâ—rynge what she ys By her vngodlye frâ—â—res ys she knowne to the elect seruanâ—tes of God hauynge the lyght of thâ— Scripturâ— â–ª In their consciences aperetâ— she non other than a postyferouse whoâ—re by the iudgementes of the same 12 Averye misâ—â—â—ye is this shewe to thâ— infydels an hydden secrete an vnknoâ—ne woÌ„der For they are so blynded with her foppryes and tangled with her toyes that they iudge all that she doth holye relygyouse and perfyghâ— And all this suffreth God for their vnbeleues sake destroyenge neuerthelesse the wysdome of the wyse and prudence of the prudent in his 13 Her verye name agreynge to her frutes ys thys Great Babylon in myschete farre aboue the cyte of the Chaâ—deanes and moche more full of confusyon For she ys the oryginall mother the cause the begynninge the rote the sprynge and the fountayne of all spirituall fornycaâ—yoÌ„s and in a maner of all fleshlye abhominacyons also done vpon the earth Thys is to the faythfull sort as a written name of her euydent clere open and manyfest But to the vnfaythfull yt ys onlye as a mysterye hyddeÌ„ darke obscure and neglect For so are the secretes that God openeth to babes and hydeth from the wyse 14 And I sayth Saynt Iohan perceyued yt euidentlye in mi fore vnderstaÌ„dinge that this woman the verye wyse of the deuyll and of hys beastlye bodye for the Byshoppes are the husbandes of their Romyshe churches was all dronken in the bloudye slaughter of the Sayntes or ernest ChristeÌ„ beleuers in the excedinge tyrannouse murther of thâ— faythfull wytnesses of Iesu or syncereâ— preachers of hys worde For neyther oâ— both she spareth Besydes all Godlyâ— wysdome ys she and forgetfull of her self through this same bloudye dronkeâ—â—nesse so great excesse hath she taken 15 And whan I perseyued and sawe her with all her adders whelpes so beasâ—â—ty she sayth Saynt Iohan with excedynge wonder I marueled Not onlye thaâ— she was thus ouersett with bloud drinâ—kinge or outragyouse murtherynge oâ— innocentes
but also of her excedynge great abhomynacyons 16 And most of all I wondered that the almyghtye God coulde with so moche paâ—cyence suffre her in soche myschefe The Text. 1 And the Angell sayde vnto me 2. wherfor meruaylest thu 3. I wyll shewe the the mysterye of the woman and of the Beast that beareth her which hath seuen heades and ten hornes 4. The beast that thu see it was 5. and is not 6. and shall ascende out of the bottomlesse â—ytte 7 and shall go into perdiâ—yon 8. And they that dwell on â—he earthe shall wondre 9. whose names are not wrytâ—en in the boke of lyfe from the â—egynnynge of the worlde 10. whan they beholde the Beast â—hat was and is not ¶ The Paraphrase 1 And as I was thus wyth my selâ—â—aruelynge the Angell or a fore named â—ecre of the Lorde sayd vnto me these wordes â— Wherfor dost thu thus maruele thu mortall manne For thy gentyll and meke expectacyâ—n I shall shewe vnto the the misterye of this wretched woman aÌ„d of the cruâ—ll Beast that beareth her which hath â—ij heades and .x. hornes By this shalâ—â—hu knowe the true churche from the â—alse the iust preachers from the hypoâ—rites the syncere doctrine from theyr subtyle sophysmes aÌ„d their lawfull anâ—â—oryte from their cruellye vsurped presumpcyons For that sheweth the lorde vnto his electes that he wyll not haue knowne of all menne 4 The execrable Beast or carnall kyngedome of Antichrist which thu hast se aâ—ne here in misterye was as concerninge his beginninge in Cain first of all aÌ„d so continued forth in the fleshlye chyldren of menne in the chaplaynes of Pharao Hieroâ—oam Baal aÌ„d Bel in the cruell byshoppes prestes and lawers with soche other lyke tyll the deathe of Chryst and so forthe 5 And now the sayd Beast is not in power and aucâ—oryte as he hath bene For in Iohans tyme serten years before the wrytinge of this reuelacyon was the proude clergye of the Iewes vtterlye destroyed by Titus aÌ„d Despasiane in the terrible syege of Hierusalem Not withâ—standinge yet shall this beast ryse agayne in the Romyshe pope and Mahomete aÌ„d in their false prelates doctours 6 He shall ascende out of the bottomlesse pytte from the stinkynge denne of Sathan exaltynge him self in worship aboue all that is called God But in the conclusion he shall haue an ende 7 Into perdicyon shall he go wythout fayle The Lorde shall first vtter his wickednesse as now in this age and than with the sprete of his mouthe consume him and destroye him So that his high clymynge vp shall at the last be the chefe cause of his fall Yet shall his wicked remnaunt ones agayne sett vp theyr crystes and persecute a freshe but that shall â—â—e no full rayse vnto him 8 And the rable of reprobates which dwell on the earthe or for earthlye commodytees contempneth Godes truthe shall wonder ones agayne not without moche inwarde reioyce that their churche ryseth agayne out of the olde hypocresyes 9 Whose names are not regestred in Christ which is the large boke of lyfe and hath bene both the lyfe aÌ„d the lyghe of menne sens the first constitucyon of the moueable worlde No they are not nombred amonge those ryghtouse that shall regne with him in glorye 10 These aduersaryes of God and his worde shall haue moche gladnesse in their wycked hartes whan they beholde the Beast thus commynge vp agayne that was of soche magnificence and now is but a thynge of nowght that was estemed aboue God and now is proued dampnacyon So longe is this beastlye Antychryst as he worketh the mysterye of iniquite in the reprobâ—te vesselâ— and whan he leueth that workynge than is he no longar Marke in this processe past the nature of Gods eternall decre for this age of his churche First it sheweth and than it condempneth the cursed Sinagoge of the deuyll In significacioÌ„ wherof the true preachers of our tyme hath many festly opened her wickednesse vnto all the worlde wherupon her vtter destruccyon must shortlye followe Watche good Christen reader aÌ„d praye ernestlye The Text. 1 And here is a mynde that hath wysdome 2. The seuen heades are .vij. mountaynes 3 wheron the woman sytteth 4. They are also seuen kynges 5. Fyue are fallen 6. and one is 7. and the other is not come 8. Whan he commeth he must contynue a space 9. And the Beast that was and is not is euen the eyght 10. and is one of the seuen 11. and shall go into destruccyon ¶ The Paraphrase 1 Here is a meanynge which comprehendeth wysdome A syncere vnderstaudynge shall herin be requisyte Necessarye it is therfor to take hede least thu holde the harlot and Beast for that they boast them selues to be to thy dampnacyon 2 The .vij. heades of the Beast aforemencyoned by the playne diffinicyon of the holye ghost are here to be taken for vii mountaynes or the vniuersall princelye monarchies of the .vij. clymates of the worlde 3 Upon these the woman that Babylonyshe harlot Rome from whome hath yssewed all spirytuall whoredome in most proude maner sitteth hauinge ouer them a vniuersall dominyon For in Iohans tyme to Rome was all the worlde subiect Under whose cruell regne was Christ done to deathe so hath his faythfull members bene ener sens by a newe rayseâ— kyngedome in the same 4 These heades are also .vij. kynges or goueunours of the aforesayd monorchyes seduced by all kyndes of craftye errours and deuylyshe suggestyons of that Beast So that yâ—yâ— marke well this place the head with the tayle and the cause with his effecte in these present significacyons shall no preiudyce be founde to that hath bene sayd in the other though they seme verye dyuerse For both the gouernours and also the landes or the peples subiect vnto them haue vniuersallye bene blynded by their wylye toytchecraftes And so haue the worldlye porentates wyth the spyrytuall Antychrystes agreed that both they haue vsurped one malygnauÌ„t medlynge ouer the sowles of menne to corrupt their faythe the prynces applyenge their powers vnto the same And that causeth the holye Ghost here to call them the beastes heades vnder the tytle of mountaynes and kynges For vnder their princelye auctoritees hath all their myschefes bene fulfylled to vpholde this whoore agaynst Christ and his worde 5 Fyue of these heades are fallen from the vnyuersall monarchye of Rome All the dominyons of Affrica and Asia hath renounced the obedyence of her empyre Onlye cleaueth Europa vnto her which is the least of the thre and yet not all therof Whan the Papacye grewe the whole empyre of the Grekes called Constantynople fell cleane from the laâ—nes and became with other dyuerse monarchyes the possession of Mahometes secte or of the Agarenes and Turkes Of the other empyres maye a lyke coniecture be had Thus haue they declyned from her not so goynge forth nor yet rysynge vp vnto Christ for only is it sayd here that they were fallen 6 And one head is sayth the text at
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
the beastes wounded head but also in other serten regyons But for so moche as yt ys most lyuelye done there and thys boke written in that language I haue onlye brought forth here examples therof in that purpose The .xiiii. Chapter IN thys present chapter declareth the lorde vnto Iohan and vnto hys faythfull seruauntes by him the degre estate and condycyon of hys true beleuynge churche now after he hath afore lyuelye described the bestyall churche of Antichrist and of hys horned spyritualte by the afore named .ii. moÌ„struouse Beastes And thys ys that hys louers shuld knowe what they be which are of hys howsholde aÌ„d what an helper they haue of hym in the middes of their aduersitees to the confort of their sowles And though they be here a monge those ragynge tyrauntes in terryble agonyes and peynes persecucions and trobles he ys neuer absent from them nor wyll not be tyll he hath rewarded them with vnspekeable Ioyes The Text. 1 And I loked and lo a lambe stode in the mounte Syon 2 aÌ„d with him an C. and .xliiij. thousande 3. hauynge his fathers name writteÌ„ in their foreheades 4. And I herde a voyce froÌ„ heauen 5. as the sounde of manye waters 6. and as the voyce of a great thundre 7. And the voyce that I herde was 8. as the harpers that playe vpon theyr harpers 9. And they sange as it were a newe songe 10. before the seate 11. and before the foure Beastes 12. and the Elders 13. And no maÌ„ coulde lerne that songe 14. but the hundreth and xliiij thousande 15. which were redemed froÌ„ the earthe 16. These are they which were not defyled with womeÌ„ 17. for they are virgynes 18. These folowe the lambe whither so euer he goeth 19. These were redemed from menne 20. beynge the first frutes vnto God and to the lambe 21. and in their mouthes was founde no gyle 22. for they are without spotte before the trone of God ¶ The Paraphrase 1 I â—oked saith saynt Iohan on the other syde and in a thought as it were I behelde that a lambe stode vpon mounte Syon Euen the lambe of God Iesus Christ that alone toke awaye the synnes of the worlde Alone doth he gouerne his faythfull churche as the onlye aÌ„d immediate head therof hauynge non other to assist him in that office For who is the kynge ouer Syon but he Who shall reduce Israel agayne to his folde but he Onlye is he with his congregacyon to ayde them with his worde to bolden them with his sprete to streÌ„gâ—then them with his grace 2 And with him were present an hondreth and .xliiij. thousande hauynge his fathers name written in their fore heades So manye as haue in hart receyued his worde and in faythe digested his veâ—e are the verye chyldren of Abraham and are marked vpp for the sonnes of God by the seale of the holye Ghost 3 For power haue they geueÌ„ theÌ„ to be Gods chyldreÌ„ that beleue in hys name And thys is yt to haue hys name written in their fore heades For their faythe declareth them Gods sonnes Lete thys set Nombre be non impediment to the reader to be taken here for the vnyuersall multitude of the faythfull as well of the Gentiles as of the Iewes that beleueth though yt otherwyse apereth in the .viii. chapter of thys boke For so well ys the Gentile that hath faythe a perfyght Israelyte as ys the Christen Iewe. Yea moche rather was Zacheus for hys faythe iudged Abrahams chylde than was Symon for fulfyllynge the workes of the lawe For God ys not parcyall What so euer he be that feareth hym and worketh ryghtousnesse ys accepted with hym And so ys yt ment here And therfor ys not the differeÌ„ce written here as in the other place but all ys Ioyned in one to coÌ„preheÌ„de all vnder one And as touchynge the equall certente in Nombre both here and there Lyke as yt ys therâ— certeynlye knowne vnto God euen so ys yt here though yt be vnto vs both innumerable and vncertayne Not as concernynge the Nombre yt self but the common vnderstandinge therof in the scripturs For yf the Nombre of one seuenth be an infinite Nombre there moche more of many seuenthes 4 And I harde a voyce from heauen sayth Saynt Iohan which ys all one with the aforeseyd Syon and ys the vnyuersall congregacyon of Christ all clere from the superstycyons af menne For from Syon cometh the lawe of the lorde after Esaye and the worde of God from Ierusalem 5 Thys worde ys as the noyse of manye waters whan yt ys in the mouthes of manye dyuerse peples of dyuerse natyons and languages one not vnderstandynge an other and yet knowynge yt yche peple amonge themselues 6 Verye lyke ys yt also to a great thoÌ„der cracke myghtye feare full and terrible to the fleshe Very harde ys thy worde lorde sayd Christes disciples who is able to abyde yt 7 And the voyce that I harde saith IohaÌ„ was moche after the noyse that the harpers make whan they playe vpon their harpes Full of agrement are the holye scripturs yea full of swete hermonye and concorde More precyouse are the verytes of the lorde than ys golde and their melodye more swete than honye 8 With them reioysed Dauid before the arke of the lorde In theÌ„ toke Paule a stomake and confounded the Iewes at Damasâ—us 9 And swetelye they vttred with their voyces a songe that semed all newe before the seate of the lorde before the .iiii. Beastes and before the auncyeÌ„t elders This songe is the worde of the lorde all newe both to the good aÌ„d to the yll The faythfull it reneweth in the sprete of their myndes prouokynge them to do on a newe maÌ„ne in Christ. The hartes of the vnfaythfull it so hardeneth that they in disdayne and spyght doth call it newe lernynge as ded the ignoraunt multitude at Capernaum and the worldly wyse menne of Athenes 10 Before the seate of the lorde was this songe vttred which is the godlye disposed multitude For lyke as the harte of an hipocrite is the verye seate of sathan so is the hart of a faythfull manne the seate of God and habitacle of the holye Ghost 11 Before the .iiii. Beastes was it opened also by this nomber of godlye teachers Which Beastes are the pryuate congregacions of the lorde remayninge here yet in the fleshe in the .iiii. quarters of the worlde â—â— Finallye before the elders was it songe also For non other doctrine is it nor Gospell of glad tydinges than hath bene sens the begynnynge nor thaÌ„ hath bene thankefullye receyued of owr olde auncetours the Patriarkes the Prophetes the Apostles and the faythfull fathers 13 And no manne coulde lerne that newe songe but the aforesayd hondred aÌ„d xliiii thousande which were redemed from the earthe On mightye wonderfull yea and terrible sentence of the lorde Non that take them selues for the peple of God caÌ„ be accepted afore him for the true sede of AbrahaÌ„ nor for the iust
whore 6. and shall make her desolate naked 7. aÌ„d shall eate her fleshe 8. aÌ„d burne her with fyre 9. For God hath putte in their hartes to fâ—lfyll hys wyll 10. and to do wâ—th one consent 11. for to geue her kyngdom vnto the beast 12. vntyll the wordes of God be fulfylled 13. And the woman which thu sawest is the greate cytye 14. which reygneth ouer the Kinges of the earthe ¶ The Paraphrase 1 And after this longe communicacyoÌ„ sayth saynt Iohan the aforeseyd Angel sayd thus vnto me to make vp his tale with 2 The wauerynge waters which thu sawest here now of late in mysterye where as the Babylonyshe whore sitteth vpon the rose coloured Beast are in sygnyficacyon all maner of peples of the carnall nacyons and the superstycyouse folke of manye sondrye tonges 3 Not onlye in one place of the worlde rewleth this wanton relygyon of Antichrist but in euerye lande in euerye domynion in euerye cumpanye amonge all occupacyons and languages The folyshe multytude euerye where beynge blynded by their subtyle sorceryes neyther hauynge faythe nor yet the feare of God before their eyes as a ragynge flood the bankes broken downe â—oâ—â—eth headlynges into all blasphemie and deuyllyshnesse 4 More ouer the afore named .x. hornes sayth the Angell which thu by the will of God beholdest here in sprete vpon the seyd Beast of destruccyon are those verye persones which also shall hate the whore Her abhominacyons ones knowne by the Gospell preachinge they shall abhorre her lawes despyse her auctoryte and contempne her customes They shall defeate her of those landes and possessyons which now she vniustlye hoâ—deth 5 They that afore were her fryndes shall than be her mortall enemyes denyenge her both tribute obedyence and seruyce so leauynge her without all coâ—fort Not onlye are these the temporall gouernours as the kynge of Englande the kynge of Denmarke the Duke of saron the Landgraue of hesse and other Princes of Germanye with soche other as wyll here after folowe the same pryncyples but also the Metropolytanes and Byshoppes the Doctors and Prelates As are all redye Thomas CraÌ„mere the arche Byshop of CauÌ„terburye Hermannus de weda the archebyshopp of Coleyne Godryck the Byshop of Holye Barlowe the Byshop of Saynt Dauids Byrde the Byshop of Chestre Thuâ—â—leby byshop of Westmynstre 〈◊〉 tymer and Nicolas Sharton of late years Byshoppes of Worcester and Salysburye with soche other lyke as wyll here after folowe their trade Though they were afore the hornes of the Beast for defence of the whore yet are they now fallen from hym and more shall euerye daye to make her desolate of honoure aÌ„d naked of rentes and possessions 6 So shall they chace that Babylonyshe harlot Rome with their preachers that neyther shall they leaue her coloure nor yet bewtye Considre what IohaÌ„ Reuclin Martyne Luther Erasmus Occolampadius â—winglius Pomeran Buter Capito Melanchton Grineus Calninus Brencyus Frances LaÌ„bert Bullinger aÌ„d soche other hath done agaynst her alredye Lyke wyse here in Englande Bylneye Cyndale Frith Barnes Cromwell Couerdale Turner George Ioye Rose Rydleye Warde BecoÌ„ aÌ„d other els leauynge her neyther Rellyques nor Rodes Sectes nor Shrynes Abbeyes nor Pryoryes manye more coÌ„mynge after them of the same sort These shall make her so desolate that no maÌ„ne shall in processe of tyme regarde her They shall leaue her so naked that all the worlde shall abhorre her that shall loâ—â— vpon her Yea in the conclusyon they 〈…〉 her fleshe 7 Besydes the takynge awaye of her carnall profyghtes and pleasurs they shall confounde her flâ—shelye vnderstandinge of the scripturs and vtterlye consume the superfluouse obseruacyons of her whoryshe câ—remonyes 8 Finallye with fyre shal they burne her in brynginge vnto nought all her abhominable rewles customes kyndes of Idolatrye All these ones plucked awaye by the euydent worde of God no longar shall this harlot apere For no loÌ„gar contynueth the whore than the who redome ys in pryce Take awaye the rytes and Ceremonies the Iewels and ornamentes the Images and lyghtes the lordeshyppes and fatherhodes the aulters and Masses with the Byshoppes and Prestes and what is their holye whorâ—she churche any more Not onlye is this fleshe eatynge and burnynge declared now adayes in outwarde experymentes as in the rebellyouse Monkes and Prestes of Englande and in theÌ„ that arose there in the Northe specyallye in fryre forest and Margareâ—â— Chenye which were for their churche consumed lyke as were Baals chaplaynes at the broke of Cyson by Helyas but also misticallye in that is spokeÌ„ of here afore 9 For God hath sayth the Angell all blindenesse secluded put it into the hartes of those and soche other Godlye menne by the infusyon of his sprete to fulfyll hys decreed will so pleasure in this behalf as vtterlye to destroye the Popyshe relygyon or fylthye abhominacyons of Antichrist 10 He hath geuen yt them more ouer to do these thynges to hys glorye through the agrement of faythe that they haue in the vnyte of his Godlye truthe to the abolyshment of all Sectes false Prophetes and coniurers of Egypte 11 Fynallye by hys grace he hath moued them through knowlege of his worde to rendre vp her blasphemouse kyngedome whom sumtyme of ignoraunce they vsurped vnto the malygnaunt Beast agayne as the hornes of hys pestyleÌ„t heades After this sort ded good Latimer and Shaxton geue ouer their Bysshop-ryckes and so hath dyuerse other Godlye menne their promocyons and liuinges as manye more yet here after wyll do 12 For as they haue begonne so shall they contynue in demynyshynge the abhomynacyoÌ„s of this whoryshe churche tyll the wordes and promyses of God by hys Apostles and Prophetes which can neuer fayle be whollye fulfilled in effect and tyll hys last iudgement do fynyshe all But thus do not all they which haue done of the yoke of the Popes obedyence or blotted out hys name For the greatter nombre of them retayneth styll the blasphemouse obseruacyons and Ceremonies of hys Romyshe relygyon some makynge newe lawes of deathe for the establyshment of the same as ys in Englande the acte of the .vi. Artycles with dyuerse other more And for this remayneth here styll the Beast as receyuynge the rendred kyngedome of the whore In whome ys also comprehended the wycked reÌ„naunt that shall worke the last myschefe whome the lorde shall ende with hys seyd iudgement This Beast ys not without hys lyuelye Image styll workynge the same feates that hymself wrought afore though his head be greuouslye wounded in diuerse quarters of the worlde Neyther ys he without craftye Phesycyanes to mynystre lyfe to the same Who euer forswore the Pope more ernestlye thaÌ„ ded Stokyslaye and Sampson Gardyneâ— and Tunstall wylson and fryre wattes with soche other holye prelates Yet labour they tothe and nayle to haue Babylon styll Babylon Sodom Sodom Egypte Egypte But maruele not of the ordynauÌ„ce of the lorde which all at one tyme prouyded Moyses to gyde his peple and yet
hardened Pharao agaynst them which sent his sonne Iesus Christ to saue them and yet suffred the Prestes to murther hym coÌ„sideringe he ys that potter which maketh both the vessels of honoure and dishonoure 13 Breuelye to conclude the whole of this matter sayth the Angell the gorgyouse aparcled womaÌ„ or glytteringe churche of aÌ„tichrist which thu sawest here of late in misterye ys also in resemblaunce the great cyte Babylon the mother of all the spirituall abhominacyons and Idolatryes done vpon the earthe For lyke as from Syon hath the lawe commeÌ„ forth and the worde of God from Hierusalem so hath yssewed forth from this Babylonyshe Rome soche a false Relygyon into Emprours princes and peples as with fylthyr superstycyons hath poysoned all the worlde 14 For a kyngedom she hath ouer the kynges or noble gouernours of the earthe a false power a vsurped auctoryte and a seate of verye pestylence Alas for pytye that so worthye potentates shuld be in subieccyon to so slynkynge an whore to so vyle an harlott beynge so the seruauntes of synne and captyue slaues to all wyckednesse from the which the lorde ones delyuer them Amen ¶ Thus endeth the seconde parte The Chapters ¶ The contentes of the seconde parte THe .xi. Chaptre begynneth Fo. 4. wherin Iohan measureth the temple the aultre and theÌ„ that worshippe therin The .ii. wytnesses do their appoynted offyces the Beast makynge warre agaynst them and sleynge them A greate earthquake foloweth and the seconde wo ys past ¶ The .xii. Chaptre begynneth fo 21. wherin the seuenth Angell bloweth hys troÌ„pet In heauen apereth a woman all clothed with the sunne whom the Dragon diuerselye vereth Michael fighteth with the Dragon and ouercometh hym The woman fleeth into the wyldernesse and there ys preserued ¶ The xiii Chaptre begynneth Fol. 43. wherin a Beast ryseth out of the see with seuen heades and ten hornes receyuinge auctoryte of the Dragon One of hys heades ys wounded and healed agayne Another beast commeth out of the earthe with .ii. hornes which deceyueth the eartlye dwellers and rayseth vp an Image lyke vnto the Beast In the ende ys couÌ„ted the nombre of the Beast ¶ The .xiiii. Chaptre begynneth fo 74. wherin the laÌ„be standeth vpon the mouÌ„te Syon and the vndefyled congregacyon with him An Angell sheweth the euerlastynge gospell an other declareth the fall of the greate whore An other ys coÌ„maunded with his syckle to cutte downe the grapes of the vyneyarde ¶ The .xv. Chaptre begynneth Fo. 94. wherin Iohan seeth the seuen Angels hauynge the seuen last plages of the wrathe of God On the glassye see standeth menne hauynge the harpes of God and they synge the songe of Moyses and the songe of the laÌ„be The tabernacle of testymonye is seane in heauen ¶ The .xvi. Chaptre begynneth Fo. 114. wherin the seueÌ„ Angels poure out their vyalles of Gods wrathe The first vpon the earthe The seconde vpoÌ„ the see The thirde vpoÌ„ the ryuers The fourth on the sunne The fift vpon the seate of the Beast The sixte vpon the greate flood Euphrates And the seuenth into the ayre ¶ The .xvii. Chaptre begynneth fol. iii. wherin an Angell sheweth vnto Iohan the iudgemeÌ„t of the great whore which sitteth vpon the Beast He descrybeth both her and the Beast at large Fynally he sheweth the meanynge both of his heades hornes with other greate mysteryes more ¶ Marke in the .xiiii. Chaptre the. 75. aÌ„d 88. leafe the .ii. Images sett clerelye out of ordre by the onlye neglygence of the printers ¶ The poore persecuted churche of Christe or immaculate spowse of the lambe Apoca. 12. ¶ The Dragon was wrothe with the woman which fledde into the wyldernesse and went and made warre with the remnaunte of her sede which kepe the commaundemente of God and haue the testymonye of Iesus Christ. ¶ The proude paynted churche of the pope or synnefull Synagoge of Sathan Apoca. 17. ¶ I sawe a woman sytt vpon a rose coloured Beast full of names of blasphemye decked with golde preciouse stone and pearles with whome the Kynges of the earthe committed whoredome and the inhaâ—iters of the earthe are dronken with the wyne of her fornycacyon ☞