he was commaunded to hold his peace Wherefore in that confusion hee cried out confirming his assertions by scripture and appealed from that wicked synagogue to Christ He reproued the corrupt manners of this assembly and had the same regard which Lot had in Sodom when he reprooued their violence Howbeit contrarie to the Emperours safe conduct and to the Popes promise he was condemned to the fire Beware of men for they shall deliuer you vp to the Councels For now is fulfilled the prophecie of the a 2. Tim. 3.1.3 Peucer 5. f. 176. c. last time i Mat. 10.17 which should bee perilous for truce-breakers His garments were taken from him as Christ had his he was crowned with a paper Miter * Mat. 10.25 with painted diuels as Christ was with thornes If they call the master of the house Beelzebub how much more them of the householde The principall cause of his condemnation was the same that the Arians obiected to Athanasius b Soc. 2. 5. Athanasius was accused because when he was remoued from his ministerie he tooke it againe without the consent of the Councell And Hus c Fox Mart. p. 603. was not onely accused by this Councell the liuely image of the Arians but also condemned because he continued preaching when he was excommunicated Also Ierom of Prage was likewise vsed Before their death they prophecied For Hus who in the Boemian tongue doth signifie a Goose prophecied that after him should come a Swan whoÌ„ they should not burne so easily And Ierom cited the Councell after an hundred yeres to answere God and him These prophecies doe seeme accomplished in Luther Before their execution d Orig in Ephe. was a fearefull eclipse of the Sunne For the Starres were seene as in the night and the birds by the suddaine darknes fell to the grounde Hus e Buchol ann 1415. and Prage were condemned by the Councell and by them committed to the ciuill Magistrate to be put to death For they themselus as the f Ioh. 18.31 Iewes cried to Pilate might not lawfully put any man to death But when they were dead they would not grant as much fauour to their ashes as g Ioh. 10 1â— Pilate did to the bodie of Christ to be put in graues but h Eus 5. 1 p. 62. they strawed their ashes in the Rhine as the Gentiles did the Christians into the riuer of Rhodanus to take away all hope of their resurrection The memorie also of Iohn Wickleife was condemned For it was decreed that his bones should bee taken out of his graue herein shewing themselues more cruell and vnnaturall then were the Arians against the Catholiques i Mass 18. p. 255 Pope Martine and the Emperour reioyced together because that at the last peace was restored to the Church For these two vexed them that dwell vpon the earth So did the k Theod. 4. 22. Arians reioyce when they had oppressed the innocent Catholiques The l Fox Mart. p. 575. Pope gaue gifts also For he gaue full absolution to all that were present at the Councell and also hee gaue another indulgence at the houre of death to the masters and household But so as the pardons must bee procured vnder seale that they may giue gifts one to another In a Gob. ae 6. cap. vlt. this Councell was no reformation of doctrine and manners b Caranza The institution of Christ and practise of the Primitiue Church in the ministration of the Sacrament of both kinds was antiquated yet do they boast of antiquitie It c Mass 10.19 was decreed that faith is not to be kept with heretikes and other blasphemers This d Geneb pag. 1059. c. 11.9 Councell continued three yeere and a halfe which the Scriptures call in a propheticall speech three dayes and a halfe This Pope Martine is reported to haue dispensed with a man to marrie his sister e Fasc Temp. p. 87. 88. So corrupt were the times that of them it is said that conscience according to the feare of God abounding in times past in the Prelates did by laudable manners and examples set vp and aduance the Church of Christ In processe of time abounding with temporalties forgetting conscience they trusted vpon science which maketh proud palliating the holy Scriptures with diuers impostures not fearing to falsifie the iustice of the Lord c. But O abhomination con and sci are raised out of conscience and onely entia vnsensible creatures which neither haue knowledge nor conscience doe gouerne the spouse of Christ c. At f Geneb 1060. this time the Turkes recouer that which Tamerlane had taken from them remoue their seate into Greece come ouer Danubium and get much When g Par. Vrsp p. 381. these Martyres were killed by the Councell the spirit of life comming from God entred into the witnesses For first threescore then fifty foure of the Nobles of Boem wrote to the Councell by their letters patents shewing themselues to be wronged in the death and cause of Hus and testified that they would defend the preaching of the word of God with the hazard of their liues c. and so fulfill the precept h cap. 18.4 Goe out of her my people c. But i 1419. Bucholcer Fox Maâ—t p. 621. 622. c. after three propheticall dayes and a halfe the three yeeres and a halfe in which the Councell was helde the nobles and people of Boem enter into a sure league and the cause of the witnesses doth againe stand on foote whereupon the Pope and Princes feare The Boemians assemble and celebrate the memorie of Hus and Prage as of great Martyres ascended to heauen and decree the same yeerely to be kept And because the Pope had thundred and that with the Princes hee resolued to send armies against them the Boemians chose Zisca for their Generall and so began the Boemians warre for Hus c. which may iustly be compared to a great earthquake In this emotion Zisca winneth much a 1420. Bucholcerus The citie of Prage defecting from the Emperor ioyneth with Zisca and his Thaborites who by stratagems ouercommeth his enemies and hath the word of God faithfully preached and the Sacraments duely administred publikely And that he might execute the commaundement * cap. 1â— 6 reward her as she hath serued you c. he b Peuc 5. f. 169. b. persecuted in hostile manner the Monkes their patrones and defenders punishing those whom they gat exiling them that fled pulling downe the Monasteries and casting downe and burning their idols with fire c Chro. Chro. where many were slaine d 1421. Bucholcerus Sigismund the Emperor yeelded ground for feare and shamefully fled while Zisca was marching towards him e 1422. Sigismund with a new great army recouering some places by force or surrender but when Zisca now blinde rushed vpon him he fled with feare and trembling many of his nobles
14.3 the throne and before the foure beastes before the Elders that is in the Church before God the father the sonne and the holy Ghost before the glorious Cherubins and before the faithfull and holy gouernors of the Church This doth signifie the good and most Christian Councels which were held before the Lord and his Angels by the authority of godly and religious Princes and by the assistance of the faithfull Bishops and Ministers of the word For g Caranza vnder Theodosius was held a Councel against the Nestorians And also the Carthaginian Mileuitan and Aurasican Councels were held against the Pelagians The Affrican h Melan. 3. Epist Aug. Councel wrote vnto Innocentius the Bishop of Rome and exhorted him that he would also disallow the errors sprung vp at Rome and would not suffer them to spread any further Vnder Martianus was held a Councell at Chalcedonia against the Eutychians i Geneb p. 64â— In the yeare of Christ 552. was held a Councell at Constantinople against certaine heretickes and to confirme the foure generall Councels A heauenly harmonie of holy harpers The song which those Fathers and Councels did sing is somewhat darke to be vnderstood For no man a cap. 14.3 could learne the song but the 144,000 which were bought froÌ„ the earth to wit those faithfull witnesses which are not earthly minded For as it is said of some of Augustines latter bookes that he hath sometimes vnproper b Melan. 3. de Eccl post Vol. 3. speeches but if they be wel fauourably iudged of they containe the very truth so may it be said of the rest because the iniquitie of the time enforced them to speake with as little offence to the impietie of men as possibly might be c. The flight of the woman in these troublesome times was by flying to carrie her selfe cleane out of the c cap. 12.14 sight of the Serpent For the countries now d Geneb p. 5â—â— made newely kingdomes were conuerted afterwards e Sabel In Affrica in the time of Gensericus the Church was cleane extinguished the Bishops which maintained the trueth beeing fledde and banished for euer and so by other tyrants in other places From hence the Church is fledde from the presence of the Serpent and is mingled for a time times and halfe a time that is 1260. yeares there beeing many godly men amongst the diuellish tyrants and hereticks which they doe not see not know of yet there is the Church The successe is diuers in the Church and Empire and also concerning these strangers By this inundation of these barbarous f cap. 13.3 nations that one head of the beast was as wounded to death by the sword that is the Romane Empire in the West was cleane ouerthrowne rent and torne g Geneb p. 609 Germanie Dacia Sarmatia Spaine Britaine and France doe altogether fall away from the Empire to the vtter h Melan. 3. ruine of the Empire The office also of i Sabel E. 8. l. 1 Consuls ceased in Rome in the yeare 560. k Geneb p. 641. In the space of 142. or rather 150 yeares l 642. Rome the tamer of mankinde and castle of all nations did sustaine many casualties by the iudgement of God that it might seriously slide to the hands of the Church whose head as some thinke it ought to be and to that vse should be built againe from the foundation For after that Rome was spoiled by Alaricus armie in the age of Augustine and Hierome anon it was wasted by the Vandals within 44. yeares After that 22. yeares by Odoacer and his Heruli Againe after 14. yeares by Theodoricus and his Ostrogothes Furthermore after 50. yeares it was taken by Belifarius At last it came into extreame miserie by Totilas the reliques of the Gothes after 12. yeares And a Hist an t ex Egna p. 426. the maiestie of the Romane name * cum p. 468. ex Paul Diaco 6. qu. Buchol Ann. 476. by the flight of Augustulus the last of the Caesars of the * Vid hist anti ex Paulo Diac. p. 468. Romane nation renowned for the seruice of the gods did fall and was cleane ouerthrowne that as shee was wont to triumph ouer the whole world so now there is no nation so fierce and barbarous which doth not repaie the iniurie done to them or their auncestrie For in Augustulus b Carion f. 143. the Empire of the Augusti in Italie perished and ended They lost their c Sab. E. 8. l. 5. language at Rome The Romane ciuill lawes were as exiles d Geneb p. 914 from hence for the space of 600. yeares c. But the earth helpe the woman and the earth e cap. 12.16 opened her mouth and swallowed vp the flood which the Dragon had cast out of his mouth that is the countries into which these strangers made incursion swallowed them vs. For these strangers did content themselues to be mixed with the naturall inhabitants f Saâ—el â—n â— l. 5. of the countries into which they came The Gothes which remained in Italie degenerating into the name of Italians in Spaine into Spaniards leauing onely in diuers places some places of their names which keepe their memory And of them arose certaine kingdomes bearing the names of the places where they were for the most part The successe that these strangers found was first that their power was limited For * cap. 9.5 â— their power was to hurt fiue months that is an hundred and fiftie yeare For a moneth g Erasm Remâ— in tab Prâ—t according to the account of the Hebrewes Aegyptians and Astronomers containeth 30. daies and so fiue moneths amount to 150. daies which counting a h Ezech. 4.6 day for a yeare after the maner of the scripture commeth to 150. yeare For from the time that Rhadagasus first entred which was in i Carion the yeare 405. vnto the k Sabel death of Teias the last of these strangers that afflicted the Empire which was l Geneb p. 643 in the yeare 555. is precisely 150. yeare And though the people did still continue yet the kingdome name power and Empire of the Gothes were rooted out of Italie And so in other places this number of 150. yeares is in a manner a fatall limit to such as make incursions into the countries of others Secondly they that for 150. yeare could be brought vnder no mans power were in the ende afterwards made the subiects of Antichrist m Strab. 7. And as before they came they were subiect vnto their Priest which liued in an inaccessible cell as an angel of the bottomlesse pit who did euer set them to make incursion vpon their neighbours as Abaddon or Apollyon a destroyer so n cap. 9.11 now they had a King set ouer them which is that Angel of the bottomlesse pit whose o Dan. 7. name in Hebrew is Abaddon and in
was so great that the people vnder these tenne kings or principalities were contented by his meanes euen k cap. 13.4 to worship the Dragon the diuell that is to become as very idolaters for the worship of idols is the worship of diuels as those l Volat. l. 25. fol. 300. Gentils which worshipped Dragons in the temples of Apollo and Iuno For m cap. 13.2 2. Thes 2.9 the Dragon the diuell gaue power to this beast howsoeuer he pretended to haue his power from Christ by the means of S. Peter cap. 13.5 cap. 11.2 The continuance of this battell is 42. moneths which after the account of the a Orig. Ephe. Astronomers at 30. daies the month is a thousand two hundred and sixtie daies that is according to the vsuall Propheticall account 1260. yeares called after b Brought in Dan. 12. cap. 12.14 the Greeks Astronomers A time times and halfe a time that is as many yeares as the Astronomers doe measure by an Equinoctiall which they call a time two equinoctials and halfe an Equinoctial which commeth to 1260. Iulian yeres This is that time during which the woman the Church is in the wildernesse whereas the great whore doth sit vpon the scarlet coloured beast beeing hidden among them that follow Antichrist yet kept from the presence of the serpent This time also is the c cap. 11.2 courts of the temple that is the publike face of religion is troden vnder foote by these Antichristian Gentiles at least in some place And these also are the last of these d Dan. 8.14 N.B.Da. 8.1 two thousand and three hundreth yeares spoken of by Daniel which beganne in the third yeare of Belshazzar which was e Brough Concent 480. yeares before the birth of Christ And this 42. months or 1260. yeares is to begin in the Papacie of Pelagius 1. Anno Christi 560. who brought in the fained superstitions of the Gentiles into the Church so that they ende 1820. All these things will appeare in histories following The Complement In the time of Pelagius who as an Angel of the bottomlesse pit brought newes into the world that as it was among the Gentiles a thing much beleeued so it was true among the Christians that the liuing were able to helpe the dead by Masses c. f Ann. 560. Aug. Curio l. 2. was borne Mahomet g Genssreus de Turc morib Orig. lib. 3. Massam 13. p 183. He hauing beene acquainted with the opinions of the Christians Iewes hereticks c. by Iohn a monke of the order of Benedict and Sergius a Nestorian was instructed so that he looked about how vnder the pretext of religion he might bring the Arabians subiect vnto him h Gens lib. 2. his religion he boasteth to be reuealed vnto him by Gabriel the Angel The scope whereof is with extreame remedies of fire and sword to bring all to his law In his law hee promiseth a new way to bring men to paradise and deliuer them from the paines of hell c. Ann. 562. Iohn III. i Plat. Fasc Temp. Massa 12. 217. repaired the Churchyards of the Saints and Martyrs Narses grew discontent for some indignities offered vnto him by the Emperour and the Emperesse complaints of the Romans k Sab. En. 8. l. 5. retired himselfe to Naples where he expected the comming of the Lombards whom hee had sent for to possesse Italie l Geneb p. 645 Fasc Tem. s 56 This Pope got Narses to Rome fearing the hurt of Italie by his alienation and made him Consul so that there was great and inward friendship betweene the Pope Narses m Italie in this Popes time was freed from the yoke of Constantinople and the Romans began to rule by Patricij for the deadly wound of the beast was healed a Geneb p. 645 The office of the Exarchie of Rauenna was instituted his office it was to confirme the election of the Pope of Rome Michaels red horse caused that Italie was afflicted with many slaughters by the irruption of the Barbarians the Sueui in Galatia are conuerted from Arianisme Ann. 576. Benedict I. b Geneb the Lombards inuade all Italie and there was great famine by Michaels blacke horse The Spaniards conuerted from Arianisme and the profession of Monkes came first into Spaine Ann. 580. Pelagius II. c Fasc Temp. was created Pope without the consent of the Emperour He d Poly. Inu 5. 4 1. Tim. 4. enforced Subdeacons to forsake their wiues by the diuels doctrine e Geneb p. 65. In his time Iohn the Bishop of Constantinople by the consent of Mauricius the Emperour tooke vnto himselfe the title of vniuersall Patriarke Him first Pelagius withstood and after Gregorius I. Many letters beeing sent to and fro so that it may be said of these two the Bishop of Constantinople and Rome as it was said of the Arians whose image herein they which call themselues Catholikes now are f Soc. 5. 22. Soz. 3. 17. These two did contend betweene themselues not for religion but for primacie by the ouermuch desire of honour with which their mindes were wholy possessed But Pelagius finding the Emperour aduerse vnto him herein decreed that g Dist 99. nullus none no not the Bishop of Rome himselfe should be called vniuersall And also that h Dist 17. Multis no Councel should be held without the consent of the Bishop of Rome i Geneb p. 652. 653. Recaredus king of Spaine abolisheth Arianisme in a Councel reduceth his subiects to the Catholike faith While the Lombards besiege Rome after great stormes and raines Michael by his pale horse pursued them so that k Mass 13.179 there came the pestilence which caused the plague sore in the slancke as a plague for those that despised marriage c. Gregorius I. a Geneb p. 651 surnamed The great Ann. 590. continued the opposition against Iohn of Constantinople in the matter of the supremacie b Epist lib. 6. Epist 30. and confidently said that whosoeuer called himselfe or was desirous to be called vniuersall Bishop was the forerunner of Antichrist c Gobel at 6. c. 30. In humilitie d Geneb p. 662 to represse the pride of the Bishop of Constantinople he called himselfe the seruant of the seruants of God which title also his successors did vse but Antonomastice improperly e Poly. inuâ—â—t 4. 8. Whereas before time there were no other titles in the Church but Priests and chiefe Priests Gregorie first deuided them into Patriarkes and Archbishops f Dist 21. Decrotâ—s which difference was brought in chiefly by the Gentiles who had Flamines and Archflamines c. g Melanct. He increased two pernicious things in the Church concerning the bottomlesse pit inuocation of the dead h Libro dialog and praier to the dead i Dial. lib. 4. c. 31. 35. 36. 37 51. 55. 58. c. He
against a Prince I read and read againe the gestes of the Romane kings and Emperours yet no where doe I finde any of them before this Emperour to bee excommunicated by the Pope or depriued of his kingdom wherefore it is prooued to be fabulous m Geneb p. 591 which is reported of Innocentius that he excommunicated Arcadius or degraded Eudoxia then Empresse except it were done in secret or in conceipt In this Councel was Guibertus Archbishop of Rauenna n Mass 16. 224. who staied in Rome after the Synode to be made Pope by the Emperour which when Gregorie knew hauing beene rescued from the hands of Cincius by the furie of the people he degraded all those which were in schisme against him The o Abb. Vrsp p. 221. Trith Hirs p. 93. Emperour in a Councel at Wormacia with in a manner all the Germane Bishops depriued the Pope and by the instructions of Hugo a Cardinall published their sentence thus Because thine entrance began with so great periuries and that the Church of God is so indangered by so grieuous a storme by the abuse of thy nouelties and hast dishonested thy life in thy conuersation with so manifolde infamies as wee neuer promised thee any obedience so doe we renounce to keepe any towards thee hereafter And because none of vs as thou hast publikely declaimed hath bin esteemed by thee to be a Bishop neither shalt thou henceforth by any of vs be called Apostolicall The Pope in a Councell readeth these letters and againe excommunicateth the Emperour and his fauourers beeing p Massaeus 16. p. 224. encouraged by certaine letters out of Germanie that gaue life to the beast At Openheim was a Colloquie in which most of the Princes especially Saxons and Almanes renounced the Emperours subiection pretending that hee stood excommunicated by the Pope though he were absent and not heard By a Trith Hirs 1655. this necessitie the b Gobelinus Emperour goeth humbly towards Rome to aske his pardon of the Pope but c Epit. Blond d. 2. l. 3. his humilitie was slaundered to the Pope as if hee meant some violence and finding the Pope at Canusium barefoote and woolward in a most horrible frost with his wife and sonne indured with much patience the repulse for three daies By his bitter teares hee mooued those that were with the Pope d Vrsp p. 218. Mathildis a harlot c. so that they preuaile with the Pope who absolueth him and e Gobel ae 6. 55. put the imperiall crowne vpon his head f Mat. Paris p. 9. But guile was found in his mouth falsely pretending peace for he g Abb. Vrsp p. 222. said after that he restored him to communion but not to his Empire Hee h Crant Met. 5 14. inioyned the Emperour penance to staie at Rome a yeare and visit Churches with fasting and praier And in the meane time by certaine Princes and many Bishops was Rodulph a man altogether a stranger to the Princes blood elected Emperour the i Trith p. 93. Pope so commanding it by k Fri. d◠ges Fri. 1. 7. manifest and secret letters and receiueth his crowne from the Pope Hee l Geneb p. 882. absolueth the Princes and people from the oath of subiection which they had taken to the Emperour and commandeth them not more holily but traiterously to cleaue to Rodulphus and decreeth that all m 15. q. 6. Nos mē were absolued from obedience to him whom the Pope should excommunicate The n Wigor Ann. 5. E. Ann. 1100. Princes and Bishops fortifie the Alpes against the Emperour who was in Italie Howbeit o Cran. M. 5. 15 ex annalibus knowing of this treason by the Bishop of Auspurge his friend that sought him out in Italie he returned by Aquileia and gathered an armie against Rodulph After p Fri. ges Fr. 1. 7. much bloodshed and that the Emperor could get no fauour of the Pope against Rodulph but was againe excommunicated the q Trith Hirs p. 98. 99. Emperour in a Councel at Brixia setteth vp another Pope and deposeth Gregorie as a firebrand of sedition c. as a Necromancer and one vsing familiar spirits to get the papacie c. The Pope excommunicateth with a curse terrible enough the Emperour his Pope and Councell But the Emperour pursuing his warre r Cran. Metro 5. 16. Rodulph is wounded and before his death with griefe and sighing complaineth of them that had induced him to periurie and to seeke his masters crowne In his ſ Fris ges F. 1. 2 roome Hermanus was elected against the Emperour by the Popes commandement The t Crantz Met. 5. 17. Emperour goeth with an armie into Italie and in Rome inuesteth his Antipope and is crowned by his Pope Gregorie flieth and renueth the excommunication At u Trith Hirs p. 108. Mogunce in a great Synode Gregorie is deposed againe and all of them sweare obedience to the Pope called Clement the same yeare died Gregorie at Salerna when * Wigor Anno 1106. Mat. Paris p. 11. he had confessed to a Cardinall that he had troubled the Church by the perswasion of the diuell and sent to absolue the Emperour and all Christian people quicke and dead the Clergie and laitie This x Geneb Gregorie is said to worke diuers miracles and to haue the gift of prophecie but falsly For y Abb. Vrsp p. 223. ex Bruone when he so farre arrogated vnto himselfe to be a prophet that he did cry out of the deske at Easter esteeme me not for Pope but pull me from the Altar if the Emperor die not before Whitsontide he hired some by treasonable practises to kill him at his prayers in the Church a Mat. Paris p. 10. He also prophecied of the death of a false King meaning Henry the Emperor but that yeere Rodulph the false King that he had set vp died b Abb. Vrsp p. 222. In his time the whole world was moued He c Geneb p. 881. excommunicated the King of Polonia and the d Epit. Blond 2. 3. Emperor of Constantinople which was the cause of great stirres In e Mat. Pari. p. 8. Geneb 887. 886. 888. his time and by reason of the contentions which hee stirred vp the state of the Church was lamentable the Priests were of most vile conditions and the people despised holy things The Turkes preuaile in the East The f Fasc Temp. order of the Carthusian Monkes of a most rigorous abstinence from flesh began because of the apparition of a dead man in his funerals For those Papists g Deut. 18.11 are great consulters with the dead which was forbidden in the law of God These are Ebeonites in abstaining from flesh Victor the third corrupted h Frisin Chr. 7.1 the watch men with money Anno 1087. entred the citie was consecrated in the night He i Geneb p. 189. condemned the Emperour by his excommunication
PISGAH EVANGELICA By the Method of the Reuelation presenting to publike view those Cananites ouer whom our Lord Iesus Christ and his holie Church shall triumph after seuerall Battailes THAT WHICH IS PAST IS SHEWED IN a briefe Ecclesiasticall Historie containing most of the Mutations which haue befallen the Church from the yeere of our Lord 97 vnto the yeere 1603. as they haue been shewed vnto S. Iohn in Patmos and recorded by such Historiographers as are of least suspected faith Gathered by WILLIAM SYMONDS sometimes Fellow of Magdalen Colledge in Oxford REVEL 6.1 Come and see ISAIAH 42.9 Behold the former things are come to passe and new things doe I declare before they come foorth I tell you them ISAIAH 34.16 Seeke in the booke of the Lord and reade none of these shall faile none shall want her make for his mouth hath commanded and his very spirit hath gathered them Imprinted at London by FELIX KYNGSTON for Edmund Weauer and are to be sold at his shop at the great North-doore of S. Pauls Church 1605. TO THE RIGHT HONOVRABLE SIR ROBERT BERTIE KNIGHT Lord Willughby Lord of Willughby Berke and Erisby my most honourable good Patron all increase of honor in this life and eternall happines in the life to come INfinite are the benefits right Honourable that God hath prouided for man but amongst them all the word of God hath the preeminence For howsoeuer the fruition of the rest may seeme to make a man happie in this life this and onely this doth make a man a 2. Tim. 3.17 absolute as b 1. Tim. 4.8 hauing the promises of this present life and that which is to come Yea the keeping hereof doth adde c Prou. 3.12 an encrease of prosperitie to Salomons royalties but the want hereof made d Gen. 4.12.14 Kain a vagabond and a runnagate who was the heire of Adam the greatest Monarch and e Gen. 27.40 Esau to liue by his sword that had the birthright of better promises The chiefest point of the Scriptures is that which saueth namely f Rom. 10.9 confession of Christ and faith in him But that which striketh the veriest Atheist with greatest consternation the false worshipper with most astonishment and the looker on with deepest admiration is g Isai 45.21 41.21 c. and 43.12 44.7 the propheticall spirit here to bee found and no where else truly plainly and perfitly setting downe before hand what shall be accomplished afterwards in his due time Hereby the erroneous haue bin often h Mat. 22.40 c. conuicted and they which i Dan. 9.2 c. waited vpon the Lord singularly directed k Est 4 1â— and comforted This spirit which hath bin alwaies in the word of God doth fully shew it selfe in the Reuelation For in it the Lord hath written vp before hand the steps of his prouidence by which he would rule the Christian world l cap. 1.19 from the time of the Apostles to the last day Here m cap. 13. the reader and hearer are blessed the godly witnesses n cap. 2. 3. of Christ are directed in their greatest tentations and o cap. 44. the honourable wise and godly polititians in their p cap. 4.11 and 5.5 grauest deliberations and q cap. 11.17.18 reuising of histories c. Now though many haue laboured very profitably in the vnfolding of this booke yet wisedome lieth so deepe in the waters that r Eccl. 24.32 the first man hath not knowne her perfectly no more shall the last seeke her out For her considerations are more abundant than the sea and her counsell profounder than the great deepe But howsoeuer it be yet notwithstanding with Å¿ Dan. 12.4 often running it ouer knowledge is euer encreased and this was my comfort that sought to be further satisfied in a scripture of so great vse That which I haue attained vnto seeing the importunitie of many godly men hath preuailed with me to publish vpon good reasons I doe humblie present vnto your Lordship For first the Lord hath so mercifully disposed for me that both I and mine doe liue vnder your Lordships patronage wherefore I was bound to make some remonstrance of my thankfulnes and wanting other meanes I tooke this opportunitie Againe I was not onely set on worke to study this booke but also much encouraged and holped herein by your most honourable wise learned and godly Father my dearest Lord and therefore was to returne the fruites of my labour to his house And further I giuing it abroad in the language of my nation as a counterpoyson against the shamelesse fraudes of popish seducers your Lordships experience affoording you greater satisfaction of the times than can be knowne by bookes will be a strong retentiue to wauerers when they see the relation of the present popish impieties to be patronized by your good Lordship Great and many were the benefits which the Church of God obtained by the sincere and godlie profession of the Gospell which your Lordships most honorable ancestors did make Your Lordships * The Dutchesse of Suffolke grandmother did suffer much for the Gospell euen vnto banishment her Graces faithfulnes appeared herein that in the daies of her prosperitie and peace at home she is * By Master R. Allen sometimes her Chaplen reported to pray vnto God with lifted hands and eyes vnto heauen that the Lord would continue her house in honour to the glorie of God and of the Gospell of Christ for euer Your most honourable father with the blessed sword of Gedeon did fight in the defence of the Gospell and in a sicknes thought insuperable stood so resolued in the truth that hee desired none other graue than to die in the defence of the Gospell and of his Queene Both of them regarded the Lords Prophets and them that feared his name both small and great Their vertues haue a part in the booke of life in the holie citie and in the things which are written in this booke Honourable Lord the loue you beare to the Gospell and your wisdome in taking to wife a daughter of the true God doe make demonstration that your Lordship doth inherit the vertues of your most Christian ancestrie To your Lordship therefore I presume to dedicate this Treatise The subiect is Scripture and therfore worthie your hands the manner of explaining is somewhat new a thing that is wont to bee desired the maine is historie which giueth contentment and instruction to the studious Let the faithfulnes and dutifull affection of the giuer counterpoise the homelines of the handling And so I doe most humblie take my leaue praying vnto God that we which honoured your Lordships most honourable ancestrie may still encrease our thankfulnes to God and the ioy we take to see your Lordship and all yours euer abounding in all the blessings of almightie God and that stil of your Lordship also Christ may say as now he doth t
l. 12. cap. 4. their tayles than in their iawes By the tayle is signified the false f Esay 9.15 prophet that speaketh lies and they which doe turne other to righteousnesse doe g Dan. 12.3 shine as the Starres in the firmament Now in these times partly by the instigation of the diuell partly by ambition or feare of persecution h Euseb 3. 23. 24. 25. 26. 4. 7. c. very many became heretikes and these were so much esteemed of the Romaines that they set vp i Euseb 2. 13. 14. a pillar in Rome in honour of Simon Magus the most impious and abominable father of all heretikes with this inscription To Simon the holy God These heresies principally sprang vp in the East the third part of the Empire and poysoned it with the heresies of Menander that more pestilently continued k Aug. de haresâ— cap. 1.2 the blasphemies of Simon Magus against the creation of the world incarnation and passion of Christ for idolatry c. Ebion Cerinthus Nicholaus Basilides c. which increased the former heresies with new impieties * Euseb 4. 11. 14. euen at Rome Besides there were many that deuised l Euseb 3. 22. 4. 11. bookes which they called and obtruded to their hearers as Scriptures full of vaine and peruerse and vngodly doctrines As also they forged bookes vnder the names of godly men as of m Eused 3.35 Clement to induce the world to thinke that such also fauored their heresies Moreouer n Epistola Plini apud Foxum Martyrologio p. 39. by the persecutions many returned to idolatrie these did very seruilely follow the Princes that persecuted the Christians For the o Euseb 3. 29. 4. 15. Iewes heretikes and priests of the Gentiles did continually accuse the Bishops and called importunately to haue them sought vp and martyred For said they they are the fathers of the Christians These were alwayes ready to prouide matter for their torment and execute whatsoeuer might bring the Bishops and other Christians to their martyrdome Yet did there step vp two for one so that but a third part were cast downe He p cap. 12.4 stoode before the woman which was readie to be deliuered that she might keepe in her birth or miscarry in her deliuerie He gapeth to deuoure her childe when she had brought it forth A very fearefull sight he being of that sorte of Dragons which a Gesn li. 5. gape the widest of any kinde of beast and hath three orders of teeth in a iawe the more easily to deuoure his pray And as he is fearefull to behold so is he rauenouse as the Dragons of India which lie in waite for their cattell comming from their feeding and doe much harme oftentimes they kill the Heardsmen and thence prouide themselues of a large meale Yea it sometimes commeth to passe that a Dragon doth draw the Indian that hunteth him into his denne with his weapons and all and deuoureth him shaking in a manner the whole mountaine in which he lodgeth with his force and noyse Vnto these sortes of Dragons are these tyrants compared b Euseb passim For the Emperors proclaimed seuere fearefull and bloody lawes against the Christians commaunding that none should professe Christ and if any were conuerted he should be killed yea c Euseb 5 19. that whosoeuer of the Christians were brought to the iudgement seate he should not be let goe except he changed his mind Domitian after the example of Vespasian hunted after all that were of the line of Dauid and persecuted the Christians d Fox Mar. ex Epistolis Traiani plinij Traian commaunded the Christians to be killed which was done without distinction of age or sexe e Bergom lib. 8. so that daily innumerable thousands were slaine Adrian resolued to roote out the Christians vnder whom suffered very many In Rome were martyred tenne thousand two hundreth and three c. Notwithstanding the successe is prosperous on the womans behalfe as it was f cap. 2.7.11.17.28 3.5.10.12.21 promised for her fruit is borne and preserued Shee brought forth a g cap. 12.5 man child These latter Churches as farre excelling the former in courage and strength and masculine vigor as a man excelleth a woman Of this childe it is said he shall rule all nations with a rodde of iron preuailing in the ende and ruling with iustice till all things be put in subiection vnder his feete For vpon the death of Domitian h Euseb 3. 18. 20. Narna called home al exiles S. Iohn comming from Patâ—tes planted new Churches and strengthened the old As also vpon the intermission of Traian i Euseb 3. 34. many godly men went abroad and did the worke of Euangelists preached to such as neuer heard of Christ They laid the foundation of faith in new and strange places and appointed Pastors there c. a cap. 12.5 And that her childe was taken vp vnto God and to his throne The Lord causing the b Prou. 8.15 Princes to decree iustice for the preseruation of his people himselfe beeing c Psal 82.1 iudge amongst the Gods For d Euseb 4. 9. Adrian decreed that those of euery Prouince should accuse the Christians if they did commit any thing against the Empire but if any did traduce them without cause the accuser should be punished with iust reuenge As also e Anno. 149. Antoninus Pius f Euseb 4. 12. 13. mooued by the Apologie of Iustine wrote about the yeare 149. that the Christians are not to be molested except they attempted any thing against the Empire and that he that did otherwise trouble them should beare the punishment which he would haue inflicted on the Christian but he that was accused should goe free And as for the woman the Church shee escaped the danger by flight g cap. 12.6 for shee fled into the wildernesse and h Isay 43.20 44.3 was mingled among the heathen i Euseb 5. 19. 8.1 Princes and Gentiles and heretickes where she hath a place prepared of God as the Church of the Iewes was directed to her place in the wildernesse by a piller of fire c. both for her safety and that they should feede her there 1260. dayes that is 1260. yeeres k Soc. 1. 17. For a little before the times of Constantine a counterfeit religion shadowing the rites of the gentiles was mixed with true christian religion not otherwise then false prophets that arise amongst the Prophets and false Apostles among the Apostles So that from hence 1260. yeeres the Church is mingled with the wicked and is safe amongst them and liueth at their costs Besides that l Isid Etym. lib. 8. cap. 5. vpon those persecutions many fled into the Mountaines separated from the wicked where they were safe and fedde the Lord knoweth how The end of the first period and battaile in heauen which was in hand when Saint Iohn
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
decencie but after diuers did appoint diuers things The l Wolph Saracens make the Emperour tributarie vpon very vnequall conditions and spoile Corsica and Sardinia Ann. 817. Stephanus the fift went m Gebel a. 6. 41. into France taking n Moris Paâ— the office of the heathen Druides where hee crowned Pudâ—nicus Emperour who swarâ—â—o the Pope an oath of fidelitie So now the Pope doth receiue an oath of the Emperour as the Poâ—t Max. was wont to doe of the heathen Romane Kings He decreed that no o De conse d. 5. Nunquid Sacrament was perfect without the signe of the crosse Paschalis the first was chosen without the Emperours p Pencerus Sab. Plat. 124. consent Anno 817. but translated the blame vpon the people and Clergie and so pacified the Emperor which was offended for the election He also made sedition in Rome but laid the fault elsewhere He is q Geneb p. 707. reported to represse with the signe of the crosse the fire that began to consume Burgus a schoole of Englishmen Vnto r Volat. Geog. 3. f. 21. dist 63. Ego Ludouic him by letters pattents Ludouicus the Emperor gaue and confirmed all Lombardy Rauenna and Rome with their iurisdictions c. and gaue the Councell at Rome leaue to chuse the Pope And so was fulfilled that which is written by the Prophet Daniel The litle Å¿ Dan. 7.8 horne grew vp so that three of the other tenne hornes were rooted out before him that is the Popes grew vp so that three of the other tenne kingdomes or principalities were rooted out before him viz. the kingdome of the Gothes in Rome the kingdome of the Lombardes and the Exarchie of Rauenna t Geneb p. 769. A Councell was held at Aquisgraue against those that laboured against images The manner and custome u Peucerus 4. p. 183. of priuate Masses began vnder Ludouicus Pius which before a Caran f. 330 Anno. 824. were forbidden in a Councell at Mogunce Can. 43. Eugenius the second in b Platina Volat Geo. 3. his time Michael the Emperor of Constantinople sent his Orators to Ludouicus the Emperor of the West to vnderstand his minde concerning images Ludouicus reiecteth them ouer to the Pope and c Sab. En. 8. l. 9. Clergie And thus was fulfilled that which was written And d cap. 13.45 they worshipped the beast c. And there was giuen him a mouth to speake great things and blasphemies and power was giuen him to doe The e Sab. ibid. Saracens preuailed in Aquitania and Sicilia c. Thus f cap. 9.20.21 the remnant repenteth not of their idolatry c. CHAP. VII Of the blasphemie of the scarlet coloured beast and woman thereon and first how they are blasphemous in their owne persons THe beast hauing attained vnto this great power and dependance abuseth his authoritie of speaking to blaspheme and his power of doing vnto tyrannie For it is said he g cap. 13.6.7 therefore opened his mouth vnto blasphemie and to make warre with the Saints He is blasphemous euery way and that first in respect of his owne conuersation which henceforth is very flagitious For from this time the Popes doe grow to such wickednes and impietie as was neuer heard the like no not in Simon Magus or his posteritie Secondly he is blasphemous in his doctrine and that concerning God and his worship Simon Magus was noted for a singular blasphemer that durst affirme h Act. 8.9 of himselfe that he himselfe was some great man but the Popes like the Prince of Tyrus hath his heart exalted and saith I am a i Ezech. 28.2 god I sit in the seate of God in the mids of the sea the multitude of people Yea he thinketh in his heart tha the is equall with God k 2. Thes 2.4 Aug. ciuit dâ— 20. 19. For he exalteth himselfe against all that is called God or that is worshipped so that he doth sit as God and as if he were the Temple and Church of God And now poperie being an absolute complement of all abhominable heresies that can be brought to any tolerable appearance l cap. 13.6 doth blaspheme God his name his Tabernacle and them that dwell in heauen For now is come into the world m 2. Tim. 3.2 that perilous time in which men become cursed speakers And vnto their blasphemie they adde the persecution of the Saints These things are to be marked as they follow in the stories at seuerall times They are said to blaspheme the name of n Mand. 3. God which directly commit blasphemie against the person of the Godhead or else blaspheme any persons or things vpon which God is named wherefore the name of God is blasphemed when Princes are blasphemed seeing that vnto them the Lord o Exod. 22.28 Psal 81.1 hath communicated his owne name Those doe blaspheme his Tabernacle which speake euill p Act. 7.44 c. 2. King 18.30 35. of the place where God is worshipped according to his owne ordinance and the worship which God hath appointed in his word and Sacraments or where q Iere. 7.4.10.11.12 that is ascribed vnto his Church which he neuer gaue vnto it as to exalt it or any person thereof to a greater place then to be obedient vnto his word They which dwell in heauen are blasphemed when that which is proper to God is ascribed vnto them as to be patrones illuminers mediators c. or any r Psal 74.12 Isai 42.3 helpers of those which are below Å¿ Gal. 1.8 when Angels are made preachers of a new Gospel or receiuers of t Col 2.18 worships and the Saints departed u Luk. 16.24.26 are supposed to ease those in hell c. especially when they are reported to further the ambition and malice of men c. These and such like blasphemies is this beast guiltie of from this time forth The opposition of the Lambe doth still continue killing a cap. 9.15 of the third part of men and bringing a was vpon the remnant by the foure Angels which are loosed from Euphrates As b cap. 10.2 also Christ the King by Princes doth still hold open the booke of the Gospel and set his foote vpon the land and sea as proprietary and true owner of both country and people And because the beast doth labour not onely to exempt c cap. 13.12.14 himselfe from the subiection of Christ in the ministery of Princes but doth also arrogate to himselfe to be d cap. 18.7 cap. 12. Lord of the earth and sea the Lambe that is e cap. 7.17 in the throne in the person of Princes doth first f cap. 10.2 set his right foote vpon the sea that is he taketh possession of the people with great force and violence and his left foote vpon the earth that is possesseth the earth And because g cap. 10.1 his feete are pillers
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
in his warres which were many because of the Popes excommunication And m Vrsp p. 308. the Princes and Barones taught by the diuell cared not to breake their oath nor violate their faith but confounded all iustice taking part sometimes with Philip sometimes with Otho By n 307. the meanes of this contention the Pope made all Ecclesiasticall dignities litigious and brought them to Rome Whereupon Vrspergensis exclaimeth Reioyce our mother Rome because the sluces of all treasures are opened that whole riuers of money may runne to thee Reioyce for the wickednes of men because for the recompence of so great euils some price is paide to thee Insult for discord thy helper which came from hell to helpe thee to money by great heapes Thou hast that which thou hast thirsted for Sing this song that by wickednesse and not by religion thou hast ouercome the world Men come not to thee for deuotion and conscience but for the committing of villanies and for decision of contentions bought out with money of thee The begging Friers beganne the wicked order of which Ioachim prophecied before The first thing that the Friers did labour for was to magnifie their faction a Ex Mat. Paris p. 910. Gobelaet 6. cap. 63. Fox Mart. p. 326. To which purpose they wrote a very detestable and blasphemous booke containing the most abhominable heresies of these new sprung vp friers Nowe because the Gospel which the scripture calleth b cap. 14.6 Eternall was commonly preached to the hazzard of the papacie these called their booke The eternall Gospell and the Gospell of the holy Ghost This they said excelled that written by the foure Euangelists so much as the kernell passeth the shell and as light excelleth darkenes And therefore taught N.B. that within threescore yeares vz. 1260. the Gospel written by the foure Euangelists should cense and bee abolished and theirs should steppe vp instead thereof and continue for euer c Sibrandus Lâ—b d. Christ â—og 2. cap. 7. This booke the Friers commended to the Pope to bee canonized who esteemed it much For from hence the Popes doe continue many wicked prankes to weaken if not to abolish the authority of the Scriptures This deuice of forging a newe Gospel the Friers borrowed of their fathers the d Epiph. haeres 26. p. 27. Gnosticks It seemeth hitherto that the cup in the supper was not taken quite from the laitie * Trith p. 215. For Innocentius the third enioyning certaine knights and their seruants penance for killing the Bishop of Herbipolis saith thus They shall not presume to take the bodie and blood of the Lord but at the point of death e 215. 216. Philip putting Otho stil to the worst the Princes grew wearie of warre and sought for peace and notwithstanding the Popes excommunications are reconciled to Philip crown him againe and f 219. with the Popes Legates treate of peace and compounding the state of the Empire g Vrsp p. 310. The Pope to whom all is referred consenteth to peace vpon promise that his nephew should marry the Emperor Philips daughter And Otho likewise vpon the like condition h Pag. 309. At the same time one Fulco preached in France and moued many to take the crosse and fight in the holy land Whereupon two Earles came with their armies to the Pope who sent one of them against his owne enemies in Campania the other went as towards Ierusalem in the way the Venetians spoyle a certaine citie called Satira After the armie went to Constantinople beat a part of the citie entred and tooke many spoyles and reliques of Saints He that readeth iudge if it were not theft and if the Pope can excuse that rapine by the Isralites robbing the Egyptians i Trith p. 219. After the capitulations were made for the quiet of the Empire Philip went to pursue some rebels in Saxony and as he rested in his chamber hauing opened a veyne he was murthered by Otho Palatinus because he did not worship the beast And so was ended this fourth Thunder The fifth Thunder Anno 1208. VPon a Trith p. 219. 220. the death of Philip the Emperor was Otho chosen with one consent of all the Princes The Pope hearing thereof and that he had maried his neere kinswoman liked it and by Legates confirmed it Wherefore Otho going into Italy is honorably receiued by the Princes and Pope and is crowned At this time the Franciscan Friers began There were also great heates fearefull thundrings and lightnings And b Crant 7. 35. now while the Pope did chalenge Apulia c. to belong to the Church of Rome and the Emperor thought not there arise dissentions betweene them c Vrsp p. 313. so that the Pope pronounceth him contumacious excommunicated him and so hee was euery where denounced Whereupon the Princes elect Fridericus the sonne of Henricus the sixt Emperor as an euill diuell in Israel which election the Pope confirmeth and Fridericke is garded through Italy by the Princes of Italy In d Mass 17. p. 235. Narbâ—na 140. and at Paris 24. would rather be burned as heretikes then recant their opinions e Amicon d. 5. Sarma c. 1. 2. In 1211. appeared a great comet the yeere following the nation of the Tartarians The fourth Angel about Euphrates came out of their seates into our world f Haiton c. 16. through the Caspian sea which gaue them way miraculously as an Angel had directed them g Trith p. 221. Otho the Emperor succeeded prosperously in his warres of Apulia Calabria Wherefore h Vrsp p. 314. the Pope sent fiue times to him in short space for peace but the Emperor despising the Popes commaundements could not be stirred but that he would roote out Fridericus and be reuenged of the French King for the wrongs he had done to England Hereupon the Pope tooke courage i Pag. 317. and resolued vpon two things to recouer the holy land from the Saracens and to reforme the Church against heretikes and such as impugned the liberties thereof And so required k Trith p. 221. the Archbishop of Mogunce to declare the Emperor excommunicate and deposed The Princes that fauored Otho spoyled the cities religious houses and Churches of the diocesse of Mogunce and Otho returning into Germany subdued many rebels l Geneb pag. 957. 958. The Albingenses in the parts of Tholosa in France maintained many doctrines against the Church of Rome as against prayers to the virgine Mary c. Against whom the French both Clergie and Laytie did contend and fight with doubtfull successe almost for the space of twelue yeeres m Trith p. 221. But now the Pope preacheth the crosse and absolution from all sinnes in Austria Saxony Westphalia Phrisia and all Germany to assist his Captaine against them For the King of Arragon and diuers Earles c. tooke their parts Hereby the Albingenses were put to the worst n
p. 3â—3 wrote to the French king that himselfe was Lord of all spirituall and temporall estates through the world Thus he exalteth himselfe aboue all that is called God And said that because the French king would not take his kingdom of him hee deserued to bee depriued The French king burned his letters and despised his Legates In a Councell at Paris calleth the Pope a schismaticke hereticke and inuader of the state by the pragmatical sanctier diminisheth the Popes authoritie in France c Par. Vrsp 344. The Pope confirmeth the election of Albert vnder condition that he would take vpon him the kingdomes of Romanes and France d Fox Flores hist The king of England also couragiously withstood the Pope in the title of Scotland e Bergo 13. Trith p. 268. The French king caused him to be apprehended in his bedde and carried prisoner to Rome where hee died with sorrow c. In f Geneb p. 1004 1007. 1008. his time Ottoman the first Emperour of the Turkes arose a great plague to the professors of Christ Now the Church of Rome leaueth to reckon from the passion of Christ as before and accounteth from his Natiuitie The Mariners compasse is found out A fit instrument to spread the name of Christ where it was vnknown Clement the fifth g Mass 17. p. 244. was consecrated in France at Lugdunum going to the pallace the people thronged a wall fell Ann. 1305. and hurt many the Popes crowne fell from his head and out of it a Carbuncle esteemed worth 6000. florens An euill presage For h Trith 269. Geneb 1009. he translated the Popes seate from Rome to Auinion to the great damage of Italie Rome and all Christians i Trith 271. The Princes elected Henrie the seauenth Emperour a good man and valiant worthy the imperiall seate He k Par. Vrsp 349. sent his Orators to the Pope for his imperiall crowne And l Bergo 13. in Henr. the Pope confirmed his election vnder condition he would go into Italie to receiue his crowne according to the manner of the Emperors passing through a Par. Vrsp 349. 350. Italie he found and subdued many rebels came to Rome and is crowned and gaue out lawes concerning traitors and rebels which Rome as the head of the world and saieth in her head I sit as Queene adorned and confirmed in these words I the crown of crowns confirme vnto my Prince his power c. doe subiect vnto him cities nations of countries Eagles defend my glorie behold the Gentiles Departing from Rome he had more rebels that opposed themselues against him ouer most of whom he triumphed Then came newes to him to come into Apulia where he should finde Rupertus king of Apulia depriued and deliuered to him The Emperour went towards Apulia The b Clemen 2. tit 9. de iureiurando Pope sendeth to him to make peace with Rupertus vpon his oath of fidelitie and obedience which hee made to the Pope But the Emperour by publike instruments declareth he made no such oath Then c Par. Vrsp 350 came there a d Geneb p. 1011 Dominican Frier vnto the Emperour promising to reconcile vnto him certaine cities that stood out against him desiring to minister the Eucharist to him with which he poysoned the Emperour as e Berg. 13. in Henr. he was hired by the Florentines For that which was execrable in the Saracens f Mat. Paris p. 769. namely to poyson their prisoners is now practised by Friers against Emperours and that like the children of the mother of abhominations euen in the sacrament His death was the safetie of Rupertus and the Florentines For this murther at the place and time of the worship of God according to his word there was euery where a famine after which followed a very great pestilence The Pope in a Councell openly declareth the oath of the Emperour now murthered to bee an oath of fidelitie and obedience and requireth it alwaies so to be vnderstood g Clem. 2 tit 9. in gloss verb. futur Out of which decree is gathered that the Emperour is not Emperour before he be crowned by the Pope He h Clem. 5 tit 3. de haeres c. 1. also prouided that the walles and lockes might bee sure and that the Keepers should bee sworne where heretickes were imprisoned Hee i Clem. 3 tit 16 de vener sanct confirmed Corpus Christi day and gaue large indulgences to them that were present at the solemnitie There were at this time diuers that held many things against the church of Rome as the followers k Mass 17. p. 244. Berg. 13. f. 207. a. of Dulcinus of whom were 6000. and of them were apprehended more than 400. who were of the reliques of those whom Bernard writeth of in the Canticles vz. Petrus Abailardus c. There l Clem. 5. tit 3. c. 3. were also certaine called Begnardes that held against adoration of the Eucharist at the eleuation Moreouer very m Trith 274. 275. many euen to the number of 80,000 were of the opinion of Lolliardus who held against Transubstantiation extreame vnction c. that the Church of Rome was not the Church of Christ but of the infidel Gentiles and despised the prelates authoritie they held also against distinction of meates Of them many were burned by the inquisition The same time was a most extreame famine Buchel Anâ— 1315. Trith p. 273. that the parents restrained not themselues from the most filthie carkasses of their children and after that followed a great pestilence euery where so that in a manner the third part of mankinde was consumed Thus Michael fighteth for the word of God Many wicked things are obiected to these of Dulcinus the Begnardes and Lolliards opinion But because in the time of the heathen Emperours the diuell did accuse the brethren and in this time of Antichrist the beast doth blaspheme them that dwell in heauen their accusation may iustly be suspected to be slanderous Especially seeing they confesse that the Boemians in the time of Hus were of their sect who are very well known to maintaine none of these impieties a Paral. Vrsp 351. Arnoldus de noua villa attempted to prooue by Daniel and Sibyllaes prophecies that Antichrist and the persecution of the Church should bee betweene the yeares 1300. and 1400. b 345. 346. This Pope also put downe the Templars for their horrible wickednesse contempt of Christ and abhominable idolatrie and that they betraied Ludouicus king of France into the hands of the Soldan when he was in the holy land Hee c Berg. 13. f. 207. interdicted Venice for taking Ferrara Wherefore d Sab. En. 9. l. 7 Franciscus Dandalus a Noble man of Venice laie bound in a chaine at the Popes feete to batter his anger against Venice and to procure him to free it from interdiction The Knights of the Rhodes began Anno 1315. Iohn the twentith two
the Archbishop of Mogunce My Lord Archbishop we command you vpon your oath of fidelitie that you reforme your Clergie c. And if they will not be reformed that you command the fruits of their benefices to be taken from them and presented to our Exchequer and we will conuert it to more godly vses Ann. 1367. Gregorie the eleuenth c Geneb p. 1040. 1041. remooued the Popes court from Auinion to Rome Edward king of England laid a grieuous paine vpon those that thenceforth would receiue any benefices of the Bishop of Rome shee is fallen Carolus the French king coÌ„manded â—he Bible to be faithfully traÌ„slated into the French tongue d Fox Mart. p. 415. 416. 417 Militzius sometimes a Canon vrged by the holy Ghost to finde by the scriptures the comming of Antichrist was compelled by the holy Ghost to preach at Rome before the Inquisitor and said publikely that the same great Antichrist prophecied of in the Scripture was already come He conuerted many from their vngodly life and held a congregation Catharina Senensis spake of the reformation of the Church Mathew Paris noteth the Pope to be Antichrist Henricus de Iota Henricus de Hassia who writeth out of a prophecie of Hildegrade that the diuell spake of the Priests of this time daintie bankets and feastes wherein is all voluptuousnesse doe I finde among these men c. Hee saith further that they clime with Lucifer til with him they fall deeper and deeper This Pope very violently persecuted such as were against him as namely Militzius Wickleife c. But e 425. Wickleife continued and interpreted the articles obiected against him and finished his testimonie Vrbanus the sixt Ann. 1378. a Gobel aet 6. cap. 27. in his time were great seditions in all places and there began a most grieuous schisme amongst the Popes as Rupe scissa prophecied For there were then two Popes the other was called Clemens the seauenth and this schisme lasted almost 40. yeare b Fasc Temp. f. 86. From Vrbane the sixth to Martine the fifth I know not who was Pope c Gobel at 6. c. 76.81 This Pope was very rigorous he tormented Cardinals to death buried them in a stable by Carolus the bastard he strangled in prison Ioan the Queene of Sicilia Against the Antipope hee was very violent d Fox Mart. p. 441. For hee proclaimed to all that would fight for him against any of his enemies as large pardons as were granted to them that fight against the Turke And whereas e Caran A. 33. p dist 50. clericus Nicolaus the first maketh the Clergy that fighteth irregular he contrarily f Gob. 6. cap. 70. proclaimed that the Clergie of all sortes that should kill or maime any of the Popes enemies should both bee free from irregularitie and inioy the same priuiledges which are granted to them that warre vpon the infidels g Peucer 5. f. 157. Neither was Clement the Antipope of a more gentle disposition for he spared not the Embassadors of Emperours and Princes which were sent vnto him to perswade him to concord for some he killed in prison and others hee tormented to death vpon the racke h Fox Mart. p. 440. 567. 4â—0 446. Wickleife escapeth the hands of his persecutors his books suddainly spread abroad by such which came from Boemia with the Queene of England c. i 416. 417. Mountzigger Rector of the Vniuersitie of Vlme taught against reall presence but was resisted by the monks and friers Nilus Archbishop of Thessalonica chargeth the Pope to be the only cause of the schisme betweene the East and West Churches 36. were burned at Bringa for the opinions of the Waldenses k Geneb 1044. Hus spreadeth Wickleife opinions in Boem This Pope maketh more superstitious feasts vz. the feast of the visitation and reduceth the Iubile to 33. yeares The Iesuites begin The Turke entred Greece and made Constantinople subiect to tribute Anno 1389. Bonifacius the ninth l Gob. aet 6. cap. 84. 85. 86. 87. of an incredible thirst of money monstrous in his deuises to get it He graunted reuersed antedated c. diuers of his graces for money He increased the fees of Archbishops for their Pall c. aboue tenne folde some paide 80,000 florens for it and hee that would giue most had what he would Hee dispensed for money against the Apostles and Euangelists For money he made Iubiles to be held not onely in great cities but also in base places a Geneb p. 1048 The king of England bounded the Popes authoritie at the Ocean sea so that no English man vnder paine of perpetuall imprisonment should deale with the Pope to excommunicate any in England Against this Pope sate Benedict the thirteenth vnto whom b Vincent prog part 1. 2. Saint Vincentius submitted his booke and doctrine of his prognostication of Antichrist and of the ende of the world In which booke though there be many things fabulous and false after the manner of all the Friers in their prophecies yet there be also some things worth the marking as of the ruine of the popish Prelates of Antichrist mixt which must be a Pope of the abhominable life of the Friers and the falshood of Francis prophecie of his order c. In c Fox Mart. p. 446. c. 456. 457. c. the time of this Pope Boniface were many constant confessors of the truth as Swinderbie who was persecuted for beeing earnest against the wicked liues of Friers and Priests of his time refused the popish iudgement appealed to the kings iustice because the Pope was Antichrist And Water Brute who most excellently interpreteth the mysticall numbers in Daniel and prooueth the Pope to bee Antichrist The d Fasc Temp. opinions of Wickleife in England Hus and Ierom of Prage in Boemia doe spread amongst many The heresie of the Adamites sprung vp in Boem but was presently suppressed by the Hussites e Geneb 1048. The Greeke tongue which had exiled seauen hundred yeares is brought into Italie by Chrysoleras c. f Buchol Anno 1399. Yea all good artes and tongues began to spring and to be husbanded and to growe fresh againe whereas for 700. yeares all learning was troden vnder foot and defiled with horrible barbarousnesse c. And here beginneth a happie age of all skilfull learning in Italie which farre and wide did spread abroad the glistering light thereof into other kingdomes A g Mass 8. Pp. 253. 254. Priest came from the Alpes to whom were gathered 70,000 they sharpely reprehended vice c. The Pope apprehended and tormented him Some said that there was no euill found in him others thought that he sought to be Pope that whom the Pope commanded to be burned should not bee said to be burned without cause From h Peâ—e 5. f. 157. c. 168. this time to the Councell of Constance continued the schisme
supper of the Lord vnder one or both kindes Podiebrachius who was next vnto the King was moued by a parasite why he liked not their religion of popery required by the example and authoritie of so many and great Princes rather then the Hussites He answered we doe those sacrifices which we beleeue are pleasing to God neither is it in our owne choyce to beleeue what we list The minde is ouercome with great reasons c. I am perswaded of my ministers religion If I follow thy religion I may perchance deceiue men contrary to my soule I cannot deceiue God which looketh into the hearts of men c. p Bucholcer Par. Vrsp 406. Calistus the third in his second yeere Mahomet with a 150,000 beseeged Belgrade Capistranus a Minorite Frier stoode to encourage the Souldiers But he vsed not any superstitions For crying out he said Iesus looke on vs be present with thy people that suffereth for thee where are thy mercies of old Come and defend thy people least they say among the Gentiles where is now their God c. The Christians got a rich and noble victory In memory whereof the Pope according to his wonted superstition foolishly instituted the feast of the transfiguration of Christ Hunniades who had been a noble victor ouer the Turkes after this his last battaile fell sicke but hee would not haue the Sacrament brought to him as the superstitious manner was but commaunded himselfe to be carried to the Church where after the confession of his sinnes he receiued the Eucharist c. Thus much of the two witnesses and the things which fell out vpon their death and resurrection Thus the remnant giueth to glory to God And now the q cap. 11.14 second woe to the inhabitants of the earth by the Turkes c. seemeth to be past But the third woe will come anon CHAP. XII Of the third a cap. 11.14 woe to the inhabitants of the earth by Kings conuerted to Christ WE are now come to speake of the third woe which shal be inflicted vpon the inhabitants of the earth namely such which doe rather desire to possesse the earth then to inherit heauen And this containeth the abolishing of the kingdome of Antichrist and the victorious reigne and triumph of the word of God That which is spoken hereof is comprehended in the doctrine which came abroad when b cap. 11.15 the seuenth Angell blew the trumpet The summe whereof is manifestly knowne and euidently spoken by all godly men as if there were great voyces in heauen expressing their assurance of the things that are to come to passe And the summe is this that certainelie it can not be but the kings will also be conuerted to the Gospell by whose onely and holy administrations The kingdomes of this world are to be our Lords and his Christs and he shall reigne for euermore Hereupon all godly magistrates and ministers called by the name of the c cap. 11.16 foure and twentie elders which make any consciecne of their places as those which sit before God on their seates First doe humble themselues euen falling on their faces and subiecting themselues to this kind of administration Secondly they doe also leaue the seruice of idols and men and in their places worship God both with praises and administration of iustice As for their praises they do in effect say d cap. 11.17 we giue thee thankes Lord God almightie which art and which wa st and which art to come euen the same God which art euerlasting for that taking the power out of the hands of mortall weake and mutable men who of long time haue trodden thy sanctuarie vnder foote thou hast receiued the entrance and possession of thy great might and hast obtained thy kingdome in due time to bee fully and alone administred by thee As for their sincere administration of iustice they shew that they so regard the faithfull profession of the Gospell that thereupon such which rather professed the vanitie of the Gentiles then Christ euen the Antichristian Papists were a cap. 11.18 angrie The cause of their anger is first that the time is come of the wrath of God to be inflicted vpon whosoeuer shall deserue it without respect of persons Secondly because they see that the time is come of the dead which haue been martyred for the witnes of Iesus that they should be iudged whether they died as innocents or not so that the proceedings against such come to be looked into and examined againe by iustice faithfully which they are angrie should be knowen Thirdly because that God hath raised vp Christian Kings that God by them should giue rewarde vnto his seruants the prophets which doe sincerely speake the truth from the Lord whereas Antichrist did tread them vnder foote Yea because the time was come that he by Princes should giue reward also to the Saints and to them that in deede doe feare his name to small and great whom Antichrist exposed to death and confiscation loading them with reproches c. Fourthly because the time is come that God by Princes should vtterly destroy them which destroy the earth be they Turkes or Papists The aduancement of the godly and destruction of the wicked according to the exact rule of iustice in the word of God being thus drifted by godly Gouernors those of the spirit of Saint Iohn b cap. 15.1 saw another great and marueilous signe in heauen the Church of God Namely that God hath prepared seuen Angels hauing the seuen last plagues which he would inflict vpon his enemies for not by men but by them euen by a diuine hand is now to be fulfilled the wrath of God Of these plagues we are to consider the place whence these Angels doe receiue them and the powring of them forth These plagues are deliuered vnto them in the temple which after the godly doe put on zeale and thankesgiuing is opened Concerning the zeale of the godly first is declared how the true doctrine of Christian baptisme is restored namely that Christians ought to be vndefiled and zealous in the cause of Christ For the lauer of regeneration is now figured a cap. 15.2 by a glassie sea mingled with fire godly Princes and people being baptised b Mat. 3.11 with the holy Ghost and fire whereas hitherto they were baptised vnto repentance with patience Here therefore stand the Boemians which had gotten the victorie ouer the beast the ciuell estate which beareth vp the whore of Babylon and of his image the Ecclesiasticall policie and his marke of superstitious ceremonies and of the number of his name his armies which he sent against them These I say stand constantly at the glassie sea mingled with fire continuing sincere and zealous professors being so farre from being ouercome that contrarily they haue the harpes of God to sing praises vnto their God for their deliuerance from Antichrist And they being deliuered from the kingdome of Antichrist which spiritually
whom afterwards the diuell killed in the arte of sodomie wringing his necke behind him f Moris papat He permitted the Cardinals to haue harlots g Platina in Greg. 4. Of this time Platina speaking of the lawe which Ludouicus the Emperour made to restraine the pride of the Clergie crieth out I would O Ludouicus thou didst liue in our daies For now the Church doth stand in neede of thy most holy censures The Ecclesiasticall order is giuen ouer to riot and luxurie like a harlot that thou mightest behold not onely men but horses and beasts in their scarlet and princely robes with which the harlot is arraied When they goe there waite before them great troupes of young men and of the Clergie Not on asses as Christ the author of our religion did ride who was the onely example of well liuing in the world but on great horses in their caparisons as if they triumphed ouer some enemies lately ouercome c. h In Ioan. 16. He further of this time faith that this pestilent custome was then that Priests desired the papacie c. not for religion but to fill the greedines of their sonnes nephewes and familiars c. i Poly. 8.1 Pardon 's also in this time were very rife k Geneb This Pope opened his mouth to blasphemie and condemned Georgius Podiebrachius king of Boemia for an hereticke and l cap. 13.7 as if power were giuen him ouer euery nation gaue his kingdome to Mathias king of Hungarie m Lanquet Fox But Mathias in seauen yeares warres could not put him out for his feete were as pillars of fire n Geneb p. 1080 The Turkes destroyed two Empires tooke from the Christians twelue kingdomes and 200. cities for fornication sorcerie c. of the remnant o Volat. 21. The order of the souldiers called the Minimes Iesus Maria began Anno 1471. Sixtus the fourth p Volat. 22. a man rather borne for the warres than for religion q Fox Mart. p. 701. For he stirred vp many warres and when he heard that the Princes made peace he died for sorrow He as the common baude or mother of fornications c erected stewes in Rome of double abhomination both males and females and kept multitudes of harlots for his friends and followers a Moris Pap. And as Caligula laid a tribute vpon harlots the common harlots paid to him in the yeare about 40,000 ducates b Strab. lib. 7. Geog. This coÌ„munity of women did the Church of Rome learne either of Plato the heathen Philosopher or else of the Scythians and Gothes where Plato had his example He c Ext. com de poeni remis c. 4. reduced the yeare of Iubile to 25. yeares and d ibid. cap. 1. ordained the feast of the conception of the virgin Marie giuing large indulgences to all those which should be deuoutly present at the solemnitie and yet e N.D. Warn-word the Doctors agree not among themselues whether the virgin Mary were conceiued without sinne vpon which ground the feast was instituted by the Pope f Fox He brought the vse of beades into prayer g Geneb pag. 1084. 1088. In his time the Spanish King expelleth the Mâ—â—es and Iewes out of Spaine and instituteth the Spanish inquisition whereunto he also subiecteth himselfe Of the cruell proceedings of the inquisition against the godly see h Fox p. 9â—â— Fox and other bookes of the Spanish inquisition c. For by this kinde of crueltie the woman is drunken with the bloud of the Saints Innocentius the eight i Volat 22. f. 160. b. of a slow wit Anno 1484. and farre from learning as Licinius the tyrant He first of any Pope brought in a new example of making ostentation of his bastards and violating all antient discipline he heaped riches vpon them He fawned on all but was friendly to none and passed his inbred couetousnes with iests and scoffes He as k 2. Tim. 3.4 a louer of pleasure more then of God l Crantz Met. 12. 1. p. 814. adorned the papacy with a pallace and strongly beautified the house of Solace called Bell-vedere He m Volat. 21. f 244. annexed the Knights of the order of Saint Sepulchre to the Knights of Saint Iohn with a red and double crosse n Geneb pag. 1089. 1087. The Turkes abolished the gouernment of the Paleologi and Venetians in Pelopâ—nesus Lesbos Eubuâ— and Lemnos The Spaniards finde the land of Guinnea and many other Iles. o Mass 20.268 Iohannes Langlois at Paris strooke the host and wine out of the Priests hand and stamped on them denying any reall presence to be in the Sacrament for which he was burned The diuels possessed the Monastery of the Nunnes Quersetensium in a most strange manner a See Fox Mâ—r. Very many Martyres suffer About this time died Laurentius Medicis Duke of Florence b Eucholcerus Anno 1492. who in Italy much holpe to restore tongues and arts from whence they spread into Germany By this instauration of learning the whole world in a manner began to be renewed as with a first resurrection and to be encreased and enriched with this kinde of wealth The Boemian Hussites in token that their glassie sea was mingled with fire doe rise and endanger Mathias the King their enemie and persecutor enforcing him to flie they kill the Senate and pull downe Monasteries Thus Kings begin to receiue the Gospell by whom d cap. 11.15.28.19 15.8 the kingdomes of this world are the Lords and his Christs And thus the temple the profession of the Gospell against Antichrist is open in heauen the Church notwithstanding the Gentiles the Papists be angrie CHAP. XIII Of the seuen last plagues by which the wrath of God is fulfilled vpon the inhabitants of the earth SO mightily hath the power of God appeared as that he hath kept the temple open and continued the preaching of the Gospell notwithstanding all oppositions of enemies And now that his iudgements might be made manifest according to the word of God he sendeth out his plagues to the a 2. Thes 2. consuming of the man of sinne in this third woe In the prophecie of powring out of b cap. 15.1 the plagues by which is fulfilled the wrath of God first is declared how they are prepared and secondly how they are executed Concerning the preparation it is said that the persons who are prouided to execute them are c 6. the seuen Angels the instruments of these punishments being mightie more then humane The place whence they came is out of the temple d Psal 76.23.8.9 whence the Lord doth send his blessings and plagues They are e cap. 15.6 clothed in pure and bright linnen in token of their a cap. 19.8 most righteous and holy proceedings And lastly they haue b cap. 15.6 their breasts girded with golden girdles to signifie their c Luk. 12.35