intermission contemplate his Glory and euer serue him by continuall thankesgiuing and praising his Name in Heauen which is his eternall and celestiall Temple and hee that sits on the Throne shall dwell with them for they shall neuer be separated from his presence 16 And they shall be no more an hungry or thirstie nor the Sunne or any heate shall trouble them 17 For the Lambe who is in the middest of the Throne to wit coequall in power with his Father he shall feed them and guide them to the liuely fountaines of waters to wit they shall feed of that Spirituall and liuely bread and drinke of that Spirituall and liuely water euen himselfe Iohn 4.14 which Water he promised to the Samaritane woman at the well And GOD shall wipe all teares from their eyes for he shall both by the greatnesse of their present ioyes put quite out of their memories all the sorrow of their former troubles and shall also giue them eternall ioy which shall neuer be mixed with any kind of trouble or feare so shall they not be molested with the vehemencie of the Sunne or any other heate which signifies great troubles and sorrow CHAP. VIII ARGVMENT The opening of the seuenth Seale The seuen Trumpets comming out of it The effect of the prayers of the faithfull signified by the vision of the fire of the Altar Some persecution and some heresies signified by haile mixt with blood and fire in the first trumpet The great persecution by the hill of fire in the second The number of heresies by the starres falling into the fountaines of water in the third The vniuersall infirmitie in the Church in some things by the Sunne Moone and starres darkened in the fourth ANd when hee opened the seuenth Seale there was silence in heauen almost halfe an houre aswell to let mee know that hee had once already summarily declared the whole things which was to come after as by silence a while to giue me occasion to meditate vpon that vision which I had seene to the effect that afterward I might the better vnderstand the more particular rehearsall thereof which now vnder another vision and forme was to be declared vnto me by the opening of the seuenth Seale 2 And I saw seuen Angels standing before God to execute whatsoeuer thing it should please him to command them and by his direction there were seuen Trumpets giuen vnto them that by these Trumpets they might with one Maiestie denounce to the world such plagues as they were by the command of God to powre foorth vpon it 3 Then another Angel came and stood before the Altar hauing a golden censer in his hand and there was much incense giuen vnto him that he might offer vp the prayers of the Saints vpon the golden Altar that is before the Throne 4 And the smoke of the incense which is the prayers of the Saints mounted vp from the hand of the Angel to the sight of God 5 Then the Angel tooke this new emptied censer and filled it againe with the fire of the Altar and did cast it downe on the earth and there were thundrings voices lightenings and earthquakes By this Angel and his proceedings we are assured and made certaine that Christ shall euer be vigilant ouer his owne and that specially in straightest times hee will heare their prayers and euer renew them with some light of the Gospel by the working of his holy Spirit And to assure vs hereof the vision of this Angel was showne vnto me immediatly before that by the seuen Trumpets he is to dilate these visions showen me in the former Seales This Angel was Christ he stood before the Altar this Altar is likewise himselfe as I declared before his standing before it meaneth that by his office of Mediatour hee was to doe as followes He had a golden censer in his hand for he keeps the censer wherein are contained the incense which the Saints giue him to wit their prayers to be offered vp to God by his mediation who is that golden and pure Altar which is euer in the presence of God and whose requests are no time refused and therefore that incense and the smoke thereof mounts vp to the sight of God to assure vs that our prayers being offered in that forme are euer acceptable The effect whereof doeth appeare by the Angels filling againe the censer with the fire of the Altar and casting it on the earth wherewith is ioyned the noise ye heard of for these prayers procure that their Mediatour shall out of his golden boxe to wit out of his treasure of power send downe the fire of the Altar to wit the holy Spirit which remaineth with him to make thunders voices lightnings and earthquakes to wit to giue againe the Law by renewing the efficacie of the Gospel in the hearts of the faithfull alluding to the giuing of the olde Law whereof these fearefull noises were the fore-runners This surely is the care and effect that our Master in all troublesome times renewes to strengthen our weakenesse with 6 And then the seuen Angels which had the seuen trumpets prepared themselues to blow for although they were before directed yet were they not permitted to execute their office no more then the foure Angels who stayed the foure windes while Christ had strengthened and armed his owne as is said to assure vs that euer before any great temptation hee will make the backes of the elect ready and able to beare such burthens as hee is to lay vpon them 1. Cor. 10.13 7 Then the first Angel blew and there was a great haile and fire mixed with blood and this storme was cast downe vpon the earth whereupon followed that the third part of the trees was withered and burnt vp and all greene grasse was withered and burnt vp for the first plague which hath already begun to worke shall be mixed partly of haile which is heresie for as haile showers by the harme they doe to the corne makes them to become deare so heresie makes the true haruest of the Lord to become scant This haile or heresie and spirituall persecution is ioyned with the sword and persecution of the flesh which is signified by the fire and the blood This fiery and two edged triall shall make the third part to wit a part but not the greatest number of trees to wit of renowmed men and all greene grasse to wit all them that are not wel founded and strong in the trewth this greene grasse is that sort of professours Marke 4. vers 5 6 7. of whom Christ spake in the parable of the seed sowen in sandie and thornie ground it shall make them I say to fall from the trewth and so become withered and vnprofitable 8 Then the second Angel blew and there fell as it had beene a great hill all burning in fire and this hill was cast into the sea and the third part of the sea became blood 9 And the third part of the liuing
more Pope Iulius tooke the Kingdome from the one and gaue it vnto the other the French thereupon resisted the Pope and declared him to be fallen from the Papacie This noble spirit and courage of the French in maintayning the dignitie and honour of their Kings Crownes bred those ancient customes which in the sequence of many aages haue bene obserued and kept in vse This for one That no Legate of the Pope Pag. 26. Nisi de consensu Regis Christianissimi nor any of his rescripts nor mandates are admitted and receiued in France without licence from the King and vnlesse the Legate impart his faculties to the Kings Atturney Generall to be perused and verified in Court of Parliament where they are to be tyed by certaine modifications and restrictions vnto such points as are not derogatorie from the Kings right from the liberties of the Church and from the ordinances of the Kingdome When Cardinal Balua Bochellus contrary to this ancient forme entred France in the yeere 1484. and there without leaue of the King did execute the office speed certaine Acts of the Popes Legate the Court vpon motion made by the Kings Atturney Generall decreed a Commission to be informed against him by two Councellors of the said Court and inhibited his further proceeding to vse any facultie or power of the Popes Legate vpon paine of beeing proclaimed rebell In the yeere 1561. Iohannes Tanquerellus Batchelour in Diuinitie by order of the Court was condemned to make open confession that hee had indiscreetly and rashly without consideration defended this proposition Indiscretè ac inconsideratè The Pope is the Vicar of Christ a Monarke that hath power both Spirituall and Secular and he may depriue Princes which rebell against his commandements of their dignities Doctrinaliter tantum non iuridicè Which proposition howsoeuer he protested that he had propounded the same onely to be argued and not iudicially to be determined in the affirmatiue Tanquerellus neuerthelesse was compelled openly to recant Here the L. Cardinall answeres The historie of Tanquerellus is from the matter because his proposition treateth neither of Heresie nor of Infidelitie but I answere The said proposition treateth of both forasmuch as it maketh mention of disobedience to the Pope For I suppose hee will not denie that whosoeuer shall stand out in Heresie contrary to the Popes monitorie proceedings he shal shew but poore and simple obedience to the Pope Moreouer the case is cleare by the former examples that no Pope will suffer his power to cast downe Kings to be restrained vnto the cause of Heresie and Infidelitie In the heate of the last warres raised by that holy-prophane League admonitory Bulls were sent by Pope Gregorie 14. from Rome Anno 1591. By these Bulls King Henrie 4. as an Heretike and relapse was declared incapable of the Crowne of France and his Kingdome was exposed to hauocke and spoile The Court of Parliament being assembled at Tours the 5. of August decreed the said admonitorie Bulls to bee cancelled torne in pieces and cast into a great fire by the hand of the publike executioner The Arrest it selfe or Decree is of this tenour The Court duely pondering and approouing the concluding and vnanswerable reasons of the Kings Attourney Generall hath declared and by these present doeth declare the admonitorie Bulls giuen at Rome the 1. of March 1591. to be of no validitie abusiue seditious damnable full of impietie and impostures contrary to the holy decrees rights franchises and liberties of the French Church doeth ordeine the Copies of the said Bulls sealed with the seale of Marsilius Landrianus and signed Septilius Lamprius to bee rent in pieces by the publike executioner and by him to be burnt in a great fire to be made for such purpose before the great gates of the common Hall or Palace c. Then euen then the L. of Perron was firme for the better part and stood for his King against Gregorie the Pope notwithstanding the crime of eresie pretended against Henrie his Lord. All the former examples by vs alledged are drawen out of the times after Schooles of Diuinitie were established in France For I thought good to bound my selfe within those dooles and limits of time which the L. Cardinal himselfe hath set Who goeth not sincerely to worke and in good earnest where he telleth vs there be three instances as if wee had no more obiected against Papall power to remooue Kings out of their chaires of State Page 47. by name the example of Philip the Faire of Lewis XII and of Tanquerellus For in very trewth all the former examples by vs produced are no lesse pregnant and euident howsoeuer the L. Cardinall hath bene pleased to conceale them all for feare of hurting his cause Nay France euen in the dayes of her sorest seruitude was neuer vnfurnished of great Diuines by whom this vsurped power of the Pope ouer the Temporalties and Crownes of Kings hath beene vtterly misliked and condemned Robert Earle of Flanders was commanded by Pope Paschal 2. to persecute with fire and sword the Clergie of Liege who then adhered and stood to the cause of the Emperour Henrie 4. whom the Pope had ignominiously deposed Robert by the Popes order and command was to handle the Clergie of Liege in like sort as before hee had serued the Clergie of Cambray who by the said Earle had beene cruelly stript both of goods and life The Pope promised the said Earle and his army pardon of their sinnes for the said execution The Clergie of Liege addressed answere to the Pope at large They cried out vpon the Church of Rome and called her Babylon Told the Pope home that God had commanded to giue vnto Caesar that which is Caesars that euery soule must bee subiect vnto the superiour powers that no man is exempted out of this precept and that euery oath of alleagiance is to be kept inuiolable yea that hereof they themselues are not ignorant in as much as they by a new Schisme and new traditions making a separation and rent of the Priesthood from the Kingdome doe promise to absolue of periurie such as haue perfidiously forsworne themselues against their King And whereas by way of despight and in opprobrious maner they were excommunicated by the Pope they gaue his Holinesse to vnderstand that Dauids heart had vttered a good matter but Paschals heart had spewed vp sordid and railing words like old bawdes and spinsters or websters of linnen when they scold and brawle one with another Finally they reiected his Papal excommunication as a sentence giuen without discretion This was the voyce and free speach of that Clergie in the life time of their noble Emperour But after hee was thrust out of the Empire by the rebellion of his owne sonne instigated and stirred vp thereunto by the Popes perswasion and practise and was brought vnto a miserable death it is no matter of wonder that for the safegard of their life
Honour some to places of seruice about mee and by rewarding to enable some who had deserued well of mee and were not otherwise able to maintaine the rankes I thought them capable of and others who although they had not particularly deserued before yet I found them capable and worthy of place of preferment and credit and not able to sustaine those places for which I thought them fit without my helpe Two especiall causes moued mee to be so open handed whereof the one was reasonable and honourable but the other I will not bee ashamed to confesse vnto you proceeded of mine owne infirmitie That which was iust and honourable was That being so farre beholding to the body of the whole State I thought I could not refuse to let runne some small brookes out of the fountaine of my thankefulnesse to the whole for refreshing of particular persons that were members of that multitude The other which proceeded out of mine owne infirmitie was the multitude and importunitie of Sutors But although reason come by infusion in a maner yet experience groweth with time and labour And therefore doe I not doubt but experience in time comming will both teach the particular Subiects of this Kingdome not to be so importune and vndiscreete in crauing And mee not to be so easily and lightly mooued in granting that which may be harmefull to my Estate and consequently to the whole Kingdome And thus hauing at length declared vnto you my minde in all the points for the which I called this Parliament My conclusion shall onely now be to excuse my selfe in case you haue not found such Eloquence in my Speech as peraduenture you might haue looked for at my hands I might if I list alledge the great weight of my Affaires and my continuall businesse and distraction that I could neuer haue leasure to thinke vpon what I was to speake before I came to the place where I was to speake And I might also alledge that my first sight of this so famous and Honourable an Assembly might likewise breede some impediment But leauing these excuses I will plainely and freely in my maner tell you the trew cause of it which is That it becommeth a King in my opinion to vse no other Eloquence then plainnesse and sinceritie By plainenesse I meane that his Speeches should be so cleare and voyd of all ambiguitie that they may not be throwne nor rent asunder in contrary sences like the old Oracles of the Pagan gods And by sinceritie I vnderstand that vprightnesse and honestie which ought to be in a Kings whole Speeches and actions That as farre as a King is in Honour erected aboue any of his Subiects so farre should he striue in sinceritie to be aboue them all and that his tongue should be euer the trew Messenger of his heart and this sort of Eloquence may you euer assuredly looke for at my hands A SPEACH IN THE PARLIAMENT HOVSE AS NEERE THE VERY WORDS AS COVLD BE GATHERED at the instant MY Lords Spirituall and Temporall and you the Knights and Burgesses of this Parliament It was farre from my thoughts till very lately before my comming to this place that this Subiect should haue bene ministred vnto mee whereupon I am now to speake But now it so falleth out That whereas in the preceding Session of this Parliament the principall occasion of my Speach was to thanke and congratulate all you of this House and in you all the whole Common-wealth as being the representatiue body of the State for your so willing and louing receiuing and embracing of mee in that place which GOD and Nature by descent of blood had in his owne time prouided for me So now my Subiect is to speake of a farre greater Thankesgiuing then before I gaue to you being to a farre greater person which is to GOD for the great and miraculous Deliuery he hath at this time granted to me and to you all and consequently to the whole body of this Estate I must therefore begin with this old and most approued Sentence of Diuinitie Misericordia Dei supra omnia opera eius For Almightie God did not furnish so great matter to his glory by the Creation of this great World as he did by the Redemption of the same Neither did his generation of the little world in our old first Adam so much set forth the praises of God in his Iustice and Mercy as did our Regeneration in the last second Adam And now I must craue a little pardon of you That since Kings are in the word of GOD it selfe called Gods as being his Lieutenants and Vicegerents on earth and so adorned and furnished with some sparkles of the Diuinitie to compare some of the workes of GOD the great KING towards the whole and generall world to some of his workes towards mee and this little world of my Dominions compassed and seuered by the Sea from the rest of the earth Foras GOD for the iust punishment of the first great sinnes in the originall world when the sonnes of GOD went in to the daughters of men and the cup of their iniquities of all sorts was filled and heaped vp to the full did by a generall deluge and ouerflowing of waters baptize the world to a generall destruction and not to a generall purgation onely excepted NOAH and his family who did repent and beleeue the threatnings of GODS iudgement So now when the world shall waxe old as a garment and that all the impieties and sinnes that can be deuised against both the first and second Table haue and shall bee committed to the full measure GOD is to punish the world the second time by fire to the generall destruction and not purgation thereof Although as was done in the former to NOAH and his family by the waters So shall all we that beleeue be likewise purged and not destroyed by the fire In the like sort I say I may iustly compare these two great and fearefull Domes-dayes wherewith GOD threatned to destroy mee and all you of this little world that haue interest in me For although I confesse as all mankinde so chiefly Kings as being in the higher places like the high Trees or stayest Mountaines and steepest Rockes are most subiect to the dayly tempests of innumerable dangers and I amongst all other Kings haue euer bene subiect vnto them not onely euer since my birth but euen as I may iustly say before my birth and while I was yet in my mothers belly yet haue I bene exposed to two more speciall and greater dangers then all the rest The first of them in the Kingdome where I was borne and passed the first part of my life And the last of them here which is the greatest In the former I should haue bene baptized in blood and in my destruction not onely the Kingdom wherein I then was but ye also by your future interest should haue tasted of my ruine Yet it pleased GOD to deliuer mee as it were
same by Vision of the woman in the wildernesse and of the Beasts that rose out of the sea and the earth in the 12. 13. and 14. Chapters And then to comfort men that might otherwise despaire Chap. 15.16 because of the greatnesse of that temptation he declares by the next following Vision of the Phials what plagues shall light vpon the Pope and his followers Next he describes him againe Chap. 17.18.19 Chap. 20. farre clearer then any time before and likewise his ruine together with the sorrow of the Earth and ioy of Heauen therefore And then to inculcate and ingraue the better the foresaid Visions in the hearts and memories of Men hee in a Vision makes a short summe and recapitulation of them to wit of the present estate of the Church then and what it should bee thereafter vnto the Day of Iudgement together with a short description of the said Day And last he describes by a Vision the glorious reward of them who constantly persist in the Trueth resisting all the temptations which he hath forespoken To wit he describes the blessed estate of the holy and Eternall Ierusalem and Church Triumphant and so with a short and pithie Conclusion makes an end A PARAPHRASE VPON THE REVELATION OF THE APOSTLE S. IOHN CHAP. I. ARGVMENT The Booke the Writer and the Inditer the end and vse thereof The dedication of this Epistle to the Churches and Pastors vnder the vision of the seuen Candlesticks and seuen Starres GOD THE FATHER hath directed his Sonne and Word IESVS CHRIST to send downe an Angel or Minister to me Iohn his seruant and by him to reueale vnto mee certaine things which are shortly to come to passe to the effect in time the chosen may be forewarned by me 2 Who haue borne witnes that the word of God is true and that IESVS CHRIST is and was a faithfull witnesse and haue made true report of all I saw 3 Happy are they that read and vnderstand this Prophesie and conforme themselues thereunto in time for in very short space it will be fulfilled 4 I am directed to declare the same specially to you the seuen Churches of Asia with whom be grace and peace from the Eternall the Father and from the Holy Spirit 5 And IESVS CHRIST that faithfull witnesse the first borne of the dead the Mightie King of the world and head of his Church Who for the loue he bare vs hath made vs innocent by his blood in the worke of Redemption 6 To him then we whom hee hath made Spiritual Kings and Priests in Honour and Holinesse and ordained to serue and praise his Father giue all glory and power for euer so be it 7 Assure your selues of his comming againe from Heauen in all glory and all eyes shall see him Yea the wicked shal be compelled to acknowledge that it is euen very he whom so they did persecute Christ crucified And the whole world shall haue a feeling before him of their vnthankefulnesse So be it 8 I am Eternall saith the Lord before whom all things which is or was are present and I am only the worker of all I who euer Was and still am shall surely come againe according to my promise 1. Cor. 2. And as I am Eternall and true so I am Almighty preordinating all things before all beginnings 9 I Iohn your brother in the flesh Iohn banished to Pathmos for the trueth writeth the Reuelation and companion with you aswell in the seruice of Christ as in the patient suffering of the Crosse being for that word of God and witnessing of Christ whereof I spake so persecuted that for safety of my life I was constrained to flie all alone to the solitarie I le of Pathmos 10 Then was I bereft in spirit vpon the Sunday which is hallowed to the Lord Then heard I behind me turne about and take heed the mighty voyce of the Lord as a Trumpet because he was to declare the estate of the battell of the Church Militant vnto me 11 Saying these wordes I am A and Ω to wit the first and the last write thou in a Booke what thou seest and send it to the Seuen Churches in Asia the names of which are these Ephesus Smyrna Pergamos Thyatyra Sardis Philadelphia and Laodicea 12 And when I turned mee to see the voyce Vers 10. I did see seuen Candlesticks representing these seuen Churches 13 And in the middest of them the figure of the Sonne of man representing him clothed with a side garment for grauitie and girded about the paps with a girdle of Gold for glory 14 His head and haire were white as white Wooll Psal 51. Esay 4. Matth. 3. Ierem. 1.15 Esay 17. or Snow for innocencie and his eyes were bright like flames of fire to signifie his all-seeing knowledge 15 His feet were of brasse brightly flaming as in a furnace to declare his standing in Eternity And his voice like the sounding of many waters representing his Maiestie in commanding 16 And hee had in his Right hand the side that the Elect are on Hebr. 1.10 Vers 10. seuen Starres for you the seuen Angels that is Pastors of the seuen Churches Ephes 6. Esay 60. Matth. 7. And from his mouth came a two-edged sword to wit the Sword of the word which comes onely from him and his face was as the Sunne shining bright for from his Face comes all light to illuminate blind Man 17 And when I thus did see him I fell dead at his feet for astonishment Psal 63. Psal 139. but he lifted mee vp againe with his right and fauourable hand and comfortably said vnto mee Feare not be not astonished for I am the first and the last Christ is risen from death to life Timoth. 1. Hebr. 2. 18 Who as verily as now I liue was once dead as thou thy selfe beares witnesse and yet now doe liue for euer and euer and by my death onely I haue ouercome Hell and Death and I onely and no other keepe the Keyes that haue the power of them both 19 And now I came to charge thee to write these things which thou hast now seene because they are afterwards to come to passe CHAP. II. ARGVMENT Admonition and exhortation to the Churches of Ephesus Smyrna Pergamos and Thyatira WRite then this to the Angel or Pastour of the Church of Ephesus He that hath the seuen Starres Chap. 1. v. 10. or seuen Pastours in his Right hand or fauourable power or protection and who walkes among the seuen Golden Candlesticks or watches ouer the seuen Churches euen hee I say Chap. 1. sayes thus vnto thee 2 I know thy workes thy trauaile and patience that thou suffrest not the wicked to walke with thee but hast learned them out False apostles in the Church of Ephesus that call themselues Apostles in the Church of Ephesus and are not and hast tried them to be lyers 3 Thou art also loaded with a great
creatures in the sea was slaine and the third part of the ships therein did perish for after that this former plague shall haue an end and yet the world not turne themselues from their iniquities then the second shall follow which is the corporall plague of persecution signified by the red horse in the second Seale more amply dilated heere This great heape of fiery persecution like a mountaine of fire shall make the third part or a certaine number of people and nations which is signified by the seas or many waters to ouerflow in blood for as it is said of the same in the second Scale they shall slay one another for euen among themselues to wit among the wicked shal be great bloodshed and warres for the third or a certaine number of all sorts of liuing things shall die to wit no sort of men shall be exempted from this trouble But especially a number and not the greatest part of the faithfull shal be persecuted which is signified by the ships for euen as ships on a stormie Sea seeke a hauen so the faithfull among the wicked of the world tossed here and there resisting euery waue striue in despight of many contrarious windes to attaine to that hauen where at last casting their Anchor they are freed from all worldly tempests and dwell there eternally in a perpetuall calmenesse 10 Then the third Angel blew and there fell from heauen a great Starre burning like a torch and it fell vpon the third part of riuers and fountaines of waters and the name of the starre was Wormewood and the third part of the riuers and fountaines were turned into wormewood and many men died for the bitternesse of the waters This is that same plague which is signified by the blacke horse and his rider to wit a cloud of defections and Apostatical heresies here signified by a great starre burning like a torch for it shall haue a great light but like the light of a torch for as the torch and candle-light is false to the eye and makes the colours to appeare otherwise then they are and is made dimme by the brightnes of the Sunne so shall this light of false doctrine maske iniquitie for a space and make it seeme to be the trueth vnto the time the trew light of God obfuscat and blinde it These heresies shall be stronger in deceit then those before for they shall seduce the very pastours and spirituall Magistrates which is signified by the Starres falling in a part of the fountaines of waters for these men are the worldly fountaines whereout the rest of the faithfull by the buckets of their eares draw that spring of heauenly liquor 11 This starre is called Wormewood for as wormewood is a bitter hearbe what greater bitternesse can be to the soule of man then to procure the wrath of the Almightie through such an horrible fall and as it turned a part of the pastours and made them to become of bitter qualitie like it selfe so their bitternesse did slay with the second death a great number of men to wit their disciples and followers 12 Then the fourth Angel blew and the third part of the Sunne the third part of the Moone and third part of the Starres was stricken so that the third part of them to wit of their light was obscured and the third part of the day and the third part of the night was obscured to wit the third part of their light was darkened For after that one part of the pastours shall make horrible defection it shall fall out that the whole Church visible shal be blinded with some errours but not yet make a full defection which is signified by the obscuring of a part of the light of the Sunne Moone and starres to wit of all degrees of spirituall Magistrates so that by their generall weaknesse in some points a part of the meaning of the Gospel shal be falsly interpreted which is meant by the light of the day and of the night for as the cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night did guide the people of Israel through the desart to the land of Promise so will this light shining both day and night in our soules conduct vs out through the wildernesse of this world to that spirituall land of promise where we with our God shall gloriously reigne in all Eternitie This fourth blast is also a part of the third Seale 13 And I saw and heard an other Angel flying through the middest of heauen and saying with a lowd voice Woe woe woe to the inhabitants of the earth for the harme that shal be done vnto them by the last three blasts of the Angels Trumpets for the last three plagues shall be exceeding great which that I might the better note and take greater heed vnto God wakens me vp and makes me see an Angel flying through the middest of heauen with celeritie aswell to forewarne the holy Angels and Saints of these three plagues so farre in greatnesse aboue the rest as to signifie by his swift flying that they are hastily and within short space to be put in execution And the number of Woes to wit which he cries are answerable to the number of plagues which are hereafter to be declared CHAP. IX ARGVMENT In the fift Trumpet the heresies cause a great blindnesse and ignorance whereof commeth the Ecclesiasticall Papisticall orders signified by the grashoppers breeding out of the smoake and their power and qualities Their King and head the Pope and his style In the next Trumpet the beginning of his decay signified by the loosing of the foure Angels at Euphrates The remedy he vseth for the same by hounding out the Iesuits signified by the horse in the Vision Their qualities signified by their breast-plates The Popes and Turkes his gathering to destroy the Church signified by a great armie of horse The Pope is the plague for breaking of the first Table and the Turke for breaking of the second THen the fift Angel blew and I saw the starre that fell out of heauen vpon earth for it is to be noted that all these plagues did fall out of heauen vpon the earth to teach vs Quòd nullum malum est in ciuitate quod non faciat Dominus by his Iustice permitting Amos 3.6 Esay 45.7 directing ordering and restrayning it I did see it get the key of the bottomlesse pit which was giuen vnto it for this cloud of heresies spoken of in the third Trumpet and third Seale by processe of time did breed this bastard tyrannie whereof I spoke in the fourth Seale and so it brought from hell by the opening of the bottomlesse pit whereof it gate the keyes to wit by the assistance and deuice of Satan it bred such plagues as follow 2 First by opening of the pit came foorth a great smoke like the smoke of a furnace to wit it did breed such a darkenesse and ignorance in the minds of men as the Sunne and the Aire were obscured to
often haue heard already and the in-dwellers of the earth shall wonder whose names are not written in the booke of life before the foundation of the world was laide of this wondering yee heard before they shall wonder I say at this beast which was to wit in great power and is not to wit in a maner as ye presently heard and yet is I meane doeth stand though farre decayed from the former greatnesse 9 Take good heede vnto this that I declare vnto thee for herein shall the trew wisedome of men be tried to wit in knowing by this my description what particular Empire and Tyrannie I speake of And the seuen heads of this beast signifie aswell seuen materiall hilles whereupon the seate of this Monarchie is situated as also seuen kings or diuers formes of Magistrates that this Empire hath had and is to haue hereafter 10 Fiue of them haue beene alreadie one is presently and makes the sixt another shall follow it and make the seuenth but it is not yet come and when it comes it shall remaine but a very short space 11 And this beast which was to wit so great and is not for now it is decaying as thou presently hast heard it is the eight and yet one of the seuen for this beast which rose out of the ruines of the fourth Monarchie as ye heard before in respect it vseth an hereticall Tyrannie ouer the consciences of men by that new forme of Empire is different from any of the rest and so is the eight and yet because this forme of gouernment shall haue the same seate which the rest had and vse as great Tyrannie and greater vpon the world and shall vse the same forme in ciuill gouernment which one of the seuen vsed therefore because it is so like them I call it one of the seuen 12 And the tenne hornes which thou sawest signifie tenne Kings to wit the great number of subalterne Magistrates in all the Prouinces vnder that Monarchy who haue not yet receiued their kingdome for vnder all the diuers sorts of gouernments that shall be in it except the last and hereticall sort these subalterne powers shall be but in the ranke of subiects but they shall take their kingly power with the beast to wit at the very time that this Apollyon shall rise out of the ashes of the fourth beast or Monarchie the kings of the earth shall become his slaues and subalterne Magistrates whereas the subiects were onely the power of that Monarchie before so as the hornes or powers of this beast were but of subiects before it was wounded but after the healing of it the worldly kings and rulers shall become the powers and hornes of it 13 These shall haue one counsell and shall giue their strength and power to the beast to wit these kings shal all willingly yeeld obedience to Babylon and shall employ their whole forces for the maintenance of that Monarchie and the persecution of the Saints 14 For they shal fight with the Lambe in his members albeit all in vaine for in the end the Lambe shall ouercome them because he is Lord of lords and King of all kings and these that are with him and followeth him are called Chosen and Faithfull 15 He also said vnto me The waters that thou saw this Whore sit vpon are the peoples multitudes nations and tongues that haue subiected themselues to her Empire 16 But as touching these ten hornes thou saw thus farre I foretell vnto thee although that for a time these kings shall be slaues and seruants to Babylon and shall be her instruments to persecute the Saints the time shall come before the consummation that they shall hate the Whore who abused them so strongly and long and shall make her to be alone for they shall withdraw from her their Subiects the nations that were her strength and shall make her naked for they shall discouer the mysterie of her abominations and shall eate her flesh and burne her with fire to wit they shall spoile her of her riches power and glory and so destroy her 17 But doe not thou wonder at this for God gaue them in their hearts to wit permitted them to be abused by her for a space that they might doe what pleased her and consent to all her vnlawfull policies and pretences and giue their kingdomes vnto this beast vntill the words of God might be accomplished to wit they shall submit their very Crownes and take the right thereof from her vnto the fulnesse of times here prophecied At what time God shall raise them vp as ye heard to destroy Babylon for the hearts of the greatest kings as well as of the smallest subiects are in the hands of the Lord to be his instruments and to turne them as it shall please him to employ them 18 And this woman or Whore which thou sawest is that great citie and seate of this Beast or Monarchie which beareth rule ouer the kings of the earth as thou hast heard alreadie But although it be one seat yet diuers and a great number of kings or heads thereof shall succeed into it one to another all vpholding an hereticall religion and false worship of God and one forme of gouernment as the fourth Monarchie did out of the which this did spring as ye haue heard CHAP. XVIII ARGVMENT The sorrow of the earth for the destruction of the Popedome The profite that worldly men had by his standing The great riches and wealth of that Church The Pope by his Pardons makes merchandise of the soules of men Heauen and the Saints reioyce at his destruction albeit the earth and the worldlings lament for the same ANd then I saw another Angel comming downe from heauen hauing great power so that the earth shined with his glory for so soone as God by one of the seauen Angels who had the phials had more plainely described vnto mee this woman sitting on the beast then he did before hee now appointeth this other Angel who is Christ to declare vnto me and proclaime to the world as is signified by his comming downe to the earth for that cause the iust condemnation of Babylon according to her sinnes 2 And hee cryed out with a loude voyce saying It is fallen It is fallen Babylon that great Citie and it is made the dwelling place of vncleane spirits and the habitation of all vncleane and hatefull fowles to wit it shall be destroyed and that great Citie the seate of that Monarchie shall be desolate for euer euen as it was prophesied of Ierusalem 3 Because all nations haue drunke of the Vine of her whoredome and the kings of the earth haue committed whoredome with her and the Merchants of the earth are become rich by the great wealth of her delights in so great a worldly glory and pompe did that Monarchie shine 4 And I heard another voyce from heauen to wit the voyce of the holy Spirit saying Goe foorth from her my people to wit all the chosen
lest ye be participants of her sinnes and of the plagues which are to fall vpon her for them For if but outwardly ye haunt with her and seeme to beare with her abominations yee shall bee accounted guiltie of her sinnes for if ye will haue Christ to professe you publikely at the latter day before his Father and his Angels and reward both your body and soule with eternall felicitie yee must not bee ashamed to serue him both in body and soule before men And this warning I giue you before-hand to make you inexcusable who will otherwise doe 5 For her sinnes are come to such a height as they haue touched the heauen and God is mindfull of them then not onely haunt not with her as I haue said for it is not enough not to doe euil but 6 Rayse your selues vp against her and render the like that she hath done to you yea pay her with the double of her owne workes and in the cup which she propined vnto others render her the double to wit trouble and destroy her by all meanes and in all things euen as she troubled and destroyed others before and according to her pride and wantonnesse recompence her with torment woe and wailing 7 For she sayes in her mind I fit a Queene or am a stabled Monarch neither am I a widow or shall euer bee desolate nor shall euer see dolour or taste destruction 8 And therefore because she thus builds her felicitie vpon her worldly strength by worldly instruments shall shee bee plagued with death with dolour with hunger and burnt with fire to wit after suffering all sorts of torments shee shall in the end be vtterly destroyed for strong is the Lord God who shall condemne her 9 And then shall the kings of the earth who were her hornes and had committed whoredome and riotousnesse with her before weepe and lament for pittie when they see the smoake of her burning for although some of themselues shall be the destroyers as ye heard before yet shall her destruction be so great as their hearts shall pittie the worke of their hands when they shall see the great smoake of her destruction 10 And they shall stand farre off from her torment to wit her torment shall put them in memorie of their guiltinesse of her sinnes which shall afray them wonderfully and shall say in great admiration Alas Alas for that great Citie Babylon that strong Citie whose iudgement and destruction is all come in one howre and at once 11 And the Merchants of the earth shall weepe and mourne for her because their merchandise wil no more bee bought for her pompe shall make the Merchants rich by getting readie sale of all fine wares 12 Such as gold siluer precious stones pearles fine linnen purple silke and scarlet for her garments and all kind of vessels to doe her idolatrous seruice of Iuorie costly wood brasse iron or marble stone 13 Cynamome and all kind of odours for her Church with oyntments and incense for the same purpose and the fine flower of wheat and all kind of victuals and cattell and sheepe for her sumptuous banquets and horse and Chariots and slaues for her triumphes and processions and soules of men for shee shall haue many that shall be Merchants vnto her of the soules of men by selling for mony Pardons giuen by that Monarch which shall bee thought to haue power to saue redeeme and free mens soules but ye shal heare more shortly of this hereafter 14 And the fruits of the desire of thy soule O Babylon shall goe from thee to wit thy ioyes and delights shall all turne to sorrow and all fat and faire things are gone from thee to wit thou shalt leaue all profit and pleasure neither shalt thou euer find them any more for thou shalt be destroyed for euer 15 And so the Merchants of these stuffes being made rich by the buying and selling of them they shall stand afarre off from thy torments and weepe and waile 16 saying Alas Alas for that great Citie that was clothed with fine linnen purple and scarlet and was of so glistering a pompe as was gilded with gold and decked with pretious stones and pearles 17 For loe now how in one houre all her riches and pompe is evanished and all the gouernours and owners of ships and all the multitudes of men in the ships and all the marriners in them and all these who gaine their liuing vpon the sea shal stand afarre off for feare 18 And cry seeing the smoke of her burning saying with a great admiration Who was like in power or shining glorie to this Citie 19 And for pittie of her decay and sorow for wanting by that meanes the carrying to her from all other countries all sorts of merchandise they shall cast dust and ashes vpon their heades and say Alas Alas for that great Citie wherein was made rich all these that had shippes vpon the sea by the prices and trade shee made vs haue and now she is made desolate in one houre 20 But although the earthly men bee sorrowfull for her fall as yee haue heard because they want their earthly commodities and pleasures thereby which she whose religion was earthly to wit founded vpon mens traditions and inuentions and maintained by earthly pompe and power did make them enioy yet reioyce yee heauens for her fall and ye holy Apostles and Prophets be glad thereof for God in punishing her hath reuenged your cause 21 Then for confirmation of this Prophesie of her destruction I sawe a strong Angel take a great stone like a milstone and cast it in the sea saying Euen with such a force shall Babylon that great Citie be casten downe and the very place thereof shall no more be found as Ieremy prophesied of corporall Babylon 22 And the sound of harpers and musitians and players on pipes and trumpets shall no more be heard in thee for no ioy nor mirth shall any more bee in that Monarchie or the seate thereof nor no craftes-man of any craft shall bee found in thee neither shall the grinding of the mill be heard any more in thee for that Citie or seate and Monarchie shall no more bee inhabited 23 And the light of a candle shal be no more found in thee and the voice of the husband and the wife shall no more be heard in thee for as it shall not be inhabited any more by the wicked so neither shall the godly dwell therein so accursed shall it be so as the lampes of the fiue virgins shall not burne there neither shall Christ and his spouse the true Church any more be there although that during the standing of that Monarchie some chosen though few and secret were and at all times shall be euen within that City the seate thereof whose merchants were the great men of the earth and with whose witchcrafts all nations wereseduced 24 And the blood of the Prophets and of the Saints was found in her and of all them
that were slaine vpon the earth to wit this plague of destruction shall iustly fall vpon her aswell for that she made her messengers or embassadours who are great in power as yee heard before to bee the sellers of her Pardons Prayers Sacraments Merits and euen of the sinnes and soules of men as ye haue presently heard and so by that meanes and the like bewitched as it were and abused many nations as also for that shee had cruelly persecuted and murthered the Saints so as the blood of all the Saints since Abel who willingly sacrificed their liues for the loue of Gods trewth and for the testimonie of his Sonne shall be layd vpon her head and imputed vnto her in following fulfilling and exceeding the rage of former Tyrants oppressing and persecuting the Church of God CHAP. XIX ARGVMENT The Saints praise God for ioy that the Pope is destroyed The glorious forme of Christes second comming set downe at large The Pope and his Church is condemned for euer THen according to the voyces speaking to the heauen and Prophets and Apostles there to wit that they should reioyce as much for the fall of Babylon as the vnregenerate men did lament therefore as ye haue heard according I say to this exhortation I heard the voyce of a great multitude in heauen saying Hallelu-iah which is if ye interpret it Praise God with a lowde voyce Saluation honour glorie and power is onely with our Lord God 2 For true and iust are his Iudgements and he hath condemned that great Whore who hath defiled the earth with her whoredome and he with his hand hath reuenged vpon her the blood of his seruants 3 Then for the second time they said Hallelu-iah for the smoake of her destruction goeth vp in all worlds to come for she shall neuer rise againe but shal be burned with a perpetuall fire 4 And likewise for thankesgiuing for the same the foure and twentie Elders fell downe vpon their faces before God and adored him and the foure Beasts also adored God sitting vpon his Throne and all the beasts and Elders said with one voyce Amen Hallelu-iah 5 And I heard a voyce come from the Throne to wit from one of the foure beastes that supported it saying Praise our God all ye his Seruants and all ye that feare him small and great 6 And then conformely to that direction I heard as it had bene the sound or voyce of a great multitude and as it had bene the sound of many waters and as the sound of great thunders to wit the voyce of all the Creatures in heauen whose sound in greatnes might be compared to the noise of many waters or to the roaring of the thunder and they said all in one Voyce Hallelu-iah because our Lord God Almightie hath now reigned by destroying Babylon and her followers 7 Let vs therefore reioyce and be glad and render him all glory for the Marriage of the Lambe is come to wit the latter Day is at hand and his wife hath made herselfe ready for him to wit his Church is now purified from among the wicked 8 And it was giuen vnto her to clothe herselfe with pure and bright linnen which is the iustification of the Saints for as fine linnen is a pure bright white and pretious stuffe so are the Saints clothed with that pretious vndefiled and glorious garment of righteousnes through imputation And this our garment of Iustification with the which we shal be clothed at the latter day must onely come of his righteousnesse so as ye presently heard it must be giuen vs by him for as of our selues we cannot thinke a good thought so can we merit nothing but eternall death and when we haue done all the good workes we can we must thinke our selues but improfitable seruants as Christ himselfe said 9 Then the same voyce to wit the voyce of the Angel that shewed me these things said to me Write and leaue in record to all posterities Happie are they that are called to the Supper of the Lambes marriage whereof thou thy selfe heard him speake parabolically for those who are called shall neuer againe be cast off but are chosen for euer And he said vnto me these words of God are trew which I bad thee write to leaue to posteritie that God himselfe hath giuen this comfortable promise which I haue specially willed thee to witnesse to thy Brethren because it will come to passe in the later dayes that this whoring and hereticall Babylon shall diswade all her followers from trusting this promise and so driue men to an vncertaintie of their Election 10 And I fell downe at this Angels feete to haue adored him so all flesh is giuen of it selfe to adore some visible thing which is idolatry such is the corruption of our flesh if it be not holden vp by grace from aboue but he did reproue me and said Beware thou doe it not For although I be a more excellent creature of God then thou art yet am I but thy fellow seruant and so one of thy brethren bearing the testimony of IESVS in heauen to be his seruant and creature as thou doest in earth Adore therefore God onely for no creature must either be prayed to or adored nor no mediation can come but by Christ onely and thinke mee not a God for prophesying thus vnto thee for the witnessing of Christ is the Spirit of prophesie for that gift is common to others aswell as to mee and it is the same Spirit of prophesie albeit not the same gift of it that foretells things to come which giues grace to all the Elect to beare trew and constant record of Christ 11 Then I saw thereafter the forme of the day of Iudgement for I saw the Heauens open and loe a white horse came downe from them of this white horse yee heard in the first Seale and hee that sate vpon him to wit Christ was called faithfull and trew for by giuing Iudgement hee was now to performe his promise and hee was also called Hee that iustly iudgeth and fighteth for hee was presently to iudge the world and to condemne perpetually all the reprobate 12 And his eyes were like the flames of fire as yee heard in the beginning of this Epistle and on his head were many diademes for now he was to reigne eternally ouer all the kingdomes of the earth as the Elders did sing in the seuenth Trumpet and he had a Name written vpon him which no man did know but himselfe for the mysterie of his Name of Redemptor is so profound as no creature is able to comprehend it by wisedome and therefore I heard himselfe say that no Angel no not himselfe in so farre as he is man did foreknow the day of his last comming which shall be the fulfilling of that mysterie 13 And he was clothed with a garment dipt in blood wherewith the garments of the soules of Martyrs are washed as ye heard in the fift Seale and he is named The
enemie shall be abolished from holy Ierusalem for euer 15 And whosoeuers name is not found written in the booke of Life is casten into the Lake of fire for not onely the publike euill doers but euen whosoeuer is not predestinate for saluation shall at that time be casten into hell for there is no midway but whosoeuer gathereth not with Christ he scattereth as I shew before CHAP. XXI ARGVMENT A large and glorious description of the Church Triumphant in Heauen and of all the members of that holy and Eternall Ierusalem NOw the Spirit of God hauing by this last vision made a summe and recapitulation of all the former as yee haue heard he by this following and last vision declareth and gloriously describeth the reward of all them who constantly perseuere vnto the end in the trew seruice of God notwithstanding all the assaults of Sathan which ye haue heard dilated the reward was then to be eternall inheritours of holy Ierusalem as yee shall presently heare 1 For I saw a new heauen and a new earth it is ouer this new heauen and new earth that the faithfull should reigne kings and priests for euer as yee heard before And the first heauen and the first earth went away neither was the sea any more for all shall be burnt with fire at the consummation which fire shall renew them and take away their corruption and mutablitie releeuing them from the seruitude of death to the liberty of the glory of the sonnes of God who notwithstanding shall not dwel there but in heauen 2 And euen I Iohn saw the holy new City Ierusalem comming downe from heauen made ready of God like a bride that is decked for her bridegroome For this holy Church triumphant shal come downe in all shining glorie to meete Christ her husband when hee shall haue iudged the world as ye haue heard before to bee incorporated and ioyned with him for euer 3 And I heard a mighty voyce from heauen saying for confirmation of this happy coniunction Loe the Tabernacle of God and his dwelling place is with men and hee will now dwell with them for euer and they shall be his people and he shall be a God with them and their God 4 And God shall wipe all teares from their eyes for they shall feele no more any sorow as ye haue often heard before and death shall be no more neither shal any sorow crying or dolour euer be in that Church triumphant for the first are gone away and all these things then shall haue an end 5 And then hee that sate vpon the Throne to wit God the Father said Loe I make new or renew all things and he said vnto me Write and leaue in record what thou hast seene for surely these words are faithfull and trew and shall come certainely to passe 6 And he also said vnto me It is done for when these things shall come to passe then is the full accomplishment of all things I am A and Ω to wit the beginning and the ending of all things For as I made the Creation so shall I cause the Consummation And I shall giue to him that thirsteth of the fountaine of water of life freely or for nothing to wit he will grant saluation to all them who cal vpon him for it and that for nothing for it cōmeth of his free mercie and not of any merit in vs How foolish then are they to be accompted who contemning that saluation which they may obtaine for the crauing buie with their siluer a counterfeit saluation from Babylon as ye heard before 7 And he that ouercommeth Satan and his owne flesh shall possesse all to wit he shall be a full inheritour of Gods kingdome and I shall be a God to him and he shall be a sonne to me 8 But for all them who are fearefull and vnbeleeuing not hauing a sure confidence and trust in my promises and for execrable men and murtherers and fornicators and sorcerers and idolaters and all lyers for all these sorts of men I say there is place appointed in that lake which burneth with fire and brimstone which is the second death 9 Then there came vnto me one of these seuen Angels which had the seuen phials ful of the seuen last plagues and he sayd vnto me Come and I will shew vnto thee the Bride which is the Wife of the Lambe for this Angel was directed to shewe mee the glorie of this holy Hierusalem the Church triumphant not to satisfie my curiosity therewith but that I might leaue in record to all posterities to come not as a hearer onely but as an Oculatus testis what glorious and eternall reward did abide all the faithfull 10 And so he tooke me vp in the Spirit to a high and great Mountaine for it became well that so glorious a sight should be shewen vpon so eminent a place and there hee did shew mee a great Citie to wit that holy Ierusalem comming downe from heauen and from God as ye heard before 11 And it had the glory of God in it and the light or brightnesse of it was like vnto the glittering of a most pretious stone yea euen like the greene Iasper in flourishing eternitie and like the cleare Cristall in shining brightnesse 12 And this Citie had a great and high wall to hold out all them who had not the marke of the Lambe as ye shall heare after and to protect the Citizens from all blastes of troubles for all teares will then bee wipte from their eyes as ye heard before And this Citie had also twelue gates and in them twelue Angels and their names were written vpon them which were the names of the twelue Tribes of the sonnes of Israel 13 And there were three gates towards the East three towards the West three towards the South and three towards the North to signifie that out of all parts and places of the world and whatsoeuer thy vocation be if thou call to God with an vpright heart thou shalt find that the entrance into the Citie is equally distributed about the same 14 And the wall of the Citie had twelue foundations whereupon were written the twelue names of the Apostles of the Lambe These twelue Angels of the twelue gates and twelue foundations of the wall are the foure and twentie Elders of whom ye heard in the beginning of this my Epistle the twelue Angels of the twelue gates are the twelue Patriarkes who were the first teachers of the way and so the guides to this holy Ierusalem for by the Law which they represent we must first beginne to know the trewth and to know our selues and the twelue foundations are we the twelue Apostles for vpon our doctrine is that wall founded which hedgeth in the Saints in an eternall securitie and debarreth all others 15 And the Angel who spake with me had a golden reed in his hand to measure therewith the Citie and the gates and the walles of the same thereby to signifie the
likewise to make himselfe so to be trusted in these little things that he may haue the better commoditie thereafter to deceiue them in the end with a tricke once for all I meane the euerlasting perdition of their soule and body Then laying this ground as I haue said these coniurations must haue fewe or moe in number of the persons coniurers alwayes passing the singular number according to the qualitie of the circle and forme of apparition Two principall things cannot well in that errand be wanted holy-water whereby the deuill mockes the Papists and some present of a liuing thing vnto him There are likewise certaine seasons dayes and houres that they obserue in this purpose These things being all ready and prepared circles are made triangular quadrangular round double or single according to the forme of apparition that they craue But to speake of the diuers formes of the circles of the innumerable characters and crosses that are within and without and out-through the same of the diuers formes of apparitions that that craftie spirit illudes them with and of all such particulars in that action I remit it to ouer-many that haue busied their heads in describing of the same as being but curious and altogether vnprofitable And this farre onely I touch that when the coniured Spirit appeares which will not be while after many circumstances long prayers and much muttring and murmuring of the coniurers like a Papist Priest dispatching a hunting Masse how soone I say he appeares if they haue missed one iote of all their rites or if any of their feet once slyde ouer the circle through terrour of his fearefull apparition hee payes himselfe at that time in his owne hand of that due debt which they ought him and otherwise would haue delayed longer to haue payed him I meane hee carries them with him body and soule If this be not now a iust cause to make them weary of these formes of coniuration I leaue it to you to iudge vpon considering the long somnesse of the labour the precise keeping of dayes and houres as I haue said the terriblenesse of apparition and the present perill that they stand in in missing the least circumstance or freite that they ought to obserue And on the other part the deuill is glad to mooue them to a plaine and square dealing with him as I said before CHAP. VI. ARGV The Deuils contract with the Magicians The diuision there of in two parts What is the difference betwixt Gods miracles and the Deuils PHILOMATHES INdeed there is cause enough but rather to leaue him at all then to runne more plainely to him if they were wise hee dealt with But goe forward now I pray you to these turnes fra they become once deacons in this craft EPI From time that they once plainely begin to contract with him The effect of their contract consists in two things in formes and effects as I began to tell already were it not ye interrupted me for although the contract be mutual I speake first of that part wherein the diuel obliges himselfe to them By formes I meane in what shape or fashion he shall come vnto them when they call vpon him And by effects I vnderstand in what speciall sorts or seruices he binds himselfe to bee subiect vnto them The qualitie of these formes and effects is lesse or greater according to the skill and art of the Magician For as to the formes to some of the baser sort of them he obliges himselfe to appeare at their calling vpon him by such a proper name which he shewes vnto them either in likenes of a Dog a Cat an Ape or such-like other beast or else to answere by a voice onely The effects are to answere to such demands as concerne curing of diseases their owne particular menagerie or such other base things as they require of him But to the most curious sort in the formes hee will oblige himselfe to enter into a dead bodie and there out of to giue such answeres of the euent of battels of matters concerning the estate of commonwealths and such like other great questions yea to some he will bee a continuall attender in forme of a Page Hee will permit himselfe to bee coniured for the space of so many yeeres either in a tablet or a ring or such like thing which they may easily cary about with them Hee giues them power to sell such wares to others whereof some will be dearer and some better cheape according to the lying or true speaking of the Spirit that is coniured therein Not but that in very deed all deuils must be lyars but so they abuse the simplicitie of these wretches that become their scholers that they make them beleeue that at the fall of Lucifer some Spirits fell in the aire some in the fire some in the water some in the land in which Elements they still remaine Whereupon they build that such as fell in the fire or in the aire are trewer then they who fell in the water or in the land which are all but meere trattles and forged by the authour of all deceite For they fell not by weight as a solide substance to sticke in any one part but the principall part of their fall consisting in quality by the falling from the grace of God wherein they were created they continued stil thereafter and shall doe while the latter day in wandring through the world as Gods hang-men to execute such turnes as hee employes them in And when any of them are not occupied in that returne they must to their prison in hell as it is plaine in the miracle that CHRIST wrought at Gennezareth therein at the latter day to be all enclosed for euer Matth. 8. and as they deceiue their Schollers in this so doe they in imprinting in them the opinion that there are so many Princes Dukes and Kings amongst them euery one commanding fewer or moe Legions and impiring in diuers artes and quarters of the earth For though that I will not deny that there be a forme of order amongst the Angels in Heauen and consequently was amongst them before their fall yet either that they bruike the same sensine or that God will permit vs to know by damned diuels such heauenly mysteries of his which he would not reueale to vs neither by Scripture nor Prophets I thinke no Christian will once thinke it But by the contrary of all such mysteries as he hath closed vp with his Seale of secrecie it becommeth vs to be contented with an humble ignorance they being things not necessary for our saluation But to returne to the purpose as these formes wherein Satan obliges himselfe to the greatest of the Magicians are wonderfull curious so are the effects correspondent vnto the same For he will oblige himselfe to teach them artes and sciences which he may easily doe being so learned a knaue as he is to carry them newes from any part of the world which the agilitie of a Spirit
bee performed by one base knaue in a darke corner whereupon he was moued to interprete and construe the latter Sentence in the Letter alledged by the Earle of Salisburie against all ordinarie sence and construction in Grammar as if by these words For the danger is past as soone as you haue burned the Letter should be closely vnderstood the suddaintie and quickenesse of the danger which should be as quickly perfourmed and at an end as that paper should be of bleasing vp in the fire turning that word of as soone to the sense of as quickly And therefore wished that before his going to the Parliament His Maiesties opinion for searching of the vnder roume of the Parliament House the vnder roumes of the Parliament house might be well and narrowly searched But the Earle of Salisbury wondering at this his Maiesties Commentary which he knew to be so farre contrary to his ordinary and naturall disposition who did rather euer sinne vpon the other side in not apprehending nor trusting due Aduertisements of Practises and Perils when hee was trewly enformed of them whereby hee had many times drawen himselfe into many desperate dangers and interpreting rightly this extraordinary Caution at this time to proceede from the vigilant care hee had of the whole State more then of his owne Person which could not but haue all perished together if this designement had succeeded Hee thought good to dissemble still vnto the King that there had beene any iust cause of such apprehension And ending the purpose with some merrie ieast vpon this Subiect as his custome is tooke his leaue for that time But though he seemed so to neglect it to his Maiestie yet his customable and watchfull care of the King and the State still boyling within him And hauing with the blessed Virgine Marie laid vp in his heart the Kings so strange iudgement and construction of it He could not be at rest til he acquainted the foresaid Lords what had passed betweene the King and him in priuat Wherupon they were all so earnest to renew againe the memory of the same purpose to his Maiestie as it was agreed that he should the next day being Saturday repaire to his Highnesse which hee did in the same priuie Gallery and renewed the memory thereof the L. Chamberlaine then being present with the King The determination to search the Parliament house and the roumes vnder it At what time it was determined that the said Lord Chamberlaine should according to his custome and Office view all the Parliament Houses both aboue and below and consider what likelihood or appearance of any such danger might possibly be gathered by the sight of them But yet as well for staying of idle rumours as for beeing the more able to discerne any mysterie the nearer that things were in readinesse his iourney thither was ordeined to bee deferred till the afternoone before the sitting downe of the Parliament which was vpon the Munday following At what time hee according to this conclusion went to the Parliament house accompanied with my Lord Mountegle beeing in zeale to the Kings seruice earnest and curious to see the euent of that accident whereof hee had the fortune to be the first discouerer where hauing viewed all the lower roumes Wood and Coale found by the Lord Chamberlaine in the Vault hee found in the Vault vnder the vpper House great store and prouision of Billets Faggots and Coales And enquiring of Whyneard Keeper of the Wardrobe to what vse hee had put those lower roumes and cellars he told him That Thomas Percie had hired both the House and part of the Cellar or Vault vnder the same and that the Wood and Coale therein was the said Gentlemansowne prouision Whereupon the Lord Chamberlaine casting his eye aside perceiued a fellow standing in a corner there calling himself the said Percies man and keeper of that house for him but indeed was Guido Fawkes Guido Fawkes bearing the name of Percies man the owner of that hand which should haue acted that monstrous Tragedie The Lord Chamberlaine looking vpon all things with a heedfull indeed yet in outward appearance with but a carelesse and racklesse eye as became so wise and diligent a minister hee presently addressed himselfe to the King in the said priuie Gallery wherein the presence of the Lord Treasurer the Lord Admirall the Earles of Worcester Northampton and Salisbury The Lord Chamberlaines report and iudgement of what he had obserued in the search hee made his report what hee had seene and obserued there noting that Mountegle had told him That he no sooner heard Thomas Percy named to be the possessour of that house but considering both his backwardnes in Religion and the old dearenesse in friendship betweene himselfe and the said Percy hee did greatly suspect the matter and that the Letter should come from him The said Lord Chamberlaine also tolde That he did not wonder a little at the extraordinary great prouision of wood and coale in that house where Thomas Percie had so seldome occasion to remaine As likewise it gaue him in his minde that his man looked like a very tall and desperate fellow This could not but encrease the Kings former apprehension and iealousie whereupon hee insisted as before that the House was narrowly to bee searched and that those Billets and Coales would be searched to the bottome it beeing most suspicious that they were layed there onely for couering of the powder Of this same minde also were all the Counsailours then present Disputation about the maner of the further search But vpon the fashion of making of the search was it long debated For vpon the one side they were all so iealous of the Kings safety that they all agreed that there could not be too much caution vsed for preuenting his danger And yet vpon the other part they were all extreme loath and daintie that in case this Letter should proue to bee nothing but the euaporation of an idle braine then a curious search beeing made and nothing found should not onely turne to the generall scandall of the King and the State as being so suspicious of euery light and friuolous toy but likewise lay an ill fauoured imputation vpon the Earle of Northumberland one of his Maiesties greatest Subiects and Counsailors this Tho. Percie being his kinsman and most confident familiar And the rather were they curious vpon this point knowing how far the King detested to be thought suspitious or iealous of any of his good Subiects though of the meanest degree And therefore though they all agreed vpon the maine ground which was to prouide for the securitie of the Kings Person yet did they much differ in the circumstances by which this action might be best caried with least dinne and occasion of slaunder But the King himselfe still persisting that there were diuers shrewd appearances and that a narrow search of those places could preiudge no man that was innocent hee at last plainely
is the former Vision interpreted and expounded and there is the Antichrist represented by a Woman sitting vpon that many-headed Beast because as CHRIST his trew Spouse and Church is represented by a Woman in the twelfth Chapter so here is the Head of his adulterous spouse or false Church represented also by a woman but hauing a cup full of abominations in her hand Verse 4. as her selfe is called a Whoore for her spirituall adulterie Verse 1. hauing seduced the Kings of the earth to be partakers of her Spirituall fornication Verse 2. And yet wonderfull gorgious and glorious was she in outward shew but drunken with the blood of the Saints Verse 6. by a violent persecution of them And that shee may the better bee knowen hee writeth her name vpon her forehead agreeable to her qualities A Mysterie that great Babylon the Mother of whoredomes and abominations of the earth A Mysterie is a name that belongeth vnto her two maner of wayes Verse 5. One as shee taketh it to her selfe another as shee deserueth indeed To her selfe shee taketh it in calling her selfe the visible Head of the mysticall Body of CHRIST in professing her selfe to bee the dispenser of the mysteries of GOD and by her onely must they bee expounded This great God in earth and Head of the Faith being a Mystes by his profession that is a Priest And if the obseruation of one be trew that hee had of old the word Mysterie written on his Myter then is this Prophecie very plainely accomplished Now that indeed shee deserues that name the rest of her Title doeth beare witnesse that sheweth her to bee the Mother of all the whoredomes and abominations of the earth Vers 5. and so is she vnder the pretext of holinesse a Mystery indeed of all iniquitie and abominations vnder the maske of pretended feeding of Soules deuouring Kingdomes and making Christendome swimme in blood Now after that this scarlet or bloody Beast and her Rider are described by their shape garments name and qualities the Angel doeth next interprete this vision vnto Iohn expounding vnto him what is signified both by the Beast and her Rider telling him Verse 9. the seuen heads of the Beast are seuen Hilles meaning by the situation of that Citie or seat of Empire and that they are also seuen Kings or formes of gouernment in the said Citie whereof I haue told you my conceit already As for the ten Hornes Verse 12. which hee sheweth to be tenne Kings that shall at one houre receiue their power and kingdome with the Beast I take that number of ten to be Numerus certus pro incerto euen as the number of seuen heads and ten hornes vpon the Dragon the Deuill cannot but be an vncertaine number And that hee also imitates in those ten hornes the ten hornes of the seuen headed Beast in the seuenth of Daniel and therefore I take these ten Kings to signifie all the Christian Kings and free Princes and States in generall euen you whom to I consecrate these my Labours and that of vs all he prophesieth that although our first becomming absolute and free Princes should be in one houre with the Beast for great Christian Kingdomes and Monarches did but rise and receiue their libertie by the ruines of the Ethnicke Romane Empire and at the destruction thereof and at the very time of the beginning of the planting of the Antichrist there Verse 13. and that we should for a long time continue to worship the Beast hauing one Catholike or common consenting minde in obeying her yeelding our power and authoritie vnto her and kissing her feete drinking with her in her cup of Idolatrie Verse 14. and fighting with the Lambe in the persecution of his Saints at her command that gouerneth so many Nations and people yet notwithstanding all this wee shall in the time appointed by GOD Verse 16. hauing thus fought with the Lambe Verse 16. but being ouercome by him that is conuerted by his Word wee shall then I say hate the Whore and make her desolate and make her naked by discouering her hypocrisie and false pretence of zeale and shall eate her flesh and burne her with fire And thus shall the way of the Kings of the east bee prepared Reuel 16.12 as ye heard in the sixteenth Chapter And then doeth hee subioyne the reason of this strange change in vs for saith hee GOD hath put it in their hearts to fulfill his will Verse 17. and with one consent to giue their Kingdomes to the Beast till the words of GOD be fulfilled according to that sentence of Solomon That the hearts of Kings are in the handes of GOD Prou. 21.1 to bee turned at his pleasure And hauing thus interpreted the Beast or Empire hee in a word expounds Verse 18. that by the Woman that rode vpon her or Monarch that gouerned her was meant that great Citie that reigned ouer the Kings of the earth by the Scate of the Empire pointing out the qualitie of the persons that should sit and domine there Then is the greatnesse of her fall Chap. 18. and the great lamentation that both the Kings and Merchants of the earth shall make for the same proclaimed by an other Angel in the eighteenth Chapter Verse 9.10 The Kings lamenting her fall because they liued in pleasure with her which no Kings could doe with Ethnicke Rome who conquered them by her sword for shee honoured them with Titles and dispensed with their lustes and vnlawfull marriages Verse 11 15 16 17 18. And the Merchants of the earth and all Shipmasters and traffikers vpon the Sea shall lament the fall of that great Citie which neuer had a fellow for the losse of their riches and traffique which they enioyed by her meanes Verse 12 13. And there he describeth all sorts of rich wares whereof that great Citie was the Staple for indeed shee hath a necessary vse for all such rich and glorious wares as well for ornaments to her Churches and princely Prelates as for garments and ornaments to her woodden Saints for the blessed Virgin must be dayly clothed and decked in the newest and most curious fashion though it should resemble the habit of a Curtizane And of all those rich wares Verse 13. the most precious is last named which is the Soules of men for so much bestowed vpon Masses and so much doted to this or that Cloyster of Monkes or Friers but most of all now to that irregular and incomprehensible order of Iesuites shal both redeeme his owne Soule and all his parents to the hundreth generation from broyling in the fire of Purgatory And I hope it is no small merchandise of Soules when men are so highly deluded by the hopes and promise of Saluation as to make a Frier murther his 1 Henry 3. K. of France Soueraigne a yong knaue attempt the murther of his next 2 Henry 4. Successour