these times profanely abuse that Character to tender your owne saluation by considering what a strange religion this is and aboue all other in the world agreeing and concurring with the reuelation of Antichrist especially in this point of signes and wonders and lying miracles so that if this fall to my share that am the meanest of a thousand what can others doe that haue Beniamins portion fiue times doubled both concerning Scripture Historie Fathers Knowledge Iudgement Eloquution and other faculties As for such as are yet willing to be deceiued and hauing heard of that great dutie of perseuerance in holy matters peruert it to obstinacie and pertinacitie in idolatrous superstition I say no more but answer a Gods name you that must answer before the iudgement throne of the Lambe How comes this about if the Papacy shall not come to ruine and Rome it selfe be destroyed seeing Antichrist is discouered and thus arraigned and indited the man of sinne reuealed by these lying miracles whom God will consume with the breath of his nostrils And thus much for his inditement now to his punishment and vtter extirpation Section III. Or the execution of Antichrist according to the sentence of condemnation I Might haue begun this discourse with that which followes but I hope it comes now in order well enough Note the Comparison Obserue then I pray you the Simile Politicke states and well gouerned Commonwealths haue either commonly secret intelligencers or publicke Ambassadors in forren countries to acquaint them with all occurrences and so let nothing passe no not triuiall accidents which may concerne the good of their countrie without reuealing so that if letters or certificat of credit come that there are Iurking amongst vs certaine traitors that intend the ruine of the kingdome and endanger the life of the Prince there is presently search in euery corner and warrants sent out to apprehend them afterward vpon happy discouery and honest attachment they are imprisoned and kept secure till they may be further examined then vpon due and orderly proceedings they are to be arraigned and indited of high treason as they are found and proued delinquents in Crimino lase Maiestatis Last of all vpon finding Billa vera and iustifiable conuiction the sentence of condemnation goes out and they are executed accordingly so hath the holy Ghost dealt with the Church of God concerning the traitors of mens soules and discouery of Antichrist the instrument of Satan to bring vs to damnation he hath first made vs acquainted that there is such a Viper lurking amongst vs. Let no man deceiue you by any meanes For that day shall 2. Tâ—ess 2. 3. not come except there come a falling away first and that man of sinne be reuealed the sâ—nne of perdition Who opposeth and exalteth himselfe aboue all that is called year 4 God or that is worshipped so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God shewing himselfe that he is God Remember ye not that when I was yet with you I told you â— these things I haue not written vnto you because you know not the truth 1. Epist Iohn 2. 21. but because you know it and that no lie is of the truth Who is a lier but he that denieth that Iesus is the Christ year 22 he is Antichrist that denieth the Father and the Sonne And euerie spirit that confesseth not that Iesus Christ is Chap 4. 3. come in the flesh is not of God and that is that spirit of Antichrist whereof you haue heard that it should come and euen now already is it in the world Here you see what a noble intelligencer and friend from heauen we haue had to acquaint the Church of God that the betraier of mens soules and traiters to the maiesty of God are euery where lurking amongst vs vpon which certificate I though vnworthy and the meanest of Gods seruants haue aduentured to search and find him out and vpon the search haue not onely discouered and reuealed him but arraigned and indited him so that I hope no man can mislike or traduce this iustifiable proceeding against him which if they dare doe what will they then say to the sentence of condemnation which is now to be denounced from God himselfe and the Scriptures the Sibylls ancient Fathers and their women Saints sure sure the Gentiles will fret and rage imagining vaine Psal 2. Acts. things and I answer with Paul after the way you call heresie I serue the God of my Fathers and with Iob though thou kill me O Lord I will not forsake thee But to the purpose in hand Antichrists punishment from Scripture IF you search the Prophets you shall finde that hee that drowned the world burnt Sodome to sinders and ouerwhelmed Pharao with whole mountaines of waters confounded Aegypt destroied Tirus who was as proud and Isaiah 19. 23. 34 46 Ezech. 25. 1. Damel and the rest of the Prâ—phets exalted as euer Rome in her first and second glory reuenged the cause of his Church ouerthrew the idols of Babylon a meere figure of Antichristian Prelacy threatned and dissipated Ammon Moab Edom the Philistines and in a word all the mighty Monarchies vnder the Sun resembled to fierce and cruell beasts strange images and figures Eagles Rams Goats and such like Hierogliphicks Why then should any question be made of the Popes establishment or Romes perpetuity considering her sinnes cry to heauen for vengeance and her abominations are spred like a carpet to the loathing of all honest beholders and godly Christian Spectators but to put all out of doubt harke what the holy Ghost saith in the Reuelation and that the Pope and city of Rome in Italy is personated by the prediction I referre you to all the ancient Fathers and moderne Writers especially Tremelius Innius Napier and diuers others And the rest of the men which were not killed by these Apoâ— 9. 20. plagues yet repented not of the works of their hands that they should not worship Deuills and idols of gold and siluer and brasse and stone and of wood which neither can see nor heare nor walke Neither repeâ—ted they of their murders nor of their sorceriâ—s verse 21. nor of their fornications nor of their thefts And when they shall haâ—e finished their testimony the Apoc. 11. 7. Beast that ascendeth out of the bottomlesse pit shall make warre against them and shall ouercome them and kill them And the great Dragon was cast out that old Serpent called Apoc. 12. 9. the Deuill and Sathan c. And there followed another Angell saying Babylon is Apoc. 14. 8. fallen is fallen that great city because shee made all nations drinke of the wine of the wrath of her fornication And the Angell tâ—rust in his sickle into the earth and gathered Apoc. 14. 19. the Vine of the earth and cast it into the great wine presse of the wrath of God c. The Beast that thou sawest was and is not and
A GAGGE FOR THE POPE AND THE IESVITS OR THE ARRAIGNEMENT AND EXECVTION OF ANTICHRIST Shevving plainely that Antichrist shall be discouered and punished in this VVorld to the amasement of all obstinate PAPISTS LONDON Printed by I. D. for Edward Blackmore and are to be sould at his Shop at the Great South-dore of Paules 1624. Lucan lib. 7. Pharsal Hoe placet ô superi cum vobis vertere cuÌ„cta propositum nostris erroribus addere crimen TO THE RIGHT HONOVRABLE VVILLIAM EARLE of PENBROOK Lord Chamberlaine to his Maiesties Houshold and one of his most honourable Councell c. RIGHT HONOVRABLE AS I intend nothing by this Discourse but the glory of God the good of my Country the obseruation of Princes and the seasoning of humors so doe I propose no man fitter to Patronise the same then your selfe sprung from so illustrious a family that our moderne Stories reioyce againe in the illustration of the name and actions of Herbert but aboue all my motiues arise from your Noble disposition toward Englands glory and pious zeale to propagate the cause of Religion which at this day is set vpon by viperous calumniation as if either God meant not to performe his promise concerning the stripping the Strumpet naked Apoc. 18. 3. who hath made drunke the Kings of the earth with the cup of abomination or pollicie determined like Prometheus his Vulture to feed vpon the heart of Religion and eat out the bowels of sanctitie and truth But O thou God of heauen thou laughest the Psalme deuises of men to scorne and wilt maintaine thy owne cause in despight of Apostacy and O â—ee Princes of the earth looke yee Psal 2. 12. kisse the sonne least he be angry and yee perish in the Way when his wrath shall suddenly burne Wherefore great Lord made so much the greater by all the Concomitants of Noble birth and remarkeable deseruing accept I pray you of this poore Tractate wherein though I come strangely toward you with a dutie from an vnknowne name and vnfortunate man as we prophanely abuse the Character yet with so good a heart that in regard of the cause which is Gods and your selfe who haue answered reputation with sufficiency I am cheerfully animated to wade out of this streame by the supportation of so noble an arme which can keep me from sinking though there were some whirlepoole to fall into As for aspersion of presumption stepping out of my own Circle medling with transcendent matters tenuity of wit or deficiency of knowledge I wipe all away with a Principle in Euripidâ—s Nullus sibi similis in periculis Iphigenia in Tauris homo quoties ad audaciam ex metu venerit But indeed what should I be affrighted with the Popes fulmination or curses Lucan answers Tollite signaduces fatorum impellite cursum Lib. 5. Pharsâ—l spem vestram prestate diis fortunaque tantos det vobis animos quantos fugientibus hostem causa dabat The blastings of opinion or windy censures Impia laetatur vulgatae nomine famae Thessaliis Luc. oâ— Lib. 5. The displeasure or contracted brow of a Prince No no. Caesaris aduentu tuta gladiator arena Lib. 6. de Pontâ— Ovid. exit auxilium non leue vultus habet The imputations of iudicious men Simplex oratio veritatis est Neque variarum habet vtrinque interpretationum Eurip. Phaenissae habet enim ipsa congruentiam sed iniquus sermo aegrotans in seipsum medicamimum habet opus sapientiam The desertion of friends who be they Amicos in rebus aduersis conuenit amicis adesse Eurip. Orestes Nam cum Deus faelicitatem dederit Quid opus est amicis Sufficit ipse Deus prodesse volens In a word so I haue your fauour and my owne ends I am startled at nothing but insufficiency in so great aduenture and vnworthines to put polluted handes into the waters of life which as I hope the God of heauen will pardon because of my honest desires to magnifie his greatnes so your Honor will graciously admit because of my willing heart to exemplifie your goodnesse THE ARRAIGNEMENT AND EXECVTION OF ANTICHRIST I Would faine act my owne Scean and with a modest zeale enter into a Discourse that shall show you the hand of God writing on the wall more fearefull and terrible to hard-hearted Papists then euer Belshazzers fatall night to Daniel 5. himselfe and his people I beseech you then if you can discrectly auoyd or charitably confute ignorant Papists and penurious Newes-mongers vnderstand what I purpose in my following Treatise meerely to show you that these troubles of Europe be but the beginnings of Romes desolation and the Beast with seauen heads and ten hornes must Apoc. 12 be discouered as she walloweth in the den of abomination and filthinesse of corruption after which she shall be rowsed and hunted out of breath â—aken and lashed with stripes bound and stripped of her pompe and at last forsaken and consumed with fire which although it may haue relation to the euerlasting horror of hell yet in the iudgement of learned Diuines must be explicated by some effectuall humiliation on earth Wherin if repentance remorse and compunction of spirit cannot frame the master peece of Conuersion the Catastrophe shall be wrought by the violence of a stronger arme and that from a secular Prince And if in this the Emperours of Germany or other potent Kings haue fayled as too-too basely prostrating themselues to the power of Antichrist no question God will punish them for vnder-valuing his glory or diuiding and participating that greatnes which he hath giuen to euery King intire in his owne Kingdome Now that the Pope hath vnder sanctified titles both abused Religion and deceiued the world and that God is incensed against such pride blasphemy and hypocrisie yea offended with such Princes as still adore the Beast is apparant by many relations Especially a large Letter written and printed long since in the Spanish tongue to King Philip the second in the dayes of Queene Mary wherein is not onely the Genealogie of Antichrist but a delicate Picture of the Pope and his Cardinals kneeling before the Deuill sitting in a chayre of State who deliuers him an Indenture or Commission with many seales allowing him to be Antichrist and so to execute his authoritie this was composed by one Alonso de Penna Fuertes an Italian and out of this with many other Classick Authors this Enchiridion is extracted and I hope to make all I proiect apparant as farre as man may coniecture or fals to my poore proportion of discouery The Method then which I would obserue ariseth from the 1. Discouery 2. Arraignement 3. and execution of Antichrist In the discouery you shall haue some obseruations taken from 1. effectuall contingents 2. and probable coniectures In the Arraignement the indiâ—ements are framed 1. from contradicting the word of God 2. from dishonouring the truth with false doctrines 3. and from abusing the
Saint Hermaâ— this purpose that the Catholike Church shall by degrees fall into diuers deformities and corruptions farre from her primitiue integritie and virginall puritie for which she should vndergoe great vengeance and punishment yea suffer a pressure that shall crush her to peeces and lie vnder a furie that shall lash her sides and throw fire into the walls of that citie which needeth purging and was so ambitious proud and prophane Amongst the predictions or prophecies of S. Methodius St. Methodius Bishop of Tirus he foretelleth that the Clergie shall in a manner burne vp and destroy the holy things of God yea trample the sacred Scriptures vnder feet to aduance and set vp their owne inuentions not leauing vnnamed ceremonies customes and traditions Yea he threatneth a neighbour King for taking part with the whore of Babylon which also a Francesian Frier Philippus Boskierus alledgeth and Bartholomeus de la Casas a Spanish Bishop remembreth to King ' Philip. Yet such is the corruption of time and power of the Inquisition that these bookes must not be talkt of and to publish them for Gods glory and propagation of true Religion is among them heresie and a matter of difficulty or weakening of policy In the library of Saint Victor at Parâ— some 600. yeeres Saint Victor since there was a prediction beginning thus Vae tibi â—iuitas Septicollis and proceedeth thus that the letter K. shall threaren the walles of Rome and then shall woe bee to the city of bloud full of lying falshood and violence For the fall and destruction of the mighty men is at hand the voice of scourges wheeles and warres shall make her to tremble the colour of the gold shall be darkned and changed with diuers such passages of wonderment and obseruation If you looke into the predictions that were found in Palace of Wisâ—dome the palace of Wisedome at Rome it selfe you shall finde it thus Caesar regnabit vbique Sed quo tunc vani cessabit gloria cleri With a strange inuectiue fearefull effectuall prodigious and full of matter absolutely against the present gouernment both of Church and Commonwealth so that a man would wonder that some Herculean Pontifician arme as he did strangle the serpents in the cradle did not at their first discouery thrattle and suppresse them or ouerthrow their authoritie when they began to take vp roome against Rome in mens hearts and apprehensions but such is the will of God and wonderfulnesse of his power and prouidence that both the Scriptures themselues and other writings sauoring the sweetnesse of their taste haue beene preserued in despight of Tyrants Iewes Turkes Infidels Fire Sword and the Deuill himselfe and prospered the more when the attempts of corrupted men would either discredit or suppresse the truth For looke as in persecutions sanguis martyrum proued semen Ecclesia so in these prohibitions according to the Prouerbe men did euez repute it a thing worthy their endeuours searches and knowledge when it was rare to be gotten or perillous to be disputed vpon If you reade the Prophecie of Saint Scuerus Archbishop Saint Scuerus of Rauenna you shall finde it thus Woe vnto thee thou citie of the Gentiles thou citie of riches thou citie of Philosophers Woe vnto thee Lombardie for thy towers of ioy shall be broken downe c. Cataldus Fimus Bishop of Trent hath a very rare Prophecie Cataldus Fimus accordâ—ng to the letter When Rome beginneth to heare the loud bellowing of the fat Cow Italie shall languish with dissention and ciuill warres for there shall be great emulation and hatred betweene the winged serpent or Dragon and the lilly bearing Lion with much other such stuffe But then he followes Alas Alas weepe thou vnhappy Babylon for the daies of affliction shall come vpon thee and like ripened corne thou must suffer a threshing for thine in quitie Kings from the foure corners of the earth shall rise against thee and thou shalt be brought downe for presuming to sit so high c. In a Prophecie of Saint Vincent a Dominican Frier the Saint Vincent Church of God is compared to the foure ages of the world Gold Siluer Brasse and Iron speaking of the Romish Church and Prelates full of Pride Vanitie Pompe Simonie Auarice and Luxurie concluding with that monstrous vice of Simonie to which not long after the learned Monke Baptista Mantuanus alluded in many inuectiues especially this Venalianobis Mantuan Templa sacerdotes altaria sacra coronae Ignis thura preces calum est venale Deusque You haue likewise Prophecies of Telesphorus the Hermit Telesphorus Cataldus Amatus Gamalio Saint Cataldus Ioannes Amatus and Gamalio inserted in an Epistle to Pope Boniface the ninth and all concerning the wicked liues of the Priests the enormities of the Clergie the destruction of Rome and the ouerthrow of the Papacie But if you looke into the exposition of the 17. of Ieremie by Ioaehimus the Abbot you shall finde there that The Abbot Ioaâ—him the Empire of Germanie shall depart from the obedience of the Church of Rome and that the said Church with the Colledge of Cardinals should be destroyed yea this Ioaehim out of the Oracle of Sibyll Erithea foretelleth that God will stirre vp the haughtie Germans against the Church because the Roman Clergie trusted more to the Ierem. 17. 5. power of man than of God therefore shall the ship of Saint Peter be tossed and troubled with hostile incursions and terrible assaults c. If you ouer-looke the Prophecies of Ioannes Lichtenberg Germany against Rome and Reynardus Lollerus you shall finde that the Germans shall make a league with France by vertue whereof the Church shall be brought to beare the Crosse with sorrow and tribulation vpon her owne backe In the Oracle of Cassandra the Sibyll Tiburtina collected Sibyll Cassandra by Godfridus Viterbiensis and Baptista Nazarus you haue a prediction that by the valour and power of certaine German Princes whose names should begin with H. and P. Rome should be destroied and Iohannes Wolphius in his sixteenth Centenary alledgeth that Hydaspes an ancient Hydaspes King of the Medes did foretell the lamentable desolation of Rome subuersion both of their greatnes and superstition In the yeere 1593. Petrus Paulus an Abbot of Calabria casting downe an old wall in his Monastery found a Sepulcher of stone by digging deepe to lay a new foundation wherein was a corps almost consumed holding in his hand a plate of siluer with this inscription This is the body of the Abbot of Werde of Hydrantum buried the 17. Abbot of Werde of October 1279. and saying thus Cum sancta ciuitas fulgebit splendore none stellae Sol iterâ—m me videbit and vnder the head was a little marble chest wherein a leaden box contained a parchment with this Prophecie In those daies many famous cities shall perisâ— fearefull and terrible things shall come to passe and in Italy Rome
discourse vpon the eleuenth Chap. of the fourth booke of Esdras I will enlarge the same For the Papists themselues allow the Apocrypha as authenticall as Canonicall Scripture wee onely maintaine that though it be not Canonicall Scripture yet our learned Diuines attribute to these Apocryphall writings the next place to the Canonicall Scripture and so you shall not only haue the Originall verbatim but a true and strange Paraphrase or illustration approued by the best authoritie ESDRAS 2. Chap. 11. 1 THen saw I a dreame and behold there came vp from the sea an Eagle which had twelue feathered wings and three heads 2 And I saw and behold shee spred her wings ouer all the earth and all the windes of the aire blew on her and were gathered together 3 And I beheld and out of her feathers there grew other contrarie feathers and they became little feathers and small 4 But her heads were at rest the head in the midst was greater than the other yet rested it with the residue 5 Moreouer I beheld and loe the Eagle flew with her feathers and reigned vpon the earth and ouer them that dwelt therein 6 And I saw that all things vnder Heauen were subiect vnto her and no man spake against her no not one creature vpon earth 7 And I beheld and loe the Eagle rose vpon her tallons and spake to her feathers saying 8 Watch not all at once sleepe euerie one in his owne place and watch by course 9 But let the heads be preserued for the last 10 And I beheld and loe the voice went not out of her heads but from the midst of her bodie 11 And I numbred her contrarie feathers and behold there were eight of them 12 And I looked and behold on the right side there arose one feather and reigned ouer all the earth 13 And so it was that when it reigned the end of it came and the place thereof appeared no more so the next following stood vp and reigned and had a great time 14 And it happened that when it reigned the end of it came also like as the first so that it appeared no more 15 Then came there a vcice vnto it and said 16 Heare thou that hast borne rule ouer the earth so long this I say vnto thee before thou beginnest to appeare no more 17 There shall none after thee attaine vnto thy time neither vnto the halfe thereof 18 Then arose the third and reigned as the others before and appeared no more also 19 So went it with all the residue one after another as that euery one reigned and then appeared no more 20 Then I beheld and loe in processe of time the feathers that followed stood vp on the right side that they might rule also and some of them ruled but within a while they appeared no more 21 For some of them were set vp but ruled not 22 After this I looked and behold the 12. feathers appeared no more nor the two little feathers 23 And there was no more vpon the Eagles body but three heads that rested and six little wings 24 Then saw I also that two little feathers diuided themselues from the six and remained vnder the head that was vpon the right side for the foure continued in their place 25 And I beheld and loe the feathers that were vnder the wing thought to set vp themselues and to haue the rule 26 And I beheld and loe there was one set vp and shortly it appeared no more 27 And the second was sooner away than the first 28 And I beheld and loe the two that remained thought also in themselues to reigne 29 And when they so thought behold there awaked one of the heads that were at rest namely it that was in the midst for that was greater than the two other heads 30 And then I saw that the two other heads were ioyned with it 31 And behold the head was turned with them that were with it and did eat vp the two feathers vnder the wing that would haue reigned 32 But this head put the whole earth in feare and bare rule in it ouer all those that dwelt vpon the earth with much oppression and it had the gouernance of the world more than all the wings that had beene 33 And after this I beheld and loe the head that was in the midst suddenly appeared no more like as the wings 34 But there remained the two heads which also in like sort ruled vpon the earth and ouer those that dwelt therein 35 And I beheld and loe the head vpon the right side deuoured it that was vpon the left side 36 Then I heard a voice which said vnto me looke before thee and consider the thing that thou seest 37 And I beheld and loe as it were a roaring Lion chased out of the wood and I saw that he sent out a mans voice vnto the Eagle and said 38 Heare thou I will talke with thee and the highest shall say vnto thee 39 Art not thou it that remainest of the foure beasts whom I made to reigne in my world that the end of their times might come through them 40 And the fourth came and ouercame all the beasts that were past and had power ouer the world with great fearefulnesse and ouer the whole compasse of the earth with much wicked oppression and so long time dwelt he vpon the earth with deceit 41 For the earth hast thou not iudged with truth 42 For thou hast afflicted the meeke thou hast burt the peaceable thou hast loued liers and destroied the dwellings of them that brought forth fruit and hast cast downe the walls of such as did thee no harme 43 Therefore is thy wrongfull dealing come vp vnto the highest and thy pride vnto the mighty 44 The highest also hath looked vpon the proud times and behold they are ended and his abominations are fulfilled 45 And therefere appeare no more thou Eagle nor thy horrible wings nor thy wicked feathers nor thy malicious heads nor thy hurtfull clawes nor all thy vaine body 46 That all the earth may be refreshed and may returne being deliuerâ—d from thy violence and that she may hope for the iudgement and mercy of him that made her If you reade also the next chapter you may finde how Esdras expounded this vision but because I haue promised a more plenary satisfaction I apply my selfe to the same purpose and thus continue the discourse In the daies of Darius king of Persia some 400. yeeres before lulins Caesar aduanced the standard of the Roman Empire vnder the presentation of a sable Eagle displaied in a golden field as the first Emperor after Kings Consuls and Dictators this vision came to Esdras and containeth the beginning continuance and dissolution of the Empire and supremacy of Rome seene by the Propheâ— Daniel some few yeeres before wherein twelue only Emperors are personated for their extended power like wings ouer the world and for their greatnesse and celsitude of birth like beasts
with iron teeth nailes of brasse the number as a full iury to include the rest and their noblenesse farre exceeding other inferiors as descended from the families of Iâ—lij Seruij Saluij Flauij c. Wheras all others were but composed of meane originalls or contrary nations and no natiue Romans By her three heads are meant three kingdomes which must behold the pride of Rome when her wings and feathers shall faile By the winds are vnderstood her prosperity and large extension of dominion as limiting her territories from Ganges to Gades and from the Scythian sea to Cape bona esperanza By the contrary feathers you must vnderstand certaine Kings and Princes that opposed this transcendent mightinesse of Rome but their purposes were frustrated and for the time they preuailed not till at last one was mightier than the rest yet all rested for a time for they were as embrions vnbroughtforth till this great city in her vnlimited pompe and pride with her Armies and Legions might subiugate the neighbour nations and insult ouer the best of the earth By the standing vpon her clawes c. the Priests obserued that Rome in her transcendency did nothing without counsell and good aduice wherby her Emperors kept the soueraignty with great caution and policy and obtained a renoune beyond all ciries and kings in the Vniuerse Now you must consider that what Esdras personateth by an Eagle the Prophet Daniel designeth vnder the forme of a ten-horned beast Daniel 7. berokening diuers Emperors Kings whose vnresistable â—orces should affright the world with ambition tyranny and couetousnesse and whereas he proceedeth with a race and succession of gouernors differing in shape and forme from their predecessors but gouerning with blaspheming the most High sitting in the Temple â—yrannizing ouer the third part of the world and continuingin greater rages and cruelty against the inhabitants of the Prouinces than the rest what is it any other than after the Emperors that gouernment the Popes shall challenge a supremacy and prerogatiue power ouer inferiour kings and by wonderfull subtilty that is the shadow of piety religion and sanctimonious life preuaile in elation of heart and power of soueraignty and therefore Daniel saith and he shall bee vnlike to the first yet still must Rome be called Triumphanta and Santa so that when the Eagle saw her feathers plucked and that Senat us populusque Romanus could doe no good nor Imperium Romanum preuaile by forcible intrusion she fearing some incurable disease to grow vpon her and that shee must needs saint in her weaknesse and distresse set a new Loome on worke of policy lies and deuices yea Magicke and Witchcraft and so vnder the sacred name of Ecclesia Dei Romae once againe aduanced her standard of honour and reputation and became as predominant in her spirituall gouernment as euer shee was in the warlike dilacerations of her Prouinces But the story followes in the numbring the Eagles contrary Verse 11. feathers that is to say that after Rome had ouerswaid the world and her glorious Emperors with Luciferian pride aduanced themseluâ—s as high as the Sunne there should diuers attempts be made by forraine nations and dangerous Princes to dismantell her of her Imperiall robes and vnplume her of her diuersity of colours and these were comprised vnder the mâ—mber of eight 1. The West Gothes commanded by Alaricus 2. the Huns by Attala 3. the Vandals by Genscricus 4. the remainder of them by Odoacer 5. the East Gothes by Thecdorick 6. the rest by Totila 7. The Lombards or Longobardi by Albonius 8. and the last by an intestine sedition and domesticke conspiracy which infested as much or more than all the rest I could adde as enemies the Radaguise Alani or Almans Burgonians vnder Gundibald Hungars Saracens and diuers other but the former were those principall incendiaries that set Rome on fire indeed and by manifest repugnancy pulled her walles to rubbish which lasted all the time of her ostentation with the tearme of Imperium crbis terrae but when it came to the counterchange of Mater Ecclesia then did these Princes likewise inuest her with new robes of state and magnificence and were content to take the golden cup from the Strumpets hands and carowse the dregs of abomination thus is the story of Rome epitomised euen to this houre but because the Prophecie goes forward I will follow in the strength I haue begin againe One feather arose on the right side and reigned saith the verse 12. text In those daies the great ones repined at the gouernment of Consuls and the inscription of Senatus populusque Romanus whereupon diuers families attempted the sole iurisdiction as the Corâ—ehj Marius Scilla Cateline all as noble and as well borne as Iulins but none rose on the right side but he and although it cost him his life in the enterprise as betraied by his dearest friends who ouerpâ—sing the liberty of their countrey before the ambition of an intruder taught him a new lesson that in trust was treason and there is no confidence in worldly prosperity but time will haue her vicissitude but for all this out of death sprung the life of imperiousnesse for after Octauius Anthony and Lepidus had reuenged his death and plaied the wanton Triumuiri with the greatnesse and potency of gouernment Octauius shouldred away the rest and for his happy determination of businesse and prosperous successe in all affaires reigned forty foure yeeres alone as Augustus then followed Tiberâ—us Caius Caligula Claudius Nero Galba Otho Vitellius Vespasian Titus Domitian and these are the feathers and wings of the Eagle principally named in this prophecie Now saith the Text there were other feathers but they Vers 20. put not themselues forth with that strength nor made so glorious a shew as the former that is there were other Emperours and Gouernours but they were neither so mighty in gouernment nor so illustred in birth such as Nerua Adrian Anthonius Marius Commâ—dus Pertinax Iulian Seuerus Caracalla Macrinus Heliogabalus Alexander Maximinus with others to the 3. Valentinian and so by degrees as it is in Philosophie corruptiâ— vnius generatio alterius the Empire decaying the papacy had roome in Rome for a new progression All this while you must consider there were others which were opposiâ—es and innouators but no gouernors and these saith the text were set vp but not ruled such as Vindex Piscenius niger Albinus Diadumenas Maximus Balbinus 30. Tyranni Firmus Saturninus Bonosus Proculus Aper Eugenius Quintillus Ruffinus Constantinus not surnamed Magnus Heraclianus and others who all serued to no other end but as instruments for the Almighty to hew downe the marble pillers of this Imperiall Rome and afterward to raise a new fabricke of stupendious admiration by a farre more vnnaturall gouernment of Church-men I call it vnnaturall because the Popes of Rome vnder the sanctified titles of Peters successor Vcars to the Lambe and fathers of the Church of God not