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
Melinda Mosambica Quiloa The Protestant some places of the same Africa upon the Western and Southern Coast as in the Kingdom of Congo Guiny and Cape Verd. The Roman Religion possesses in America Mexico and Peru the Isles of Porto Rico St. Domingo and Cuba also Brasil and Canada and some of the Antilles Islands The Protestant in like manner in the same America New England New Swede New Denmark New Holland and Virginia and now of late the Island of Jamaca and the two thirds of the Antilles Islands and heretofore the Northern part of Brasil c. By all which you may see how little reason of Geography the Religion Roman has to appropriate the Name Catholick The Jesuites as has been seen by the first part have also promoted their Religion even into China but 't is not yet become National or powerful It rests only to draw hence their Proportions thus The Proportions of Europe Asia Africa and America ought to be considered as 1 3 4 and 7. So that taking only the Inhabited part of the World the Christians possess about a sixth the Mahometans a fifth or something more and the Heathens two thirds or hardly quite so much So that dividing all the known Regions of the Earth into thirty equal parts The Christians part shall be as five the Mahometans as six and the Heathens as ninteeen which is very near two thirds of thirty As for the Christians that are found in Asia Africa and America their petty number is as it were swallowed up in this fearful multitude of Mahometans and Idolators and is elsewhere counterballanced by that of the Mahometans in Europe And if to the Lands discovered one joyn that great Southern Continent which comes near to the very Aequator and coasts as it were continually from East to West the two other Continents of Asia and Africa so that it seems to be as large as Europe Asia and Africa put together then the Heathen will surpass the Mahometans and the Christians in an excessive proportion for they will then have near as much more for 't is to be believed that that part of the World has no other for its Inhabitants than Idolaters seeing that they found no other at the point of good Hope and towards the streight of Magellan which are the most neighbouring Lands to this vast Continent of the South whose shores onely are known unto us These are the three grand Branches of the Christian Religion in Europe out of which arise onely three other that are become distinct and National viz. the Lutheran the Calvinist and the Episcoparian all of them Protestant and Reformed All of them deny the Popes Supremacy and Transubstantiation c. The Calvinists deny both Transubstantiation of the Papists Consubstantiation of the Lutherans and Episcopacy and the Discipline of the others And these again the Presbytery of the Calvinists Consubstantiation of the Lutherans and Transubstantiation Supremacy c. of the Papists only retaining Episcopacy which they contend to be Primitive and some Popish Ceremonies which they contend to be indifferent and lawful all of them at great variance and with much zeal and animosity each against the other There are indeed many other Sects and Parties and Opinions shooted out of these but none to be accounted General National or Powerful though such as have rais'd great Disputes and Contentions and overwarm Fewds and Zealousness and some to Separation from all the former And they are either such as are or may be common to all other such as are chiefly those about Doctrine as Arminianism and Antiarminianism Socinianism or Antisocinianism c. according as Reason and Faith directs each The Socinians are chiefly in Poland The Arminians are spread every where Or else such as separate from all others chiefly about Discipline as the Brownists Independants c. chiefly in England and New England the Anabaptists in Germany and England also c. and other places the Quakers the latest of all in England c. The Latitudinarians who submit to any Discipline and contend only for the Substantials of Religion Seekers or Spiritualists who submit to no Religion as whose Religion is to be not so much against as above all Religions or Forms of Religion All which are comprehensive of most others and are all generally Libertinarians more or less that is for liberty of Religion Amongst such a company of Religions in the World what other means possible can there be for Unity Peace and Love amongst Christians or mankind but Liberty rather than Uniformity For how is it possible there should be Uniformity long where there 's onely necessity not consent and harmony There are but few places where liberty of Religion is tolerated and those with difference Among the Turks in Poland Germany and Holland generally all more or less In France the Protestants only In New England all but errors judg'd fundamental The Jesuites in China and in Italy and Avignon the Jews But the World will then onely be happy when it shall once become Universal that is as large as the very Universe it self and mens minds like to Truth it self noble and free and not narrow but large spirited and diffusive like the infinite Creators who would have all men to be saved and that by perswasion and not force because impossible But we pass by this less pleasing particular As also the Commerce Commodities Riches and Forces of Europe of which it is enough to say in general that she commands by Sea all the Riches of the World and of which enough before till we come to more particulars which are best referred to each several Countrey REVOLUTIONS The late grand Revolutions of Europe have been either of States and Kingdoms whether for Dominion or Religion or of Religions themselves or of both mixtly We shall onely look so far back as to take a view or prospect of the present face of things and the Foundations of the present Governments and Religions before mentioned The Foundation of the present Germane Empire in the House of Austria which grand Revolution has made it as it were Haereditary and put a period to Liberty of Elections I. ABout the year 1250. the Empire being greatly distracted through the Popes means and practices who for above an hundred years had notoriously usurped authority over the Emperors and made a common practice of excommunicating them in a manner successively for so many years one after the other the Empire I say being distracted into many Factions each Faction chose a King of the Romans or Emperor insomuch that there were now at one time three Elected together and a fourth a year or two after bought it and presently left it again and then for several years without any The Empire fluctuating thus for about twenty years and after so long an Interregnum the Princes of Germany met at Quidlinburg and made a League of Defence together about the year 1270. Thereupon Pope Gregory the tenth sends order to them to chuse an
Monarchies nor leave their Kings so much elbow-room nor their Commands so absolute and Sovereign as the other There are moreover in Europe other lesser Kingdoms comprehended under these as those of Bohemia and Hungary under the Emperor That of Navarre under the Crown of France Those of Naples Sicily Sardinia and Maiorck under the King of Spain And those of Scotland and Ireland under the King of England The Seven Electors three Eccleasiastick four Saecular and of late a fifth are the Arch-Bishop of Mentz Dean of the Colledge of Electors Lord High-Chancellor of the Empire in Germany The Arch-Bishop of Colen Lord High-Chancellor of the Empire in Italy The Arch-Bishop of Trevers Lord High-Chancellor of the Empire in France The King of Bohemia at this time Emperor till the young King his Son come to be installed therein chief Cup-bearer of the Empire Count Palatine of the Rhine heretofore the fifth Elector chief Almoner of the Houshold now the eighth and Lord High-Treasurer since the Duke of Bavaria new-created was put in his place The Duke of Saxony Lord High-Marshal or Sword-Bearer and the Marquess of Brandenburgh Lord High-Chamberlain and who has the largest Territories next the Emperor himself These Electors are Sovereign in their Estates and though Members of the Empire yet can make Peace and War when they please whereof we have at this present a sad example between the Elector Palatine and the Elector of Mentz with the Lorrainers The Ecclesiastick Electors ever had the precedency of the other by reason of the height and Supremacy of the Pope in Temporals and the Saecular Power of the Bishops in former times The seven Grand Dutchies or Dukedoms which have each their particular Lords and Masters are the Dukedom of Moscovy the Prince whereof assumes the Title of Emperor and by some is reckoned among Empires As indeed to say the truth it is a Dukedom on which depends thirty other Dutchies and three Kingdoms which exceed Germany and Poland in extent and notwithstanding all their Cold are fill'd with Inhabitants And the Duke himself is absolute over his Subjects The Dutchy of Savoy at this day the first in Europe the Dutchy of Tuscany of Lorrain of Saxony and Bavaria whose Dukes are Electors and the Dutchy of Holstein As for the great Duke of Lithuania he is subject to the King of Poland and the Dutchy of Milan to the King of Spain And the other petty Dutchies of Germany and Italy are not of any force or reckoning with these seven We must crown all these Dutchies or Dukedoms with the one only Arch-Dukedom of Austria whereof the Emperor is Master and add that all these Estates have nothing mixt in the form of their Government and that they acquiess under the Authority of one alone The seven Common-Wealths are those of the Suisses of Venice of the United Provinces of Genoa of Lucca of Geneva and of Raguza For the petty Common-Wealth of St. Marine must not come into this Range As for the Hans-Towns and free Cities of Germany they acknowledge some subjection or other to the Empire c. The three grand Principalities are Transilvania Wallachia and Moldavia all three tributary to the Turk As for the Prince of Precopia or lesser Tartary called the Crim Tartar he is now made slave to the Turk and over him a Beglerbeg or Bassa to command in chief It will not perhaps distast the Reader to give a List here of the present Kings and Princes according to their different Ages together The King of Spain Swedeland the Prince of Orange the Land-grave of Hesse-Cassel the Duke of Mantua the Duke of Modena are yet in their Minority The King of France England Portugal the Elector of Bavaria the Duke of Saxony the Duke Regent of Holstein the Dukes of Lunenburgh the Landgrave of Hesse-darmstat the Duke of Mickleburgh the Prince of Mount-Belliard the Prince of East-Friezland the Marquess of Bada the grand Duke of Moscovy and the grand Segnior All these Princes are in the prime of their Age and like to reign long Those that have passed the middle of their dayes and begin to draw towards their evening are the Pope alwayes the King of Poland who has now lately resign'd his Crown and none other yet chose the King of Denmark the three Electors Ecclesiastick three of the Secular the Palatine the Elector of Saxony and of Brandenburgh the three Princes of Transilvania Walachia and Moldavia The Duke of Lorrain Wittenburgh Newburgh Brunswick Wolfen-Buttel the great Duke of Tuscany and the Duke of Parma The Ecclesiastick Government of Europe in general is either Papal owning the Pope as Supream or Episcopal owning the King as Supream in all causes and Arch-Bishops and Bishops under him call'd also Prelatical as in the Church of England or Super-intendent which is a kind of Episcopal among the Lutherans but yet owning no Head of the Church neither Pope nor King or Civil Magistrate to order the Affairs of the Church as such The Presbyterian or Synodical owning a Presbytery or Synod as Supream and Lay-Elders c. but no Bishops nor Super-intendents as in France Holland c. As for other forms of Government there are none established any where by publick Authority And this is the present face almost of Europe in General LANGUAGES The present Languages of Europe for we pass by those that are out of date as the Hebrew Greek and Latine which are rather Scholastical than National and onely us'd among the Learned may be reduced to three the Teutonick the Sclavonian and the derivatives of Latin and Greek corrupted By the way only take notice that the Arabick Tongue is the same in Asia that the Latin is in Europe and that by its help one may march from the Bosphorus in Europe to the furthermost Lands of the Indians We find not therefore in Europe more then two Mother Tongues at present which have each their several Dialects with some sprouts as it were of the two dead Languages Latin and Greek The two Mother Languages then are the Teutonick and the Sclavonian The Sclavonian is familiar at Constantinople and even at Grand Caire And has for its principal Dialects the Rheuthenick or Russian for the Moscovites the Dalmattan for the Transilvanians and Hungarians the Bohemian and the Polonian the Illyrian Jazigian c. with some others which have their course amongst the Walachians and the Moldavians and the lesser Tartary The Teutonick hath three principal Dialects the German the Saxon and the Danish And of these again issue forth other Idioms as the Flemish or Low-Dutch the English the Swedish the Cauchian of the East-Friezlanders amongst themselves only for they use Dutch to strangers the Language of Norway and of the Suissers The Greek Language Mort or dead but less corrupted than the Latin hath divers Reliques and shootings forth in divers Isles of the Archipelago in Achaia and Morea under the great Turk and is better preserv'd here in these named then in
and mutual prey These mischiefs increased during the Poles dissention about Election of a King and had like to have ruin'd all Poland After long Contentions they chose Casimir Brother of the deceased King who being not enough assisted by his People backward then to wage War is circumvented by the Cossacks and forc'd to those Conditions of Peace that the present Necessity required To all which Evils succeeded War with the Swedes and lastly with the Nobles under Lubomirskie about nominating a Successor during the King's Reign c. We will recollect and summe the passages according to the years they happened in Uladislaus dyes 1648. Casimir constituted 1649 who marches against the Rebellious Cossacks The King marries his Brothers Widow 1651. Poles beat Tartars and Cossacks and put them to flight 1654. The Moscovite with 40000 breaks into Lituania and takes Smolensko so often won and lost For An. 1500 a Poland Noble-man betray'd it to the Moscovite The Poles recover it 1610. The Moscovite attempts it 1634 but beaten then shamefully and now take it c. 1655. King of Swede marches against Poland and overrun all in a years time The Brandenburgh per force Confederates with him 1656. Moscovite takes Vilna in Lituania 1657. Ragotzi marches into Poland but loses all his Army and then his own Country The Elector of Brandenburgh agrees with the Pole prevailing against the Swede 1658. The Rebel Cossacks overcome by General Wyhoskie 1659. The Cossacks joyn'd with Poles beat the Moscovites The Poles prevail and prosper At last the Cossacks break Faith given to the Poles and again rebel to the Moscovite and spoil the Poland Provinces 1660. The War between Swede and Pole confederate with Brandenburgh ended and peace made and Brandenburgh made absolute over Prussia 1663 and they swear to him again The Moscovite overcome by Pole and Czarneskie Also the Moscovian Army under Zeremetzie reduced to straits forced to yeeld Vilna Tower besieg'd by Poles to the next year 1661. The Poland Army and Lituanian Army confederate together against the King Whence many Mischiefs to both Countries Czarneskie adhering to the King overcomes the Moscovites under Cowanskie Vilna and other places in Lituania taken from the Moscovites 1662. The confederate Army under Schwidersky make a stricter Confederacy and several thousands enter Prussia and demand Tribute or Taxes The Cossacks under Chimilinsky besieging a place are beat by the Moscovite under Romadonofsky But the Moscovites afterwards are overcome by the Cossacks and Tartars The Lituanian Confederate Army kill their chief Marshal and Treasurer 1663. The Confederate Armies in Poland and Lituania dissolve their Confederacy and agree with the King and their General Lubomirsky victorious in Battel against the King restor'd again And so the Civil War between the King and Nobility drew towards an end 1664. K. of Poland takes many Towns from the Cossacks A famous Victory by General Packs or Pasky against Wikousky General of the Rebel Cossacks They are reduc'd under the King's power to obedience The Moscovites overcome by the Lituanians Since peace and settlement of things has been transacting on all sides not without difficulty and new troubles to the King about nominating his Successour being ever since about laying down his Government And now at last having first quieted and satisfied all parties as much as possible has left the Crown unto Factions and Competitors not being able to nominate a Successor before he left it and eased himself of such a burden The whole business now being about Succession concerning which observe Of the Election of Poland First the Power of the Nobles Secondly the Competitors for the Crown For the Power of Election 1. The Power of the Nobles is exceeding great and each single Noble is as it were a single King and hath Soveraign power over his Slaves even of Life and Death 2. The Nobles choose the King and prescribe what Laws they like 3. If any will not accept these Laws they proclaim PIASTUS i. e. they will go to the choosing of some Rustick or plain Country-man of their own Nation 4. There are perpetual strifes between the Nobles and Senators or Council The Senators favour the King the Nobles the Kingdom 5. There is a like power of all the Nobles so that one dissenting the other Suffrages are void and one only Noble hath right to intercede in the Diet or Parliament against all and to plead the Cause When all the rest had given their consent a Noble stands up once and said I do not consent Being asked his Reason sayes Because I am a Noble Nor did they reckon the Decree good till they had his Consent 6. In the Parliament or Diet of Poland the Deputies of the Nobility and the publick Liberty call'd Land-Nuncio's or Messengers to plead strongly their Cause against the King and Senators of the Kingdom are of greatest Authority For the Nobles are alwayes afraid lest they should lose their Priviledges to the King which are so great Next for the Competitors Eligible know First that though the Kingdom be Elective yet they never past by the Kings Family to choose others but when the Line fails then they seek strangers and grievous Factions arise before they can agree Secondly The Competitors have been 1. the Moscovite because of the same Language and Nation originally and Neighbourhood 2. The Crim Tartar urging that He is powerful and able to bring an hundred thousand Horse into the Field That he is hardy and can live at a low rate That as for Religion so controverted and disputed in Poland with such Commotions he will not stand for that they shall have what they will Thy Luther says he My Luther Thy Pope my Pope as once in his Ambassadors Letters Credentials he wrote And that rather than put them to any charge to find his Table he could live with Horseflesh His Embassy thereupon entertain'd with laughter 3. The House of Austria specially since one Faction chose the Archduke Maximilian but the prevailing the King of Swedes Son by the King of Polands Sister yet Maximilian reserv'd both right and title 4. The King of France ever since Charles the 9 ths time when they chose his Brother the Duke of Anjou afterwards King of France Ever since which the French have alwayes cherished some party against the House of Austria and Emperor specially after that the last King but this viz. Uladislaus fetch'd his Wife out of France marrying the Dutchess of Nevers whom this K. Casimir his Brother also married after his death 5. Of late there also was great endeavours and underhand for the Prince of Conde's Son Duke of Anjou after this Kings death or some other addicted to the French But this distasted the Nobles and would not do But since the Resignation of the Crown the present Strivers for it are the Moscovit's Son who will turn Romanist and makes fair promises for it The Duke of Newburgh or Nevers whom the King of France endeavours to promote and the Emperor
sit in the Temple of God as God and all to submit to the decision of the Bishop of Rome at least presiding in Council 4. The Bishop of Romes Seat was the Seat or metropolis of the Empire thereby gaining great authority power and priviledges and no less fame esteem and repute over all the World c. But we can but hint things here in brief 5. The Empire began soon to be divided into the Eastern and Western Where upon the Eastern Bishops contend for precedency and supremacy upon the removal of the Seat of Empire to Constantinople and the outward flourishing of that Church 6. At last upon the further breakings and weaknings of the Empire he obtains of Phocas killing the Emperor Mauritius in a tumult of the Souldiers the absolute supremacy and Title of Universal Bishop about 606. as aforesaid In these contentions for this spiritual supremacy they pretended for their Title and claim the donation or delegation of Christ thereto the Succession to St. Peter the donation and Constitution of Constantine the first Christian universal Emperor c. Having got the Supremacy of the Church in spirituals the same mystery of Iniquity works for Supremacy also in Temporals over all Emperors Kings and Princes and as it were universal Monarchy For from universal Bishop clearly follows universal Excommunication even of Emperors Rings and Monarchs afterwards practised From Excommunicating deposing From deposing disposing of Ringdoms From disposing to whom should he be more kind then himself Usurping and possessing So naturally one Wedge drives in and makes way for another And having got in his head casily wriggles in his whole Body c. Besides the Church was to be preferred above the State and the Head of the Church above the Head of the State And so the Spiritual Supremacy prepares and makes way for the Temporal For there is no end of Pride and Ambition so long as any equall or superior unless he be above all that is called God like Lucifer who would be above God himself and all Government or subjection But we must not insist As to this Temporal Power Particulars of fact in brief lye thus as well as we can observe things as they fell out Only first take notice the foundation of his spirituall Supremacy a little more particular in the order of time 1 By the Council of Nice in Constantines time the four Patriarchs of Rome of Jerusalem of Alexandria and of Antioch were all equal 2 about the year 410. the Bishop of Rome would pretend to be the first Patriarch and to that end falsifies the Canon and sends it to the Council of Carthage where it was rejected as false 3 The Imperial Seat being translated to Constantinople the Bishop thereof was made a fifth Patriarch in order and not long after the second the rest oppossing c. in vain 4 The Lombards overcoming Italy and the Pope not well pleased with the Emperor c. The Bishop of Constantinople endeavours the Title of Universal Bishope and obtains it of Mauritius the Emperor the Bishop of Rome to the utmost opposing and exclaiming against it as intolerable Pride and the signe of antichrist And whether out of a good mind or because he could not be uppermost himself laments the corruptions of the Church and Clergy For of the Priests he complains the World is full of them and yet but few Labours in the Lords Harvest We take upon us the office but discharge it who list And I think no dishonour to God can be shewed so great as that which it tolerated in Priests For they are come now to that pass that they jear at him that lives humble and continently and takes better courses then themselves which Mantuan versifies on to this purpose Poor Curats only keep Pope Gregory's Laws And fish in Rills and Rivers surface sweep But fatter Jacks and Carps escape their paws Mudding themselves in Coverts of the deep 'T is Prelats sink St. Peters larger Net And ' lone i' th deep all sort of Fish do get The said Gregory cryed out O times O manners The world is all on fire with Wars Christians are destroyed by Idolaters Cities and Temples by Barbarians and yet Priests as it were insulting over Calamities usurp the names of vanity and make ostentation of profane Titles to themselves thereby taxing this arrogance of the Constantinopolitan Patriarch 5 Phocas killing Mauritius and invading the Empire to oblige the Bishop of Rome to keep Italy the better in quiet and obedience grants the dignitiy of Universal Bishop to Boniface requesting it and decrees the Sea or Seat of Rome to be the Head of all Churches Which decrees Boniface publishes in a Synod of 62 Bishops and obtains it not without opposition and contention c. After these things the Eastren or Greek Church broke off from the Latine or Roman Italy by several Masters began to be quite pluck'd from the Empire and Rome to come into the Popes power and several Schisms and Heresies in the Church and contentions and quarrels between Popes and Emperors thereupon c. The Pope alienates the Romans or people of Italy and Rome from the Emperor brings them to oppose him amidst the troubles of Italy And condemns Emperors of the East of Heresie and at last excommunicates them And out of the ruines of Italy works his own greatness and by his means and through his occasion a new Empire is set up in the West by the Franks under Charles the Great and great Temporal Power and Dominion and Estates accrew'd to the Church and the Pope at length claims superiority above the Emperors themselves c. As the following particulars will manifest After the Supremacy of the Pope thus established the Greeke Church in the East seperates from the Roman not only for Primacy but other high points of Religion as was now said About the year 710. arose the controversie about Images And about 726. the Pope excommunicates the Emperor for his Edct against Images who laughs at it and excommunicates him again for an Idolater and forbids Revenues and Taxes to be paid in Italy Upon these differences Italy is torn from the Empire by divers Usurpers and Rome by the Pope c. An. 712. Lands and Teritories are first conferr'd on the Church by some new Conquerors And soon after more And at last most he now possesses by Pepin and Charles the Great For about this time Charles Martel Maire of the Kings Palace recovers France from the Infidel Moors and Saracens which drew the heart of the French towards him creating him Duke or Prince of France and might have had the Kingdom too if he had been so aspiring Pepin his Son under colour of Election is made King The lawful King having his Pole shaven and feign to retire into a Monastery the Pope approving these proceedings and investing and confirming Pepin in the Kingdom But the Pope being distressed in Italy calls in Pepin therefore whom he had so obliged to defend him
and the Church in this Stile Peter the Apostle of Jesus Christ to you the most Illustrious King Pepin and to all Bishops Abbots c. I the Apostle Peter whose Adopted Sons you are admonish you that you perfectly come and defend this City c. And doubt you not but trust assuredly that I my self as if I stood before you do thus exhort you c. and that I Peter the Apostle of God will at the last day yeeld you mutual kindness and prepare you Tabernacles in the Heavens Upon this quarel of the Popes Pepin and his Son Charls destroy the Kingdom of the Lombards in Italy and give large Territories to the Church And these things made way and gave occasion and opportunity for Charles upon his great conquests to set up the German Empire of the West Franks The Pope in requital confirms Pepin in the Ringdom of France gives his Son Charls afterwards the Title of most christian King and crowns him Emperor of the Romans at Rome An. 800. From which he would pretend to be above Emperors and Kings and to be his right to Crown confirm and depose them if not dispose of their Kingdoms But Charls at length reassumes the ancient and original Imperial Dignity and Power to Govern the Church call Councils and order Papal Elections and confirm and invest them c. against all begun usurpations and incroachments of the Pope and aws Italy And keeps the Pope still Subject which Authority of the Empire was prety well upheld during the Caroline Race The Pope in the mean while under pretext of the Christian Religion and converting Infidels and the Nations increases in Wealth Power and Authority over the World Thundering out these Decrees of Holy Church Out of the Church no Salvation The Pope's the Successor of St. Peter the visible Head of the Church the Vicar of Christ on Earth His right as aforesaid to create confirm excommunicate and depose Kings and dispose Kingdoms for the cause of Religion c. That they are Hereticks that dissent from the Roman Church the only true Catholick Church or are Enemies to it c. Hereby the Consciences of the Nations Princes and People converted to an outward christianity are aw'd and fill'd with Reverence and Zeal for the Church to convert or root out Infidel Nations c. and to do any Benefices or Services for the Church As the most acceptable Service to Christ whom they began to acknowledge and Worship as their God and Saviour Hence almost all the Nations subject themselves to the Pope as Head of the Church yea and in Temporals also in a great measure nay some to hold their Kingdoms of him c. As if they could not any better way recompence Christs Vicar for the benefit of their Eternal Salvation then to submit themselvs all theirs to his dispose And this Opinion was brought about to prevail in the World that they might redeem their sins by good deeds and charitable works and services for the Church against it's enemies c. Hence Riches and Revenues of the Clergy and Hosts and swarms of clergy men Hence Churches Temples Abbies Monastries without number c. for the Redemtion of Souls Hence Expeditions Holy Wars Leagues and undertakings for the Church Hence Pardons Indulgences and devices for mony c. 'T would be endless to mention particulars c. The Pope having thus erected his Throne in the Consciences of men strongly seated there through Ignorance and blind Zeal and Devotion begins to play Rex in the World Besides there being perpetual emulation of Princes specially in Germany and Italy for Empire and Dominion c. The Pope interests himself in one part and the other for fear of excommunication or force becomes subject to him The Pope therefore now practises all wayes he can against the superiority of the Emperor and from being any wayes subject to his Authority or control and to undermine all Supremacy in Temporals presuming that all power is given to him both in Heaven and Earth in the Church and State c. 'Till in the end they come not only to let the Emperors have nothing to do in their Election Confirmation and Investiture but also to have all in a manner themselves to do in the Creation and Coronation of the Emperors Not long after the Caroline power and race declining and that partly through the Popes practises Italy is usurp'd by several Tyrants against the Emperor and almost wholly broken from it wherein the Popes have a finger and make their own advantage upon these distractions of the Empire For An. 884. Adrian the 3 d. denyes the Emperors Authority necessary to the creating Popes and about the year 900. the Empire is wholly and perfectly translated from the French or Caroline race to the Germans by Pope Agapetus's plotting And about the year 1000. as some write Gregory the fifth appoints Electors for choosing the Emperors whereby they afterwards became weakned and the Empire broken into factions and parties and the Pope thereby to have the better opportunity to work his own ends and to raise his greatness out of others ruines striving now to be uppermost not only in Church but State too and to be above even the Emperors themselves For after this time open and down right Tyranny over the Emperors begins to manifest it self First Pope John takes away all choise of Popes from the people to the Clergy only upon this plausible ground That the People are to be taught not followed Next Clement the 2 d. about 1047. set up by the Emperor against other Anti-Popes by the Authority of a Synod caused the Romans to renounce by oath the right they claimed in choosing Popes Then about 1050. Leo the 9 th invested by the Emperor is perswaded by Hildebrand to put off his pontificalibus or papal Robes in his journey from Germany to Rome to wave the Emperor and have a new election from the Roman Clergy and then made Hildebrand Cardinal who manag'd all at his pleasure After this Nicholas the 2 d. about 1060. takes away the election from the Roman Clergy bringing it about to a Colledge of Cardinals also then instituted that is of Spiritual Temporal or Lincy-woollcy Princes like himself the Supreme Emperor as it were for the greater grandure and more magnificent authority of his Almighty Holiness who was now almost got to the top of Empire Supremacy and Omnipotency For it was decreed in Council the Pope only to be chose by Cardinals whose Wounderful Worships or Eminencies might lift him up one step higher even as it were into Heaven to be God on Earth For so some thought fitting afterwards to stile forsooth his divine Majesty c. And then they order that no lay Person should confer Ecclesiaslick Investiture For what should the Church concern them But yet they themselves would invest and Crown Lay Princes For though the State had nothing to do with the Church yet the Church had to do
upon all Kingdoms and Nations and the whole World too at least occasionally or even but to see their own interests and concerns to hate the Whore and burn her with fire Daemonis Ira premens odijs ac fraudibus orbem Implet nec damnis hominum exsaturata quiescit The Devil fill'd with Rage the World doth fill With Wars and Cheats to rule it at his will And for more mischief is more greedy still The Devil Of Evil Will never have his fill This is the Kingdom of the Beast and the Synagogue of Satan or a General draught of the hellish Hierarchy of Rome or Popedom of King and Priest Lucifer on Earth The pretended grouuds and foundations of their Popedom Spiritual have been already hinted before Those for their Temporal are much of the same nature viz. That the Pope is Christ s that is God's Vicar or Vice-Gerent and so not only Vice-Roy as it were but Vice-God on Earth which title they dare own That He 's Visible Head of the Church and so of the State too in order to the Church For that the Church is above the State The Head of the Church above the Head of the State The State for the Church not the Church for the State and therefore dominion to be founded in Grace c. And so no Enemies of the Church Infidels or Hereticks to be capable thereof but to be destroyed and rooted out c. which are all they shall judge so Likewise many Rights Priviledges and Favours granted by Constantine the Great Charls the Great and other Emperors and Kings As also usurped and long permitted or connived at Customs Examples Presidents c. But in one word an outward Carnal Religion in the Letter without the Spirit The form of Godliness without the Power Christians both Pastors Preachers and People first not having the Spirit nor the wisedom from above namely the wisedom of God and the Power of God but the wisedom of man or that which is worse the wisedom from beneath earthly sensual and devillish Hence Ceremonies without substance external and carnal Ordinances Commandements and Inventions of men in the Worship and Service of God Love of the World and things of the World Pride Ambition Covetousness and Voluptuousness and Preaching and professing Religion for such ends and taking all up from tradition authority and forefathers c. Whence contentions and divisions about needless Opinions and Ceremonies for Dignity Superiority and Supremacy for Riches and Honours c. â—nd then a pompous gaudy and merry Religion to please the people and gratifie the outward man to maintain and uphold the greatness power pomp and pleasures of the Clergy through the secret and mysterious working of Iniquity in men of corrupt minds and erring concerning the Faith and the Truth which was after godliness c. with some frightful devices to scare and awe their guilty fearful and slavish Consciences and other petty ones again to pacifie and allay them mistaking the whole Mystery of Godliness and inverting it into a Mystery of Iniquity one degree of Error and Corruption bringing in another I say all this is the foundation and Superstructure of this Kingdom of darkness and of Hell For the natural man perceiveth not the things of God and of the Kingdom of God As for the Popes Temporal Principality and Soveraigne Estate in Rome and Italy and Avignon called the Estate or Land of the Church and St. Peters Patrimony The foundation thereof as a peculiar and distinct Soveraignty apart besides the forementioned grounds of the donation of Christ to St. Peter and his Successors as his Sea c. it depends over and above on the forged and counterfeit donation of Constantine on the real donation of Pepin and Charls the Great c. on the Countess Mathilda's last Will and Testament All which gave liberally to St. Peter and lastly on Usurpation Arms and Violence And notwithstanding it 's convenient situation for the command of all Italy and the perpetual fractions there formerly yet they could never so wisely manage their Pope-craft as yet to possess themselves like the ancient Romans of the whole which remains divided among many Princes and Soveraign Estates As the Estate of ancient Lombardy under which is contained the Dukedom of Milan subject to Spain the Dukedom of Mantua Modena Montferrat and the Principality of Piemont which belongs to Savoy The great Dukedom of Tuscany or Florence The Lands or Estate of the Church or the Popes Patrimony The Kingdom of Naples with Sicily Sardinia under Spain And lastly The Commonwealth of Venice Genoa and Lucca An. 1595. The Pope chalenged the Dukedom of Ferrara for want of lawful Issue in the right of the Church and partly by force partly by composition united it for ever to the Sea of Rome An. 1626. The great Dukedom of Urbin foremerly made fudatory to the Church and held thereof in homage for want of Heirs of right fell to the Pope c. About 1647. The Pope seized on the Dukedom of Castro from the Duke of Parma upon the account of feudatory Quit-rent due to the Popes whence arose War But the Controtroversie was composed by the authority of the King of France in their late treaty 1664. when agreed that Castro should be restored to Parma and the Duke to pay the mony due c. And then agreed likewise that the K. of France should restore Avignon to the Pope w ch he had seiz'd on not long before upon the quarrel about his Embassador at Rome w ch was acordingly done And thus we have in general represented the foundations and Revolutions of the Papal Hierarchy or Kingdom of the Pope both Temporal and Spiritual its rise growth increase height and decrease not being able well to comprehend so long and mysterious an History and so confused with all others in less room and willing only to touch upon chief particulars of their usurpations incroachings and domineerings down to our times that so you might have a Map or Table and plain veiw as it were at once of this Ecclesiastical and Priestly Kingdom All which 't was necessary to fetch so high the better to understand the coherence of the story and present State thereof with the Affairs and Revolutions both of the Governments and Religions of all Christendom which it has so wretchedly involved it self with The sum of all in short is this The Popedom was a digging working and preparing as it were underground about 400. years most eminently from Victor about the year 192. and others especially afterwards from under Constantine the Great about the year 300. to Boniface the 3 d. About the year 600. As Covetous Proud Corrupt Opinionated and in one word Apostate Luciferian Bishops Pastors and Priests that had fell from their first standing and foundation of the Apostles that is the primitive purity and simplicity of the Gospel to devised Fables Ceremonies Inventions Constitutions and Prudentials c. The Popedom Spiritual or Universal
false prophets and fainers of dreams may be put to death and iniquity be taken away from the midst of the people Deut. 13. And because the Eclesiasticks are ordinarily inclined to slay the Prophets behold we solemnly appeal from all Universities and Consistories to your tribunal O Kings and secular Powers Like Jeremiah from the Priests to the Princes and to the King himself and Paul the Apostle from the Council of the Priests to the Political Judges Felix Festus Agrippa and lastly to Caesar himself We beseech you undertake 1st the Patronage of this Book Permitting none to rage against it till plenary examination and delusion of the cause For what have these papers offended in receiving these Lamentations Mournings and Woes especially denouncing no sad things to the people of God But to Sodom Egypt Babylon the World Hell and the Devils afflicting the people of God Nor perswade any Nation or any Man any Rebellion against their Kings but all Loyalty that all things may return from all manner of confusions into all manner of order and peace Lastly because This Book is one of them by which God Convocates the Kings of the Earth from the four Corners of the World to reverence him it is your part therefore O Kings not to hinder but promote this Trumpet of God if you would be Ministers of his Kingdom Next The publishers themselves of this Book commend themselves to your Patronage O Gods Protectors of the Earth That you permit no unjust violence against them As the Princes and the King himself did not against Jeremiah and Baruch nor the Tribune of the Band and Felix Governor of Judea against Paul For it would be most unjust by force to act any thing against him who appealing to Justice sets himself before the Judgement As the Jewish Priests with their flatterers did against the Lord himself and against Paul c. 3. We commend to you O Powers of the Earth the very cause it self pleaded in these Books to be throughly examined for in the name of one more powerful these Oracles do come fulminating your People your Priests and your Selves with your Princes and citing all the inhabitants of the Modern World to a certain supreme invisible yet terrible Tribunal For if the words which these Books denounce be truly the words of God it is more Glorious then any thing yet in the Church since the Apostles time If Satanical Impostures they are more terrible and fearful ones then ever any have yet been If figments of humane craft nothing like hath ever yet come forth in any Nation by any humane wit But whether this or that or the other It is a matter most worthy of the care of Kings that at length what it is may appear whereunto serious Judgement is needful not neglect not contempt not fury Hasten O Kings to know and examine what matter of things these are before all the Plagues here denounced be powred forth upon your Kingdoms Deliver these things to wise men and fearing God and of publick spirits seriously to be weighed If you hear humane counsels why not also these which many wayes may appear to come by men indeed yet not from men If any one say Dare you broach and vend these things for Prophesies undoutedly Divine I will answer with Philip to Nathaniel Come and see For the offices and marks of true Prophets are here to declare to the people of God fallen into abominations their sins To denounce wrath and punishment to the impenitent and again Mercy and Grace to the penitent this and not another thing for the main scope and end you shall see is done here Only be sure to see that you make your selves certain which you may from the adjoyned history 1st That there have been really and indeed persons in this our Age who have written these things greater then any human wit 2ly And that they were simple Idiots not able to fain such things Act. 4. 13. 3ly And Godly fearing God not willing to deceive 4ly Incompassed with a cloud of Witnesses that there could be no place for Impostures 5ly Lastly that many Godly and solid Divines not in one Nation only do give testimony that greater wisedom shines forth in these things then that they can be attributed to men and that the whole work is more sanctions and holy then that it can be attributed to Satan Yet lest we may seem to obtrude any private Authority on the Publick we earnestly intreat a publick and solemn examination of these things under your Auspicions beginnings O Kings And that as soon as may be while witnesses are alive who can give it on their Faith that they have seen the fingers writing viz. Things flowing forth or droping from the pen of the Seers not what they themselves would but what by themselves for the most part not understood some certain invisible dictatour instilled into them which also their own hand writing viz. The originals themselves kept in a certain place further testifie The last thing we desire of you O most serene Princes is that if these be Counsels divine you would seriously purpose and resolve to obey and execute the divine Will saying All that the Lord hath said we will do Why may not these things be thus recommended c. seeing no man brings them forth of his own daring but they are offered in the name of God who is the God of all and takes care of all It is the Law of Arms and custom of the Nations that Trumpeters pass freely amongst the most deadly enemies even ready to give Battel bringing the command of their Principals Why may not he therefore be safe between the safeguards of your Majesty O Christian Kings who is your Interpreter from the King of Kings But they who would perswade you that this Book is hurtful stirring up to War and Arms betray their folly malice and impiety Because it does not make but after the manner of all the Prophets forewarn denounce and threaten Wars and Desolations without Repentence and Amendment And because none has ever drawn his Sword for the sake of this Book when yet all people draw their Swords one against another who is so blind yet and besotted as not to see his Arm stretched forth out of whose mouth are denounced these things beforehand Was Rome unwise in permitting it to be cry'd through all the City Hannibal s before the Gates Cease Mortals to be mad and quite out of your wits The voice of God and Angels forewarning you from destruction sound even in these Books The World is full of the Judgements of God The present commotion of the World and so many unlooked for Mutations do not signifie nothing Lest therefore the Christian people be still so grosly ignorant as they are of the terrible Judgements of God now in the world viz. of their Causes Manner End and Issue do ye who preside over the people in the place of God command that among other helps ministred from
refined as Gold and Silver and the Church offer again pure Sacrifice to God as in former dayes and the years of old After these a solemn Mission or sending this work by command from God to the most eminent Heads of the Christian World in particular First To Leopold Emperour of the Romans which begins thus Most Invincible and Victorious Emperour This Book which is sent unto thy Majesty is written by the command of God and published by the command of God and sent to the heads of the World by the command of God That all may understand what is the last will of God in the last Age c. These things could not be concealed from your Majesty of all others because among the chiefest heads of the World God hath set you in the chiefest place and also because these Thunderbolts strike against you amongst the first and against your most Serene House Yet Grace is here offer'd to you See therefore what you do most August Caesar and that you may see either read these things your self or if too long for Imperial affairs deliver them to be read to your Counsellors Civil and Ecclesiastick till the matter appear Let it pity you for your self and for your House O caesar that you may break off your sins and the sins of your House by Righteousness As yet they whom your Father and Grandfather have afflicted and persecuted pray for you and your house crying Father forgive them they know not what they do The King of France is commanded here to remedy the confusions of Christendom yet if you O first of Kings will cooperate to reduce all the deadly factions of Christian people into Unity of Love and Faith you will do an acceptable service to God and all Christianity Next To Alexander VII the Roman Pope or who ever next succeeds him Highest Priest of the Roman-Catholick Church Among other Prerogatives of the High Priest of the old Law were 1. To consult God in doubtful matters 2. To be supreme Judges in all Church-matters with other chief Priests adjoyned for ease of so great a burden 3. To restrain false Prophets If therefore you with your Colledge of Cardinals by divne right obtain the highest place in the Church the same prerogatives by divine right are due also to you God was forced at length to send them Prophets extraordinary to warn Princes Priests and People of their duty They accounted them for false Prophets Mock'd and Kill'd them Oh Jerusalem Jerusalem Thou who killest the Prophets c. God in this present Book makes complaints in the Ears of Angels and men against your prophanesses And threatens his utmost Judgments They are offered here to be read to the World by command from God Do not I beseech you suspect these to be devised fictions of Man against you or published out of a corrupt affection and desire to rejoyce at your destruction They seek to deceive you who seek to instill such suspicions We the publishers of these things in the presence of the omniscient God protest with Mordecai that we for the Salvation of the Church are ready to kiss even the soals of your feet O Roman Pope Let it pity you for your selves that you may hasten to prevent the wrath of the Omnipotent Let it pity you for your Church lest leaving it in Babylonish abominations you deliver it up to be scattered at length by the Thunderbolts of God Let it pity you for so many Christian People by your obstinacy slid into so many Schisms and Heresies that they may be reduced to the Unity of the Faith Let it pity you for so many people out of the Pale of the Church to whom a door of entrance is shut through the confusions of Christians O Pope awaken O Pope rouze up out of the sleep of drunkenness and surfitting wherewith your Flatterers have made you drunk and intoxicated you calling you Christs Vicar and Infallible c. If there be none on Earth that dare speak true things unto you behold monatory Voices from Heaven Read this Book and take care to have it read by yours Your Predecessours did not despise the gift of Prophesie in the Church as some now do but proved all things to hold fast that which was good Therefore the Revelations of Hildegard Bridget Catharine c. were judged to be without fraud and admitted as worthy to be Canonical Let the same thing be done to these new ones Let them be submitted to a lawful examination that it may appear what is needfal to be done And it will appear that these last Revelations are as truly divine And that Gods will is that the Kings resume their Scepters and Rule and not the successors of the Apostles To spiritual men only spiritual things should belong For that all confusion hath increased in the World by submitting the secular power to the spiritual And that all things may be reduced into a beautiful order that it is the will of God that a Councel be called by the Authority of Kings That is that the Christian People of all parties be congregated and there all controversies be heard censured weighed decided and terminated so that by comman Jubilees of Heaven and Earth may be sung Glory to God on High on Earth Peace good will towards all men O Modern Roman Popes oppose not your selves as your predecessors have hitherto done never daring to submit their cause to a General Council Do you dare why should you not If your power over the whole Church and all Bishops and over all Kings too be of God O Roman Pope why do you rage so against all your Modern Monitors whether Doctors or Teachers and Professors of the Truth or whether Bishops Pastors or whole intire Churches or whether Kings Princes and Commonwealths or whether New Prophets c. Nor are the Modern the only or the first This thousand years there have been the same complaints and lamentations not only privately but by publick cryes both by voice and writings And God hath all along admonished you by extraordinary Prophets of your own and from among your selves Some ye have killed some ye have persecuted the rest you would not hear or understand or regard As Johannes de Rupescissâ and others whom you imprisoned Mancinellus whose hands and tongue you cut off Hus Savanarola and others whom you burnt Although even some also you had canoniz'd and their Prophecies and externally honour'd for Saints who will witness against you O Alexander the seventh to you I appeal by name and most humbly pray you to admit these words or speeches As God lives and your soul lives I seek nothing in this Book or this new Edition thereof but that the Christian People with all their Prelates may prevent the last Wrath of God They are serious things and concern the Christian Peoples safety or destruction By the tremendous Name of God I pray do not set them at nought Peter could erre why not Peter's successor Peter could be