Prophets of Kings c. * cap. 19.20 And for these such like causes he is called The false prophet that prophesieth lies c. But he is like vnto the first monstrous beast in this that he doth k cap. 13.12 exercise the power of the first beast before him taking vpon him as an Emperor in the time presence of the Emperour labouring to be as absolute ouer the Clergie as the Emperour is ouer the temporaltie exempting his Clergie from ciuill iurisdiction * 2. Thess 5.2 Yea exalting himselfe aboue all Yea he proposeth to himselfe to be Monarch of all and therefore what euer be his pretext hee in his priuate drift causeth the l cap. 13.12 earth and them that dwell therein to worshippe the first beast whose deadly wound was healed that is to worshippe an Ecclesiasticall Monarch which he laboureth to establish in the roome of the former ciuill Monarchie which was ouerthrowen in the West by the former incursions of strangers and onely healed by the Popes The a cap. 13.13.14 meanes which he vseth to further these ambitions are great wonders and deceiptfull in the fight of men and of the beast that is seeming miracles to the Prince and people howeuer there may be a better and truer construction made of them to be deceipts These his miracles therefore are b cap. 18.23 called inchauntments wherewith all nations are deceiued c 2. Thes 2.9.10 And this is that of which S. Paul speaketh when he saith of the aduersarie of Christ Whose comming is by the effectuall working of Sathan with all power and signes of lying wonders and in all d Aug. Ciu. Dei 20. 19. deceiuablenes of vnrighteousnes Which are wonders either so seeming when they be but impostures or else if true they be the workes of the diuell to gaine credit to the great enemie of the Gospel Particularly for instance it is said that he e cap. 13.13 caused fire to come downe from heauen on the earth in the sight of men that is he seemeth to men to cause God f Isa 9.5 37 36. to send downe vengeance from heauen vpon men that doe not respect him applying all the calamities that befall them that loue him not to be iudgements of God to reuenge the contempt offered to this beast The Popes were famous far g Chro. Chr. miracles when they had once gotten purple The opposition of the Saints is something though very small contenting themselues that h cap. 14.3 they were bought from the earth hauing nothing to doe with the ambition of this beast that onely minded how to possesse the earth wincking at much corruption when they saw it About i Fasc Tem. f. 47 b. Frising Chro. 4. cap. 3. the possessions of the Church which the Prelates at this time began to haue there was often a great contention among the Doctors Some said it was iust and profitable that the Church should abound in temporalties and haue earthly honours others thought not But the Bishops of Rome accepted of these honours And they of that Church doe thinke that k Geneb p. 552 553. it much concerned God in some place to haue a visible Ecclesiasticall Monarchie which by diuine authoritie by causing fire to come downe from heauen vpon men might restraine terrifie smite with lightning and bring into obedience tyrants hereticks schismaticks c. Wherefore the Bishops of Rome which was the chiefe citie in the world endeauoured to attaine vnto that dignitie and to inrich the Church by all meanes possible These things will appeare more particularly in the stories of the Popes wherof doe follow some briefe collections The complement Siluester I. * Ann 315. admirable for l Fasc Temp. f 47 a. miracles or great wonders For he is reported to a Pet. de Nat. haue clensed Constantine of a leprosie But b Volat. 23. f. 270. the booke of that miracle is Apocrypha manifestly dissenting from the Doctors and altogether to be reiected as a c 2. Thes 2.9 cap. 13.14 lying signe He is said to haue reuiued a dead d Pet de Nat. Ball to binde a Dragon that killed men with his breath a false miracle e Gesn l. 5. For Dragons doe not hurt with their breath hereby he laboured to gaine reputation to his profession He forbad f Caranz f. 4â— 37. a. Subdeacons to marrie heare the voice of the Dragon Hee deuised the Chrisme with which the Bishops should signe them that were baptized to confirme them against the perswasion of Heretickes The manner is this g Poly. inuent 5. 3. the Bishop maketh the signe of the crosse in the forehead of the partie to be confirmed and saith I signe thee with the character or token of the crosse and confirme thee with the chrisme of saluation i Berg. 9. He commanded that no laie man should presume to cal a Clergie man into a ciuill court nor that any Clergie man should sue before a secular Iudge and decreed that k Caranz f. 46. a. neither Emperour nor Kings nor all the Clergie may iudge the Pope exercising the power of the first beast euen before him c. Marcus appointed l Berg. 9. that no Clergie man might by any meanes be drawne vnto secular businesse Ann. 334. Hee built two Churches in Rome Constantine enriched him with many gifts The beast doth rise out of the earth Iulius reprehended the m Anno 341. Chr. Chro. Arians especially that they called a Councel at Antiochia without the authoritie of the Pope of Rome when as without his authority he said it neither ought nor could be He decreed that whosoeuer suspected his iudge might appeale to the seat of Rome the Pope Liberius was o Poâ—â—â—r banished for standing against the Arians Ann. 35â— in the meane while by his Counsell the Clergie of Rome ordained Felix Pope This Felix proceeded seuerely against the Arians Wherefore Constantius the Emperor reconciled Liberius for he seemed more easie to the Arians Liberius then being ouercome with the griefe of exile and glad that he was Pope againe assented and fell into heresie and subscribed p Massaus 11. thereto But Felix and the q Fasc Temp. s 48. b. Catholikes hauing admonished him and finding him to bee contumacious cast him out of the Church as an heretike wherefore Liberius cast Felix out of the Papacie held the Churches violently and by strength so that there was a great persecution of the faithfull and the Clergie and priests that fauored Felix were slaine in the Churches and Liberius forbad it not a Vol. 22. And Felix himselfe was slaine as defending the truth This Felix was b Geneb p. 574. also reported guiltie of heresie But such is the force of the Apostolicall chaire saith Genebrard that it would rather make a martyr than heare an heretike Here wanteth some helpe to reconcile these popish Chronologers
Greeke is p 2. Thess 2. named Apollyon namely that Angel or false Prophets whom the Hebrewes and Greekes doe call the sonne of perdition that is Antichrist The ende of the fourth period and of the second battell on earth and of a cap. 9.12 the first Woe to the inhabitants thereof CHAP V. Of the corruption and delusion which Sathan wrought in others in the time of these two last battels IN the two last Chapters hath beene shewed howe the Dragon by his b cap. 7.1 Angels did staie the windes that they blew c Sozo 1. 2. 7. not on the third part of the d Theod. 2. 22 Christian or Romane word e Theod. 5. 6. For onely the East was pestered with the pestilence of the Arians Now are we to proceed to shew what became of the f cap. 9.20 remnant that is the other two thirds of the Empire For euen amongst them also was the g cap. 7.3 earth hurt after the seruants of God were sealed That which is here to be considered is the h cap. 13.11 storie of another beast or kingdome or principalitie which is said to arise out of the earth into which i cap 12.9 the Dragon was cast and where he deceiueth k cap. 20.3 the world In the storie hereof is set down the rising of the beast the opposition of the Saints and the successe This beast though in many things it bee like the other beast yet in some doth it differ from that which presented the Romane Empire corrupted with heresie First whereas that beast arose l cap. 13.1.11 out of the water to wit from amongst many nations this other ariseth out of the earth Now they are said to bee of the earth which are so m earthie as earthly is opposed to heauenly So that this beast ariseth out of earthly aduancements c. For the West by the protection of Constantine was freed from the persecution of Licinius and also honoured by him For first hee n Ruff. 1. 2. refused to cenâ—ure them esteeming them as gods And o Geneb p. â—5 after enriched the Church with siluer and gold departed to Constantinople and as some say gaue the citie of Rome c. and princely ornaments to Pope Siluester and his successors Which amongst other testimonies Genebrard doeth prooue by two Rabbines The p Jdem p. 555. first Abraham Leuita thus He vz. Constantine weÌ„t out of Rome gaue it to the Iduâ—â—ean Priests meaning the Popes The other is Aben Ezra who testifieth thus Hee vz. Constantine beautified Rome which was the place of his seate and left it to that iniquitie which now is called Peter It seemeth somewhat was done this way but nothing so much as is pretended For besides that Valla a a Valla contra den Const man of singular knowledge writeth against that treatise which beareth the name of The Donation of Constantine Volateran the b Volat. 23. f. 270. keeper of the Vatican librarie and so best acquainted with the antiquities of the citie of Rome doth denie any such donation to be made by Constantine shewing that it is to be found in no old author but only in the Decrees that not in their ancient copies Crantzius c Crantz Met. l. 11. c. 24. p 772 saith the Pope was great not by the forged donation of Constantine which neuer was made but by the bountie of other Princes But such as it was the humanitie of d Eus vit Con. 4. 5â— Constantine was abused by the vnsatiable couetousnes and vnspeakable dissimulation of such as pretended themselues to bee Christians e Polychr 4.26 f. 171. From that time forward because of the great riches that the Church of Rome had it was made the more secular and had more secular businesse than spirituall deuotion and more pompe and boast outward than holines within as it is supposed It is written that when Constantine had made this gift to the Church the olde enemie cried openly in the aire This day is venome powred into the holy Church Therefore Ierome in vitis Patrum saith since the holie Church increased in possessions it is decreased in vertues And so the beast riseth out of the earth He is also said to rise out of the earth for his vnsensible manner of growing For the things which grow out of the earth are well discerned to haue growen but the manner how no man seeth And this is it that the scripture calleth priuily f 2. Pet. 2.1 bringing of damnable heresies contrarie to the declaring of the Gospel which is seene vpon an instant not onely like a swift horseman but like g Math. 24.27 lightning c. Secondly hee differeth from the other monster by his hornes which are not ten but h cap. 13.1.11 cap. 5.6 two and those like the Lamb which had eies arrogating to himselfe to be like vnto Christ representing i N.D. Warne-word En. 1. c. 2. 11. 6. 7. 8. his power and wisdome vpon earth as his Vicar or Viceroy So that in matters of iurisdiction and spiritual authoritie for gouernment of his Church vpon earth hee presumeth that Christ hath left so great power vnto his substitutes Peters successor the Pope of Rome as he may doe thereby and in his name and vertue in a certaine sort whatsoeuer his master and Lord might doe in his Church if hee were now conuersant amongst vs vpon earth Thirdly hee differeth in voice a cap. 13.11 For he speaketh like the Dragon whereas the other did roare but as a Beare or Pantheresse or Lyon He is said to speake like the Dragon for his terror For it is reported that about the b Gesu lib. 5. tower of Babel there dwell great Dragons whose voice and yelling doeth terrifie men And when Alexander went into India a Dragon with his terrible noise and hissing did terrifie his whole armie By this is meant that the Church of Rome or the Pope should from henceforth labour to rule by c 2. Tim. 3.2 cursed speaking and execrations as also by as bloodie and cruell lawes and interdictions as euer the heathen persecutors did tyrannize with For in Nero the d Aug. de Ciu. Dei 20. 19. facts of Antichrist were seene So that by those courses he should not onely fright other men but also be terrible to Monarchs and their valiant armies He is also said to speake like the Dragon because by the spirit of error he e 1. Tim. 4.1.3 bringeth in doctrines of diuels forbidding to marrie and commanding to abstaine from meates c. and diuers superstitions telling men that they f Gen. 3.4 shall not die if they transgresse Gods commandements and haue his pardon That for their skinne g Iob. 2.4 men will blaspheme God h Mat. 4.9 Offering to giue preferments to such as will fall downe and worship him beeing a i 1. Kin. 22.22 lying spirit in the mouthes of the
Anno. 369. Damasus got the seate by schisme so that the c Ruff. 2. 10. place of prayer did swim with the blood of the slaine d Danaeus in Aug. de haeres p. 259. ex Ammiano 137 carcasses of men were found in one day He e Fox Marty grew proud by a f Soz 7 4. rescript of Gratian who required that religion to bee held which Peter the Prince of the Apostles deliuered and Damasus obserued at Rome For Damasus wrote to g Caranza f. 85. b. Stephanus and an Archbishop and to the three Councels of Africa that the iudgement of the causes of Bishops and all matters of great-importance may not be determined but by the authoritie of the Apostolike seate Thus did the beast rise out of the earth But in h 1. Conc. Const can 1.2 Caranza his time it was contrarily decreed that no Bishop should confound the authoritie of bishoprickes by intermedling in another diocesse to dispose of Ecclesiasticall causes He also decreed that none should i Dist 17. huic sedi presume to vsurpe the things which were graunted to that seate k cap. 24.9.1 hac est fides It is said that to him Ierom wrote that whosoeuer should blame the faith commended by the Church of Rome should shew himselfe vnskilfull malicious and no catholike but an heretike l Plat. 〈…〉 He abolished the ancient translation of the Bible which was made by the Septuaginâ— and then was in great estimation and brought into the Church the writings of Ierome and many songs as hauing the horne of the eye of wisedome like the Lambe But it was contrarily m Con. Laâ—d can 69. Caranza decreed that no Psalmes or songes made by vulgar persons should be vsed in the Church nor any bookes read in the Church which are not of the Canonicall Scriptures of the old and new testament In this Popes time was decreed that n Con. Valen. what Clergie man confessed any mortal sinne of himselfe should be deposed an instruction for vnchaste priests * 4. Caranza Anno 388. si non castè c. Siricius the first ordained that o Berg. 9. priests should be ordered onely by Bishops In his time it was decreed that euery p 3. Con. Carth. can 49. Ecclesiasticall person that purchased any lands c. should conferre it vpon the Church It seemeth that Bishops affected very high titles For to take downe the pride of such it was decreed that q Ibid. can 26. no Bishop of the first seate should be called Princeps sacerdotum or summus sacerdos but onely the Bishop of the first seate This Pope a Plat. Berg. expelled from Ecclesiasticall offices all Clergie men that maried a widow or second wife and decreed b Cara. f. 90. b. that no Clergie man should haue knowledge of his wife because it is written those which dwell in the c Rom. 8.8 flesh cannot please God Agreeing herein with the heresies of the Maniches and superstition of the Gothes that d Stra. 7. p. 205. 206. would haue their religious persons without wiues But this his decree is contrarie to the Gangrene Councell which accuseth such as e D. 30. si quiâ— nuptiaâ— accuse the marriage bed as a let to the kingdome of heauen Innocentius the first is said to haue excommunicated the f Geneb Emperor Archadius Anno. 406. and by his Epistle to haue depriued Eudoxia the Empresse from her dignitie He as an Heracleonite decreed that g Caran f. 15â— all persons in their deadly and extreame sicknesses should be anoynted with oyle hallowed by Bishops That priests should iudge of the qualitie of the offence and penitence of men and at their discretion dismisse them He instituted the kissing of the Pax that all men might declare their consent to that which was done He after the heresie of the h Ponet Apol. pag. 105. Cataphrygians and Montanus who feigned himselfe to be the holy Ghost ordained that the custome of no Church is to be followed in diuine mysteries or doing of things but onely the Church of Rome It seemeth hee would haue Rome say as sometimes Babylon said I i Isai 47.10 am c. none else vnto whom may be said as to the Cataphrygians came k 1. Cor. 14.36 See epist Ath. 1. in Soc. 2. 29. the word of God from you or came it to you alone In his time Rome was taken by the Gothes At the instance of the African Councell he condemned the heresie of Pelagius Anno 421. Zosimus sent l Chro. Chro. Faustinus a Bishop to the Councell at Carthage to tell them that nothing ought to be done publikely without the Bishop of Rome He absolued m Fox Marty Concilium Aphricanum Apiarius an Aphrican without any examination when he stood excommunicate by an Aphrican Councell And wrote to the Bishops of Aphrica commaunding them to receiue this Apiarius by him so absolued into their communion Pretending that the Bishop of Rome had authoritie to commaund graunted vnto him by the Councell of Nicea Thus farre was the beast risen out of the earth The African Bishops sent into the East for the originall copies of the Niceau Councel by which they found the Pope to be an impostor Whereupon they doe decree that he that is n Caranza Com. Mileuit Can. 18.22 excommunicate may appeale to the Primates and Councels of his owne prouince but he that appealeth beyond the seas shall be receiued into no communion a Concil Aphr. And the African Councell wrote to Caelestine who succeeded Zosimus requiring him to bring into the Church no such foggie types of the world Bonifacius the first got possessed the seate by b Volat. schisme Anno 423. In his time are cited the stories of c Chro. Chro. Euphrosina and Marina women who tooke on them mens apparell and entred into monasteries amongst men which though it were contrarie to the d D. 30. si qua mulier Gangrene Councell yet are they called e Pet. de Nat. Anno 426. Saints Calestinus commaunded all Clergie men to studie the f Volat. Canon law As yet it seemeth it was not commaunded that the Clergie should haue diuers apparell from the people but that it began by some to be brought in For thus writeth Caelestinus of the Clergie They are to g Caranza f. 130. a. be distinguished from the people by doctrine not by apparell by conuersation not by attires by puritie of minde not by clothing c. which I see not how it standeth with that which Genebrarde saith h Geneb p. 530. that Stephanus the first instituted priests garments c. Anno 257. Sixtus the third deposed Polytronius i Gobel at 6. cap. 25. p. 169. Bishop of Ierusalem because he affirmed himselfe to be vniuersall Bishop Anno 434. to depose in these dayes signified to pronounce deposed k
in by the former incursions doe beginne e cap. 17.12 tenne states as Kings or kingdomes vz. f Sabellicus 1. The common wealth at Venice 2. The kingdome of the Hunnes in Hungarie 3. The kingdome of the English men in England 4. The kingdome of the Gothes in Spaine 5. The kingdome of the French in France 6. The kingdome of the Gothes in Italie 7. g Geneb Melanct. c. The Vandals in Boemia 8. The Sueni Almanni in Germani 9. The Exarchi of Rauenna 10. The kingdome of the Lombards in Italie all which were either heathen or Arians These tenne h cap. 17.12 principalities which in S. Iohns time had not receiued the kingdome i Dan. 7.8 did receiue power as kings at an houre with the beast the Pope Amongst whom the Popes came vp another little horne or kingdome at this time k Lactan. l. 7. For LactaÌ„tius and Hierome vpon Daniel doe say that all writers affirme this Valla in Aug. de ciu Dei lib. 20. cap. 19. p. 691. that about the ende of the world shall be tenne kings which shall deuide amongst them the Romane world and among them Antichrist shall be added the eleuenth as witnesseth Valla. CHAP VI. The fift Period Of the recured beast the true Antichrist which presenteth himselfe in the beast which commeth out of the bottomlesse pit of the respect and dependance which he got and of the worship of the Dragon c. THe Empire beyond all hope was l cap. 13.3 wonderfully cured of the wound it receiued by the sword of the barbarous nations that made inundation thereinto as a floud And the Church which before had a cap. 12.1 shined as the Sunne escaped by flight b cap. 12.16 and was holpen by the earth Then was the c cap. 12.17 Dragon wroth with the woman and went and made warre with the remnant of her seede first and after with the holy citie Wee are in the first battell to consider the enemies their seuerall manner of fight the continuance and the successe The d cap. 12.17 enemies are the Dragon and the seed of the womaÌ„ The Dragon beeing now vpon the earth euen vpon the e cap. 12.18 sea sand which is f Ier. 5.22 the bounder and keeper in of the sea namely commanding and disposing of the Princes that gouerne and restraine the g cap. 17.16 people and nations c. doth warre by his deputie The beast which was wounded by the sword and did liue by meanes of Popes who are that beast which had two hornes like the Lambe The recured beast is the politicke gouernour of the publike face of the Christian world This externall face is compared to the courts which is h cap. 11.2 without the Temple whither the Kings the Priests the whole multitude and people of all sortes resorted in the time of the Law This multitude is now left to be gouerned by him which is commonly called Antichrist who was to be reuealed vnto the world presently vpon the taking away of the Empire out of the West which did withhold the Gospel in the times of the Apostles As the Apostle saith He i 2. Thess 2.7.8 which now withholdeth the Gospel shall let the disclosing of Antichrist till heâ— be taken out of the way And then shall the wicked man be reuealed c. k Chrys in 2. Thess 2. Hom. 4 Nic. Orem ex Hierom. q. vlt. ad inquisi Januarii apud Foxum Martyr p. 412. For when as the Romane or West Empire shal bee taken away then shall Antichrist come And not without cause for while the feare of the Empire shall be none shall presently be subiect to Antichrist But when the Empire shal be destroyed he shall inuade the principalities of the Empire beeing void and shall indeauour to take vnto himselfe by force the Empire both of God and man This recured beast which is called Antichrist is described to be A woman sitting on a scarlet coloured beast l cap. 17.3 The woman m Ca. 17.18 Lactant Justit 7.15 is Rome that great citie which in S. Iohns time had dominion ouer the Kings of the earth vpon which n cap. 17.13 also the kingdomes which did afterwards arise did depend Shee is described by her place apparell profession name Her place is said to bee The a cap. 17.3 wildernesse in the spirit that is in matters concerning the spirit a forlorne and desolate place a wildernesse spiritually so called in which all things are b Auenar dict hebr in Midâ—bar Shememah so confounded that a man cannot looke vpon it without sighing for griefe A place of c Isay 13.20 Psal 44.19 Dragons and Ostriges and wilde people c. Howsoeuer vngodly and ignorant men commend her for holinesse and ciuilitie So barbarous in the times following did that citie or policie prooue The place is also called a wildernes for d cap 18.8.21 c. the desolation which the citie is to come vnto in the ende As touching her apparel it is said to be much vnlike the true Church which was cloathed in heauenly apparel This woman was e cap. 17.4 arraied in purple and scarlet the f Poly. Jau 5. 3 colours of the robes by which the Emperours were knowne and with g Dan 5.7 which Princes did vse to honour them whom they would aduaÌ„ce which was ofteÌ„ also put for the h Martial Magistracie the Magistrates The signification is that that citie should by honors giueÌ„ vnto it by Princes rise vnto no lesse than imperiall soueraigntie in the time of Antichrist As also teaching that riches externall glorie princely immunitie authority should be the onely thing that shee principally laboureth for For i Hist an t ex Egn. p. 426. the Bishops of Rome were from this time of an ambition more thaÌ„ immoderate and so are men of corrupt mindes destitute of the truth which thinke k 1. Tim. 6.5 c. that gaine is godlinesse And so much vnlike the true Church that trode the moone vnder foote because shee knoweth that Godlinesse is great gaine c. Shee is further said to be gilded with gold and pretious stones and pearles trimming her selfe as a bride or rather a curtezan for the greatest Prince Her profession is l cap. 17.1.4.5 whordome in the sense of both the tables spirituall for idolatrie and m Psal 106.29 inuentions of men and carnall for adulteries which grewe to bee very common when men and women were seduced to lead a single life wherefore this woman is called n cap. 17.1 The great whore euen spiritually o cap. 11.8 Sodome For the more easie inticing of Kings and Princes of the earth to commit fornication with her shee p cap. 17.4 had a cup of gold in her hand a fit vessel for Princes to drinke in This cup is said to be full of abominations and filthinesse
of her fornications like such harlots as make amatorie potions of their filthinesse causing Princes and people to receiue at her hands most filthy idolatrie euen to worship the Dragon the diuell in idols which are masked vnder the names of Saints and other beastly life contrarie to the q Can. 8.2 Prou. 9.5 Church of Christ which giueth spiced wine and new wine of Pomegranets Shee is also said to haue a cuppe in her hand full of abhominations because shee Å¿ cap. 14.8 cap. 18.3 made all nations to drinke of the wine of the wrath of her fornications contrarie to God who t Psal 75.8 causeth all the wicked of the earth to wring out and drinke the dregges of his cup of wrath So a cap. 18.23 that with her inchantments were deceiued all nations That the things here spoken are vnderstood of b Fulkes sermon at Hampton Court Rome Tertullian Hierome Ambrose Primasius are witnesses yea Genebrard c Geneb Câ—â— p. 593. speaking of the dilaceration and wounding of the Empire and of the sacking and burning of Rome by the Gothes c. which was when Rome was Christian saith so was fulfilled that in 17. Apocalyps v. 16. And the tenne hornes are tenne Kings they shall hate the where c. Confessing Christianed Rome to be the where truely though he missed in the application of the place to that time As concerning her name it is said that it was written in her d cap. 17.5 forehead that is openly that euery man may read it Her first name is A mysterie which word Mysterious is written in the fore part of the Popes Miter or Crowne to signifie that Poperie was like the learning of the e Euseb Gnostocks some great mysterie for spirituall signification as if the Regna mundi kingdomes of the world were set vpon his holy head Her second name is f cap. 47.5 Great Babylon which is a name very properly giuen beeing g Otho Frîsm l. 6. c. 22. Rhemenses in 1. Pet. 4. Babylon Lactâ—â— so like for the beginning and progresse as might bee to Babylon For not onely after Ramulus hither vnder ciuill Princes but also from hence vnder the Popes for magnificence Monarchie amplitude of dominions c. Rome may iustly be compared to Babylon But this Ecclesiastical Monarchie beginning here is compared to Babel in her first building For as at the beginning when Babel was built the Lord confounded the h Gen. 11.7 language of the builders that euery one perceiued not anothers languages so was this policie of Romes greatnesse built vp in the time of Antichrist by people of diuers languages whereof the one vnderstood not the other namely the people vnder the tenne kingdomes which did arise vpon the inundation of these strangers Yea Rome vnderstood not the language of her own religion For they i Sabel En. 8. lib. 5. left off to speake latine at Rome vpon the comming of the Lombards And the Greeke and the Hebrew grew cleane out of knowledge in a small time and k Caesar bel Gal. lib. 6. like the Druides they would not suffer their religion to be knowne to the vulgar people And herein shee is contrarie to the Christian Church which was built vp by the a Act. 2. gift of toÌ„gues whereby the Teachers speake vnto euery one in his own language Againe it is called Babylon by comparison of the crueltie which the Babylonians vsed in captiuing the Christians b Deut. 28.49 speaking to them and c Isa 28.11 teaching them in a strange language as they did the Iewes Therefore it is also called d cap. 11.8 Egypt Thirdly shee is called That mother by excellencie the mother of all other Churches like vnto the Cataphrygians arrogating to herselfe to be the onely conceiuer and bringer forth of the children of the Church This is a name in which the Church of Rome doth glorie in wherefore they that follow the Church do call her e Sab. En. 8.6 in Bonifa 3. c. Decr. tit 3. c. 23. the mother and queene and mistresse The f Volat. l. 22. f. 255. a. Bishop of Rome was wont to write himselfe the Bishop of the Church of Rome much better than now as Volateran thinketh when he writeth himselfe The Bishop of the Catholike Church For if the Romane be the Catholike they then seeme to take the honour from that famous city But whatsoeuer she thinketh of herselfe Saint Iohn saith g cap. 17.5 that she is the mother of the whoredomes and abhominations of the earth Which Saint Paul expresseth by the name of h 2. Thes 2.3 the man of sinne For all the heads of the gouernment of Rome were blasphemous none truely religious howsoeuer now and then very rarely some godly man was in authoritie And in the time of Saint Iohn i See Ruff. Soc. Euseb c. all the abhomination and idolatry which was enforced vpon the Christians came from Rome So also from this time forth Rome standeth cheefely vpon this point that all nations must receiue the ordinances of the Church as shee hath conceiued them Which yet for the most part are whoredomes for superstition idolatrie and abhominable treasons murthers adulteries c. which she hath conceiued of heretikes tyrants and other vngodly persons Insomuch that there is nothing so abhominable in all the earth formerly condemned in auncient heretikes but she is willing to conceiue it and bring it forth if it may any wise helpe to further her greatnes So that Rome is henceforth an Epitome of all abhominable heresies The beast that she sitteth vpon and doth beare her vp in this wonderfull pride is described by his originall name and forme As concerning the place of his originall he is said to a cap. 11.7 cap. 17.8 ascend out of the bottomlesse pit that is to arise to the greatnes of Babylon by the opinion which the world had of him that as he boasted so he had great authoritie in the bottomlesse pit and power like the b Liui. dec 1. lib. 1. pontifex Maximus of Numa his inuenting to pacifie the spirits in the behalfe of those which were dead For whereas Pelagius the Pope had brought into the Masse prayer for the dead out of the corruptions of some former ages especially seeing the world to stand so much affected with the Monkes of c See Gregor Draba l. 2. c. Benedicts institution tha tooke much vpon them as though they were able to profit the dead this kinde of doctrine of the power that priests had to doe the dead much good was brought into the Church and taught very diligently and enforced by the lying signes of the apparition of soules that were departed and diuers pretended reuelations which the dead comming from the bottomlesse pit should shew vnto the liuing c. whereupon the ignorant and foolish world was led captiue to this beast to make it great by the subiection
Ann. 714. ordained to m Fasc Temp. f. 62. â— fast and say Masse the fift day of the weeke in Lent which Pope Melchiades forbad Note that about these times the Popes began to bee great in temporalties as also to translate the Empire from one nation to another For in n Frisâ— 5. 1â— his time Leo the Emperour caused the images of God and the Saints to be burned and many that resisted him herein to bee executed Wherefore a Gobel â— 6. cap. 37. Pope Gregorie perswaded Italie and Rome to depart from his Empire by open b Epit. Blâ—n d. 1. lib. 10. f. 23. b rebellion and deliberated of choosing a new Emperour deposed the c Geneb p. 709 Magistrates of the Exarchie euery citie chose them Dukes so the Exarchie continued vnder tenne Princes or hornes He excommunicated the Emperour and forbade the d Frising 5. 18. Italians to pay any tribute vnto him The Saracens besiege Constantinople but when the citizens cried vnto the Lord they departed oppressed with famine colde and pestilence whereof are reported to die 300,000 the Emperour faring nothing the worse for the Popes excommunication And whereas the Popes left the Emperours and were receiued into the league of France the e Mass 14. p. 199. Geneb Saracens came into France with their wiues and children and families spoiled Burdeux and Poictieurs Many Germanes f Platina came to Rome and are baptized by the Pope Lowe g Geneb p. 708 â—09 713. Germanie Westphalia and Frisia by the preaching of Boniface whom the Pope sent thither and by Martellus meanes receiue the faith of the Church of Rome The king of England gaue out of euery house in all England a pennie to the Pope One Syrus seduced many Iewes saying that he was Christ Ann. 730. Gregorius 3. gathered a h Epit. Blond Councel and decreed that images are to be continued in the Churches Contrarily i Platina Leo the Emperour pulled images downe whose example also Constantine and Leo his successors did follow The Pope by the consent of the Clergie of Rome depriued k Geneb 715. the Emperour of Christian communion The Emperour confiscateth the patrimonie of the Church of Rome in Sicilia In l Platina the troubles of Rome by the Lombards this Pope called in Martellus a French leauing the custome to craue aide of the Emperour For now the m Soc. 2. 29. Popes doe as the Arians were wont namely apply themselues to them that were of greatest power And because the temple n Abb. Vrsp Pp. 19.20 of Iupiter Dodonaeus was wont to be much frequented by the Gentiles for helpe which they there receiued by touching of Pyrrhus great toe there kept in a gilt boxe because miraculously it was vnburned when the rest of his bodie was consumed with fire The Pope would not haue his S. Peters any whit inferior to it For o Bergo 10. he built a chappel in S. Peters Church in which hee laid vp some reliques in a manner of all the Saints and caused Masse to bee said there euery day He also brought the clause of reliques into the Canon of the Masse The Saraceus p Geneb p. 71â— are called into France where they spoile the Churches and waste all places from Burdeux to Poicteurs q Wolph Mass 14. Ann. 741. bringing with them their families Zacharias 1. in r Mass 14 p. 200. his time Constantius the Emperour defaced images and carted the Monkes for whoredome Pipin Å¿ Frisin 5. 21. ambitious of the kingdom of France sent to this Pope to know whether it were more meete that he which sate secure at home or hee that did vndergoe the charge of the kingdome should beare the name of king For Pipius and his t Geneb p. 688. ancestours had vsurped the administration of the kingdome of France perswading the king to retire himselfe to meddle with nothing so that he was but as a cipher The Pope u Gobel at 6. c. 37. f. 186. commandeth the people of France to receiue Pipine their king and first of any Pope began to * Geneb p. 720 absolue the French men from their oath made to Childericus their king and x Gâ—bel annointed Pipine king by his Legate Boniface Thus was y Fasc Temp. Childericus deposed and Pipine aduanced because hee was most for the profit of the Church of Rome For z 15. q. 5. Alius the glosse vpon the Canon where this storie is supposed to bee cited 249. yeares before it was done saith that the Emperor a Dist 40. ca. Si Papa iâ— glosse may be deposed for any thing wherefore he is to be deposed if he be lesse profitable This Boniface a Dist 40. si â—a wrote vnto the Pope asking his aduice in many things For he held and said that if the Pope be neuer so badde neither doing nor speaking any thing that is good so that hee carrie with him innumerable soules to hell to bee tormented with the diuell none may blame him Thus doth he giue the beast power to doe what he list This Boniface complaineth in b Caran f. 30â— 304. 306. his letters of the whoredomes drunkennesse and negligence of Bishops of the heathen customes of the Gentiles continued in Rome of the grosse ignorance of Priests whereof one like the builder of Babel baptizing a childe in latine which he vnderstood not said Baptise te in nomine Patria filia spiritu sancta Hee also complaineth of c Fox Marty p. 129. the whoredomes of Nunnes and he brought in Priests vestures and ornaments Constantinus the d Mass 14 p. 260. Geneb p. 722. Emperour that pulled downe images and persecuted that kinde of worship in the East prouided and e VVolph sent a great Nauy against the Egyptian Saracens Ina king of West f Geneb p. 724. Saxons made his land tributarie to the Pope giuing his power to the beast Ann. 752. Stephanus the second was g Platina carried on mens shoulders being troubled by Aistulph king of Lombards getteth leaue of Aâ—stulph to goe into France Vpon h Fris 5. 22. his comming hee absolueth Pipine from his oath made to i Gobelin aet 6. c. 39. Childericus his Soueraigne and annointeth him king So was k Fris ibid. Gobel ae 6. c. 37 Childericus shauen and thrust into a Monasterie Hence the Bishops of Rome doe draw their authoritie of changing of kingdomes from one to another Wherefore Pipine went twice into Italie quieted the Lombards and restored to the Pope his territories In this expedition Constantine sent his Secretarie c. to Pipine with presents as organs c. desiring him to take in Rauenna to the Emperours vse Pipine answered that hee l Platina came not into Italie for his profit but for his soules health and therefore would onely gratifie the Pope the angel of the bottomlesse pit
quod and decreeth all to be hereticks that are excommunicate or deale d D. 22. omnes against the Church of Rome What e 15. q. 8. sciscitantibus wickednesse soeuer be in the Priests the sacraments of his ministring be good But if the Priest bee f Dist 32. Nullus married none must heare masse of him wherein he not onely blasphemeth them that worship in the Tabernacle of God but also is contrarie to the Gangrenâ— g Caran f. 56. Councell that condemneth Eustathius the Arian for holding that the sacraments ministred by a married Priest are not to bee touched but despised So that here the Pope decreeth that which is condemned in the Arian and here Rome conceiueth by the Arians This Pope beautified the Church of the h Platina mother of God with curious pictures i Geneb The Church of Constantinople doth openly depart from the Church of Rome The k VVolph Saracens breake into Italie for to spoile Aan 868. Adrian the second l Geneb p. 786. was honoured for miracles he was chosen without the consent of the Emperour In his first yeare he held a Councel at m Caran f. 345. a. Constantinople in which images were equalled for teaching with the bookes of the holy Euangelists Can. 3.14 and Bishops with Emperours The Bishops must giue small honour to the Emperours but receiue great honours of them While they at the Councell exalt themselues and idolatrie yea n Geneb p. 788 from the yeare 867. to 873. the Saracens made cruell warres vpon the Grecians French and most in Italie Ann. 874. Iohn the ninth decreed o 16. q. 3. Nemo that the priuiledges of the Church of Rome may not be taken away vnder a 100. yeares prescription p Geneb p 789. He crowned Carolus Caluus and two other Emperours Vnto this q 790. 791. Index Expurg Carolus Bertramus a poore man wrote his booke of the spirituall insensible and figuratiue eating of Christ in the sacrament of the Supper The question was mooued by Ferdinand a knight Iohn Scoeus wrote another booke of the same argument and to the same sense so that here this doctrine had two witnesses in the courts of the Temple It is reported r Mass 15. p. 213. that Ludouicus late Emperour being dead appeared to his sonne adiuring him to help him out of the paines of purgatorie Whereupon his sonne sent to many Monasteries and by their praiers obtained rest for his father Thus the beast beareth the world in hand that hee ruleth in the bottomlesse pit About Å¿ Fasc Temp. f. 67. a. Math. 24.12 this time charitie waxed exceeding cold in euery estate and iniquity abounded more than it was wont For now the sword and heresie for the most part did cease but ambition and couetousnesse and other vices hauing the raines loosed did more persecute the Christian saith than the persecutions of heresies In those t Trithe Hiâ—s p. 25. daies was a Iewe which by Magicke did many strange miracles in the sight both of the Princes and of any whosoeuer else By which may be gessed by what meanes the Monkes and Priests did the miracles of which they make such ostentation about these times Ann. 884. Martinus the second got a Geneb the seate by euill artes he b Massaeus is reported to haue vndermined his predecessor and caused him to be imprisoned c Carantz â—â—t c. 1. gouerned cruelly onely profitable by his short time The d Geneb p. 792 793. Saracens came into Italie tooke the Abbey Cassinense which their S. Benedictus founded slewe Bertharius the Abbot vpon the altar of S. Martine and returned laden with much spoile Carolus Crassus first dateth his writings from the birth of Christ Ann. 885. Adrianus e Platin. f. 137. b. the third enticed by the Emperours departure out of Italie to warre against the Normans in France tooke f Volat. 22. the opportunitie and did publikely g Geneb p. 794 Crantz Metro 5. 1. decree that in the creation of the Pope the Emperours authoritie should not be expected and that the voices of the Clergie and people should bee free A thing which was rather attempted than begunne by Nicolaus the first By which it appeareth that it is no good proofe of any thing to bee ancient in the Church because the Popes decreed it so It is one thing to make a decree and another to put it in generall practise euery where Ann. 886. Stephanus h Geneb p. 795 the sixt entred when France was afflicted by the Normanes England by the Danes Panonia by the Hunnes and Italie most grieuously by the Saracens Italie was i Carantz Met. 5. 1. vnquiet neither did the Romanes sufficiently obey so that hee held his seat with much labor Hitherto k Trith Hirs p. 26. 27. some Monasteries had most learned readers of the liberall sciences the holy scriptures the latine greeke hebrew and Arabian tongues requiring the reading of the Scriptures to be familiar to the Monkes Ann. 892. Formosus came l Volat. 22. Platin. in by briberie more than by vertue m Crantz M. 5. 1. The name he tooke bewraieth his pride I know n Plati f. 139. a. N.B. not by what meanes I shall say it came to passe that togither with the industrie of the Emperours who looked not vnto the election of the Popes but left them to themselues the Popes did also faile in vertue and integritie Most vnhappie times seeing such are wont to bee the people as are their Princes Of o Fasc Temp. f. â—8 a. these times Vernetus in Fasciculo temporum maketh great lamentation complaining that the colour of gold is obscured that there were wonderfull scandals in the Apostolike seate contentions emulations sects enuies ambitions intrusions persecutions that the holy failed and trueth was diminished among the sonnes of men Of these eight Popes this Formosus and his seauen successors I can say no notable thing because I haue found nothing of them but scandalous for such contention in the Apostolike sea as was neuer heard the like One against another and also against themselues p Crantz M. 5. 1. p. 291. This dissention was a pernitious example among the chiefe Bishops the Vicars of Christ most vnlike the holinesse of the fathers which were Martyrs c. a Volat. 22 253. Christopherus was depriued of his Papacie and thrust into a Monasterie for now Monasteries were places of solace for miserable persons and a refuge for bankeroupts The b Wolph Saracens inuade Apulia and Calabria The c Geneb p. 749. Caluenites in this age praise Laudius Taurinensis Bertragius Frederardus and some points of Godiscalcus In euery age they will haue some fellowes In the d Trith Hirs p. 29. yeare 896. was held a great Synode against secular men which would keepe vnder and diminish the Bishops authoritie Confusion being
the glorified bodie of Christ Victor the second Anno 1054. p Bergom 11. in a Councell at Florence depriued many Bishops for Simonie and Fornication that is for receiuing spirituall preferments of laie men and for marriage And in a Councell the q Geneb p. 872 third time condemned Berengarius r Abb. Vrsp p. 21◠His Deacon poysoned him in the communion cuppe There was extreame famine Michael the Lambe auenging the persecution of the Gospell Stephanus the tenth ſ Geneb p. 872. Ann. 1057. reprooued the Emperour for abridging the Popes authoritie By his meanes t Volat. 22. f. 253. Anno 1058. the Church of Millaine is made subiect to Rome which it had not bin for 200. yeres before Benedictus the tenth u Berg. 12. was cast out by Hildebrand onely because hee was said not to come in by the dore but by gifts a Geneb p. 873 Hitherto the stories are darke henceforth by little and little they grow most cleare in appearance for poperie but indeed against it Ann. 1059. Nicolaus the second b Volat. 22. Fox Mart. p. 170. made Robertus Guiscardus to recieue the number of his name to bee tributarie and captaine generall of S. Peters lands to subdue by force of armes all that went from the obedience of the Church of Rome for the Pope is now a legionarie king He first made c Geneb p. 873. a solemne decree d D. 23. In nomine that thenceforth the Pope should be chosen by the Cardinals accursing them all as Antichristian which opposed themselues to this kinde of election e Geneb p. 939 But this decree tooke none effect till the time of Lucius the third Anno 1181 who was the first Pope so chosen By which is to bee seene that the Popes decrees tooke then no place when they were first made He also held a Councell against Berengarius and another against Simonie and fornication as his predecessor had done meaning such Priests as receiued spiritualties of laie men and had wiues Vnto f Paral. Vrsp p. 413. him wrote Hildericus Bishop of Ausburge a very graue man an excellent Epistle reproouing him for the forbidding of Priests marriage in which is auouched the testimonie of Paphnutius the martyr affirming marriage to bee honourable and that the vse of a mans owne wife is chastitie g Berg. 12. f. 180. a. Berengarius when he could not preuaile in his opinion of the sacrament gaue his goods to the poore and liued by the labour of his handes Ann. 1062. Alexander h Berg. 12. f. 181. b. the second as a Legionarie and Martiall king warred against the Pope whom the Emperour had placed at the request of some Italians And whē they had twice fought and much blood was shed on both sides the matter was compounded For now it is vsuall with the Popes which was sometimes the manner i Caesar bello Gal. 6. of the Druides to fight for the principalitie Certaine k Trith Hirs p. 71. 75. Bishops and others to the number of 7000. went for deuotion to Ierusalem whereof scarce 2000. returned This Pope l p. 91. was earnest against that which they called Simonie Wherefore hee sent for certaine Bishops to Rome whereof one so pleased the Pope with bribes that he returned honored with an Archbishops Pall whereby it appeareth the Pope was angrie against Simonie by others because hee was willing to haue all the bribes himselfe And as it seemeth for this cause would wrest the inuestiture of Bishops out of the Emperours hands and the gift of spiritualties from laie men The Saxons and Sueues m Abb. Vrsp p. 219. 220. 221. Oth. Fris Chro. 6.34 Cran. M. lib. 5. cap. 20. p. 333. both laie Princes and Bishops breed emotions against the Emperour and bring blasphemous and incredible complaints against him to the Pope and draw the Pope to their faction The Emperour by his Embassadours whom he sent for iustice to Rome against his seditious subiects receiueth letters commanding him to make satisfaction for Simonie c. And presently the Saxons breake forth in open rebellion The n Geneb p. 878 877. Turkes get in a manner all Asia This Pope continued the opposition of his predecessors against Berengarius and the gift of spirituall dignities by laie men and was so earnest against married Priests that o Fasc Temp. f. 73. b. d. 32. praetex hoc he required none to be present at their Masse vnder paine of excommunication There p Berg 12. f. 181 b. 182. a. was a horrible famine and lamentable pestilence q The order of monkes of Vallis Vmbrosa began of a lying miracle that the crucifixe bowed the head contrarie to the rule of the scripture which sheweth idols to r cap. 9.20 Ann. 1073. be vnsensible The first Thunder GRegorius the seauenth who a Abb. Vrsp p. 221. was called before Hildebrand was chosen onely by the Romanes without the Emperours consent b Oth. Fris 6. 34 36. Whereupon grew a most grieuous schisme and most violent stormes in the common wealth and Church to the danger of bodie and soule like the darknesse of Egypt For the Pope c Mass 16. p. 223. as a most valiant champion sent word to the Emperour Henricus the fourth that if hee would confirme him in his papacie hee would resist the errors of the Emperour For so he called the bestowing of spiritualities by a laie man But when the Emperour would not yeild to the Pope Gregorie in a Councel at Rome d 1. Tim. 4.1 c. giuing heed to spirits of errors and doctrines of diuels e Trith Hirs p. 92. forbiddeth the Clergie Bishops Priests or Deacons to marrie vnder the paine of the great curse c. and f Mat. Paris p. 8. by a new example and as many thinke inconsiderate against the sentence of holy fathers forbiddeth laie men to heare the Masse of him that was married For g Poly. Jnuen 5. 4. the lawes made before against the marriage of Priests tooke none effect amongst the Priests of the West till the time of Gregorie the seauenth He h De cons d. 5. Quia dies ibidem carnem also forbad all faithfull men to eate flesh on Saturdaies and commanded all monkes altogether to abstaine from flesh i Crant Met. 5. 20. In this Councel was the Emperour accused of Simonie was called to his answer k Frising de gestis Trid. 1. 1 But he appeared not beeing detained by many seditions and rebellions and warres of the Hungarians Saxons c. which were partly stirred by Pope Alexanders faction yet when al the breadth of the Empire was filthily wasted with sword and fire the Pope excommunicated him as forlorne and forsaken of his meanes The l ibid. Chro. 5. 35. Emperor was exceedingly mooued with this new proceeding not knowing before this time any such sentence to haue beene promulged
Missae 17. p. 235. foure hundred of them were burned fourescore beheaded their chiefe Prince Aimericus was hanged and his Lady was cast in a pit and stones vpon her The o Trith p. 222. Pope bringeth forth Fridericus and opposeth him openly to Otho the Emperor because he labored not for absolution and peace commaunded the Princes to chuse Fridericus and to cleaue vnto him which they did The Pope also sent his a Abb. Vrsp p. 314. 315. letters to the Clergie and Princes for ayde against the Saracens in the holy land His chiefe argument to perswade by was this The Saracens from the time of Gregorius the first when they began haue continued 666. yeeres almost which time according to the b cap. 13. vlt. ReuelatioÌ„ they should certainly be rooted out So foolishly did this false Prophet vnderstand that place c Vrsp p. 319. Betweene Otho and Fridericus were warres and Otho because his friends forsooke him was constrained to giue ground awhile Fridericus pursued him and vexed his fauorites yet did Otho gather vp himselfe to fight both with Fridericus and the French King But by the French King he was put to the worse Anno 1214. d Trith Hirs p. 223. Conradus de Marpurge was by the Apostolike sea made Generall inquisitor for heresies This Dominican Frier continued nineteene yeeres and caused many to be burned as heretikes no man forbidding him For the beast hath power giuen vnto him to do what he list Aâ—no 1215. The e Geneb p. 955. Pope also held the Lateran Councell at Rome maketh the fiue bookes of Decretals consisting for the most part of the decrees of this Councell and epistles of this Pope In this volume are diuers things for the aduancement of the Church of Rome in authoritie and doctrine For the woman sitteth on the scarlet coloured beast As f 5. Decret tit 33. cap. 23. the Church of Rome hath the principalitie of ordinarie power aboue all other Churches as the Mother and Mistris of all faithfull people for she saith in her heart I sit a Queene and am no Widow g 1. Decr. tit 7. cap. 23. That the authoritie of the Pope is as the authoritie of God For he exalteth himselfe c. shewing himselfe that he is God h 3. Decr. tit 41. cap. 6. He brought transubstantiation into the Sacrament and decreed that the words in the Canon of the Masse are to bee beleeued as the holy euangelists Thus he blasphemeth the tabernacle of God i 1. Decr. tit 6. cap. 34. He decreeth that it is in the Popes power to approue that Emperour which he thinketh worthie and to reiect him whom he thinketh vnworthie They are there also made heretikes k 5. Decr. tit 7. de haresibus that teach or thinke any other thing then the Church of Rome doth teach and obserue and so maketh the Church of Rome a right Cataphrygian And generally whom so euer the Church of Rome or popish Clergie shall so iudge Such may not be suffered to haue house substance fauour reliefe counsell credit nor may buy or sell nor liue And when they be dead they deale with them l Eus 5. 1. Theod. 4. 22. 2. 14. Soc. 2. 23. as the heathen Emperors and bloody Arians did with the Christians and Catholikes for they will not suffer them to be put in graues or Monuments So that his tyrannie is worse then that of m Eus 10. Licinius Yea he also decreed n 3. Decr. tit 28. cap. 12. that the bones of excommunicated persons if they may be discerned should be cast out of their graues from Christian communion He also giueth the lands and goods of such as he calleth heretikes their fauorers or complices c. to such papists as can get them And that this beast might appeare to be the image of the Dragon the heathen Empire of whom it is said o cap. 12. 4. He stoode before the woman c. to deuoure her childe when she had brought it forth p 5. Decr. tit 7. it was decreed that the beleeuers receiuers defenders and fauorers of such whom they called heretikes should likewise be excommunicated This kinde of excommunication was taken from the q Caesar bell Gallico lib. 6. Druides For such as stoode not to their decree were interdicted from sacrifices and hereupon accounted amongst the wicked All flie their company and speech they receiue no benefit of law nor are admitted to honors r 5. Decr. tit 6. cap. 7. 8. But Saracens and Iewes may haue houses and synagogs and exercise marchandise by the Popes warrant In this Councell a 1. D.T. 31. c. 14. See N. D. Warneword was decreed that where were people of diuers rites and languages the Bishops should prouide them fit men which should celebrate diuine seruice and minister the Sacraments and preach vnto them according to the diuersitie of their rites tongues So that yet it was not concluded that the seruice of God should be in a strange tongue as the papists would perswade This Councell ended the Pope preacheth the crosse b Mat. Paris p. 263. Vrs 315. and pardon of all sinnes for aide of the holy land and c 5. D.T. 7. de haeresib against heretikes promising to those catholikes that take the crosse to roote out heretikes as large priuiledges as were graunted to them that fight against the infidels and now doe the Popes teach as d Curio 1. p. 28. Mahomet did that who died for his religion should goe to paradise Hereupon many tooke the crosse to goe against the Saracens And many orders of souldiers arose the crosse-bearing souldiers were aduanced In e Volat. 21. f. 244. Arragon were two orders of souldiers the first Saint Mary for the redemption of captiues whose colours were white a crosse blacke The other Monlesiae with a red crosse these were to defend the countrie from the irruptions of the Saracens There were also the Dominicans or preaching Friers aduanced In f Trith p. 224. those dayes were many called heretikes men and women which spread their opinions in Almania France and Italy In the citie of Argentine were more then fourescore apprehended whom Conrade the inquisitor thus examined He caused an iron to to be made red hot and whom the hot iron did hurt hee condemned for heretikes and deliuered them to be burned for the beast hath teeth of yron and nailes of brasse many beleeued he condemned many innocents In g Geneb p. 958. Alsatia many held against the Pope and the Grecians against transubstantiation So did Almericus a very learned man his bones and the bones of diuers that followed him were digged vp againe and burned at Paris for the beast suffereth not their carcasses to be put in graues h Fasc Temp. l. 80. As the Pope preached the crosse so did the diuell 20 000 boyes c. in Almania tooke the signe of the crosse to goe
Emperor should take order for the affaires of the Empire in his absence When the Emperor was gone the Pope notwithstanding caused k Trith p. 231. him to be proclaimed excommunicate throughout all Germany which was done especially by the begging Friers l Vrsp Ibid. Besides his souldiers that tooke the crosse were spoyled by the Popes meanes In m Fox Marty Italy the Pope raised vp many rebellions against the Emperor and attempted the like against him in Asia writing to the Patriarch of Ierusalem the soldiers and the Saracens to destroy him n Vrsp p. 325. Wherefore the Emperor endured much danger by the treason of the Templars abroade and the Pope at home inhibited all ayde that would haue gone ouer to him but warred vpon and subdued many of his possessions Who is it that well considereth these things and doth not bewaile and detest them which seeme an euidence and prodigious portent of the ruine of the Church a Westmo p. 288. The Pope taking it ill that Fridericus as despising his excommunications did embrace the businesses of the Church in the holy land despayring that he would not returne to vnitie decreed to depriue him of his Empire and substitute another namely the General of his warres whom he ayded with all that the Church of Rome could doe with treasure armies pardons and solicitations of all Prelates abundantly Which when the Emperor vnderstoode he b Vrsp p. 325. Mat. Paris 344. 345. compoundeth the affaires of the holy land with the Seldan and thinking to make glad all Christendome with his good newes reporteth to them by letters what honorable composition he had made c Vrsp 325. The Pope reiecteth his letters and spreadeth rumours that he was dead by which rumor many Imperiall cities enclined to the Pope and resolue to kill the Germane souldiers which were in Italy or should returne that way from the holy land But when the returne of the Emperor was once knowen the furie slacked both Christians and Saracens cleaue vnto him and by d Trith p. 23. the valour of his Germane souldiers recouereth many of his cities againe From which time grew much enmitie betweene the Pope and Emperor e Vrsp p. 326. Yet the Emperor doth still craue absolution and by the mediation of Princes laboreth to be reconciled vnto the Pope f Trith p. 232. At last by the meanes of Lupoldus Duke of Austria c. he was receiued into communion g Paral. Vrsp p. 327. Platina when he had paid 120,000 ounces of gold to the Pope for his punishment and by his armie put the Pope in his possessions against the Romanes who labored to recouer their ancient manner of gouernment and liberties h Carion and was content to hold Sicilia of the Pope in fee. i Trith p. 232. About this time were a very great many discouered in Almany Italy especially in Lombardy and in France which held against the authoritie of the popish Church and prelates and against distinction of meates for the mariage of Priests then called the heresie of the Nicolaitanes c. against them are obiected many blasphemous things as the manner of the Church of Rome is Of these very many were burned k Pantaleon At Wormes also were many good men adiudged to the fire Now l Paral. Vrsp 327. when againe the Emperor sought to recouer Millaine and to subdue his rebels there m Trith p. 234. the Lombards did hinder Henry the Emperors sonne that he could not ioyne his armie with his father and the Pope by his bull depriueth him of his Empire The a Trith p. 235. yeere was extreame hot and dry The Emperor would pacifie seditions which were risen in his strong cities of Italy which he did with violence and burned his rebels At which time in Germany many nobles and meane persons Clerkes Monkes and Nunnes Citizens and countrie people by the giddie sentence of Conrade the Popes inquisitor were burned in the name of heretikes The same day that any one was accused whether iustly or vniustly no appeale nor defence did auaile but he was burned The b Paral. Vrsp p. 327. 328. Pope also the third time excommunicated the Emperor and did also proclaime him an heretike and stirred vp the Venetians against him The Emperour purgeth himselfe from the imputation of heresie by his letters publikely sent abroade to Princes c. and in Italy found aide of the faction of the Gibellines The c Trith p. 236. crosse is preached against the Stadingenses who stoode excommunicate for contemning the Popes authoritie many had fought against them a long time hitherto but all in vaine Now by the army of the crosse 2000. of them were slaine and so ceased the faction and confederacy against the Church of Rome d Paral. p. 328. The Pope also preacheth the crosse with pardons to all those that would fight against the Emperor Of which army as many as the Emperor tooke he crossed them with crosse woundes vpon the heads faces or bodies Then e Trith p. 236. 237. also did Henry King of Romanes rebell against the Emperor his father happily by the Popes instigation But he was subdued and taken and imprisoned by his father f Mat. Paris p. 401. who when he was somewhat enlarged seeketh meanes to poyson his father and therefore is restrained vnder the keeping of a Prince that hated him most g Trith p. 238. 239. The Emperor went into Lombardy and Italy with a puissant army subdued his rebels and caused his sonne Conrade to be elected King of Romans The Pope excommunicateth him againe and caused him so to be denounced euery where by the Minorites The h Mat. Paris p. 535. same time by the permission or procurement of Pope Gregory the insatiable couetousnes of the Church of Rome grew so mighty confounding right and wrong that all shame set apart as a common whore set on sale and lying open to all she esteemed vsury for a small inconuenience and Simonie for none at all c. i Fox Marty p. 285. About this time the East Church is deuided from the West k Mat. Paris p. 778. and from the subiection of the Church of Rome for diuers enormities of that Church especially in vsuries simonies sellings of iustice and other intolerable iniuries a Fox Marty p. 285. 286. and by name because the Pope would not admit an Archbishop there without a great summe of money The Pope sent forth his preaching Friers to moue all Christians to fight against the Grecians as it were against the Turkes and Saracens insomuch that in the Isle of Cyprus many martyres and good men were slaine for that onely cause b 5. Dec. tit 7. cap. 14. 15. This Pope forbad laie men to preach and excommunicated the Albingenses about Thelossa and the Waldenses c. c Geneb p. 964 Fasc Temp. p. 8. b. digested the fiue bookes of the decretals
e Trith 273. 274. 275. entred when the Empire was distracted by two which the Princes deuided into factions did set vp The greater part elected Ludouicus Banarus the lesse Fridericus Duke of Austria f Par. Vrs 352. Fridericus was fauored by the Pope the French King c. It seemeth the Pope willing to aduance Fridericus whose election was not good thought to declare the Empire to be voyde that he might weaken Ludouicus of such offices in Italy c. that might stand him in stead For in his first yeere he decreed g Extr. Iho. 22. Si fratum that in the vacancie of the Empire which he said then was by the death of Henry the seuenth the regiment iurisdiction and disposing of the Empire deuolued to the Pope vnto whom in the person of Saint Peter God committed the rights of the earthly and heauenly Empire He also accursed all Imperiall offices as well spirituall as temporall that in the vacancie were not authorised by the Pope After h Par. Vrs 353. Trith p. 278. many conflicts Fridericus is ouercome and taken and by capitulation yeeldeth all to Ludouicus At this time i Trith p. 277. 278. Walter Lolliard the chiefe teacher of many against the popish Church who had written diuers treatises in the Dutch tongue applying the Scriptures to his opinions was apprehended he sharpely defended his opinions for which he was burned a Mass 18. p. 246. Michael Cesenas Generall of the order of the Minorites with the Fratricelli of the habit of Saint Francis preached that Christ and his Aopstles possessed nothing of their owne Against whom the Pope published his decree that b Extr de ver fig. tit 14. Cum inter whosoeuer held that Christ and his Apostles possessed nothing were heretiks They also taught that the Emperor is not subiect to the Pope but in spirituall causes which the Emperor beleeued and c Trith 279.280 despising the Pope who by admonition and commination required him to come to Auinion to be crowned by the Pope went into Italy requested the Pope to send some Cardinals into Italy to crowne him as Clement did for Henry the seuenth The Pope refusing so to doe d Par. Vrs 353. at Millaine the Emperor receiued his second crowne And the Emperors Chancellor vnknowne to the Emperor wrote to the Pope calling him e Reuel 13.1 the beast arising out of the sea c. Michael Cesenas wrote that the Pope was Antichrist f Fox Marty and Rome Babylon in the Reuelation Also Petrus de Carbano Iohannes de Poliaco and William Occam wrote against the Pope and his vsurped authoritie in aduancing Friers decaying purish Churches c. The * Mass 18.246 Emperor goeth to Rome and is crowned by an Antipope whom he set vp The Pope hearing hereof g Gob. aet 6. c. 68. Mass 18. excommunicated the Emperor for taking vpon him as Emperor in Italy without the Popes approbation and excommunicated Michael and all their adherents sent an armie against the Fratricelli Many were burned There h Trith 285. was a very great mortalitie euery where and such a dearth that many were famished The Syrians tooke many thousands of Christians prisoners The i Mass 18.247 Gob. ae 6. c. 71. p. 246. Pope also preacheth heresie that the soules departed did not enioy the sight of God till the last iudgement an k Geneb 1002. heresie of the Fratricelli He sent a Dominican and a Minorite to Paris l Mass 18. p. 247. to preach his heresie there Thomas Walleis an Englishman herein resisted the Pope in his publike sermons For which he was imprisoned and vexed with famine The m 246. Emperor held a Councell vnto whom Iendinus and Marcellus students of Paris doe come and comfort him confirming that the Emperor is not subiect to the Pope n Trith 279. Occam also said to the Emperor Defend me with thy sword against the iniuries of the Pope and I will defend thee with words and writing with indissoluble arguments And o Par. Vrs 354. Marsilius Patauinus wrote to the Emperour a booke called Defensor pacis maintaining that the Pope is subiect to the Emperor In this a Trith 280. Councell the Emperor deposeth the Pope as an heretike and schismatike and b Par. Vrs 354 setteth vp his appeale against the Pope c Geneb 1015. The Pope reuoked his heresie by the authoritie of the faculty of Paris He d Volat. 21. instituted a new order of Knights in Portugall of Iesus Christ and granted them the Templars goods that they might be ready to resist the irruptions of the Saracens that were next their colours were Sables a crosse gewles In the same countrie c. were the Knights of Alcantara with a greene crosse He e Extr. Con. l. 1. Supra gentes excommunicated ipso facto those that hindered the Popes Legats and messengers from being entertained and interdicted their land as long as they should stand contumacious f Trith p. 284. When he died he left an inestimable summe of gold behind him in the treasuries Anno 1335. Benedictus the twelfth g Par. Vrs 354. Geneb p. 1025. though he desired to absolue the Emperor yet for feare of the French King confirmed the censure of his predecessor * Par. Vrsp p. 355. The Emperor reiecteth the acts of Iohn the twentith two against him looking to the Canon Imperator where is required that neither the Emperor shall vsurpe the rights of the Pope nor the Pope of the Emperor and that the Emperor hath not his Empire of the Pope but of God At Franckeford in an assemblie of Princes was decreed that if the Emperor be good and Catholicke c. and that the Pope refuse to crowne him he may be consecrated by any other Catholike Bishop c. h Mass 8.447 He sent his Orator to Rome who perswaded them to administer the dignity of the senate in the name of the Church and not in the name of the King or Emperor as they had done of long How was then Rome the Popes He i Geneb p. 1027. caused the King of Hungary to restore the kingdome of Naples to Ioane from whom he had taken it because she had strangled her husband the Kings brother In reward of which restitution she gaue the city Auinion to the Pope for euer He k 1026. published a decree against this heresie of Iohn his predecessor determining against his opinion l Extr. Con. 5. de haeres c. 1. This Pope made the inquisitors the receiuers of heretikes goods and rents and to be accountable to none but the Pope * Par. Vrs 354. Dulcinus and Durandus are held to bee heretikes m Fox Marty Hagar imprisoned for preaching against the Masse Iohannes de Rupe scissa imprisoned for writing and preaching Rome was Babylon and the Cardinals were false prophets n Geneb pag. 116. Occam writeth
and Mâ—gog of which I purpose not to speâ—kâ— in thâ— treatise FINIS TO AS MANY AS CALL THEMSELVES CATHOLIKES AND FOLLOW THE Church of Rome and yet doe desire to know and embrace the truth WE see and lament that the multitude of those which doe beare the name of Christians is distracted into many different and contrary opinions yeâ—â—is there none of the factions which pretendeth not that he hath the onely right way Against this multiplicity ariseth the word of God which doth constantly affirme that Ephes 4 4.5.6 there is but one God one faith c. So that though 1. Cor. 9.24 many runne at the price yet but one obtaineth it The great Question is among vs all which side hath the true God and true faith and who shall get the price In this contention none are so feruent as they who call themselues Catholikes and follow the Church of Rome and they who are called Protestants and haue departed from the Church of Rome In so great opposition it is certaine both parties are not right Wherefore you that follow Rome yet loue the truth consider with me a little how we may be satisfied which of vs is out of the way and thinke no scorne to turne into the right path when we haue found it As for the rest whom Antichrist hath deluded to stoppe their eares like deafe Adders against good counsaile and to open their mouthes to blasphemie so that they crie all is but lyes before they heare or reade a letter as God hath prouided no sacrifice for their wilfull sinne so I leaue them to him that â— Cor. 5.13 iudgeth them that are without It is confessed of vs all that our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ had the truth and that he sent his Apostles abroad to preach the same which they did in their sermone and deliuered in their writings Now it remaineth to be required whether the Doctrine by them taught and recorded in the scriptures be the onely eternal and immutable truth or no Or that the Church may in time deuise more to bee added thereto other differing from it or some contrary vnto it of like authoritie and reuerence As for the Protestants they bind themselues to the written Word as a sufficient Canon to walke by acknowledging it to be Reuel 19.16 the King of Kings and Lord of Lords The Church of Rome will not be so straighted nor so subiect but wil assume she goeth right when she walketh by her Traditions which change with the times as appeareth by their seueral and opposite decrees and institutions So that she thinketh her selfe neuer out whatsoeuer she doth in abolishing the former and in deuising and inioyning such new articles as the godly in the primitiue Church neuer knew nor their fathers before them vnto which also she holdeth all men are to be subiect on paine of damnation For the decision of this great question because it is obiected to the parties themselues that they doe not pursue their arguments with that patience as is required at the hands of Christians let vs commit the moderation to such as we all agree were both truly Christians which was the Act. first name that the Disciples were called by and truelie Catholikes which was the next title they tooke Namely Athanasius and his fellowes who though they spake in another case yet it appeareth by the waight of their arguments they would speake of our Question were they at our Conference in the same sort as they did at Ariâ—â—â—â— Let vs see to which of our parties their censure were most proper if the names of the persons which they speake of were changed into the persons of our Question Their speech is recorded by Socrat. lib. 2. cap. 29. When Vrsacius and Valent had read a confession of the faith dissenting from the Nicâ—â—â— Creede as the Papists doe from the faith and doctrine of the word of God published in the raigne of Constantius Flauius and Eusebius being Consuls as that of the Papists is instituted by diuers Popes the Catholikes that disliked it rose vp and said as we also say to the Papists We came not together with you because we were destitute of faith for wee keepe that wholy which wee receiued from the beginning but that if any did attempt any new thing of that matter we might resist him AThanasius who especially disliked this innouation wrote vnto his friends almost in these words which with changing but the names of the persons whom hee nameth and are put in the margent to the Papists will be thus What I pray you was wanting in the Catholike Church vnto the doctrine of godlines that now they should enquire of the faith and should by name prefix the Consuls Popes and Councels Which were in this present time before the words which forsooth they haue set downe of the faith For the Vrsatius Valens Germanius Popish writers haue done that which was neuer done nor heard among christians For where they wrote the things which they thought were to be beleeued they haue written Consuls the Popes Councels and places moneth and lastly the day that it might be manifest to all wise men that their faith had no beginning before the beginning of the raigne of Constantius such Popes and Councels yea that which is more all of them hauing regard vnto their owne heresie haue committed their owne sentences to writing Moreouer when they pretend to write of the doctrine of the Lord they haue named another for their Lord namely Constantius the Pope For he hath opened vnto them a window vnto all their impiety And when as they did denie the word of the Sonne of God to be eternall for so farre were these enemies of Christ cast into wickednesse they haue named the Emperor decrees of the Popes to be eternall But perchance they catch an occasion to name the Consuls Popes and Councels by the example of the holy Prophets who do set downe the time in which they liued But if they shall dare to affirme so they shall exceedingly bewray their folly For albeit there be mention of the times in the prophecies of holy men as in Esaiah and Hosea which were in the daies of Ozias and Ioatham Achaz and Ezechias as in the prophecie of Ieremie who liued in the dayes of Iesias as in the prophecies of Ezechiel and Daniel who flourished when Cyrus and Darius did raigne and lastly as in other Prophets which prophecied in other times yet doe none of them lay any first foundation of pietie and holy religion For it was before their times and alwaies and before the framing of the world which God by Christ hath prepared for vs. And as for the times in which their faith began they did not designe for before those times themselues were faithfull but those were the times of the promise pronounced by them And the promise doth especially concerne the incarnation of our Sauiour That which was annexed thereunto did clearely demonstrate those things which should befall