violence and disgrace both to the Cardinals and to all men and women The spoile was infinite and the ransomes of the great men was more The Pope was as a prisoner and him the souldiers derided setting some drunken fellowe to be carried like a Pope c. and among hand crying and terrifying the Pope and Bishops with the name of Luther i Geneb p. 1117. Lanquet Fox Mart c. The same yeare was a disputation at Berne where no Papists would appeare the next yeare the Bernites Geneua and diuers of their neighbours abolished poperie A k Par. Vrsp p. 469. 473. great pestilence was at Genua and a great famine in and about Venice of which many died A great famine is in Germanie for three yeares There was also the sweating sicknesse in England Braband and Germanie a Lanquet Stransbrough laieth away the masse and Basil is reformed b Par. Vrsp p. 471. Geneb p. 1118. At Spires the Princes assembled where a Papist preached that he rather would depart from the Gospel than from the ceremonies of the Church Thus the beast blasphemeth God and maketh warre against his word The Princes and certaine cities protested that they could not agree to certaine things concluded in that Councell because they were contrarie to the doctrine of pietie and Christian faith Anno 1530. thereupon arose the name of Protestants c Fox Mart. Then followed the most Antichristian and horrible persecution of Merindol and Cabriers d Par. Vrsp p. 474 475. The Emperour at Augusta commanded the Princes which were Protestants to bring in their confessions of their faith which they did The papists would answer them but cleane without scripture and so that they might be allowed to load the innocent cause with horrible reproches and blasphemies for the beast openeth his mouth to blaspheme There followed a fearefull inundation of the sea which destroied many in Braband Holland Flaunders and Zealand And at Rome besides most fearefull thundrings and much heate and many fires such a power of water fell from heauen that men thought they should haue perished with a second flood houses and people were carried downe the riuer Tybur In the lower places of the citie the water was 33. or 34. foote high The e Geneb p. 1119. French king erecteth Lectures in Paris for the tongues giuing reward to the Prophets Florence by fire and sword was ouerthrowne by the armies of the pope and Emperour For they killed the Prophets of the Lord Sauanorola c. f Fox Mart. The Heluetians fight one against the other the papists against the protestants but presently after enter league of perfect amitie The Turkes make an irruption into Hungarie and Austria Paulus the third m Morise papa p. 95. had a register of 45,000 harlots Ann. 1534. that paid him weekely tribute for their whoredome As yet the harlots pay euery one a Iuly by the weeke which amounteth for the most part to 45,000 Ducates by the yeere Henry n Geneb 1121. the eighth king of England defecteth from the Pope whereby the kingdome of the beast is obscured in England o Par. Vrsp. p. 478. Diuerse cities in Germany erect stipends for students of diuinitie and good artes In p Lanquet France they cruelly persecuted all such as they called Lutherans a 1535. Lanquet At this time were giuen to the King of England by the consent of the Abots all such religious houses which were vnder 300. Markes for the foules eate the flesh of great and small The Emperour rebuketh the Protestantes for taking away the goods and lands of the Clergie b Bucholcer Pomeranus reformeth the Churches in Denmark The c Par. Vrsp. p. 480. Protestants which heretofore differed in the doctrine of the supper do now accord d 1538. Lanquet Fox c. Abbies were suppressed in England and all Friers Monkes Canons Nunnes and other sorts of religious persons were rooted out of the Realme and the liuings distributed by gifte or sale to Noblemen Gentlemen and all sorts that would buy them e cap. 19.17.18 for al the foules that do flie through the middest of heauen are called to come to eate the flesh of Captaines c. f 1539. Fox But the king declined to Poperie and set forth sixe articles which caused many godly men to loose their liues The g Sleidan Lanquet same time the Emperour obiected to the Princes of Germany that they became Protestants not for religion but for the desire of the spirituall liuings and that they delighted in discord and enclined vnto his enemies Hereby the Protestants feared war and diuerse Princes and Bishops enter into a league in dispite of the Protestants There followed presently a h Lanquet yere of great heate drowght in England many gaue halfe their corne for grinding the other halfe diuerse great Riuers were dried vp many died of burning agues boyling in heate i Orig. Ephemerid In other places also was like heate drought great Riuers might be ridden ouer small Riuers were dried vp diuers woodes were burned with the heate of the Sunne There were in Germany and Boem many fiers so that at Prage the kings principall pallace was consumed with fier k Geneb 1130. The greatest part of Germany leauing the Pope desolate by forsaking his religiō begin to neglect the authoritie of the Emperour that laboured to abolish the Protestants religion l Buchol Ann. 1541. The Emperour intending to conquere Algiers in Affrica is repelled by shipwrack at sea and by stormie weather which the Emperour did iudge to be the wrath of God against him m 543. Ibid. Hermannus Archbishop of Colen attempteth the reformation of religion in his countries The n 545. Geneb p. 1130. Anno 1546. Councell of Trent began against Luther c. This Councell taking all prerogatiue and superioritie from the word of God which the Lord hath crowned a Ses 4. p. 8. 10. a. 130. 131. doth receiue and adore with like affection of piety and reuerence as well the traditions of the Church as the old and new testament and doth holde that none may interpret the Scriptures against that sense which the Church of the time holdeth b Geneb pag. 1132. 1127. Charles the Emperor hauing concluded a peace with the Turke and with the French King the better to roote out the Gospel by the instigation and with the confederacie of Pope Paul the twentie sixth of Iune maketh warre vpon the protestants who defende themselues with their swords Yea c Sleidan 17. pag. 315. b. Fernesius the Generall of those aydes which the Pope sent to the Emperor against the Protestants is reported to say that he would make such a slaughter in Germany that his horse might swim in the blood of the Lutherans d cap. 19.19 Thus the beast and the Kings of the earth and their hosts are gathered together to make battaile against the
in by the former incursions doe beginne e cap. 17.12 tenne states as Kings or kingdomes vz. f Sabellicus 1. The common wealth at Venice 2. The kingdome of the Hunnes in Hungarie 3. The kingdome of the English men in England 4. The kingdome of the Gothes in Spaine 5. The kingdome of the French in France 6. The kingdome of the Gothes in Italie 7. g Geneb Melanct. c. The Vandals in Boemia 8. The Sueni Almanni in Germani 9. The Exarchi of Rauenna 10. The kingdome of the Lombards in Italie all which were either heathen or Arians These tenne h cap. 17.12 principalities which in S. Iohns time had not receiued the kingdome i Dan. 7.8 did receiue power as kings at an houre with the beast the Pope Amongst whom the Popes came vp another little horne or kingdome at this time k Lactan. l. 7. For LactaÌ„tius and Hierome vpon Daniel doe say that all writers affirme this Valla in Aug. de ciu Dei lib. 20. cap. 19. p. 691. that about the ende of the world shall be tenne kings which shall deuide amongst them the Romane world and among them Antichrist shall be added the eleuenth as witnesseth Valla. CHAP VI. The fift Period Of the recured beast the true Antichrist which presenteth himselfe in the beast which commeth out of the bottomlesse pit of the respect and dependance which he got and of the worship of the Dragon c. THe Empire beyond all hope was l cap. 13.3 wonderfully cured of the wound it receiued by the sword of the barbarous nations that made inundation thereinto as a floud And the Church which before had a cap. 12.1 shined as the Sunne escaped by flight b cap. 12.16 and was holpen by the earth Then was the c cap. 12.17 Dragon wroth with the woman and went and made warre with the remnant of her seede first and after with the holy citie Wee are in the first battell to consider the enemies their seuerall manner of fight the continuance and the successe The d cap. 12.17 enemies are the Dragon and the seed of the womaÌ„ The Dragon beeing now vpon the earth euen vpon the e cap. 12.18 sea sand which is f Ier. 5.22 the bounder and keeper in of the sea namely commanding and disposing of the Princes that gouerne and restraine the g cap. 17.16 people and nations c. doth warre by his deputie The beast which was wounded by the sword and did liue by meanes of Popes who are that beast which had two hornes like the Lambe The recured beast is the politicke gouernour of the publike face of the Christian world This externall face is compared to the courts which is h cap. 11.2 without the Temple whither the Kings the Priests the whole multitude and people of all sortes resorted in the time of the Law This multitude is now left to be gouerned by him which is commonly called Antichrist who was to be reuealed vnto the world presently vpon the taking away of the Empire out of the West which did withhold the Gospel in the times of the Apostles As the Apostle saith He i 2. Thess 2.7.8 which now withholdeth the Gospel shall let the disclosing of Antichrist till heâ— be taken out of the way And then shall the wicked man be reuealed c. k Chrys in 2. Thess 2. Hom. 4 Nic. Orem ex Hierom. q. vlt. ad inquisi Januarii apud Foxum Martyr p. 412. For when as the Romane or West Empire shal bee taken away then shall Antichrist come And not without cause for while the feare of the Empire shall be none shall presently be subiect to Antichrist But when the Empire shal be destroyed he shall inuade the principalities of the Empire beeing void and shall indeauour to take vnto himselfe by force the Empire both of God and man This recured beast which is called Antichrist is described to be A woman sitting on a scarlet coloured beast l cap. 17.3 The woman m Ca. 17.18 Lactant Justit 7.15 is Rome that great citie which in S. Iohns time had dominion ouer the Kings of the earth vpon which n cap. 17.13 also the kingdomes which did afterwards arise did depend Shee is described by her place apparell profession name Her place is said to bee The a cap. 17.3 wildernesse in the spirit that is in matters concerning the spirit a forlorne and desolate place a wildernesse spiritually so called in which all things are b Auenar dict hebr in Midâ—bar Shememah so confounded that a man cannot looke vpon it without sighing for griefe A place of c Isay 13.20 Psal 44.19 Dragons and Ostriges and wilde people c. Howsoeuer vngodly and ignorant men commend her for holinesse and ciuilitie So barbarous in the times following did that citie or policie prooue The place is also called a wildernes for d cap 18.8.21 c. the desolation which the citie is to come vnto in the ende As touching her apparel it is said to be much vnlike the true Church which was cloathed in heauenly apparel This woman was e cap. 17.4 arraied in purple and scarlet the f Poly. Jau 5. 3 colours of the robes by which the Emperours were knowne and with g Dan 5.7 which Princes did vse to honour them whom they would aduaÌ„ce which was ofteÌ„ also put for the h Martial Magistracie the Magistrates The signification is that that citie should by honors giueÌ„ vnto it by Princes rise vnto no lesse than imperiall soueraigntie in the time of Antichrist As also teaching that riches externall glorie princely immunitie authority should be the onely thing that shee principally laboureth for For i Hist an t ex Egn. p. 426. the Bishops of Rome were from this time of an ambition more thaÌ„ immoderate and so are men of corrupt mindes destitute of the truth which thinke k 1. Tim. 6.5 c. that gaine is godlinesse And so much vnlike the true Church that trode the moone vnder foote because shee knoweth that Godlinesse is great gaine c. Shee is further said to be gilded with gold and pretious stones and pearles trimming her selfe as a bride or rather a curtezan for the greatest Prince Her profession is l cap. 17.1.4.5 whordome in the sense of both the tables spirituall for idolatrie and m Psal 106.29 inuentions of men and carnall for adulteries which grewe to bee very common when men and women were seduced to lead a single life wherefore this woman is called n cap. 17.1 The great whore euen spiritually o cap. 11.8 Sodome For the more easie inticing of Kings and Princes of the earth to commit fornication with her shee p cap. 17.4 had a cup of gold in her hand a fit vessel for Princes to drinke in This cup is said to be full of abominations and filthinesse
of many vnto this his doctrine of the bottomlesse pit It may also be said to rise out of the bottomlesse pit d N.D. ans S. F.H. for the darke and deepe schoole-learning e cap. 2.24 or profoundnes of Sathan which it teacheth leauing the plaine and easie doctrine of the Scriptures the more easily to delude the world with difficulties and subtilties The name of this beast is f cap. 13.14 an image of the beast which was wounded with the sworde and did liue againe namely the image of the ciuill monarchie or Empire which was wounded with the sworde of the Gothes and other strangers but did liue by meanes of the Papacie Now because the sinnes of the Arian Princes Constantine Constantius Iulian and Valens were the cause why God in his iust iudgement did make the Empire in the West and especially in Rome of which they gloried to be abolished this beast is the image of the Empire as it was corrupted with heresie wherefore this is g Geneb 552. 553. a Monarchie not ciuill in the hands of Emperors but Ecclesiasticall vnder him who hath hornes like the Lambe For the gouernment of the Church of Rome is called an Ecclesiasticall Monarchie For a Hist an t ex Pom. laet p. 347 Rome the very goddesse of all landes and queene of all nations doth seeme to require the seates and Empire both of God and of mankinde And this is the b cap. 17.9.10.11 seuenth head or forme of kingdome or gouernment of Rome For in the time of Saint Iohn the Soueraigntie first of Kings second Consuls third Decemuiri fourth Dictators fifth Triumuiri were fallen one was namely the Emperors being the sixth and now the Empire being wounded to death steppeth vp this beast the seuenth Whereof the Pope standing a while as a Prince is an eight and is one of the seuen being a member of this beast As touching the forme of this beast he is said to haue c cap. 17.3 seuen heads and tenne hornes herein both like vnto the Dragon which represented the heathen Empire and also like the other monstrous beast which represented the pretended Christian Empire which was corrupted with heresie And because this is said to be the image of the latter beast as that was of the Dragon it is implied that this beast hath also mouthes as Lyons for force and maiestie body like the Pantheresse for swiftnes inamouring deceiuing and inchaunting such which are to be deluded by her and feete like vnto Beares feete for strong and sure marching and couetousnes c. And as into the description of the d cap. 17.1 other beast so into this is to be supplied out of e Dan. 7.1.7.19 Daniel that his teeth were of yron and his nayles of brasse which deuoured brake in peeces and stampeth the residue vnder feete euen f cap. 9.11 Abaddon and Apollyan and therefore is called by Saint Paul g 2. Thes 2.3 the sonne of perdition wherefore this beast doth beare the image of that which signified the corrupted Empire So that h See Ruff. Soc. Sozâ—m Theod. what shifting periurie dissimulation i Soc. 8. 13. spreading of false rumors crueltie c. to be found in the stories of the Arian Princes and Bishops the same is reuiued in this beast And whereas this beast by reason of the number of heads and hornes is likewise in a manner compared to the Dragon what superstition tyrannie and persecution is found in the stories of the heathen persecutors the same in his time is reuiued by this beast And this is the cause that this beast is called by the k name of the Gentiles Wherefore the Pope is the l Liui. det 1. l. 4. Pont. Max. of Numaes deuising vnto whom were committed the ceremonies of diuine seruices and of funerals with the order to pacifie the spirits in the behalfe of them which were dead And so at this time men a cap. 17.8 wondered at the beast that was in the time Numa and is not in the time of Saint Iohn and yet is and was in the time of Saint Iohn in title in the Emperors who called themselues Pontifices Maximi The rest of the Clergie represent the other magistrates and people which did in the time of the Gentiles gouerne the policie of Rome The beast of Rome Emperor Pont. Max. Prouinces Proconsuls Tribunes Centurions Garisons Ex Peucere de diuinations Geuffraeo de Turcorum moribus Voluntaries Tributarie gent. Trayned youth The image the papacie Pope Pont. Max. Forraine Churches Cardinals c. Legats c. Rectors Abbies Begging Fryers Orders of Souldiers Seminaries The Turkes policie Mahomet highest Bishop Prouinces Beglerbij Bassi Sangiaci Flamboler sobasir Timariota Akengi Spachi Saray In this table are compared the heathen and pretended Christian policie of Rome with the Mahumetanes Quis istorum chiron fuit In the papacie the honours and ceremonies both ciuill and Ecclesiasticall are altogether borrowed of the Gentiles Iewes Barbarians Arians c. b Lud. Viues teste Chemnicio in examine There can no difference be shewed but that onely the names of the things be changed His c cap. 17.9.10 seuen heads are those seuen policies by which Rome was gouerned and those seuen hilles vpon which it was built of which hath been spoken in the discription of the Dragon before Cap. 1. His d cap. 17.12 tenne hornes are tenne Kings or principalities which in Iohns time had not receiued the kingdome but did receiue power as Kings at one houre with the beast this Monarchicall dignitie of the Church of Rome that is those tenne kingdomes or common-wealths which arose out of the former inundation of strangers Furthermore this beast is said to e cap. 17.3 bee scarlet coloured herein differing from the other which was white spotted little eyes of blacke For this is red like the Panthers of Syria and Africa or rather like the red Dragon signifying that this beast hath more authoritie and is more bloody then were the Arians For a cap. 18.24 in her is found all the blood that is shed vpon the earth This b cap. 17.3 beast is full of names of blasphemies as a Pantheresse is full of spots For all manner of persons in this hierarchie from the greatest to the least doe open their mouthes to blaspheme curse slaunder lie scoffe c. And as they be euer blasphemous more or lesse so they spare no persons nor things For they blaspheme c cap. 13.6 God his name his tabernacle and them that dwell in heauen yet were the Arians not so bad for the beast representing them d cap. 13.1 had names of blasphemies on his heads onely the Princes and some chiefe persons being blasphemous the rest ignorantly religious or not so blasphemous The other enemie is e cap. 12.7 Michael with f cap. 6.2 his horsemen and as he is the g cap. 17.14 Lambe and they that
supper of the Lord vnder one or both kindes Podiebrachius who was next vnto the King was moued by a parasite why he liked not their religion of popery required by the example and authoritie of so many and great Princes rather then the Hussites He answered we doe those sacrifices which we beleeue are pleasing to God neither is it in our owne choyce to beleeue what we list The minde is ouercome with great reasons c. I am perswaded of my ministers religion If I follow thy religion I may perchance deceiue men contrary to my soule I cannot deceiue God which looketh into the hearts of men c. p Bucholcer Par. Vrsp 406. Calistus the third in his second yeere Mahomet with a 150,000 beseeged Belgrade Capistranus a Minorite Frier stoode to encourage the Souldiers But he vsed not any superstitions For crying out he said Iesus looke on vs be present with thy people that suffereth for thee where are thy mercies of old Come and defend thy people least they say among the Gentiles where is now their God c. The Christians got a rich and noble victory In memory whereof the Pope according to his wonted superstition foolishly instituted the feast of the transfiguration of Christ Hunniades who had been a noble victor ouer the Turkes after this his last battaile fell sicke but hee would not haue the Sacrament brought to him as the superstitious manner was but commaunded himselfe to be carried to the Church where after the confession of his sinnes he receiued the Eucharist c. Thus much of the two witnesses and the things which fell out vpon their death and resurrection Thus the remnant giueth to glory to God And now the q cap. 11.14 second woe to the inhabitants of the earth by the Turkes c. seemeth to be past But the third woe will come anon CHAP. XII Of the third a cap. 11.14 woe to the inhabitants of the earth by Kings conuerted to Christ WE are now come to speake of the third woe which shal be inflicted vpon the inhabitants of the earth namely such which doe rather desire to possesse the earth then to inherit heauen And this containeth the abolishing of the kingdome of Antichrist and the victorious reigne and triumph of the word of God That which is spoken hereof is comprehended in the doctrine which came abroad when b cap. 11.15 the seuenth Angell blew the trumpet The summe whereof is manifestly knowne and euidently spoken by all godly men as if there were great voyces in heauen expressing their assurance of the things that are to come to passe And the summe is this that certainelie it can not be but the kings will also be conuerted to the Gospell by whose onely and holy administrations The kingdomes of this world are to be our Lords and his Christs and he shall reigne for euermore Hereupon all godly magistrates and ministers called by the name of the c cap. 11.16 foure and twentie elders which make any consciecne of their places as those which sit before God on their seates First doe humble themselues euen falling on their faces and subiecting themselues to this kind of administration Secondly they doe also leaue the seruice of idols and men and in their places worship God both with praises and administration of iustice As for their praises they do in effect say d cap. 11.17 we giue thee thankes Lord God almightie which art and which wa st and which art to come euen the same God which art euerlasting for that taking the power out of the hands of mortall weake and mutable men who of long time haue trodden thy sanctuarie vnder foote thou hast receiued the entrance and possession of thy great might and hast obtained thy kingdome in due time to bee fully and alone administred by thee As for their sincere administration of iustice they shew that they so regard the faithfull profession of the Gospell that thereupon such which rather professed the vanitie of the Gentiles then Christ euen the Antichristian Papists were a cap. 11.18 angrie The cause of their anger is first that the time is come of the wrath of God to be inflicted vpon whosoeuer shall deserue it without respect of persons Secondly because they see that the time is come of the dead which haue been martyred for the witnes of Iesus that they should be iudged whether they died as innocents or not so that the proceedings against such come to be looked into and examined againe by iustice faithfully which they are angrie should be knowen Thirdly because that God hath raised vp Christian Kings that God by them should giue rewarde vnto his seruants the prophets which doe sincerely speake the truth from the Lord whereas Antichrist did tread them vnder foote Yea because the time was come that he by Princes should giue reward also to the Saints and to them that in deede doe feare his name to small and great whom Antichrist exposed to death and confiscation loading them with reproches c. Fourthly because the time is come that God by Princes should vtterly destroy them which destroy the earth be they Turkes or Papists The aduancement of the godly and destruction of the wicked according to the exact rule of iustice in the word of God being thus drifted by godly Gouernors those of the spirit of Saint Iohn b cap. 15.1 saw another great and marueilous signe in heauen the Church of God Namely that God hath prepared seuen Angels hauing the seuen last plagues which he would inflict vpon his enemies for not by men but by them euen by a diuine hand is now to be fulfilled the wrath of God Of these plagues we are to consider the place whence these Angels doe receiue them and the powring of them forth These plagues are deliuered vnto them in the temple which after the godly doe put on zeale and thankesgiuing is opened Concerning the zeale of the godly first is declared how the true doctrine of Christian baptisme is restored namely that Christians ought to be vndefiled and zealous in the cause of Christ For the lauer of regeneration is now figured a cap. 15.2 by a glassie sea mingled with fire godly Princes and people being baptised b Mat. 3.11 with the holy Ghost and fire whereas hitherto they were baptised vnto repentance with patience Here therefore stand the Boemians which had gotten the victorie ouer the beast the ciuell estate which beareth vp the whore of Babylon and of his image the Ecclesiasticall policie and his marke of superstitious ceremonies and of the number of his name his armies which he sent against them These I say stand constantly at the glassie sea mingled with fire continuing sincere and zealous professors being so farre from being ouercome that contrarily they haue the harpes of God to sing praises vnto their God for their deliuerance from Antichrist And they being deliuered from the kingdome of Antichrist which spiritually
of Charles the Emperor putteth out the flaming eyes of the word of God and maketh the Scriptures to bee as darke as Sibyllaes oracles iumping herein with the heretike Tatianus Hosius the Popes Legat in the Councell c. are wholy against the authoritie of the scriptures Thus the beast and false Prophet with their armies maketh warre against the word of God who hath many crownes on his head and eyes like a flame of fire c. d Can. Trid. ses 25. de reform cap. 20. Vnder this Pope the Councell decreeth that the immunitie of the Popish Church and her iurisdiction was required to be defended by all Princes as the principall things of God for he exalteth himselfe aboue all that is called God e Geneb 1167. And from hence is that league falsely called holy Anno 1566. Pius the fifth f Geneb 1168. 1169. 1179. a most seuere obseruer of the Councell of Trent he twice proscribed the realme of England and exposed it as a pray to whosoeuer would take it the force of which thunderbolt the godly papists continually do pray to see howsoeuer they doe otherwise dissemble g Buchol Ann. 1566. About 400. nobles of the low-countries make supplication to the Gouernesse the Dutchesse of Parma that the Spanish inquisition might not be brought in amongst them and that she would graunt them libertie in religion a Geneb 1170. In many places images are cast downe and here begin the warres for religion in the low countries b Annales Belgiâ— Oratio Phil. Mornix Then came the tyrant the Duke of Alua into the low countries who was sent to roote out all the Protestants there He there committed most bloudie executions cruell warres and most horrible persecutions of which he insulted when he left the countries c Christopoli Apologia Yet doe the papists blame him and exclaime vpon him for his ouer much clemencie for the scarlet beast is full of names of blasphemie and nothing but death will satisfie them d Specul Tragicunt p. 97. The King of Spaine caused his sonne Charles to be apprehended imprisoned and put to death because he suspected him to fauour the distressed estate of the low countries Gregorius the thirteenth restoreth Papistrie Anno 1572. excommunicateth Queene Elizabeth and changeth the computation of the yeare This e Histo Gallica Buchol yeare after many mercilesse murthers in France at the mariage of the king of Nauar in Paris most horrible bloudie and cruell Councels were assembled and massacres committed vpon the Admirall of France and many other Nobles of the reformed religion which were insâ—sted thither As also vpon others in diuers places to the number of 30,000 were murthered at this time in France So were the French men murthered 290. yeeres before in Sicilia for their abhominable wickednes like death but farre vnlike cause f Buchol Ibid. Arias Montanus finished that excellent worke of the Bible in foure languages After these murthers in France followed g 1574. Annales Belgi a bloudy battaile at sea neere Romerswall in the low-countries where the Spaniards were ouerthrowen that yet they can recouer no strength at sea there and the sea in a manner steyned with the blood of the slaine For thou hast giuen them blood to drinke h 1588. Mer. Gallo bel Meteranus alij The Spaniards and all the confederats of the papists sent into the narrow seas against England c. a nauie which they called inuincible i cap. 13.1 c. For the beast hath the face of a Lyon which by the great and wonderfull mercy of God strangely disposing of the windes and by the valour of the English nauie was scattered and in a manner destroyed k 15â—9 Histo Gallica The next yeere the King of France Henry the third was murthered by a Frier in the same chamber in which the massacre was concluded vpon which was committed 1572. this King being then the principall person in the deliberation and consent For now of long time religious men had learned of the l Genff de Turcorum origine lib. 3. p. 152. Saracenicall Assasines to carrie kniues in their sleeues to murther Princes in their houses as a step to paradise Then did the most sacred Queene of England vnder the leading of the mirrour of true Christian nobilitie and cheualrie Peregrine Lord Willoughby send forces into France to assist Henry the fourth King of France and Nauarra against the Duke de Maine and the league who had driuen the King to an exceeding straight at Diepe By which seruice the King so succeeded against his enemies that a Mercu. Gallo Belg. if he had followed his fortunes he had cleaâ—e ouerthrowen the league for euer b 1598. Specul Trag. Apologia Christopoli historiae de Indi occidentaâ—i c. Fox Mart. At last died Philip the second King of Spaine who made peace with the Turke the better to roote out the Gospell vnder whom in Spaine England the low-countries India c. an infinit number of pore innocents were put to death Whether his death were more strange or miserable is very hard to say For he died all his partes in a manner eaten with lice c Edict of the F. K. The French King published an edict by which the Protestants in France haue libertie to professe the Gospell and to beare offices to the great increase of the Gospell there d 1603. The kingdomes of England and Scotland were most happily vnited the crowne discending to the most godly learned and excellent King Iames by the merciful dispensation of the grace of almighty God King of Scots Who to shew that he acknowledgeth to hold his crownes of Christ hath published this Sonet Basllicon doron GOd a Psal 82.1 giues not Kings the stile of Gods in vaine For b cap. 7.17 on his throne his Scepter doe they sâ—ey And as c cap. 16.17.18 their subiects ought them to obey So d cap. 4.10 5. 8 9.10 11.16 c. Kings should feare and serue their God againe If then you would e cap. 10.1.2 11.15 enioy a happie raigne f cap. 17.16 Obserue the statutes of your heauenly King And g cap. 10.11.12 from his law make all your Lawes to spring Since h cap. 17.17 his Lieutenant here ye should remaine i cap. 11.18 〈…〉 the â—â—st he sâ—â—d fâ—â—st trâ—â— and plaine Eâ—â—resse the proud k cap. 7.17 〈…〉 are the right Walâ—â— l cap. 19.12 alwayes so at euer in his sight Who guards the godly m cap. 15.1 plaguing the prophane And n cap. 1.13 c. so ye shall in Princely vertues shine Resembling right o cap. 4.2.3 c your mightie King Diuine Hallelu-iah for the Lord that God that almightie God hath reigned Amen Hallelu-iah To the Reader THere remaine yet to be powred out the sixth and seauenth Phials The great Hallelu-iahs The waâ—â—â— of Gâ—g
Stilico laboured to inuest his sonne Eucherius into the Empire who e Abb. vrsp 118. euer of a childe did lay traps to ensnare the Christians Secondly they were sent forth by the Lord to be a woe to the f cap. 3.13 9.4 imperials which sought to inhabit the earth though they felt from heauen to get the possession of it And these because of their earthly ambitions c. are said to be such which haue not the seale of God in their foreheads that is did not openly shew any testimonie that they were the seruants or sonnes of God The manner of the fight of these strangers is g cap. 9.3 fearefull they being as a monstrous kinde of vermiâ—e compounded of Locustes and Scorpions at first in their inundation vexing the world like Locustes but afterwards those which followed hurt men as Scorpions For vnto them is giuen power such as the Scorpions of the earth haue to hurt But in their manner of fight we must marke diligently their diuers procceedings against the Church and imperials and that as they are compared to Locustes and to Scorpions The forme a cap. 9.7 of them as Locustes is that they be innumerable armies of horsemen prepared to battell b Strab. Geog. l. 7. quod Gâ—og l. 2. For these nations of the Gothes as all people in the North were altogether horsemen none of them goeth on foote but both great and smal did vse to ride Their martiall discipline is to serue vnder c Cabellicus Kings which it ment by that which is said that on their d cap. 9.7 heads were set as it were crownes For howsoeuer they had no kingdome yet their heads were called e Abb. vrs p. 100. Kings They also are said to haue crownes because that in the end of f cap. 17.12 these troubles diuers Kings did arise of them g Luc. 9.52 For the faire pretexts which they set vpon their actions they are said to h cap. 9.7 haue faces like the faces of men For besides that they were i Abb. vrs of a manly countenance they were of a singular humanitie towards all men insomuch that they were called k Strab. Geo. l. 7. iustissimi populorum the iustest nation in the world And l Lud. Viues in praefat Aug. de ciuit dei when they came into the Empire they shewed themselues willing to entertaine any reasonable condition of peace discouering the treasons of Stilico which they knew neither did they violate the peace once concluded but vpon extreame necessities And they had m cap 9.8 haire as the haire of women For the Gothes were called Gens n Visperg p. 96. Gentâ—â— capillata The nation with the long haire For the most part of that countrie people doe weare long haire and doe o Quad. Gâ—â—g 2. vse to poll their heads behind but before of their haire they make two long tricaâ— tresses or lockes like vnto our women which they cast behinde their eares very amorously By this kinde of dressing is p Strab. 7. p. 205. c. also ment their effeminate and enticing conditions and common vse of women It is further said that their q cap. 9.8 Ioel. 1.6 teeth were as the teeth of Lyons for the horrible waste that these Locustes doe make r Plin. l. 11. 19. For as the naturall Locustes doe gnaw with their teeth whatsoeuer they light vpon euen the dores of mens houses sometimes so did these Å¿ Abb. vrs pag. 102. barbarians they deuoured all things as the manner of Locusts is Their courage is vnconquerable as t cap. 9.9 if they had habergiont or curets like to curets of yron of the best proofe u Viues praes in Aug. For they haue a certaine religion that their soules doe returne to others when they be slaine after the doctrine of Pythagoras or else are placed in a better roome or at least that death is better than life wherefore they are said in their warres to come vp close to the swordes length It is reported a Strab. Geo. 7. that when their Orators were asked of Alexander the Great what they feared most they answered Least the sky should fall vpon their heads The cause of their audacious resolution is b Abb. vrsp p. 100. attributed to the patronage of Mars whom they honour When a Heardsman had found a sword in the ground with which a beast was wounded as he was grasing he brought it to Attilas with this Present he grew so couragious as if he were made by this sword supposed to be the sword of Mars the Prince of the whole world These people make a fearefull incursion into the Empire as terribly as the c Plin. 11.29 Locustes that make a noyse with their wings like other fowles doe seeme to those whose fields they are feared to light vpon d cap. 9.9 Iudg. 4.3.13 Hab. 1.7.8 For the sound of their winges was like the sound of many chariots when many horses runne to battell They were e Viues vbi sup so many that no one land was able to finde them foode for f Abb. vrsp their countrie is called the shop of nations And as they were alwayes knowen to be a fierce people for Alexander would not meddle with them Caesar auoyded himselfe of them Pyrrhus abhorred them so was their comming into the Empire terrible both g Bergomensiâ— for the multitude of wagons and horses which they brought with them For the people did tremble and quake at their comming These first h Anno. 405. Carian came into Italy vnder the leading of Rhadagasus in the yeere of the Lord 405. As for the persons against whom they came they proceeded diuersly namely the Church and imperials As for the Church God so commaunding these strangers proclaimed a very i Aug. Ciuit. dei lib. 1. cap. 1. Viues sup strange law Namely that the souldiers should spare the Churches and all whosoeuer fled to the Churches and vpon paine of death hurt none of them as if it had k cap. 94.5 been commaunded that they should not hurt the grasse c. but onely those men which haue not the seale of God in their foreheads They l Geneb p. 592. 594. testified that they warred with the Romanes but not with the Saints and Apostles of God For there was in this nation a certaine religion to respect the worship of God as farre as their knowledge would serue for which they were called m Strab. 7. p. 205. Godworshippers Towards the imperials and such which haue not the seale of God in their foreheads they are permitted to vse more violence yet with a strange limitation that they should not n cap. 9.5 kill them but that they should be vexed For these barbarians proclaimed a a Berg. in Alarico Viues vbi sâ—p law amongst their souldiers that as much as was possible they should abstaine from blood But as they were
14.3 the throne and before the foure beastes before the Elders that is in the Church before God the father the sonne and the holy Ghost before the glorious Cherubins and before the faithfull and holy gouernors of the Church This doth signifie the good and most Christian Councels which were held before the Lord and his Angels by the authority of godly and religious Princes and by the assistance of the faithfull Bishops and Ministers of the word For g Caranza vnder Theodosius was held a Councel against the Nestorians And also the Carthaginian Mileuitan and Aurasican Councels were held against the Pelagians The Affrican h Melan. 3. Epist Aug. Councel wrote vnto Innocentius the Bishop of Rome and exhorted him that he would also disallow the errors sprung vp at Rome and would not suffer them to spread any further Vnder Martianus was held a Councell at Chalcedonia against the Eutychians i Geneb p. 64â— In the yeare of Christ 552. was held a Councell at Constantinople against certaine heretickes and to confirme the foure generall Councels A heauenly harmonie of holy harpers The song which those Fathers and Councels did sing is somewhat darke to be vnderstood For no man a cap. 14.3 could learne the song but the 144,000 which were bought froÌ„ the earth to wit those faithfull witnesses which are not earthly minded For as it is said of some of Augustines latter bookes that he hath sometimes vnproper b Melan. 3. de Eccl post Vol. 3. speeches but if they be wel fauourably iudged of they containe the very truth so may it be said of the rest because the iniquitie of the time enforced them to speake with as little offence to the impietie of men as possibly might be c. The flight of the woman in these troublesome times was by flying to carrie her selfe cleane out of the c cap. 12.14 sight of the Serpent For the countries now d Geneb p. 5â—â— made newely kingdomes were conuerted afterwards e Sabel In Affrica in the time of Gensericus the Church was cleane extinguished the Bishops which maintained the trueth beeing fledde and banished for euer and so by other tyrants in other places From hence the Church is fledde from the presence of the Serpent and is mingled for a time times and halfe a time that is 1260. yeares there beeing many godly men amongst the diuellish tyrants and hereticks which they doe not see not know of yet there is the Church The successe is diuers in the Church and Empire and also concerning these strangers By this inundation of these barbarous f cap. 13.3 nations that one head of the beast was as wounded to death by the sword that is the Romane Empire in the West was cleane ouerthrowne rent and torne g Geneb p. 609 Germanie Dacia Sarmatia Spaine Britaine and France doe altogether fall away from the Empire to the vtter h Melan. 3. ruine of the Empire The office also of i Sabel E. 8. l. 1 Consuls ceased in Rome in the yeare 560. k Geneb p. 641. In the space of 142. or rather 150 yeares l 642. Rome the tamer of mankinde and castle of all nations did sustaine many casualties by the iudgement of God that it might seriously slide to the hands of the Church whose head as some thinke it ought to be and to that vse should be built againe from the foundation For after that Rome was spoiled by Alaricus armie in the age of Augustine and Hierome anon it was wasted by the Vandals within 44. yeares After that 22. yeares by Odoacer and his Heruli Againe after 14. yeares by Theodoricus and his Ostrogothes Furthermore after 50. yeares it was taken by Belifarius At last it came into extreame miserie by Totilas the reliques of the Gothes after 12. yeares And a Hist an t ex Egna p. 426. the maiestie of the Romane name * cum p. 468. ex Paul Diaco 6. qu. Buchol Ann. 476. by the flight of Augustulus the last of the Caesars of the * Vid hist anti ex Paulo Diac. p. 468. Romane nation renowned for the seruice of the gods did fall and was cleane ouerthrowne that as shee was wont to triumph ouer the whole world so now there is no nation so fierce and barbarous which doth not repaie the iniurie done to them or their auncestrie For in Augustulus b Carion f. 143. the Empire of the Augusti in Italie perished and ended They lost their c Sab. E. 8. l. 5. language at Rome The Romane ciuill lawes were as exiles d Geneb p. 914 from hence for the space of 600. yeares c. But the earth helpe the woman and the earth e cap. 12.16 opened her mouth and swallowed vp the flood which the Dragon had cast out of his mouth that is the countries into which these strangers made incursion swallowed them vs. For these strangers did content themselues to be mixed with the naturall inhabitants f Saâ—el â—n â— l. 5. of the countries into which they came The Gothes which remained in Italie degenerating into the name of Italians in Spaine into Spaniards leauing onely in diuers places some places of their names which keepe their memory And of them arose certaine kingdomes bearing the names of the places where they were for the most part The successe that these strangers found was first that their power was limited For * cap. 9.5 â— their power was to hurt fiue months that is an hundred and fiftie yeare For a moneth g Erasm Remâ— in tab Prâ—t according to the account of the Hebrewes Aegyptians and Astronomers containeth 30. daies and so fiue moneths amount to 150. daies which counting a h Ezech. 4.6 day for a yeare after the maner of the scripture commeth to 150. yeare For from the time that Rhadagasus first entred which was in i Carion the yeare 405. vnto the k Sabel death of Teias the last of these strangers that afflicted the Empire which was l Geneb p. 643 in the yeare 555. is precisely 150. yeare And though the people did still continue yet the kingdome name power and Empire of the Gothes were rooted out of Italie And so in other places this number of 150. yeares is in a manner a fatall limit to such as make incursions into the countries of others Secondly they that for 150. yeare could be brought vnder no mans power were in the ende afterwards made the subiects of Antichrist m Strab. 7. And as before they came they were subiect vnto their Priest which liued in an inaccessible cell as an angel of the bottomlesse pit who did euer set them to make incursion vpon their neighbours as Abaddon or Apollyon a destroyer so n cap. 9.11 now they had a King set ouer them which is that Angel of the bottomlesse pit whose o Dan. 7. name in Hebrew is Abaddon and in
are on his side called and chose and faithfull By these the Lambe bringeth a double woe vpon the inhabitants of the earth and the sea which are subiect to the Romane Ecclesiasticall Empire The first woe is three fould which the Lambe Iesus Christ inflicteth as he is the Priest the King and Prophet of his Church As he is the Priest of the Church he causeth h cap. 9.13 four Angels or fierce and vnresistable nations to be loosed against them that dwell vpon the earth To this purpose first is sounded the i cap. 9.13 The sixt Trumpet sixth Trumpet that is a sixth kinde of doctrine is brought forth into the world to wit the doctrine of the bottomlesse pit which was neuer heard of in the Church of God before A doctrine of the Gentiles henceforth in some sort common to the papacie with the Mahumetans But the former heresies they share betweene them thus What hath been heretically taught against the Trinitie the Mahumetanes take vp What against pietie or holines the popish beast doth embrace Hereupon is heard a commaundement to loose these Angels and then the execution of the commaundement doth follow Of the commaundement first is shewed the place from whence it came and then the matter commaunded As for the place Saint Iohn saith k cap. 9.13 I heard a certaine voyce from the foure hornes of the golden Altar which is before God meaning that he heard the voyce from Christ Iesus as he is the high Priest the Mediator to make reconciliation betweene God and man For that was signified by the l Leuit. 16.16 Heb. 9.24 goulden Altar in the Tabernacle Now because that from hence commeth not an assurance of reconciliation but a curse It is an argument that the world had corrupted the doctrine of the reconciliation of Christ either in his person or otherwise by offering their prayers by a Leuit. 10.1 strange fire with the affections of men as did Nadab and Abihu or arrogated the b Numb 16.21 priests office as Chorah Dathan and Abiram or making themselues mediators by the merit of their prayers c See Ruff. Soc. Soz. Theod. c. The doctrine of the person of Christ had been horribly corrupted in the East by the Arians Acatians Eutychians Nestorians c. by reason of which blasphemie they were so farre from obtaining reconciliation by Iesus Christ as that contrariwise they had procured a curse and iudgement So likewise in the West he was made intercessor for the dead and others also were ioyned with him in the office of intercession as the virgin Mary Peter Paul c. as if he himselfe were vnsufficient c. which also caused this fearefull curse to be sent vpon the Empire in the West to vexe it c. The matter of the commaundement is d cap. 9.14 that the sixt Angel which had the Trumpet should loose the foure Angels which were bound at the great riuer Euphrates that is that those foure nations of the Persians Saracens Turkes or Parthians and Tartars or Sarmatians which were bound either by league or affinity or the strength of the waters or rockes neere to the head streame or fall of the great riuer Euphrates should be loosed from their bond by the ministrie of Angels bringing in new doctrine so that of friends they should become foes The execution of this commaundement doth follow by those foure nations both ready and fierce They are said to be ready prepared at e cap. 9.15 an houre at a day at a moneth and at a yeere to wit at euery moment short and long Their fiercenes is this that f cap. 9.16.17.18.19 comming with millions of horsemen they both by their Generals and also by their Prophets or teachers commaund as horrible waste as was made at g Gen. 19.24 c Sodom and Gâ—mâ—rrah when is was destroyed with fire and brimstone Their commission is both h cap. 9.15 to kill the third part of the men and to bring i cap. 8.13 a woe vpon k cap. 9.12.20 the remnant The third part of men is the third part of the Empire as it was deuided amongst three Princes the sonnes of Constantine And because in the foure first Trumpets was mention made of a l cap. 8. third part and that in the second Trumpets interpretation there is set downe by name a catalogue of a third part the same is to be repeated here Wherefore it is to be thought that the Turkes c. must abolish the Christian faith in these and these onely countries of the Empire m Euseb vita Constan 4. 43. Macedonia Panomia and in it n Soc. 1. 20. Singidnum and the cities of them which were called Maâ—si Mysia Persia Bythinia Thracia Cilicia Capadocia Syria Mesopotamia Phaenicia Arabia Palestina Aegyptus Africa Thebani which the nobles of the Emperors court viz. Constantinople All these are constrained to blaspheme the trinitie vnder tyrants in the same countries where they sinned against the trinitie vnder the Gospel The other two thirds of the Empire called the a cap. 9.20.21 remnant must not be killed but afflicted for their idolatry murther socery fornication and theft As Iesus Christ the Lambe is b cap. 10.1 King of his Church he warreth by ciuill Princes in whom is a liuely type of the glorious kingdome of Christ possessing both land and sea in such sort as none can take it from him his feete being pillers of fire These ciuill Princes c cap. 10.2 haue in their hand the little booke open that is they doe keepe open the Scriptures which Antichrist doth labour to shut By these Christ Iesus both taketh possession of the land and sea and also deliuereth the word of God to poore afflicted preachers who renew the preaching of the Gospel to people and nations and tongues and many kings of the tenne c. As Christ is Prophet of the Church he doth as d Ezech. 40.3 Zach. 1. 16. 2. at the buildings of the Temple measure the Church of this new building after this inundation of the strangers To this purpose to these of the spirit of Saint Iohn who was in tribulation e cap. 11.1 is giuen a reede an ordinarie instrument to measure with But this reede is said to be like vnto a rod which is an f 2. Cor. 11.25 instrument for the punishment of malefactors and not like the ordinary measuring line to signifie that such as would truely measure the Church should doe it with the rods with which they had been scourged as malefactors the true Prophets from hence being commonly esteemed wicked and therefore often exposed to tribulation For now commeth the time of which Christ spake when he said g Io. 16.8 they that kill you shall thinke they doe God good seruice h cap. 11.1.2 In this measure hee meateth the Temple of God and the Altar and them that worship therein but casteth out the
vtter court which also the scripture calleth The temple in which Antichrist doth raigne The speech is taken from the Temple which i 1. King 6.1 c. king Salomon built which was deuided into three parts First the holy and holiest places called by excellencie The temple contained the Arke the Altar of incense the lampes and tables of shew bread all which were couered Secondly there was the open place in which was placed the lauer or sea and the altar of burnt offerings The third part was called the k 2. Chro. 4.9 Courts and was deuided into l 2. Chr. 6.13 Ezech. 44.19 the inner court which was for the Priests and the vtter court where the King and Priests and Prophets and people did assemble for the seruice of God for instruction m Psal 122.4.5 Deut. 17.8 and for iudgement in doubtfull causes ciuil and diuine The doctrine figured n cap. 11.2 in the Temple and altar which are continued in the profession of the Gospel are to be measured and esteemed holy and good though by Antichrist shut vp and blasphemed But that which was represented by the vtter Court namely the publike assemblies for that which is called the seruice of God their courts of iurisdiction as farre as concerneth the causes of the Lord the Angell commandeth S. Iohn to cast out and all holy men to count them common and vncleane The reason whereof is that a Joseph anti lib 12. c. 6. 1. Macc. 1. as the temple of the Iews was deliuered into the hāds of Antiochus Epiphanes so by the temeritie and ignorance of Princes the courts are giuen to such as for their manner of rites are but b cap. 11.2 the Gentiles in effect though in appearance like the c Soc. 1. 17. Maniches they seeme Christians The manner of their behauiour here is not to rule with the key of knowledge d Dan. 8. but to deuoure break in peeces stamp and tread the residue of the holy city vnder foot as Abaddō the son of perdition And although the Papacie from hence forth corrupteth all assemblies with the tyrannies and superstitions of the Gentiles and abhominations of condemned heretickes yet doth e 2. Thess 2.4 August de ciu lib. 20. cap. 19. this Man of Sinne here exalt himselfe as if himselfe were the temple of God and take to himselfe whatsoeuer was figured by the temple of Salomon and his kingly pallace Howbeit in these courts shall bee euer found two witnesses raised vp by the Lord euen a competent number to stablish a truth who shall prophesie by teaching and cōmination cloathed in sacke-cloath poore humble f 2. Macc. 2.7.14 and sorrowfull to see the abhominations and blasphemies in the Church by the Gentiles c. Among such therefore is now the Church to bee sought for These by their g cap. 11.4 c. 10. testimonie must vexe the inhabitants of the earth both by bringing the graces of the spirit of God vpon good men and therefore are said to be two Oliue trees and also to giue holy light vnto them to direct them to the Lord and therefore are called two golden candlesticks standing before the God of the earth and by bringing heauie affliction vpon such as will iniurie them in their prophecie For their word shall be as fire out of their mouthes to deuoure their aduersaries And beeing equall in the power of their ministrie with Elias shall be able to shut the heauens that it raine not in the daies of their prophesie and beeing like vnto Moses in Egypt haue power to smite the earth with all manner of plagues as oft as they will so that the earth is plagued because the witnesses of Christ are despised and persecuted Yea those two witnesses called also 144 000. of those which haue the testimonie of Iesus Christ and keep the commandements of God oppose themselues in the open courts of the temple called now the visible Monarchie of the Church against the beast by h cap. 14.4.6.8.9.15.18 innocencie preaching iudgements praier The manner of the womans sitting vpon this scarlet coloured beast is to tread the holy citie vnder foote Yea shee excelleth her selfe in cruelty For while shee was borne vp by heathen Emperours shee was furious and bloodie and therein as terrible and odious as a red Dragon But now shee cloatheth her selfe with blood as with a cap. 17.4.6 purple and scarlet thinking it her honour for the seruice of God to kill the godly And herein shee is so vnsatiable that shee is drunken with the blood of the Saints and with the blood of the Martyrs of Iesus that in admirable manner For shee doth not content her selfe to kill those that stand against her but also condemneth their memorie b cap. 11.7.9 not suffering them to be put in monuments And though these things to such as are of the spirit of S. Iohn doe euer appeare yet outwardly shee seemeth first to make plentifull prouision for this kind of warre and then she ioyneth battell with the Lambe c cap. 11.7.9 and those that follow him And these things doth this beast accomplish with his wonted lying signes and miracles with false prophesie and other impostures For the more effectuall executing of the d cap. 12.17 wrath of the Dragon which affection hee putteth on in all his oppositions the beast prouideth himselfe with the e cap. 13.3 c. wonderfull fauour and dependance of the whole earth which is called by the name of Christian as also studieth out a most secure discipline The world is said f cap. 13.3 to wonder greatly admiring the beast the Papacie by whose meanes the wounded head of Rome recouered life in the Hierarchie And also they followed the beast which was like the Pantheresse For as when g Gerard. dial creas 114. the Panther which is a beautifull and gentle beast amongst other wilde and rauenous beasts doth wake and come out of his denne and roare other beasts which heare his voice doe gather themselues togither and follow the sweetnesse of his odour which commeth forth of his mouth so also when this Papacie who is beautifull as an harlot and gentle as Absolom amongst men doth speake though it bee like the Dragon all men doe gather themselues together and followe the words of his mouth which seeme pleasant to those which are deluded For from this time those which before were called h cap. 9.3.11 Locust-scorpions haue set ouer them a king the Popes the angel of the bottomlesse pit For those kingdomes which rose of the inundation of the Barbarians one after another began to giue respect to the Bishops of Rome i cap. 17.17.2 Thess 2.11 For God hath put in their hearts to fulfill his decree and to bee of one consent and to giue their kingdomes vnto the beast vntill the wordes of God be fulfilled and then to hate her The fauour that this beast found
Ann. 714. ordained to m Fasc Temp. f. 62. â— fast and say Masse the fift day of the weeke in Lent which Pope Melchiades forbad Note that about these times the Popes began to bee great in temporalties as also to translate the Empire from one nation to another For in n Frisâ— 5. 1â— his time Leo the Emperour caused the images of God and the Saints to be burned and many that resisted him herein to bee executed Wherefore a Gobel â— 6. cap. 37. Pope Gregorie perswaded Italie and Rome to depart from his Empire by open b Epit. Blâ—n d. 1. lib. 10. f. 23. b rebellion and deliberated of choosing a new Emperour deposed the c Geneb p. 709 Magistrates of the Exarchie euery citie chose them Dukes so the Exarchie continued vnder tenne Princes or hornes He excommunicated the Emperour and forbade the d Frising 5. 18. Italians to pay any tribute vnto him The Saracens besiege Constantinople but when the citizens cried vnto the Lord they departed oppressed with famine colde and pestilence whereof are reported to die 300,000 the Emperour faring nothing the worse for the Popes excommunication And whereas the Popes left the Emperours and were receiued into the league of France the e Mass 14. p. 199. Geneb Saracens came into France with their wiues and children and families spoiled Burdeux and Poictieurs Many Germanes f Platina came to Rome and are baptized by the Pope Lowe g Geneb p. 708 â—09 713. Germanie Westphalia and Frisia by the preaching of Boniface whom the Pope sent thither and by Martellus meanes receiue the faith of the Church of Rome The king of England gaue out of euery house in all England a pennie to the Pope One Syrus seduced many Iewes saying that he was Christ Ann. 730. Gregorius 3. gathered a h Epit. Blond Councel and decreed that images are to be continued in the Churches Contrarily i Platina Leo the Emperour pulled images downe whose example also Constantine and Leo his successors did follow The Pope by the consent of the Clergie of Rome depriued k Geneb 715. the Emperour of Christian communion The Emperour confiscateth the patrimonie of the Church of Rome in Sicilia In l Platina the troubles of Rome by the Lombards this Pope called in Martellus a French leauing the custome to craue aide of the Emperour For now the m Soc. 2. 29. Popes doe as the Arians were wont namely apply themselues to them that were of greatest power And because the temple n Abb. Vrsp Pp. 19.20 of Iupiter Dodonaeus was wont to be much frequented by the Gentiles for helpe which they there receiued by touching of Pyrrhus great toe there kept in a gilt boxe because miraculously it was vnburned when the rest of his bodie was consumed with fire The Pope would not haue his S. Peters any whit inferior to it For o Bergo 10. he built a chappel in S. Peters Church in which hee laid vp some reliques in a manner of all the Saints and caused Masse to bee said there euery day He also brought the clause of reliques into the Canon of the Masse The Saraceus p Geneb p. 71â— are called into France where they spoile the Churches and waste all places from Burdeux to Poicteurs q Wolph Mass 14. Ann. 741. bringing with them their families Zacharias 1. in r Mass 14 p. 200. his time Constantius the Emperour defaced images and carted the Monkes for whoredome Pipin Å¿ Frisin 5. 21. ambitious of the kingdom of France sent to this Pope to know whether it were more meete that he which sate secure at home or hee that did vndergoe the charge of the kingdome should beare the name of king For Pipius and his t Geneb p. 688. ancestours had vsurped the administration of the kingdome of France perswading the king to retire himselfe to meddle with nothing so that he was but as a cipher The Pope u Gobel at 6. c. 37. f. 186. commandeth the people of France to receiue Pipine their king and first of any Pope began to * Geneb p. 720 absolue the French men from their oath made to Childericus their king and x Gâ—bel annointed Pipine king by his Legate Boniface Thus was y Fasc Temp. Childericus deposed and Pipine aduanced because hee was most for the profit of the Church of Rome For z 15. q. 5. Alius the glosse vpon the Canon where this storie is supposed to bee cited 249. yeares before it was done saith that the Emperor a Dist 40. ca. Si Papa iâ— glosse may be deposed for any thing wherefore he is to be deposed if he be lesse profitable This Boniface a Dist 40. si â—a wrote vnto the Pope asking his aduice in many things For he held and said that if the Pope be neuer so badde neither doing nor speaking any thing that is good so that hee carrie with him innumerable soules to hell to bee tormented with the diuell none may blame him Thus doth he giue the beast power to doe what he list This Boniface complaineth in b Caran f. 30â— 304. 306. his letters of the whoredomes drunkennesse and negligence of Bishops of the heathen customes of the Gentiles continued in Rome of the grosse ignorance of Priests whereof one like the builder of Babel baptizing a childe in latine which he vnderstood not said Baptise te in nomine Patria filia spiritu sancta Hee also complaineth of c Fox Marty p. 129. the whoredomes of Nunnes and he brought in Priests vestures and ornaments Constantinus the d Mass 14 p. 260. Geneb p. 722. Emperour that pulled downe images and persecuted that kinde of worship in the East prouided and e VVolph sent a great Nauy against the Egyptian Saracens Ina king of West f Geneb p. 724. Saxons made his land tributarie to the Pope giuing his power to the beast Ann. 752. Stephanus the second was g Platina carried on mens shoulders being troubled by Aistulph king of Lombards getteth leaue of Aâ—stulph to goe into France Vpon h Fris 5. 22. his comming hee absolueth Pipine from his oath made to i Gobelin aet 6. c. 39. Childericus his Soueraigne and annointeth him king So was k Fris ibid. Gobel ae 6. c. 37 Childericus shauen and thrust into a Monasterie Hence the Bishops of Rome doe draw their authoritie of changing of kingdomes from one to another Wherefore Pipine went twice into Italie quieted the Lombards and restored to the Pope his territories In this expedition Constantine sent his Secretarie c. to Pipine with presents as organs c. desiring him to take in Rauenna to the Emperours vse Pipine answered that hee l Platina came not into Italie for his profit but for his soules health and therefore would onely gratifie the Pope the angel of the bottomlesse pit
against a Prince I read and read againe the gestes of the Romane kings and Emperours yet no where doe I finde any of them before this Emperour to bee excommunicated by the Pope or depriued of his kingdom wherefore it is prooued to be fabulous m Geneb p. 591 which is reported of Innocentius that he excommunicated Arcadius or degraded Eudoxia then Empresse except it were done in secret or in conceipt In this Councel was Guibertus Archbishop of Rauenna n Mass 16. 224. who staied in Rome after the Synode to be made Pope by the Emperour which when Gregorie knew hauing beene rescued from the hands of Cincius by the furie of the people he degraded all those which were in schisme against him The o Abb. Vrsp p. 221. Trith Hirs p. 93. Emperour in a Councel at Wormacia with in a manner all the Germane Bishops depriued the Pope and by the instructions of Hugo a Cardinall published their sentence thus Because thine entrance began with so great periuries and that the Church of God is so indangered by so grieuous a storme by the abuse of thy nouelties and hast dishonested thy life in thy conuersation with so manifolde infamies as wee neuer promised thee any obedience so doe we renounce to keepe any towards thee hereafter And because none of vs as thou hast publikely declaimed hath bin esteemed by thee to be a Bishop neither shalt thou henceforth by any of vs be called Apostolicall The Pope in a Councell readeth these letters and againe excommunicateth the Emperour and his fauourers beeing p Massaeus 16. p. 224. encouraged by certaine letters out of Germanie that gaue life to the beast At Openheim was a Colloquie in which most of the Princes especially Saxons and Almanes renounced the Emperours subiection pretending that hee stood excommunicated by the Pope though he were absent and not heard By a Trith Hirs 1655. this necessitie the b Gobelinus Emperour goeth humbly towards Rome to aske his pardon of the Pope but c Epit. Blond d. 2. l. 3. his humilitie was slaundered to the Pope as if hee meant some violence and finding the Pope at Canusium barefoote and woolward in a most horrible frost with his wife and sonne indured with much patience the repulse for three daies By his bitter teares hee mooued those that were with the Pope d Vrsp p. 218. Mathildis a harlot c. so that they preuaile with the Pope who absolueth him and e Gobel ae 6. 55. put the imperiall crowne vpon his head f Mat. Paris p. 9. But guile was found in his mouth falsely pretending peace for he g Abb. Vrsp p. 222. said after that he restored him to communion but not to his Empire Hee h Crant Met. 5 14. inioyned the Emperour penance to staie at Rome a yeare and visit Churches with fasting and praier And in the meane time by certaine Princes and many Bishops was Rodulph a man altogether a stranger to the Princes blood elected Emperour the i Trith p. 93. Pope so commanding it by k Fri. d◠ges Fri. 1. 7. manifest and secret letters and receiueth his crowne from the Pope Hee l Geneb p. 882. absolueth the Princes and people from the oath of subiection which they had taken to the Emperour and commandeth them not more holily but traiterously to cleaue to Rodulphus and decreeth that all m 15. q. 6. Nos mē were absolued from obedience to him whom the Pope should excommunicate The n Wigor Ann. 5. E. Ann. 1100. Princes and Bishops fortifie the Alpes against the Emperour who was in Italie Howbeit o Cran. M. 5. 15 ex annalibus knowing of this treason by the Bishop of Auspurge his friend that sought him out in Italie he returned by Aquileia and gathered an armie against Rodulph After p Fri. ges Fr. 1. 7. much bloodshed and that the Emperor could get no fauour of the Pope against Rodulph but was againe excommunicated the q Trith Hirs p. 98. 99. Emperour in a Councel at Brixia setteth vp another Pope and deposeth Gregorie as a firebrand of sedition c. as a Necromancer and one vsing familiar spirits to get the papacie c. The Pope excommunicateth with a curse terrible enough the Emperour his Pope and Councell But the Emperour pursuing his warre r Cran. Metro 5. 16. Rodulph is wounded and before his death with griefe and sighing complaineth of them that had induced him to periurie and to seeke his masters crowne In his ſ Fris ges F. 1. 2 roome Hermanus was elected against the Emperour by the Popes commandement The t Crantz Met. 5. 17. Emperour goeth with an armie into Italie and in Rome inuesteth his Antipope and is crowned by his Pope Gregorie flieth and renueth the excommunication At u Trith Hirs p. 108. Mogunce in a great Synode Gregorie is deposed againe and all of them sweare obedience to the Pope called Clement the same yeare died Gregorie at Salerna when * Wigor Anno 1106. Mat. Paris p. 11. he had confessed to a Cardinall that he had troubled the Church by the perswasion of the diuell and sent to absolue the Emperour and all Christian people quicke and dead the Clergie and laitie This x Geneb Gregorie is said to worke diuers miracles and to haue the gift of prophecie but falsly For y Abb. Vrsp p. 223. ex Bruone when he so farre arrogated vnto himselfe to be a prophet that he did cry out of the deske at Easter esteeme me not for Pope but pull me from the Altar if the Emperor die not before Whitsontide he hired some by treasonable practises to kill him at his prayers in the Church a Mat. Paris p. 10. He also prophecied of the death of a false King meaning Henry the Emperor but that yeere Rodulph the false King that he had set vp died b Abb. Vrsp p. 222. In his time the whole world was moued He c Geneb p. 881. excommunicated the King of Polonia and the d Epit. Blond 2. 3. Emperor of Constantinople which was the cause of great stirres In e Mat. Pari. p. 8. Geneb 887. 886. 888. his time and by reason of the contentions which hee stirred vp the state of the Church was lamentable the Priests were of most vile conditions and the people despised holy things The Turkes preuaile in the East The f Fasc Temp. order of the Carthusian Monkes of a most rigorous abstinence from flesh began because of the apparition of a dead man in his funerals For those Papists g Deut. 18.11 are great consulters with the dead which was forbidden in the law of God These are Ebeonites in abstaining from flesh Victor the third corrupted h Frisin Chr. 7.1 the watch men with money Anno 1087. entred the citie was consecrated in the night He i Geneb p. 189. condemned the Emperour by his excommunication
who k Trith Hirs p. 108. fighteth with Hermanus whom the rebels had set vp by the Popes commaundement where very much blood was shed and the Emperour continueth his opposition against the Pope by his Antipope Basilius a Monke l Geneb p. 889. reneweth the doctrine of Berengarius m Platina This Pope was poysoned by his Deacon in his chalice and dyed of a flixe Vrbanus n Geneb p. 891. the second in a Councell at Rome Anno 1088. altogether tooke the inuestitute of Churches from the Layitie and o Trith Hirs p. 119. denounced the Emperour an heretike Simoniake Nicholaitane disobedient and rebellious to his holy mother the Church by p 118. his letters perswaded Conradus the Emperors sonne to rebell against his Father and to take vnto himselfe the Empire Wherefore the Pope consecrated him as King and caused him to raigne in Italie and Lombardie against his Father In q Frising 7.2 Vrsp p. 229. Luk. 21.10.11 Matth. 24.7 those dayes according to the prophecie in the gospell euery where Nation did rise against nation and kingdome against kingdome There were great earthquakes in diuers places and famine and pestilence and fearefull things and great signes in heauen c. While these fearefull and prodigious signes appeared Alexius the Emperor of Constantinople by his letters importuned the Pope for aide against the Saracens There r Trith Hirs p. 120. was also one Petrus Eremita who moued in a manner all the world carrying with him a little paper which he said fell from heauen in which was contained that all Christendome should goe to Ierusalem and possesse it with the confines thereof for euer Å¿ Abb. Vrsp p. 230. The Pope calleth a Councell and most eloquently perswadeth the people of many nations and tongues blasphemously promising forgiuenesse of sinnes to all that would leaue all and goe into the holy land against the Saracens and decreed that euery one that went should receiue a character of the crosse and weare it vpon his hat or garment By the meanes of the Pope and the Eremite an incredible armie of all sortes of people and languages were assembled t Frisin Chr. 7.6 Vrs p. 231. The Pope taketh no small troupes of this expedition into Italy with him where by their helpe and by bribes he expelled the Antipope u Trith Hirs p. 120. The rest vnder the leading of Godfredus c. went through Panonia A * Vrsp p. 231. huge multitude and these Babel-like whereof one vnderstoode not anothers speech among whom were many women virgins and Nunnes in mans apparel and armor with whom the men priests and Monkes committed filthie fornication so prouoking the wrath of the iust iudge Iesus Christ that a great part of them were slaine in Panonia notwithstanding the Popes pardons a Geneb p. 892. This Pope cursed the King of Galicia and in France excommunicated such which were preferred to Ecclesiasticall dignities by lay men This Peter the Eremite a false prophet first taught b Pag. 885. the manner to pray with beades For now c Poly. Jn. 5. 7. men began to count and reckon their prayers as if God were in our debt for often begging of him At this time d Volat. 21. p. 244. â— began the Knights of the number or order of Saint Iohn of Ierusalem who repeated by the helpe of their beades the Lords prayer a certaine number of times for their canonicall houres They grew to be of most filthy and prodigious conuersation Paschalis the second e Trith p. 128. couragiously deliuered the Church of Rome from supposed tyrannie To finish f Mass 16. p. 226. this schisme Anno 1100. as a martiall and legionarie King he brought forth an army against Guibertus the antipope a decrepit man who not long after died of a feuer when he had in opposition suruiued three Popes and g Vrsp p. 237. is reported to haue been a man wise eloquent noble and a very reuerend personage h Trith Hirs p. 128. And because his fauorites did testifie that certaine diuine lights were seene at his graue the Pope like a beast that suffereth them not to be put in graues whom he hath slaine commaunded him to be digged vp and cast into Tybur After i Geneb 904. his death was elected another Antipope c. whom k Vrsp p. 241. the Emperor thought in his intended voyage to Rome to place But Paschalis in a great Synod at Rome condemned as heretikes the present disturbers of the Pope and such as despised his curse The Clergie promiseth obedience to the Pope and his successors and to affirme or deny that which the vniuersall Church meaning the Pope doth affirme or deny And the Emperor is deliuered vp to a perpetuall curse The l Fris 7. 8. Emperor appointeth his sonne Henry his successor who was consecrated by the Pope in Rome He also inuaded Saxony that held with the Pope against him But in m Trith p. 131. this expedition his sonne stole out of his campe was absolued by the Popes Legate and by the counsell of certaine Princes and all the Bishops and Abbots of Saxony began to dispose of the Empire and rebelleth against his father In a n Crant M. 5. 36. 31. 33. Synode vnder a pretence of religion condemneth his fathers doings and so pursueth his father o Frism 7.9 When the armies were in the field there was amongst many great lamentation for the vnnaturall warres Now was fulfilled that of Saint Paul p 2. Tim. 2.3 In the last dayes shall be perrilous times For men seeking their owne and not that which is Christs shall be louers of themselues c. disobedient to parents without naturall affection c. Others tooke the crosse left the field and went to Ierusalem At this time were horrible signes earthquakes and mortalities q Vrsp p. 246. 247. Geneb p. 898. At Mogunce the Emperor and his sonne deliberate of peace where the Popes Legate reuiued the denunciation of the Popes excommunication against the Emperor r Gobel ae 6. 55. p 218. and the Emperor while he suspected nothing was imprisoned by his sonne The Bishops of Mogunce Colen and Wormacia for the image of the beast haue life put into them by the Pope take from the Emperor his ornaments and gaue them to his sonne The Å¿ Trith p. 135. 136. Emperor in vaine offered all subiection but was referred ouer to the Pope and t Frisin 7.12 in vaine bemoned himselfe to Princes but in this disgrace did finish his dayes being a mercifull Prince and giuing much almes Against whom nothing is truely obiected but his standing for the right of the Empire and mariage of the Clergie other things seeme to be blasphemies u Trith Hirs p. 143. Sigebertus a Monke wrote vnto him against those that reproched the masses of married priests * Trith p. 136. Frisin 7.11 See Frism Chr. 7.
of the bitings of fierie serpents And that when the Lord said to e Lib. 4. d. 19. Peter To thee will I giue the keyes of the kingdome of heauen the other Apostles had the same iudiciall power yea all the Church hath it in the Bishops and Ministers c. He f Gorich in M. gram articulis then held and taught many things which the papists afterwards did not hold as that charitie whereby we loue God and man is the holy Ghost because it is said God is charitie c. Such agreement there is among them Petrus Comester wrote the scholasticall historie and Gratian the Rhapsodist digested the decrees and presented his booke to be confirmed by the Pope All g Peucer 4. p. 363. c. deuised of purpose to magnifie the Church of Rome c. The third Thunder FRidericus a Crantz Met. 6.35 the Emperor holding an assemblie of the Princes and roaring as a Lyon caused them to sweare to ioyne with him in an expedition into Italy especially that he might tame Lombardy that rebelled which without question belonged to the Empire b Trith Hirs p. 182. And gat promise that if the Archbishop of Mogunce should die they should chuse no other without his consent c Crant M. 6. 1. For the Emperour thought to recouer the right of the Empire of inuesting Bishops which Henry the fourth and fifth did striue for In d Rob. Barus Italy he subdued many enemies valiantly and seuerely and deriding the insolencie of the Romanes by e Crant M. â— 35. his approach was so terrible to the Pope that the Pope fled But being reconciled by messengers the f Rob. Barnes Pope and Emperor meete the Emperor holding the Popes left stirrop as he lighted For which though it were the first stirrop that euer be held he being reproued mendeth that fault the next time The Pope requireth the kingdome of Apulia for the crowning of the Emperor which being deferred they goe to Rome and g Fris g. Fr. lib. 2. cap. 22. there the Emperor is crowned h Gobel at 6. cap. 60. At which time one saying that the Empire is aboue the Papacie was presented to the Pope and burned and his ashes cast out a Frith p. 183. Crant 6.35 Gobel at 6. cap. 60. At Rome the Emperor saw vpon a wall the picture of Innocent the second in his pontificals giuing Lotharius the Emperor that humbly kneeled before him the crowne of the Empire which much displeased the Emperor When he was gone the Pope wrote to him in a letter that he did not repent for the benefit which he had bestowed viz. the crowne which displeased the Emperor so as that he openly said he acknowledged not any benefit giuen him by the Pope his Empire he had of God and the Electors c. b Rob. Barnâ—c The Lombards rebell againe whom while the Emperor attempted to subdue the Italians by a great summe of mony induced the Pope to excommunicate the Emperor but before he could doe it he died c Peucer p. 440. Vrsp p. 2. Anno 1156. being strangled with a flie as he was drinking Alexander the third d Vrsp p. 290. was chosen by the greater part of the Cardinals but a while refused the seate Wherefore Victor a man very â—â—â—â—gious and approued good humble and curteous who had been chosen by nine Cardinals was inthronised But after Alexander tooke the place This was the cause of a great schisme for which the Emperor taking compassion of the people at Papia called both the elected Popes not to iudge their cause but to satisfie himselfe whom hee should acknowledge e Platina Alexander refused to come and excommunicated Victor and the Emperor who fauored him And finding many enemies at Rome went to France f Geneb p. 931. where the Kings of England and France waited before him as vshers on foote g Trith p. 192. At the request of the French King the Emperor holdeth a Councell for the vnitie of the Church But Alexander would neither come thither nor permit the French King to come h Pag. 193. 194. At this time were three very sharpe disputers Arnoldus Marsilius and Theodoricus which maintained that the prelates of their time were deceiuers of soules and snares of the diuel they were named Cathari but were of the opinion of Tanchelinus eight men and two women of that opinion were burned This doctrine spread in Boem Alsatia and Thuringia and continued long There were also of the same opinion called Cardenses of the place where they liued The Pope in France doth labour to vnite other stations against the Emperor He was frighted from his Masse with fearefull darkenes and thunder returneth into Italy and breedeth new troubles i Pag. 202. While the Emperor intended to pursue the Pope and his adherents rebels in Italy with words writing and armies k Rob. Barnes he is sollicited by his Confessor to diuert his forces against the Turkes where by the Popes treason sending to the Soldan the Emperors picture with letters the Emperor while he went to wash himselfe in a riuer is apprehended and carried to the Soldan The Emperor returning discouereth to the Princes and pursueth in Italy the Popes treason a Penc 4. p. 367 In Italy now by the reading of the ciuill law reuiued by Letharius and canon law c. digested by the followers of the Popes b Geneb p. 931. the people were diuided Some were called Gibellines and stoode for the Emperor other were Guelphes and tooke part with the Pope c Trith p. 192. They of Pisa and Brixia tooke their oth to the Emperor d Berg. 12.1 Volat. 22. c. Peuc 4. p. 442. c. The Pope for feare flieth in the habit of his Cooke to Venice Whom Otho the Emperors sonne pursued to sea where beeing ouer forward to fight he was taken by the Venetians beeing brought in triumph into the citie the Pope taketh a gold ring and casteth it into the sea to espouse the sea vnto him by a rite meerely heathen and did institute that his successors should yearely doe the same which custome is yet kept The Emperour partly wearie of warres and taking compassion of Italie so rent with dissention and of the East that was ouerrunne by Saladiâ—â— and of his sonne inclined to seeke reconciliation At Venice the Pope aâ— Saint Markes trode on the Emperours necke caused the Quire to sing super aspidem basiâ—scuÌ„ ambulabis as Iustinian the tyrant had done before at Constantinople When the Emperour answered Not to thee but to Peter the Pope replied both to me and Peter So was reconciliation made e Geneb p. 932 936. Alexander in whose time all the world of Christians was hurled together by the confusion of warre hauing subdued the Emperour holdeth a Councel In which hee condemneth the Waldenses Publicani Cathari Cardenses f Mat. Paris p. 132.
the Emperours humiliation but desired to tread him vnder foote whom hee called the great Dragon that when hee had him vnder hee might with more ease stampe also vpon the Kings of England and France and other princes whom he called Basilisks or little kings and little serpents and might at his pleasure spoile their prelates of their treasure n p. 760. The French king taketh Damiata For o 762. which the Soldan offereth the kingdom of Ierusalem much treasure and peace so that there was hope that he purposed to become a Christian But as the pope formerly commanded all was refused by the popes Legate It seemeth that he that writeth a Annot. in Sonn 107. annotations vpon Petrarchs Sonets speaketh of this storie when he saith that the king of Spaines brother I thinke he should say the king of France his brother proclaimed the pope Soldan of Babylon which he calleth Baladac When they had refused the Soldans offer they could not afterwards intreate but found bloodie warre But b Mat. Paris 762. 763. Fridericke subdued happily many of his rebels The popes souldiers robbed them that were signed with the crosse for the holy land taking their money from them And the armie in the holy land was deuided In c 767. 768. fight the French king is taken who though at first he refused yet at last is constrained to surrender Damiata vpon hard conditions and d 772. 773. sendeth by his two brethren to the pope to relieue his shame and difficulties by the absolution of Fridericke His brethren said to the pope that it were best to absolue him els all would thinke the pope of an obstinate hatred they would remooue him from Lyons and raise all France against him Because they vrged the Pope to make peace with Fridericke as he loued the honour of the vniuersall Church and would auoid to be charged to be the cause of the losse of the holy land by his couetousnesse and marchandise of such souldiers that tooke the crosse for the aide of such souldiers that tooke the crosse for the aide of the holy land the e 777. pope craueth to be at Burdeux and groweth inexorable Then also died Fridericus the wonder of the world and so ended the sixth Thunder The seuenth Thunder COnradus a Caron the sonne of Fridericus the second Anno 1250. b Trith p. 239. who had before been chosen King of Romanes did reigne c Mat. Paris 780. In signe of the wrath of God there were exceeding horrible thunders a heauie prognostication d 781. Conrade maketh sure his prisoners that rebelled against his father and with his brethren and friends doth rise against the Pope who for the insatiable couetousnes of his whole race was hatefull to the Imperials e 783. and feared such ginnes and snares of the Romanes to recouer an inestimable summe of money from him which he caused them to lay out in his warres against Fridericke that he durst not returne to his seate in Rome f 791. Yea the hearts of many departed from the father the Pope who raged as a fierce stepfather and from the mother the Church of Rome who was cruell in persecution as a stepmother The g 792. pope departing from Lugdunum calleth the people together to bid them farwell By his Orator after other speeches concludeth that the city had receiued this benefit and almes by the Popes presence that where at his comming there were onely found three or foure whorehouses in the city he left but one and that reached from the East gate to the west Thus is the Popes courte the mother of fornications and abhominations of the earth a Mat. Prris p. 795. many heardsmen foolishly take the crosse to fight against the Turkes in the holy land The Pope setteth forth new decretals and minding peace b 798. 799. absolueth some nobles from their excommunication Whom he marrieth to his neeces by which holy marriage they which were the children of wrath become forsooth the sonnes of grace and chosen vessels But hee excommunicateth Conrade Whereupon the enemies of the Church are multiplied c Pag. 800. Conrade hauing got the fauour of many of the Princes of the Empire the Pope preacheth the crosse against him with farre larger pardons then were graunted to them that fought against the Turkes in the holy land For the fathers and mothers of such were to be pardoned that sought against Conrade When the Queene and Nobles of France saw the Pope to minde onely his ambition and to neglect their distressed King in the holy laud they tooke into their hands the goods and lands of those that were signed against Conrade bidding them liue of the Pope that fought for him The like was don in other places Hence the Pope through shame began to treate of peace with Conradus d Pag 801. There were more fearefull thunders The Pope to make peace desireth to marry a neece of his e Pag. 805. to the brother of Conradus and strengtheneth himselfe by making of new Cardinals But the Princes of the Empire conceiued much indignation against the presumption of the Pope for seeking to ignoble Princes by the marriage of his neeces William Earle of Holland being sorrowfull for his presumption in accepting the Empire resigned f Pag. 781. and hauing lost his owne Earledome and all detested the mousetrappes and promises of the Pope being constrained to begge g 808. Conrade hauing gained the fauour of all the Italians in a manner had poyson giuen him as was thought by the Popes faction but hee recouered stangely and grew into more fauour Yet would not the Pope be perswaded to crowe him least he should proue like his father h 813. but seeing the daunger of Christendome by the contention the Pope sought to make peace with his foes by giuing them his neeces in marriage Howbeit the poyson which Conrade escaped and imputed to the Pope and the contradiction of the Princes of the Empire to such presumptuous marriages gained Conrade much fauour hindred this kinde of peace and lost the Pope many friends and much credit Whereupon Conradus persecuted the Pope with fire and sworde and spoyled such as went to the court of Rome i 814. And so our father the Pope who rather followed the steps of Constantine then Peter stirred vp many calamities in the world The a Mat. Paris p. 829. Pope considering that Richard the King of Englands brother was very rich baited a hooke sweetely to catch his seruice and wealth For trusting vpon his sophistry and deceit that said All b Mat. 4.9 these things will I giue thee if thou wilt fall downe and worship me caused him to be elected and called King of Apulia Sicilia and Calabria c Mat. Paris p. 832. At this time such was the couetousnes and rapine of the Pope in England that vpon a computation which the Bishop of Lincolne caused to
be made it appeared that this Pope impouerished the vniuersall Church more then all his predecessors and that in England his gaine was more then the Kings reuenue d 838. The Romanes threaten them of Perusium with sieg and desolation if they held the Pope any longer Wherefore the Pope with feare and trembling goeth to Rome fearing least the mony should be exacted of him which was dispended in the warres against Fridericke But he paliated his sorrow as well as he could and went to Rome For the beast hath a face like a Lyon that taketh scorne to looke vpon the nettes he is intangled with e 843. The Pope wrote to Grosthead Bishop of Lincolne to make a boy a Prehend at Lincolne which the Bishop refused to doe shewing that the sinne of the diuell and Antichrist was to kill the soules of men by defrauding them of ministers able to teach With f 844. which answere the Pope was enraged and sware by Saint Peter and Saint Paul were it not for the gentlenes of his owne nature his slaue the King of England should make the Bishop a fable c. The Cardinals labored much to pacifie the Popes fury partly by preferring the goodnes of the Bishop before the Pope and his Cardinals partly by aduising the Pope to winke at all least there should arise some tumult especially because it is knowen that there must come a departing from the Church of Rome g 846. 847. 848. This Grosthead on his death-bead reproued the preaching Friers and Minorites as heretikes for their negligence and the Pope of heresie for offering to place a boy ouer the soules of men and proueth that the Pope is Antichrist Of the court of Rome he deliuered this censure Eius auaritiae totus non sufficit orbis Aegypte Sodom Eius luxuriae meretrix non sufficit omnis Aegypte Sodom He also prophecied that the Church should not be deliuered from the Aegyptian seruitude in which it was but by a bloudy sword Here is the policy of Rome h cap. 11.8 called Egypt Conrade prospereth in Italy in despite of the Pope i Mat. Paris p. 850. 855. At this time ignorant persons and boyes were aduanced to Church dignities fit builders for Babel The Pope in a most furious rage purposing to auenge himselfe of Grosthead as of an infidel and rebel c. in k Ibid. Et Poly. Chr. lib. 7. cap. 36. the night Grost bead in his Bishops ornaments appeared vnto him and with a sterne countenance and angry speech said arise wretch and come to thy doome c. and smote him on the left side right to the heart with his crosse staffe so that the Pope awaked with feare and paine horribly frighted Neither did the vengance of the indignation of God so rest towards him for in his warres against Conrade he lost 4000. of his army neither had the Pope euer any good night or day afterwards The a Mat. Paris p. 861. dissention grew great betweene the pope and Conrade and the pope sorged falsely many blasphemous accusations against him as of heresie murther c. thereby to stirre vp the King of England against him b 863. 864. There was in England a miraculous thunder-clap When the pope saw that Richard the King of Englands brother would not be taken in his nettes but held his gift of Apulia c. as if he had giuen him the mone for the fetching he solicited the King of Emgland to accept it promising to turne the souldier that were signed with the crosse for the aide of the holy land to assist him This made all the princes and prelates of the holy land deteste the Romane falsehoodes c Fox Marty pag. 3. Arnoldus de noua villa taught that Sathan by popery had deceiued the world Gulielmus de sancto amore applieth all the textes of Scripture that spake against Antichrist to the pope and his Clergie d Mat. Paris p. 864. 865. The King of England with ioy accepted the popes offer of the kingdome of Sicilia c. and fed the pope with mony But vpon the resistance of Conradus the popes army failed Conrade also died e Gobel 6.65 as is reported of poyson f Mat. Paris p. 865. The pope exceedingly reioyced and laughed for the death of his two great enemies Grosthead and Conradus g 868. Shortly after the pope himselfe dying comforted his weeping friends thus do not I leaue you rich enough what would you more when he was dead he was seene by a Cardinall condemned to hell for the hurt he did to the Church Thus h cap. 10.3 c. when the Angel Christ the King by princes had reared for their possessions seuen thunders of the popes execrations vtter their voyces which the writers of the time doe seale vp by a darke kinde of deliuerie i Carian f. 203. Par. Vrs p. 332 After which time the Empire stoode without any certaine Caesar for seauenteene yeeres for feare of the danger that might befall by the popes meanes And the affaires of Asia came into great danger by the popes proceedings Thus also he maketh warre against the Saints and doth ouercome them So here is fulfilled that which is written k cap. 13. 7. 8. And power was giuen him ouer euery kindred and tongue and nation Those thunders lasted 150. yeeres For from the time of Hildebrand which was 1074. to Alexander the fourth which was 1254. is 180. yeeres From whence if we take the time of peace from Honorius the second to Adrian the fourth which was 30. yeeres the remainder will be 150. yeere CHAP. IX The beast doth principally dispose himselfe to make warre with the Saints that worship in the Tabernacle and sheweth Lyons pride and Beares feete for couetousnes tearing the earth by raking mony THus the princely Angel a cap. 10.3 who had roared as a Lyon is cryed downe by the beast whose execrations were fearefull and violent as Thunder Now the beast doth principally set himselfe against the Saints b cap. 13.7 For it is giuen to him to make warre with the Saints and to ouercome them And now he hath authoritie to make lawes as it is said c 15. it is permitted to him to speake His speciall law is now turned vpon the Saints namely d 15. to cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed For now he rageth with the bloudy lawes of the inquisition which henceforth are much increased Anno 1254. Alexander the fourth e Trith p. 246. when the seat had been almost two yeeres voyde to the perill of many soules was elected Pope and at first f Mat. Paris p. 869 seemed a holy man But yet g Pag. 875. though he were frighted by a fearefull vision he h P. 877. continued the warres begun by his predecessors against Manfred in Apulia c. i P. 881. 885. in which he
exhausted the King of Englands treasure k P. 882. 891. 895. 904. He also continued strange exactions of mony in England binding Monasteries c. to pay his creditors vpon paine of interdiction c. l P. 897. This exaction cooled mens affections towards the Pope m P. 910. In his time the preaching Friers had much dammaged the Christian saith by preaching Reade more hereof before Anno 1200. reading teaching certaine doctrines new dotings taken out of the book of Abbas Ioachim condēned by Gregorius the ninth They also had composed a booke which it pleased them to intitle The euerlasting or eternall Gospel which now they inforced to roote out the Gospell of Christ written by the foure Euangelists They also vrged many other things not to be spoken Hereupon grew so many and great scandales one preaching against the other that the vniuersitie of Paris with great counsaile and deliberation sent sixe men very excellent for learning and of noble blood to the Pope in commission for the repaire of the decay in faith The Friers sent speedy messengers to resist these great men to their faces before the Pope At length after much a doe their new Gospell is commaunded to be burned secretly without any scandall to the Friers And so was that Gospel abolished that by a false Prophecy threatned the cessation of the Gospell written by the foure Euangelists The n Geneb p. 978. Mass 17. pag. 238. Fo◠Marty 326. Speculum minorum tract 1. f. 10. b. Pope also commaunded that the booke which Gulielmus de sancto amore had written of pouertie against the Friers going vnder the name of the masters of Paris intituled a treatise of the perils of the latter times should be abolished publikely and banished him France For this Pope much fauored the Friers and o Spec. min. tract f. 7. b. wrote his bull requiring all that had disputed or preached against them to recant teach and preach the contrary vnder paine of suspension and excommunication For he esteemed the Friers as the a cap. 11.4 two golden candelstickes and two great lights that shined in the Church of God b Fox Marty 326. Yet did Laurentius a master of Paris strongly and stoutly teach preach and write in the defence of the said Gulielmus against the Popes and their Friers This Pope exceedingly encreased the bloudie lawes made against them which the Church of Rome calleth heretikes c Dec. 5. tit 2. cap. 2. He decreed that whosoeuer wittingly should bury heretikes or their beleeuers receiuers defenders or fauorers should bee excommunicate till with his owne hands openly he cast those dead bodies out of their graues againe Hee forbad lay men priuately or publikely to dispute of the Catholike faith vnder paine of excommunication as d Carion Mahomet did of his law vnder paine of death He also furnished the inquisition with many bloudy and vnmercifull lawes e 6. Dec. 5. tit 2. c. 4. denying mercy to the penitent and confiscating the goods of such as died before sentence f Par. Vrsp p. 332. One beyond the seas called himselfe Iesus by magicke he wrote prodigious miracles and many armies being vnited to him he subdued many kingdomes vnder him g Geneb p. 979 Ludouicus King of France instituted many things to the profit of the kingdome He would not haue offices and dignities sold and branded them in the forehead with a hot yron that blasphemed or sware by God in vaine he forbad stewes he thrust stage players out of his court Anno 1261. Vrbanus the fourth h Trith p. 249. Clemen 3. tit 16. de reliquijs ven instituted the feast of Corpus Christi day and to encourage the people to keepe it he gaue pardons to such as were present at the seruice a cup of abhominations i Geneb p. 982. c. The host was caryed about in a box as the arke in the time of the law and the booke of the law is among the Iewes or rather k Moris pap p. 58. as Iupiter and Isis were caryed among the Gentiles and it was worshipped l Geneb p. 982. Thomas Aquinas composed the office of this feast This m Part. 3. q. 25. an 31. Thomas wrote that images must be worshipped with the same worship as is due to them whose images they be n Trith p. 249. The Pope conferred the kingdome of Sicilia which Monfred held vpon Charles the French Kings brother and by Legates called him into Italy who draue out Monfred and possessed Sicilia not without much bloodshed The Pope also o 6. Dec. 5. tit 2. cap 9. decreed that the lawes of no place should hinder the proceedings of the inquisition In his time the p Curio Saracens draue the Christians cleane out of Syria yet q Geneb p. 985 granted the free preaching of Christ in Aphryca Anno 1265. Clemens the fourth r Trith 250. p. 251. in his time the monasteries of the order of Benedict in Germanie were filthily corrupted the Monkes and Abbots rushed violently into the very sinke of all vices Carolus the French kings brother whom Vrbane the fourth had made king and a Geneb 986. Clement annointed at Rome vnder condition to paie to the Pope yearely 42,000 crownes in name of a tribute cruelly killed Monfrede And when after him b Par. Vrsp p. 243. Conradine the next heire a very gallant gentleman went to take his inheritance in Apulia by Clement and Charles he was iniuriously repulsed taken by treason derided and by the commandement of the Pope was put to death miserably by c Carion a common executioner That as many as would not worship the beast should be killed Hee d Decr. 5. Tit. 2 c. 10. c. informeth the inquisitors to feare no man but to proceede rigorously to censure with the aide of the secular arme any preachers religious persons vniuersities or other priuiledged places that are impediment to their inquisitiō To cause all ciuill and militarie magistrates to sweare and cause all them that were vnder them to sweare to obserue the lawes made against heretickes their fauourers hearers defenders their sonnes and their nephewes Thus the beast with his hornes maketh warre with the Saints f Geneb p. 986. In his time Antioche was sacked by the Sultan And Ludouicus king of France signed with the crosse in the siege of Tunetum and one of his sonnes died of the pestilence and so the siege was raised Gregorius the tenth g Trith p. 252 worthy the honour Ann. 1271. if a mortal man can be worthy to be Christs vicar in earth who raigneth in heauen Hee h Westmon p. 403. held a Councell at Lugdunum for the holy land to which purpose he decreed that all Ecclesiasticall liuings for seauen yeares space should paie a tenth There i Geneb p. 989. was also handled the reconciliation of the Greeke Churches which was
concluded the thirteenth time Michael Paleologus the Emperour did diuersly punish the Greekes which would not receiue the faith and rites of the Church of Rome by confiscation banishment prisonment pulling out their eies whipping dismembring of them c. Thus they drinke of the wine of the wrath of the fornication of the great where The Pope k Trith p. 253. commanded the Germane Princes to elect a fit Emperour else he said himselfe would prouide for a gouernour of the Empire Hereupon Rudolphus is chosen who being admonished by the Princes at the instance of the Pope to goe to Rome to be crowned answered Italie hath consumed many Germane Emperors I wil not go to Rome I am king I am Emperour I trust I shall doe as well for the profit of the comon weath as if I were crowned at Rome Wherefore raigning neere nineteene yeares he receiued no crown of the Pope for the cause which he shewed a Geneb p. 988 This Pope instituted the vse of the conclaue whence the Cardinals may not come forth till they haue chosen a Pope b 990. The heresie of such as whipped themselues began Ann. 1276. Adrian the fifth c Geneb 990. reuoked the vse of the Conclaue appointed by Gregorie the tenth He d Trith p. 255. called Rodulph the Emperour into Italie against Charles king of Apulia who forgetting the benefit bestowed vpon him by Vrbane who tooke the kingdom from the right heires Conrade and Conradine and bestowed it vpon him did what him list at Rome thus God reuenging their wrong But the Emperour beeing otherwise let came not and the Pope died by the fall of a newe chamber vpon him A slouthfull age the Monkes cared not to write c. Ann. 1277. Nicolaus the third e Geneb p. 992 993. tooke away notaries and registers out of the court of Rome as pestilent The Sicilians impatient of the lust and pride of the French men communicating their counsell with Nicolaus the third which was displeased with Carolus with Paleologus and Petrus Aragoniae on Easter day when the bell rang to Euensong euery where killed the French aboue 8,000 in two houres with their wiues great with childe Whereupon arose a Prouerb the Sicilian vespers for suddaine slaughters The Turkes who before had beene worne by the Tartars recouer courage returne to their wonted spoile for murther among the remnant c. Martinus the fourth Ann. 1281. f Trith p. 258. by his Legate in a Councel exacted of the people the tenth pennie whereto though many Princes did condescend yet the Archbishops of Colen and Trouers did couragiously resist this new and grieuous exaction and dashed that businesse Many miracles are said to be wrought at the Popes graue Ann. 1288. Nicolaus the fourth g Fox Mart. p. 326. in his time Petrus Iohannes a Minorite maintained the Pope to be Antichrist the Synagogue of Rome to be Babylon Also Robertus Gallus a Dominican Frier declared the Pope an idol and prophecied of his destruction Iohannes was burned when he was dead by the inquisitors This h Geneb p. 996. c. Curie time the Sultan of the Saracens with lamentable slaughter by fire and sword draue the Christians cleane out of Tripolis Tyrus c. and all Syria Calestinus the fifth Ann. 1294. i Trith 263. was thought to be chosen by God himselfe and was called from his Eremitage to the Papacie to whose a Mass 17. p. 242. coronation came 200 000. people In his first consistorie while he desired strictly to reforme the Church of Rome that the Clergie thereof might be an example to others he incurred such displeasure that they whispered of him to dote and to be a foole Of whom one Benedict or blessed not indeed but in name caused one through a cane to speak like an Angel to Calestine aduising him to resigne because the burthen was too great * Bergo 23. in Bonifacio 8. when hee had resigned his successor Bonifacius the eight craftie and vngrateful shut him vp in a secret prison where he died miserably This b Geneb 998. Calestinus is reported to haue commanded that the Popes and Cardinals henceforth should not ride on horses and males but on Asses after Christs example O law prodigiously ouerthrowne Bonifacius the eight c Fasc Temp. an arrogant and craftie man Ann. 1294. d Gobel alii Of him it was said hee entred like a Foxe by deceiuing his predecessor ruled like a Lyon by crueltie died like a dogge in contempt He e Bergo 13. contemned all men f Geneb p. 1000 raised great warres in Italie g Epit. Blond persecuting and extinguishing despitefully the faction of the Gibellines h Mass 17.243 When Albertus the Emperour sent to him desiring to be confirmed by him in his Empire hee despised his request i Proemium sexti Curio He digested the Popes lawes into sixe bookes after the example of Mahomets Alcaron In his sixth booke he k 6. Dec. 5. tit 2. cap. 12. c. published many bloodie lawes and increased the inquisitors authoritie to cite arrest imprison examine and confiscate c. He l Geneb p. 1001 6. Dec. 3. tit 23 cap. 3. also excommunicated all the Clergie that paid the Prince any subsidie without the consent of the Apostolike seate But m Platina in B. 8. Buchol that you may not thinke that God was at peace with men suddainly in winter was so great an earthquake as neuer was before which ouerthrewe many houses castles c. whereby many of all sortes were slaine The Pope at Masse was frighted with the ruine of the place and beeing carried forth ranne away with the best and for feare of beeing killed with the fall of some buildings dwelt in a tent made of thin board which was set vp in a large medow There was also a comet an euill presage happily of the pride of the Pope and his superstition He n Trith 266. Mass 17. first instituted at Rome the yeare of Iubile for full remission and pardon of all sinnes from paine and guilt to bee kept from the Euen of Christs Natiuitie to that day twelue month and so to be againe kept euery hundred yeare A thing newe and neuer heard of before o Poly. Jnu. 8.1 This Iubile was made in imitation of the feasts of Apollo and Diana which the heathen kept euery hundred yeare And whereas in his decrees he had published p Extr. Com. la. cap. vnā sanct that vpon paine of damnation all must be subiect to the Pope of Rome in a Paral. Vrsp 344. his Iubile he came forth into sight one day like a Pope the next day like an Emperour with a sword carried before him and cried with a loud voice Behold here are two swords And this his triple crowne witnesseth which is called regnamundi the kingdomes of the world And b Mass 17.
p. 3â—3 wrote to the French king that himselfe was Lord of all spirituall and temporall estates through the world Thus he exalteth himselfe aboue all that is called God And said that because the French king would not take his kingdom of him hee deserued to bee depriued The French king burned his letters and despised his Legates In a Councell at Paris calleth the Pope a schismaticke hereticke and inuader of the state by the pragmatical sanctier diminisheth the Popes authoritie in France c Par. Vrsp 344. The Pope confirmeth the election of Albert vnder condition that he would take vpon him the kingdomes of Romanes and France d Fox Flores hist The king of England also couragiously withstood the Pope in the title of Scotland e Bergo 13. Trith p. 268. The French king caused him to be apprehended in his bedde and carried prisoner to Rome where hee died with sorrow c. In f Geneb p. 1004 1007. 1008. his time Ottoman the first Emperour of the Turkes arose a great plague to the professors of Christ Now the Church of Rome leaueth to reckon from the passion of Christ as before and accounteth from his Natiuitie The Mariners compasse is found out A fit instrument to spread the name of Christ where it was vnknown Clement the fifth g Mass 17. p. 244. was consecrated in France at Lugdunum going to the pallace the people thronged a wall fell Ann. 1305. and hurt many the Popes crowne fell from his head and out of it a Carbuncle esteemed worth 6000. florens An euill presage For h Trith 269. Geneb 1009. he translated the Popes seate from Rome to Auinion to the great damage of Italie Rome and all Christians i Trith 271. The Princes elected Henrie the seauenth Emperour a good man and valiant worthy the imperiall seate He k Par. Vrsp 349. sent his Orators to the Pope for his imperiall crowne And l Bergo 13. in Henr. the Pope confirmed his election vnder condition he would go into Italie to receiue his crowne according to the manner of the Emperors passing through a Par. Vrsp 349. 350. Italie he found and subdued many rebels came to Rome and is crowned and gaue out lawes concerning traitors and rebels which Rome as the head of the world and saieth in her head I sit as Queene adorned and confirmed in these words I the crown of crowns confirme vnto my Prince his power c. doe subiect vnto him cities nations of countries Eagles defend my glorie behold the Gentiles Departing from Rome he had more rebels that opposed themselues against him ouer most of whom he triumphed Then came newes to him to come into Apulia where he should finde Rupertus king of Apulia depriued and deliuered to him The Emperour went towards Apulia The b Clemen 2. tit 9. de iureiurando Pope sendeth to him to make peace with Rupertus vpon his oath of fidelitie and obedience which hee made to the Pope But the Emperour by publike instruments declareth he made no such oath Then c Par. Vrsp 350 came there a d Geneb p. 1011 Dominican Frier vnto the Emperour promising to reconcile vnto him certaine cities that stood out against him desiring to minister the Eucharist to him with which he poysoned the Emperour as e Berg. 13. in Henr. he was hired by the Florentines For that which was execrable in the Saracens f Mat. Paris p. 769. namely to poyson their prisoners is now practised by Friers against Emperours and that like the children of the mother of abhominations euen in the sacrament His death was the safetie of Rupertus and the Florentines For this murther at the place and time of the worship of God according to his word there was euery where a famine after which followed a very great pestilence The Pope in a Councell openly declareth the oath of the Emperour now murthered to bee an oath of fidelitie and obedience and requireth it alwaies so to be vnderstood g Clem. 2 tit 9. in gloss verb. futur Out of which decree is gathered that the Emperour is not Emperour before he be crowned by the Pope He h Clem. 5 tit 3. de haeres c. 1. also prouided that the walles and lockes might bee sure and that the Keepers should bee sworne where heretickes were imprisoned Hee i Clem. 3 tit 16 de vener sanct confirmed Corpus Christi day and gaue large indulgences to them that were present at the solemnitie There were at this time diuers that held many things against the church of Rome as the followers k Mass 17. p. 244. Berg. 13. f. 207. a. of Dulcinus of whom were 6000. and of them were apprehended more than 400. who were of the reliques of those whom Bernard writeth of in the Canticles vz. Petrus Abailardus c. There l Clem. 5. tit 3. c. 3. were also certaine called Begnardes that held against adoration of the Eucharist at the eleuation Moreouer very m Trith 274. 275. many euen to the number of 80,000 were of the opinion of Lolliardus who held against Transubstantiation extreame vnction c. that the Church of Rome was not the Church of Christ but of the infidel Gentiles and despised the prelates authoritie they held also against distinction of meates Of them many were burned by the inquisition The same time was a most extreame famine Buchel Anâ— 1315. Trith p. 273. that the parents restrained not themselues from the most filthie carkasses of their children and after that followed a great pestilence euery where so that in a manner the third part of mankinde was consumed Thus Michael fighteth for the word of God Many wicked things are obiected to these of Dulcinus the Begnardes and Lolliards opinion But because in the time of the heathen Emperours the diuell did accuse the brethren and in this time of Antichrist the beast doth blaspheme them that dwell in heauen their accusation may iustly be suspected to be slanderous Especially seeing they confesse that the Boemians in the time of Hus were of their sect who are very well known to maintaine none of these impieties a Paral. Vrsp 351. Arnoldus de noua villa attempted to prooue by Daniel and Sibyllaes prophecies that Antichrist and the persecution of the Church should bee betweene the yeares 1300. and 1400. b 345. 346. This Pope also put downe the Templars for their horrible wickednesse contempt of Christ and abhominable idolatrie and that they betraied Ludouicus king of France into the hands of the Soldan when he was in the holy land Hee c Berg. 13. f. 207. interdicted Venice for taking Ferrara Wherefore d Sab. En. 9. l. 7 Franciscus Dandalus a Noble man of Venice laie bound in a chaine at the Popes feete to batter his anger against Venice and to procure him to free it from interdiction The Knights of the Rhodes began Anno 1315. Iohn the twentith two
e Trith 273. 274. 275. entred when the Empire was distracted by two which the Princes deuided into factions did set vp The greater part elected Ludouicus Banarus the lesse Fridericus Duke of Austria f Par. Vrs 352. Fridericus was fauored by the Pope the French King c. It seemeth the Pope willing to aduance Fridericus whose election was not good thought to declare the Empire to be voyde that he might weaken Ludouicus of such offices in Italy c. that might stand him in stead For in his first yeere he decreed g Extr. Iho. 22. Si fratum that in the vacancie of the Empire which he said then was by the death of Henry the seuenth the regiment iurisdiction and disposing of the Empire deuolued to the Pope vnto whom in the person of Saint Peter God committed the rights of the earthly and heauenly Empire He also accursed all Imperiall offices as well spirituall as temporall that in the vacancie were not authorised by the Pope After h Par. Vrs 353. Trith p. 278. many conflicts Fridericus is ouercome and taken and by capitulation yeeldeth all to Ludouicus At this time i Trith p. 277. 278. Walter Lolliard the chiefe teacher of many against the popish Church who had written diuers treatises in the Dutch tongue applying the Scriptures to his opinions was apprehended he sharpely defended his opinions for which he was burned a Mass 18. p. 246. Michael Cesenas Generall of the order of the Minorites with the Fratricelli of the habit of Saint Francis preached that Christ and his Aopstles possessed nothing of their owne Against whom the Pope published his decree that b Extr de ver fig. tit 14. Cum inter whosoeuer held that Christ and his Apostles possessed nothing were heretiks They also taught that the Emperor is not subiect to the Pope but in spirituall causes which the Emperor beleeued and c Trith 279.280 despising the Pope who by admonition and commination required him to come to Auinion to be crowned by the Pope went into Italy requested the Pope to send some Cardinals into Italy to crowne him as Clement did for Henry the seuenth The Pope refusing so to doe d Par. Vrs 353. at Millaine the Emperor receiued his second crowne And the Emperors Chancellor vnknowne to the Emperor wrote to the Pope calling him e Reuel 13.1 the beast arising out of the sea c. Michael Cesenas wrote that the Pope was Antichrist f Fox Marty and Rome Babylon in the Reuelation Also Petrus de Carbano Iohannes de Poliaco and William Occam wrote against the Pope and his vsurped authoritie in aduancing Friers decaying purish Churches c. The * Mass 18.246 Emperor goeth to Rome and is crowned by an Antipope whom he set vp The Pope hearing hereof g Gob. aet 6. c. 68. Mass 18. excommunicated the Emperor for taking vpon him as Emperor in Italy without the Popes approbation and excommunicated Michael and all their adherents sent an armie against the Fratricelli Many were burned There h Trith 285. was a very great mortalitie euery where and such a dearth that many were famished The Syrians tooke many thousands of Christians prisoners The i Mass 18.247 Gob. ae 6. c. 71. p. 246. Pope also preacheth heresie that the soules departed did not enioy the sight of God till the last iudgement an k Geneb 1002. heresie of the Fratricelli He sent a Dominican and a Minorite to Paris l Mass 18. p. 247. to preach his heresie there Thomas Walleis an Englishman herein resisted the Pope in his publike sermons For which he was imprisoned and vexed with famine The m 246. Emperor held a Councell vnto whom Iendinus and Marcellus students of Paris doe come and comfort him confirming that the Emperor is not subiect to the Pope n Trith 279. Occam also said to the Emperor Defend me with thy sword against the iniuries of the Pope and I will defend thee with words and writing with indissoluble arguments And o Par. Vrs 354. Marsilius Patauinus wrote to the Emperour a booke called Defensor pacis maintaining that the Pope is subiect to the Emperor In this a Trith 280. Councell the Emperor deposeth the Pope as an heretike and schismatike and b Par. Vrs 354 setteth vp his appeale against the Pope c Geneb 1015. The Pope reuoked his heresie by the authoritie of the faculty of Paris He d Volat. 21. instituted a new order of Knights in Portugall of Iesus Christ and granted them the Templars goods that they might be ready to resist the irruptions of the Saracens that were next their colours were Sables a crosse gewles In the same countrie c. were the Knights of Alcantara with a greene crosse He e Extr. Con. l. 1. Supra gentes excommunicated ipso facto those that hindered the Popes Legats and messengers from being entertained and interdicted their land as long as they should stand contumacious f Trith p. 284. When he died he left an inestimable summe of gold behind him in the treasuries Anno 1335. Benedictus the twelfth g Par. Vrs 354. Geneb p. 1025. though he desired to absolue the Emperor yet for feare of the French King confirmed the censure of his predecessor * Par. Vrsp p. 355. The Emperor reiecteth the acts of Iohn the twentith two against him looking to the Canon Imperator where is required that neither the Emperor shall vsurpe the rights of the Pope nor the Pope of the Emperor and that the Emperor hath not his Empire of the Pope but of God At Franckeford in an assemblie of Princes was decreed that if the Emperor be good and Catholicke c. and that the Pope refuse to crowne him he may be consecrated by any other Catholike Bishop c. h Mass 8.447 He sent his Orator to Rome who perswaded them to administer the dignity of the senate in the name of the Church and not in the name of the King or Emperor as they had done of long How was then Rome the Popes He i Geneb p. 1027. caused the King of Hungary to restore the kingdome of Naples to Ioane from whom he had taken it because she had strangled her husband the Kings brother In reward of which restitution she gaue the city Auinion to the Pope for euer He k 1026. published a decree against this heresie of Iohn his predecessor determining against his opinion l Extr. Con. 5. de haeres c. 1. This Pope made the inquisitors the receiuers of heretikes goods and rents and to be accountable to none but the Pope * Par. Vrs 354. Dulcinus and Durandus are held to bee heretikes m Fox Marty Hagar imprisoned for preaching against the Masse Iohannes de Rupe scissa imprisoned for writing and preaching Rome was Babylon and the Cardinals were false prophets n Geneb pag. 116. Occam writeth
against the Pope o Trith p. 286. There was very great pestilence which destroyed many thousands after which followed a famine to liue was a misery and to die a very great horror p Reuel 11.6 These haue power to shut heauen in the dayes of their prophecie c. and to strike the earth with all manner of plagues Clement the sixth q Trith 288. preached the crosse against the Turkes Anno 1342. promising to them that put mony into the chestes set in Churches to that purpose not onely remission of sinnes but also licence to eate egges and milkemeates in forbidden times out of Lent Henricus the Archbishop of Mogunce neither payed mony nor regarded the pardons The a Par. Vrsp p. 355. Pope in fauour of the French King excommunicateth Ludouicus the Emperour He also b Trith 289. excommunicated Henricus the Archbishop of Mogunce for not appearing before him deposed him and placed Gertacus who gat not the possession till Henricus was dead Henricus despiseth the Pope and cleaueth to the Emperour The c Par. Vrs 355. 356. Emperour by letters blameth the French King for his trouble requireth him to procure his absolution a filthy forme of articles is conceiued which is interpreted to be deuised to the destruction of the Empire The pope cruelly declaimeth against the Emperor reuiueth the processe of Iohn the twentith two against him declareth him an heretike and schismatike because he said it is in the Emperor to depose and institute the pope c. and writeth to the Electors to chuse Carolus the fourth Here Queene mony ruled all Hereupon the Empire is diuided much trouble ariseth the fauorites of Ludouicus are buried in fields out of Church-yardes d Fox Marty p. 394. 39â— Georgius Ariminensis held papists worse then Pelagians Tanlerus preached against distinction of meates and inuocation of Saints Gerardus Rhidden wrote against the Friers e Sonet 106. 107. 108. Annota in 107. Petrarch calleth Rome proud Babylon and whore and the Pope the Soldan of Babylon The f Extr. Con. 5. de pen. ner Vnigeniti Pope reduced the Iubile to fiftie yeeres promising plenary remission and g Fox Marty commaundeth the Angels to cary the soules of such pilgrimes as died by the way presently to paradise like Mahomets Martyres c. h Mass 18. p. 248. Trith p. 291. Howbeit at this time for three yere together from India to Britany there was so feareful a pestilence that in diuers places were horrible desolations In Auinion the popes seate in a manner all died There was also the plague of bloudy flixes and such inflammations as consumed the flesh to the bones not onely of liuing bodies but dead carcasses for the earth is smitten with plagues in the dayes of their prophecie i Curio The Turkes winne the noble city of Prusia Anno 1352. Innocent the sixth a Trith 293. crowned Carolus the fourth who after many troubles with much b Par. Vrsp 360. c. bribery had brought the Empire to his owne hand The Pope at c Fox Marty Auinion put two Friers to death one of them held Rome to be the whore of Babylon In his time was published the ploughmans complaint against the Pope and his Clergie d Geneb pag. 1034. Bartholdus de Baruch a begging Frier was burned at Spires Before this Pope e Ipse in defen curat Richard Archbishop of Armach in Ireland perswaded learnedly and zealously against the Friers prouing that by the abuse of their priuiledges they were hurtfull to them who were confessed to the Curates Clergie Christian people and to the Friers themselues That they were the ouerthrow of all learning and artes the decay of students and by ingrossing into their libraries bred such a want of bookes that there was not a Bible nor any good diuinity bookes to be had for mony It seemeth in these times that the question was a Specul Mino. Tract 3. f. 135. b. whether the Popes dispensations could stablish the conscience against Scripture and law The Popes would haue it receiued for good that his power was aboue all but godly men thought otherwise of his superstition withstoode that doctrine as De Poliaco had done and this Armachanus now did b Trith 297. Par. Vrsp There was a great pestilence of which many thousands perished and strange earthquakes c. Vrbanus the fifth c Geneb 1017 confirmed the order of Bridget d Pantalcon Anno 1363. which was that Friers and Nunnes should dwell together vnder a roofe onely parted with a wall Thus e cap. 13.5.7 c. is the beast furnished with strong and seuere lawes to warre with the Saints and to ouercome them And here viz. Anno 1364. f Dan. 12.11 are finished those 1290. dayes that is yeeres which Daniel doth reckon from the time that the daily sacrifice was taken away by the Romans at the destruction of Ierusalem Ann. 74. during which time by the Gentiles Arians Gothes Turkes and Popes abhominable desolation was set vp CHAP. X. Of the first resurrection and the warres which followed hereupon with their successe MIserable are now the times by reason of the grosse ignorance and superstition which preuailed For by the tyrannie of the Popes all men were seduced or terrified from the study and profession of true godlinesse And the wickednes of the Friers by purloyning in a manner all good bookes which now were but manuscripts and teaching nothing but fables had made it generally suspected that Antichrist would take this opportunitie to obliterate the Scriptures and obtrude vnto the world any such forged diuinitie which might best serue to further his ambition In the time of this palpable darkenes worse then euer was any in Egypt when as the truth lay as dead and buried for euer the Lord in mercy doth raise it from death to life And this doth cause a Dan. 12.2 such as turne others vnto righteousnes to shine as the starres in the firmament The summe of that which followeth is that b cap. 11.7 when they the witnesses haue finished their testimony the beast that commeth out of the bottomlesse pit with his hornes the Kings maketh warre against them Of this warre we are to consider the enemies their manner of fight and the successe The enemies are the two witnesses a cap. 19.13 vnder their captaine yet in the wildernes in this chapter and in the blessed time separated from Antichrist in the next chapter and b 19. the beast with his Kings The captaine of these witnesses is mighty to enable them to finish their testimony That the witnesses may the better finish and perfect their testimony Saint Iohn doth say And c 11. I saw heauen open that is an expectation of all good men which belong to the kingdome of heauen what will be the end of those cruell lawes and bloudy executions That which befell was this An d
amongst the Popes there beeing sometimes three at once and euery one raging against the other with cursings c. to the great griefe perplexitie and destruction of Christian men a See Fox Martyr It was also a time of great persecution of the Gospel whose professors were many learned godly and constant b Peuc 5. f. 155. c. In the yeare 1400. was proclaimed a Iubile to bee held at Rome Against which Hus did teach that the true Iubile was in preaching of Iesus Christ that the Pope and Cardinals bee not the Church the institution of Christ is to bee kept there ought not to bee any worshipping of Saints the Popes decrees are not to be admitted c. At this time was an extreame famine in Italie c Epit. Blond And thus the first resurrection appeareth CHAP XI The warres begunne at the first resurrection are continued c. And the resurrection is more manifest NOw is come that blessed time which the Prophet d Dan. 12.12 Daniel spoke of namely 1335. daies that is yeres after the destruction of Ierusalem which was in the yeare of Christ 74. At which time is a more cleare demonstration of the first resurrection For here also doe ende those e cap. 12.6 1260. daies that is yeares to be reckoned from the tenth yeare of Antonius Pius which was in the yeare of Christ 149. when the woman the Church fled into the wildernesse after shee had brought forth many contagious professors as a man childe During which time shee remained confusedly amongst the wicked as in a wildernesse full of Dragons and Ostriches But now f Dan. 12.2 many that were as sleeping and dead in the dust doe rise vp to euerlasting life and their cause doth come abroad by the reuiuing of the Gospel Here therefore is continued the first resurrection and the warre betweene the word of God and the hostes in heauen that followed him against the beast and the kings of the earth And here is that blessed time in which the witnesses doe separate themselues from the kingdome of Antichrist The meanes by which they separate themselues from Antichrist the beast is said to be that those of the spirit of Saint Iohn g cap. 18 4. heard a voyce from heauen to wit from the Church of God in the persons of his witnesses who had learned the doctrine of saluation of the God of heauen out of his word and also had spread it abroade in the world The doctrine is a commaundement from God the same which was giuen to the a Isai 48.20 Ier. 51.6 Zach. 2.6 Isralites that were in the captiuitie of Babylon Goe b cap. 18.4 out of her my people that ye be not partakers of her sinnes and that ye receiue not of her plagues For now the people of God doe see that she that tooke vpon her to forgiue others their sinnes is not able herselfe to escape the damnation of hel nor those other plagues which euery man foresaw would light vpon her for her owne sinnes The cause why men should flie from her is for c cap. 18.5 that the heapes of her sinnes doe reach vp to heauen being infinit and prodigious euen fighting against the God of heauen and ascending like the sins of Sodom and Egypt As also because that God hath remembred her iniquities to take vengeance of them as he did of Sodom and Egypt For these two witnesses are Gods d Gen. 18.21 19.5 Exod. 2.7 messengers to make experience whether the sins of Antichrist be as it is reported and henceforth principally detect her sinnes and reproue them The plagues are first proclaimed and then required to be executed And this Proclamation is made as by the third e cap. 14.9 c. Angel which followed them that before first reuiued the preaching of the eternall Gospel and threatned the fall of Babylon He mightily bringeth in the doctrine of vengeance to be inflicted vpon Antichrist as if he said with a loud voyce If any man worship the beast of hereticall monarches and his image the papacie and receiue his marke in his forehead or in his hand following those superstitions henceforth the same shall drinke of the wine of the wrath of God yea of the pure wine which is powred into the cup of his wrath and he shall be tormented in fire and brimstone before the holy Angels and before the Lambe And the smoke of their torment shall ascend euermore and they shall haue no rest night or day that worship the beast and his image and whosoeuer receiueth the print of his name Here f 12. cap. 13.10 are the fruites of the patients of the Saints and here ar they that keepe the commaundements of God and the faith of Iesus the executioners of the fiercenes of the wrath of almighty God That which is required to be executed is that the Saints who hitherto haue been persecuted should take the sworde in hand and â—ap 18.6 reward her to wit popish Babylon as she hath rewarded them and giue her double according to her workes in the cup that she hath filled fill her the double For now beginneth the execution of that which is promised a cap. 13.10 If any leade into captiuitie he shall goe into captiuitie If any man kill with the sword he must be killed by a sword She must also be tormented for her pleasures and pride b cap. 18.7 For she saith in her heart I sit being a Queene of all other Churches and shall see no mourning the ship of Peter in which I sit may be tossed but it shall not sinke As these things are threatned so c 8. shall in due time her plagues come in one day together death sorrow and famine and she shall be burnt with fire for that God which condemneth her is a strong God During the time of which executions if any died in the cause against Antichrist they are Martyrs as it is said of all men in the Church of God d cap. 14.13 Then I heard a voyce from heauen saying vnto me write the dead that die in the Lord are henceforth fully blessed euen so saith the spirit whose testimonie is true and no lie for they rest from their labours neuer feeling the terror of the second death or purgatory by the execration of Antichrist And their workes follow them to receiue a crowne at the throne of God This testimonie beeing thus finished and continually preached by the two witnesses and of many beleeued c cap. 11.7 The beast that commeth out of the bottomlesse pit maketh warre against them and ouercommeth them for a while The beast that commeth out of the bottomlesse pit is as hath been shewed before the politike body of poperie consisting of the Pope and his Clergie assisted with those tenne kingdomes and principalities which did arise after the wounding of the Empire to death All which grew to be an vnited body by the doctrine of
is called Egypt c cap. 15.3 sing the like song as was that of Moses the seruant of God when he was past the red sea And they sing also the song in praise of the Lambe Iesus Christ who had deliuered them from the beast of vnsatiable rapine c. The argument of the song was in effect Great and merueilous are thy workes d cap. 15.4 Lord God almightie iust and true are thy waies king of sainctes Who shall not feare thee O Lorde and not men and glorifie thy name with the contempt of men For thou onely art holy and the worlde by the kingdome of Antichrist is filthie and corrupted And also how euer yet Antichrist doe lift vp himselfe and doe fight to maintaine his kingdome yet all nations shall forsake Antichrist and come and worship before him that is God almightie by the conuersion of all Princes to the Gospell For proofe whereof his iudgements are made manifest to all that are not wilfully blind and all godly men doe see what in the end shall come to passe a cap. 15.5 cap. 11.19 After this zeale is found in the people of God the temple of God euen the temple of the tabernacle of the testimonie was opened in heauen For as yet the b Mat. 21.12 Act. 3.1 temple called the porch or vtter court is for the most part troden vnder foote by the Gentiles The tabernacle of the testimonie being opened c cap. 11.19 there was seene in the temple the arke of the couenant of grace the doctrine of iustification beeing clearely taught other points beeing yet in question among many of the Saints And hereupon arise great emotions of lightening and voices and thunders and earthquakes and much haile by excommunications and alterations c. The complement In d Fox Mart. p. 695. 696. 697. the last yeare of Calistus when foure mightie princes were dead vz. Wenceslaus Sigismundus Albertus Ladislaus who with the assistance of all the Popes in their times had attempted with all their mights to extinguish the religion planted by Hus in Boemia the Lord by the constancie of the Hussites continued the religion For when Ladislaus the great enemie of the Gospel was dead as he was prouiding for his marriage and for a strong confederacie and assistance against the Hâ—ssites e Bucholcerus Georgius Podiebrachius succeeded him in the kingdome who did openly fauour the cause and publikely professed the religion of Hus and so the kingdomes are Christs c. Pius the second f Volat. 22. his ambition defiled all his vertues Ann. 1418. g Par. Vrsp p. 416. 417. 418. c. He sent vnto Germanie to extort the Annates or first fruits condemned in the Councel at Basil Him Diatharius the Archbishop of Mogunce withstood for the exactions which hee robbed the countrie by vnder pretext of warre against the Turkes Wherefore the thundring Pope depriued him The causes of his depriuation were these 1. He would not consent to the exaction of a tenth twentith thirtith 2. He would not be sworne to the Pope not to conuent the Princes Electors for the affaires of the empire without the Popes leaue 3. He suffered not the Popes Legates at their pleasure to conuent the Clergie The Pope excommunicated him who writeth to the Princes of Germanie against the Pope to discharge Germanie of these exactions to appeale to a Councel Some of the Princes ioyne with him and write sharpely to the Pope requiring the release of these exactions for shee is fallen because her marchants were rich and complaining of the grieuance offered to the Archbishop shee is fallen for making all nations drinke of the wine of the wrath of her fornication Par. Vrs p. 418 The Pope persecuteth the Archbishop also for aduancing the Empire and depressing the Papacie and because to speake truth against the Pope is contrarie to the oath of Bishops a Supra 3. Thunder Crantz Met. 7. required by Alexander the third Hereupon b Pencer 5. f. 225. c. arise warres or earthquakes But the Princes despised the ratles of the Popes excommunications and preuaile in the warre The Pope excommunicateth and accurseth the Archbishop and his complices forbidding any to bring them victuals or armes Againe the Archbishop and his friends forbidde the Papists letters and processes vnder paine of their heades Revvarde as shee hath rewarded you c Par. Vrsp p. 419. c. Iohannes de Wessalia lifteth vp his voice preacheth against the ciuill authoritie of the Prelates and teacheth the scripture which hath a name that none doth know but it selfe must be interpreted by scripture Hee was also against indulgences the glosse c. d Buchol anno 1460. Par. Vrsp 407. c. The Pope also excommunicated Gregorius Heimberge doctor of the lawes Against whom this Gregorius did oppose a vehement writing in which he equalleth the rest of the Apostles to Peter and prooueth the Pope to be subiect to the Councels c. c Chro. Chro. He also excommunicated Georgius Podiebrachius and all Boem but in vaine f Par. Vrs p. 411. 412. c. Fridericus the third Emperour was besieged but releeued by Podiebrachius This Pope held many things which he left in writing as marriage was to be restored to Priests with more reason than it was taken away He said the striuers were birdes the Court the fielde the Iudges were nets the Proctors be fowlers c. g Fasc Temp. f. 89. b. At this time was a great reformation of Monasteries And note that often such reformations are read of but none continued for in time they returned to their old corruptions h Hunnius labor Illiric claui Scriptura Cusanus a learned Cardinal a thing as rare as a blacke Swan liued in this time but held horrible blasphemies of the scriptures vz. that the sense of them is changeable as please the times c. For the beast and his hoste maketh warre against the word of God that sit on the horse Paulus the second i Volat. 22. something like Licinius the tyrant Anno 1468. neither learned nor well conditioned Hee held a Platina it learning enough to write and read and affirmed that himselfe had all lawes in the cabinet of his own breast and that at his pleasure he might approoue and abolish the actes of others In b Geneb Caranza his time all offices and Ecclesiasticall preferments were sold to them that would giue most and all things were disposed to them that would make money of them he deuised many of the Cardinals ornaments and by name c Polyd. inuent 4. 6. their scarlet robes for this beast is scarlet coloured d Volat. 22. He opened a gap to all vice as The mother of whoredomes and abhominations of the earth For e Peuc 5. p. 227. b. he was most notoriously infamous and exeble for most filthie sodomie of male stewes and diuellish artes or sorcerie
whom afterwards the diuell killed in the arte of sodomie wringing his necke behind him f Moris papat He permitted the Cardinals to haue harlots g Platina in Greg. 4. Of this time Platina speaking of the lawe which Ludouicus the Emperour made to restraine the pride of the Clergie crieth out I would O Ludouicus thou didst liue in our daies For now the Church doth stand in neede of thy most holy censures The Ecclesiasticall order is giuen ouer to riot and luxurie like a harlot that thou mightest behold not onely men but horses and beasts in their scarlet and princely robes with which the harlot is arraied When they goe there waite before them great troupes of young men and of the Clergie Not on asses as Christ the author of our religion did ride who was the onely example of well liuing in the world but on great horses in their caparisons as if they triumphed ouer some enemies lately ouercome c. h In Ioan. 16. He further of this time faith that this pestilent custome was then that Priests desired the papacie c. not for religion but to fill the greedines of their sonnes nephewes and familiars c. i Poly. 8.1 Pardon 's also in this time were very rife k Geneb This Pope opened his mouth to blasphemie and condemned Georgius Podiebrachius king of Boemia for an hereticke and l cap. 13.7 as if power were giuen him ouer euery nation gaue his kingdome to Mathias king of Hungarie m Lanquet Fox But Mathias in seauen yeares warres could not put him out for his feete were as pillars of fire n Geneb p. 1080 The Turkes destroyed two Empires tooke from the Christians twelue kingdomes and 200. cities for fornication sorcerie c. of the remnant o Volat. 21. The order of the souldiers called the Minimes Iesus Maria began Anno 1471. Sixtus the fourth p Volat. 22. a man rather borne for the warres than for religion q Fox Mart. p. 701. For he stirred vp many warres and when he heard that the Princes made peace he died for sorrow He as the common baude or mother of fornications c erected stewes in Rome of double abhomination both males and females and kept multitudes of harlots for his friends and followers a Moris Pap. And as Caligula laid a tribute vpon harlots the common harlots paid to him in the yeare about 40,000 ducates b Strab. lib. 7. Geog. This coÌ„munity of women did the Church of Rome learne either of Plato the heathen Philosopher or else of the Scythians and Gothes where Plato had his example He c Ext. com de poeni remis c. 4. reduced the yeare of Iubile to 25. yeares and d ibid. cap. 1. ordained the feast of the conception of the virgin Marie giuing large indulgences to all those which should be deuoutly present at the solemnitie and yet e N.D. Warn-word the Doctors agree not among themselues whether the virgin Mary were conceiued without sinne vpon which ground the feast was instituted by the Pope f Fox He brought the vse of beades into prayer g Geneb pag. 1084. 1088. In his time the Spanish King expelleth the Mâ—â—es and Iewes out of Spaine and instituteth the Spanish inquisition whereunto he also subiecteth himselfe Of the cruell proceedings of the inquisition against the godly see h Fox p. 9â—â— Fox and other bookes of the Spanish inquisition c. For by this kinde of crueltie the woman is drunken with the bloud of the Saints Innocentius the eight i Volat 22. f. 160. b. of a slow wit Anno 1484. and farre from learning as Licinius the tyrant He first of any Pope brought in a new example of making ostentation of his bastards and violating all antient discipline he heaped riches vpon them He fawned on all but was friendly to none and passed his inbred couetousnes with iests and scoffes He as k 2. Tim. 3.4 a louer of pleasure more then of God l Crantz Met. 12. 1. p. 814. adorned the papacy with a pallace and strongly beautified the house of Solace called Bell-vedere He m Volat. 21. f 244. annexed the Knights of the order of Saint Sepulchre to the Knights of Saint Iohn with a red and double crosse n Geneb pag. 1089. 1087. The Turkes abolished the gouernment of the Paleologi and Venetians in Pelopâ—nesus Lesbos Eubuâ— and Lemnos The Spaniards finde the land of Guinnea and many other Iles. o Mass 20.268 Iohannes Langlois at Paris strooke the host and wine out of the Priests hand and stamped on them denying any reall presence to be in the Sacrament for which he was burned The diuels possessed the Monastery of the Nunnes Quersetensium in a most strange manner a See Fox Mâ—r. Very many Martyres suffer About this time died Laurentius Medicis Duke of Florence b Eucholcerus Anno 1492. who in Italy much holpe to restore tongues and arts from whence they spread into Germany By this instauration of learning the whole world in a manner began to be renewed as with a first resurrection and to be encreased and enriched with this kinde of wealth The Boemian Hussites in token that their glassie sea was mingled with fire doe rise and endanger Mathias the King their enemie and persecutor enforcing him to flie they kill the Senate and pull downe Monasteries Thus Kings begin to receiue the Gospell by whom d cap. 11.15.28.19 15.8 the kingdomes of this world are the Lords and his Christs And thus the temple the profession of the Gospell against Antichrist is open in heauen the Church notwithstanding the Gentiles the Papists be angrie CHAP. XIII Of the seuen last plagues by which the wrath of God is fulfilled vpon the inhabitants of the earth SO mightily hath the power of God appeared as that he hath kept the temple open and continued the preaching of the Gospell notwithstanding all oppositions of enemies And now that his iudgements might be made manifest according to the word of God he sendeth out his plagues to the a 2. Thes 2. consuming of the man of sinne in this third woe In the prophecie of powring out of b cap. 15.1 the plagues by which is fulfilled the wrath of God first is declared how they are prepared and secondly how they are executed Concerning the preparation it is said that the persons who are prouided to execute them are c 6. the seuen Angels the instruments of these punishments being mightie more then humane The place whence they came is out of the temple d Psal 76.23.8.9 whence the Lord doth send his blessings and plagues They are e cap. 15.6 clothed in pure and bright linnen in token of their a cap. 19.8 most righteous and holy proceedings And lastly they haue b cap. 15.6 their breasts girded with golden girdles to signifie their c Luk. 12.35
the throne of the beast his kingdome and absolute commandement waxed obscure For the Princes deferre the cause of Luther to a generall Councell and propose an hundred grieuances which Germany did suffer by the Sea of Rome and their Ecclesiasticall persons requiring to bee eased in these things The h Buchol anno 1523. Pope appointed his Legate freely to confesse before the States of the Empire in this manner i Paral Vrsp 459. We know that in this holy seate now some certaine yeares there haue beene many abominable things abuse in matters diuine superfluities of traditions and that at last all things haue fallen to bee worse Neither is there any maruaile that infirmitie is deriued from the head to the members from the Popes to inferiour prelates We all that is prelates and Ecclesiasticall persons haue declined euery man into his owne waies nor now of long was there any that did any good a Bucholcerus He was also very liberall in promising the Princes that things should be amended The better to bring the Pope to make conscience to reforme with speed b Iouius lib. 21. p. 19. Par. Vrsp p 460. there arose a great plague in Rome in which their died an hundred thousand many corpes were seene in the streetes it seemed the citie would haue beene wasted in fewe daies But they were so farre from repenting to giue God the glorie that by the fauour of the people a Greeke one Demetrius a Magician vndertooke for 4000. ducates to staie the pestilence whereby they blasphemed the God of heauen for their paines For he by inchantment tamed a wilde bull causing the bull to digge a well promising that whosoeuer dranke of that water should be free from the pestilence Then cut he off halfe one of his hornes and with a smal thread tied about the other horne of the bull lead him at his pleasure and to the blasphemie of the name of God sacrificed him at the Amphitheatre to pacifie the God of the pestilence Also c Lanquet Millaine was afflicted with such a pestilence that it consumed 50,000 in fower moneths d Geneb p. 1114. Christiernus king of Denmarke defecteth from the Church of Rome for the kingdomes are the Lords e Fox Mart. 1523. Bucholc The Duke of Saxonie by the aduice of the Students of Wittenberge abrogateth the masse Zuinglius writeth to the whole nation of the Heluetians not to hinder the course of the Gospel f Jouius lib. 21 The Turke taking aduantage of the dissention that was among the Christian Princes which by reason of the second and third Phiall were great and bloodie besiegeth Rhodes with 200,000 souldiers The Pope diuerted those aides which came from Spaine to relieue Rhodes and sent them to Gallia Cisalpina to relieue the Emperour and so was Rhodes lost by the madnesse of our Princes a cap. 18.24 that in her might be found all the blood that was shedde b Fox Mart. The duke of Austriche setteth forth a sharpe proclamation against Luther and such as did not obey the Church of Rome For c cap. 19.19 the beast and kings make warre against the word of God d Par. Vrs p. 460. Buchol Adrian the sixth dieth not without suspition of poyson Amongst his most secret papers were found the bookes of the inchanter which vndertooke to preserue the city from the plague whereby it was suspected that the Pope came in with the mightie working of Sathan c Bâ—cholcer When the Monkes had read Luthers bookes of Vowes they dissolued their vowes and went out of their Monasteries So in many places the monasteries in a short time were left emptie and reduced to a wildernesse and cage of euery vncleane bird and other vses The Nunnes laid aside their latine Psalter and put off their habite began to leaue their cloysters to marrie and keepe house Two Monkes were burned at Bruxels for Luthers opinions Erasmus disliked this kind of proceeding Luther esteemed them as martyrs Ann. 1523. Clement the seauenth f Lanquet ann 1524. sent his Legate Campegius to the Princes assembled at Norimberge requiring them to punish the Lutherans and not to be discontented that the money which was paid out of Germanie was not bestowed against the Turkes as was promised The Princes required answer of their requests made to the Pope which were to ease them of the grieuances which they sustained by the Pope and the Clergie the Legate answered that the Pope esteemed them as hereticall and therefore not to be granted for they repent not The Indians confederate against the Portugals g Fox Mart. alii The Senate at Zurike when the Papists had refused disputations abandoned mens traditions proclaimed the Gospel of Christ to bee purely taught out of the old and newe Testament Against their Bishops minde they pulled downe images and that all fowles might be fedde with their flesh disposed of the lands of the Clergie banished the Masse The like was done in Tigurine h Geneb p. 1123. The Ethiopianâ— offer obedience to the Pope and to follow the beast i Lanquet Sharpe warres betweene England and Scotland The Bishop of Argentine summoneth the Priests before him but the Councel of the citie withstood him not suffering him to exercise iurisdiction ouer them So that the kingdome of the beast is darkened The Emperour goeth in his own person to fight against the French king a Par. Vrsp p. 460. Georgius the Marquesse of Brandenburge great master of Prussia receiueth the word of God b Geneb p. 1110 Guice Par. Vr. p. 460. The French king was taken prisoner by the Emperour whereupon the Emperour resolueth to make himselfe Monarch of Christendome c Gerardus The Turkes preuaile in Hungarie and besiege Vienna but are driuen from thence In d Peuc Par. Vr. Germanie the people affect libertie e Sleid. 6 f. 92 b. The Electors sonne of Saxonie vnto whom was espoused the Emperours youngest sister is married with the daughter of the Duke of Cliâ—ue For the Emperour departed from his promise confirmed by writings because of the change of religion and his Embassadours did openly say that Faith is not to be kept with heretickes f Geneb p. 1116. Millaine Ferrara England Venice all Lombardie g Par. Vrsp p. 472. and the Pope Clement doe make a league against the Emperour Charles the fifth But the next yeare after h Par. Vrsp p. 472. c. Guicc Iouius Rome is taken and sacked by the Emperours armie When the armie was at the siege of the citie and entring the Pope would not beleeue the newes trusting vpon his Apostolicall thunderbolt which he sent forth against the armie in these wordes We doe excommunicate Charles called the Duke of Burbon Generall of the armie with his whole armie consisting partly of Lutheranes and partly of Maranes calling the Germanes Lutheranes and the Spaniards Maranes But the armie entred and vsed
word of God and against his armie that followeth him e Lanquet f. 232. b. 233. a. But the seuenth of August at Mechlin the Emperors pallace was set on fire by lightning the plague of heate and by that meanes were burned 600. vessels of gunpowder which were prepared for these warres against the Protestants and with the same were burned 800. houses and 18,000 men women and children f Sleid. 17. Sleidan doth report it somewhat otherwise g Buchol Ann. 1547. Apr. 24. In these warres the Emperor tooke the Duke of Saxony prisoner and also the Duke of Brunswick Wherefore in the h Apr. 27. principall Church of Misna publike thankes were giuen The same day was the same Church by a phiall of the wrath of God consumed with fire from heauen Hermannus the Archbishop of Colen who had reformed his diocesse by the commandement of the Pope and Emperor was remoued from his place l Specul Traâ— p. 61. For he refusing the pleasures of sinne and following the Lambe was content to leade a priuate life rather then that his Churches should not be reformed m Geneb 1128 Edward the sixth King of England abolished the sixe articles which his father made against the Lutherans and abrogated the Masse n Fox alij and the Gospel was againe restored in England that the kingdome might be our Lords o Buchol Ann. 1548. The Emperor made a booke to reconcile the Papists and Protestants in some sorts intituled Interiâ—a which like the sixe articles of Henry the eight bread much trouble Hereupon arose a schisme amongst the Ministers of the Gospel called the warre for indifferent things by their deliberations whether and how the booke of Interim was to be receiued or refused Vergerius who had been the Popes Legate going about to confute the Protestants became a Protestant Iulius the third a p Fox Mart. p. 1477. monster for blasphemie Anno 1550. in a rage calling for porke he said he would haue it in despite of God and defended his like rage for a Peacocke by the example of God that was angry with Adam for eating the forbidden fruite a Geneb pag. 1134. 1137. In this time the warres were hot against the Protestants There came a Nestorian out of Syria c. to be admitted by the Pope The Nestorians are reported to ascribe to the Pope many high and great titles that they also might be knowen in some sort to follow the beast b Concil Trid. This Pope continued the Councell of Trent c Geneb 1136. 1552. Sleid. lib. 22. At this time also the Protestants contend very egarly about the question of Iustification for the arke of the couenant is seene d Buchol Ann. 1552. Mauritius Duke of Saxony made warre against the Emperor for religion and for the Landgraue in these warres the Councell of Trent was scattered peace giuen to the religion and the Princes are set at libertie which had been prisoners for the beast is taken and with him the false prophet Paulus the fourth c 1553. Geneb p. 1133. Queene Mary recalled papistry into England and a grieuous persecution was moued by her against such as professed the Gospel f 1555. Fox Marty There were also most strange and cruell persecutions and warres raised vp against the Waldenses in Angroine Lucerne Saint Martin Perouse and Piedmont And g Lanquet f. 367. in England was made an act for the punishing of such as they called heretikes and for the confirmation of the Popes power From this time to the end of her raigne were burned in a manner an infinit number of godly learned constant and faithfull martyres h Bucholcer In two yeeres about eight hundred men died by diuers kinds of punishment in England for the Gospell i Lanquet f. 377. a. In August the last yeere of this Queene after the dangerous feuers which began a yeere or two before was so great a pestilence through out England that three quarters of the people were consumed in it k Buchol Ann. 1557. At Wormes was a conference betweene the catholike Clergie and the Ministers of the Gospel In the beginning they disputed learnedly of the rule which the Church was to keepe cap. 13.15 in iudging of controuersies The Catholikes as they be called said the perpetuall consent of the time was the rule for the image of the beast is permitted to speake The Ministers affirmed the writings of the Prophets and Apostles with the Creedes to be the onely rule of iudgement For the word of God hath the crowne set vpon his head and iudgeth righteously l Ex Com. Gall. lib. 1. The same time in Salâ—e Iames streete in Paris 120. faithfull Christians following the word of God were assembled in the night for diuine exercise of preaching and Sacraments where being discouered they were by the beast and false prophets most cruelly persecuted here there were many warres for religion in France the faithfull standing vpon their garde m 155â— There raigned in England the most gracious mighty and most Christian Queene Elizabeth who abolished popery called home exiles gaue reward to the prophets reduced the feare of God and by her continuall opposition against the enemies of the Gospel declared her selfe the most sincere defender of the faith a Fox Mâ—â—t p. 911 a. One Mâ—lius a gray Frier interpreting and defending in Italy by Lecture and disputations the doctrine of Saint Paul to the Romans was answered by certaine Cardinals that it was true which he affirmed but the same was not meete for the present time because it could not bee taught nor published without the detriment of the Apostolike seate that had giuen it selfe to deceiue Pius the fourth b Geneb 1156. entring the Scots receaue the Gospell Anno 15â—â— c Hunij Labyriâ— Iâ—iriti Clauis Scriptura At this time were diuerse bookes in estimation amongst the Papists which were published against the authoritie of the scriptures As the writings of Cusanus that said that the scriptures are to bee fitted to the times and diuersly to bee vnderstood So that at one time it is to bee interpreted according as the vniuersall state of the time shall runne and when the rite of the time is chaunged the sense of the scripture is also changed for these men hold not that Gospell to bee eternall the commandeeÌ„nt Search the scriptures to iudge the time is turned into Search the time to iudge the scripture Ludouicus also maketh an oration to the Councell of Trente in which he affirmeth that the Pope the traditions customes and antient fathers of the Church haue authoritie aboue the scriptures or al that is called God Verrâ—â—â—i â—â—iteth to the Pope that the Pope and Councels are aboue the scriptures and blasphemeth that hee may determine without aboue and contrary to the scriptures * cap. 13.15 for the image of the beast must speake Peresius in the court