The accomplishment of the prophecies; or The third booke in defence of the Catholicke faith contained in the booke of the high & mighty King Iames. I. by the grace of God King of Great Brittaine and Ireland. Against the allegations of R. Bellarmine; and F.N. Coëffeteau & other doctors of the Romish church: by Peter Du Moulin minister of the word of God in the church of Paris. Translated into English by I. Heath, fellow of New College in Oxford.

THE PROPHECIE CON∣tained in the 13. Chapter of the Apocalyps. CHAP. 4. (Book 4)

1 And I saw a beast rising out of the sea having seaven heads and ten hornes, and vp∣on his hornes were ten crownes, and vpon his head the name of blasphemy.

2 And the beast which I saw was like a Leopard, and his feete like a beares, and his mouth as the mouth of a Lyon: and the dragō gaue him his power and his throne and great authority.

3 And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death, but his deadly wound was healed, and all the world wondered and follow¦ed the beast.

4 And they worshipped the dragō, which gaue power vnto the beast, and they wor∣shipped the beast, saying, who is he like vnto the beast? who is able to warre with him?

5 And there was given vnto him a mouth, that spake great things and blasphe∣mies, and power was given vnto him to do 42. moneths.

6 And he opened his mouth vnto blas∣phemie against God to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven.

7 And it was given to him to make warre with the Saints, & to overcome them, and power was given him over every kinred, and tongue, and nation.

8 Therefore al that dwel vpon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not writ∣ten in the booke of life of 〈…〉〈…〉, which

was slaine from the beginning of the world.

9 If any man haue an eare let him hear.

10 If any man lead into captivity, hee shall goe into captivity: If any man kill with a sword, he must be killed by a sword: here is the patience, and the faith of the Saints.

11 And I beheld another beast cōming vp out of the earth, which had two horns like the Lambe, but he spake like the Dragon.

12 And hee did all that the first beast could do before him, and he caused the earth and them which dwell therein, to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed.

13 And he did great wōders, so that he made fire to come downe from heaven on the earth, in the sight of men.

14 And he deceived them that dwel on the earth by the signes which were permitted him to do in the sight of the beast, saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make the image of the beast, which had the wound with a sword, and did liue.

15 And it was permitted vnto him to giue a spirite vnto the image of the beast, so that the image of the beast should speake, and should cause that as many as would not wor∣ship the image of the beast, should be killed.

16 And he made all both smal & great,

rich & poore, free & bond, to receiue a marke in their right hand, or in their foreheads.

17 And that no man might buy or sell, saue he that had the marke, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.

18 Here is wisdome. Let him that hath wit, count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man, and his number is six hundreth threescore and six.

The exposition of this Prophecy.

1 Then I saw the Roman Empire to raise it selfe vp from amongst the people and nations, hauing its seat in the towne which hath 7. hills, and which must be go∣verned with 7. kinds of principal govern∣ments, to wit, by kings, by Consuls, by mi∣litary Tribunes, by Decemvirs, by Dicta∣tours, by Emperours, and last of all by Popes. Which Empire is composed of 10. principall parts, which are so many king∣domes. And this cittie seated vpon 7. hills bore a wicked, and blasphemous name, to wit, Rome the Euerlasting.

2 And this Empire looked like a Leo∣pard, by reason of the speedy atchieue∣ments of its conquests. And held fast the

substance of the people as a beare, which keeps that which he hath gotten vnder his pawes, and devoured the nations as a Li∣on deuoureth his pray. And the divell (which is the * 1.1 Prince of this world, and which * 1.2 takes vpon him to dispose of king∣domes at his pleasure, gaue him his power and rule, and great glory.

3 And it came passe that one of these governments, to wit the 6, which is that of the Emperours, was ouerthrowne, then when (the Lombards hauing chased the Lieutenants of the Empire out of Italie) Rome did cease to be vnder subiection to the Emperours; wherefore to say truth, the Empyre did euen at that time leaue to bee the Roman Empire. But not long after this mortall blowe by which the Empyre of Rome was layed on the ground, this mo∣narchie began to grow vp afresh, and to reviue againe by the Roman Hierarchie, which did reerect a newe Monarchie at Rome, and raise vp the Empire that was fallen: And all the people submitted them∣selues vnder the gouernement of this Ro∣mish church,

4. And did serue Idols; which who so serue, doe serue the divell, the author and

aduancer of this Papall Hierarchie, & did attribute that vnto this Hierarchie which did appertaine vnto God, saying who is there that is like vnto this Empire, & who is able to resist it?

5 And God hath suffered this Empire to take proud and blasphemous titles,* 1.3 and it must endure 1260. yeares.

6 And this papall Hierarchie doth set it selfe to belch forth horrible blasphe∣mies against God, and to wrong his name and his Church, and his Saints.

7 Yea God hath suffered it to perse∣cute the faithfull, and to ouercome them, & power was giuen vnto it ouer infinite people, and tongues, and nations.

8 In so much that all men shall fall downe to worship it, whose names are not found in the booke of life of Iesus Christ which died for vs, written before the foū∣dations of the world were laid.

9 If any man haue an vnderstanding to conceaue this, let him conceaue it.

10 For they which persecute, shall be delt with after the same manner▪ whosoe∣ver leadeth the faithfull into captiuitie, shall himselfe at length be made a captiue; whosoeuer slayeth them shall bee slaine.

Herein appeareth the faith and patience of the Saints.

11 I saw also a Monarch of another name and fashion then the former Roman Emperours, to wit, the Pope, which wore a miter with two hornes vpon his head, & which seemed in outward shew to profess Christ, and his doctrine, but whose do∣ctrine indeed was diabolicall.

12 And he tooke all the power of the Roman Empire vpon him at Rome being the seate of the Empire: and exhorted all people to submit themselues to this Ro∣man Empire, which being destroyed by the Lombards in Italie, was brought to life againe, and reestablished by the Papa∣cy.

13 And this Pope wrought miracles; insomuch that he sent forth the thunder∣bolts and lightnings of his excommuni∣cations against Kings and their people: & caused S. Anthonies fire to come downe from heauen, and made it to thunder and lighten by a miracle.

14 And the people were seduced by the miracles which God gaue him power to effect, for to establish this Roman Papal 〈◊〉〈◊〉, commanding the people to make

vp the image of the ancient Roman Em∣pire againe; that is to say, to serue the Pa∣pall Empire with the same manner of obe∣dience as they did the old Roman Empire, which being demolished was built vp a∣gaine by the Papacy.

15 And God did suffer him to giue force and strength to this Papall Empire, which did resemble the ancient Empire, for the spirituall power that it did vsurpe gaue life & strength to its temporall pow∣er. Which Papall Empire being nothing but an imaginarie Empire, and which con∣sisteth only in opinion, neuertheles speaks proudly, and maketh such to be massacred, and burnt, as doe refuse to submit them∣selues to this imaginarie Empire.

16 And hee made all, both small and great, rich and poore, bond and free, to giue him their handes, and take an oath to be faithfull vnto him, and to bee markt by their actions. And their foreheads were marked with the marke of Confirmation, and they made profession of his religion, which profession of religion is often in the holy scripture, called by the name of a marke in the forehead.

17 And he tooke order that no man

might trafficke nor sell, nor buy, nor ex∣change benefices: nor bee suffered to pur∣chase an Archbishops Pall, nor haue a Li∣cence, nor any pa••t in the Church goods, no nor yet buy an estate, if hee had not the name, and profession of a Papist: and were not of the number of those which are mar¦ked with the figures or numbers of the letters of his name.

18 In which nūber they which think themselues the wisest may find some thing worth their search. Whosoever hath vn∣derstanding let him diligently calculate the summe, to which these greeke cyphers or numbers of the pope of Rome doe a∣mount, for it is an vsuall number amongst men, and therefore easie to be vnderstood. And this number to which the greeke let∣ters of his name do amoūt, is six hundreth sixtie six. For this word (Latin) (which is the ordinary name, by which the Greeke church doth cal those of the Romā church and their head) being written in Greeke and after calculated, makes vp iust 666. Which number also by an admirable oc∣currence, doth admonish you that 666. yeares after the revealing of this Prophe∣cy, this 2. beast, to wit, the Pope shall be∣gin

to heale the wound of the ancient Em∣pire, and place the Roman Empire againe in its former seat.

The proofe of this exposition.

BEfore wee goe about to proue this ex∣position, wee are to note fiue things.

1 That all the ancient, and our adver∣saries themselues doe vnderstand the Ro∣man Empire by the first beast, and Anti∣christ by the second.

2 That the holy Ghost in this pro∣phecy doth not speake according to cu∣stome, but according to the truth; and therefore holds him to be the Roman Em∣perour which raigneth at Rome, and not him which doth not rule there, howbeit he beare the title thereof.

3 That in the yeare of our Lord 752. the Lieutenancie of the Empire being de∣stroyed by Aistulphus king of the Lom∣bards, the Emperour of Constantinople did vtterly loose all his dominion ouer I∣taly, & the citie of Rome, so that he could neuer after recouer it: whence it followes that the Emperour of Constantinople, did at that time cease to be the Roman Empe∣rour.

4 That the holy Ghost in this Pro∣phecy makes the Hierarchicall Roman Empire, to be a continuation of the Romā Empire, as which did succeed in the rome, and vsurp the rights thereof, and makes but one Empire of them both, hauing chā∣ged the head, that is to say, the forme of governement.

5 That the holy Ghost in this prophe∣cy puts a difference betweene the Roman Hierarchie and the Pope. Seeing that the Pope is but one person at once: but the Hierarchie is the whole body of the Pre∣lates and Clergie, that doe vphold his au∣thoritie.

This being premised for the better o∣pening of the matter in hand, we will now come to proue, and demonstrate the seue∣rall parts thereof.

The first part of this Prophecie.

1. THen I saw a beast rising out of the sea, hauing seaven heades and tenne hornes, and vpon his hornes were tenne Crownes, and vpon his head the name of blas¦phemy.

The Exposition of this Prophecy.

1 THen I saw the Roman Empire to raise it selfe vp from amongst the people and nations, hauing its seate in the towne which hath 7 hills, and which must be gouerned with 7 kindes of maine go∣vernements, to wit, by kings, by Consuls, by militarie Tribunes, by Decemvirs, by Dictatours, by Emperours, and last of all by Popes. Which Empire is composed of 10. principall partes, which are so many kingdomes. And this citie seated vpon 7. hils bore a wicked and blasphemous name to wit, Rome the Everlasting.

The proofe of this Exposition.

By the sea, the people and nations are vnderstood; according to the exposition of the Angell in the 17. chap. and 15. verse of this booke. The waters which thou saw∣est, are people, and multitudes, and nations. A fashion of speech vsed by Daniell, in the 7. chap. and 3. verse; Where in steed of saying that he saw 4 great Empires rise vp from a∣mongst the nations, he saith that 4 great

beasts did rise vp out of the sea. So speakes Esay in his 8. chap. and 7. verse; and David in the Psalmes, 46. verse 4. and 65. verse. 8.

That by the 7. heads, 7. hils are vnder∣stood, vpon which the citty of Rome was situate, the Angell witnesseth in the 17. chap. of this booke, and 9. verse. The seaven heads are seavē mountaines whereon the wo∣man sitteth. Afterward he addeth in the 18. verse, That woman which thou sawest is the great citty which raigneth over the kings of the earth. This cannot be vnderstood of a∣ny other citty but of Rome, which in the time of S. Iohn raigned over realmes, and was the seate of the Empire, and there was no other citty at that time which had sea∣ven hils, wherfore also it is called in greek 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, Septicollis. And there was a so∣lemne feast, called Septimontium, in honor of the towne, as * 1.4 Varro witnesseth in his 5. booke of the Latin tongue. And * 1.5 Mar∣tial saith that hee coulde see the 7. hils of Rome from his house: and Propertius in the 10. elegie of his 3. booke,

Septe vrbs alta iugis toti quae prasidetorbi. Also our aduersaries themselues doe not deny but that this citty whereof S. Iohn speaketh is Rome: but they would haue it

to be heathnish Rome. We will shew in the 17. chapt. that S. Iohn did speake of Rome also after Paganisme was abolished: but in this chapt. it is sufficient for vs that by the 7. heads the 7. hils of Rome are vnderstood, taken in that sense as our adversaries would haue it.

By these 7. hils we do vnderstand 7. di∣vers successiue governments, which haue borne soveraigne rule ouer the citty of Rome: to wit, the Kings, whō the Consuls succeeded, whose forme of governement was interrupted 3 several times by the Mi∣litarie Tribunes which were endued with consular authority. Afterward by the De∣cemvirs; and by the Dictatous, at diuerse times, but most especially vnder the Dicta∣torship of Sylla, and Iulius Caesar. After whom Octavius Augustus established the Monarchicall state of Emperours, whose gouernement ouer Rome and Italie being interrupted by the Herules and Goths, ne∣verthelesse they made a shift a little after to recouer it againe: vntil the Lombards at last hauing destroyed the Empire in Italie, opened a way vnto the Pope to make him∣selfe Lord of Rome, & to build vp the Ro∣mane Monarchie to that heighth as we see

it is come to at this day. And this expositi∣on is not of our owne inuenting, but groū∣ded vpon the 17. of the Revelation the 10. verse, where he saith that the 7. heads are 7. kings (so doth-he call all soueraigne pow∣er) fiue of which were fallen, and the 6. was, & the 7. was not yet come. There is nothing so cleere and evident. For at the time when S. Iohn had this Revelation the 5. first of these 7. soueraigne gouernements were abolish∣ed, to wit, the kings, the Consuls, the Mili∣tarie Tribunes, the Decemvirs, and the Di∣ctatours, the sixth did flourish, to wit, the Emperours, and the 7. to wit, the Popes were not as yet come. I am not ignoraunt that euen then there were Consuls still re∣maining, and Militarie Tribunes, but they had no soueraignty. The Consulship was a place more of dignity, then any authority, and serued for nothing else but to distin∣guish the yeares in their Fasti. And the Mi∣litary Tribunes were but the Captaines of one Legion, which are at this day called the Colonels of a band. It is not therefore an interpretation of our owne inuention, when we say that these 7 heads doe signi∣fie 7. seueral formes of soueraigne gouern∣ment ruling Rome one after an other, and

not all at the same time: seeing that S. Iohn saith that 5. of these 7. heads were fallen, that one was, and that the 7. was not as yet come. This doubtlesse is an admirable ex∣position, and was suggested to his Maiesty of England by the spirit of God.

S. Iohn doth adde further, that this beast which is the Roman Empire had 10. dia∣demes, or crownes; the meaning is plaine: we vse to say that our King, besides the crowne of Fraunce hath also the crowne of Navarre: and that the kings of England & Spain, are kings of more crownes thē one, that is to say of more Realmes or Provin∣ces; The like is here to be vnderstood. The 10. crownes of the Roman Empire are 10. great Provinces & principall parts, where∣of the Empire did as then consist; Italie, Spaine, the Gaules, Germanie, Hungary and Bulgarie, Greece, Natolia or Asia minor, Syria and Assyria, Egypt, and Affricke. The Iles are dependances of the next continēt. And vnder euery one of these great partes are comprehended the next small provin∣ces which were kept in subiection by the same armies: as Dacia & Moldavia by the Legions appointed for Hungarie. If there were any other Provinces, as Armenia, &

Arabia, they were neuer held but weakly, and in part, and were often lost, and they are reckoned for dependences of Asia mi∣nor, and of Syria.

And although the Romane Emperour be here compared to a beast, yet this doth not deny but that there were some good Roman Emperours: and we may not think it strange that the holy Ghost doth repre∣sent this Empire vnto vs by a Beast, which was not only gouerned by Neroes, Domi∣tians, and Heliogabales: but by Theodosies also, & Valentinians, Christian and religi∣ous Princes. For Empires are called beasts in the Prophecy of Daniel, and in the A∣pocalyps, because of the manner by which they did first rise and increase, to wit, by vi∣olence and crueltie. For no man can deny that the Romans at first were nothing else but theeues, and common robbers, which heretofore hauing nothing but onely one walled towne, had no right ouer Italy lesse yet ouer Greece, ouer the Gaules, ouer Spaine, Africke, or Asia; but it is possible enough to gouerne that with order and e∣quitie, which was first laid hold on by in∣iustice.

It remains that we see what these names

of blasphemy are, which this citie and Em∣pire of Rome did beare. S. Hierome in the 11. question to Algasia, expounds this place thus. There is (saith S. Iohn in the Re∣velation,) a name of blasphemy written in the forehead of the queane clad in skarlet, & this name is, Rome The Everlasting. The same citie is likewise called Dea, Goddess, And so doth Iulius Frontinus cal her in his booke of water workes. The queene and Empresse of the world, which is the God∣desse of the earth, and all the nations. And Martial speaketh after the same manner, in the 8. Epigram of his 12 booke.

Terrarum Dea gentium{que} Roma Cui par est nihil & nihil secundum. Queene of the earth, Goddesse of this worlds round, Whose like or second may no where be found.

The Emperours also were not without * 1.6 blasphemous titles. For they were called Gods, not only after their death, but whilst they were liuing too: There were altars built in honor of them, They had sacrifice offered vnto them; The common fashion of swearing was to sweare by the Genius of the Emperour, their statues were places of refuge for offendours, as for ex∣ample,

to the servants of Iulius Sabinus, of whom for this fact there is mention made in the 8. chapt. of the 1. booke of Iustinians Institutioos. There offendours might rest more secure then in a Temple, as Philostratus saith in the life of Apollonius; and Tertullian in his Apologeticke oratiō against the heathen affirmeth that it was lesse danger, for a man to sweare falsely by Iupiter, then to periute himselfe by the name of the Prince. And Plinie the youn∣ger in the 97. Epistle of his 10. booke saith, that he made al such, as renounced christi∣anity, to kneele downe before the image of the Empeorur, and to offer incense and wine vnto him for sacrifice. Which impie∣tie beeing abolished by the Christian Em∣perours, yet neuerthelesse (that this pro∣phecie might be fulfilled, there were still some names of blasphemie abiding, for re∣taining of which they cannot be excused. In the yeare of our Lord 314. Petronius Arrianus, and Iulian being commaunded to look to the safety of many bishops that were returning into Affricke, & to defraie the charges of their iourney, writ thus to Domitius Celsus the Emperours Lieute∣nant in Affricke, Many bishops of Affricke

are cōe to the country of the Gauls by the hea∣venly commandement of our Lord Constan∣tine. And a little after; Following the com∣mandement of the Eternitie of that thrice gratious Prince, as Baronius doth relate it vpon the 314. yeare of our Lord. The selfe same title is giuen by Symmachus to Va∣lentinian, Theodosius, & Arcadius in the 54 Epistle of the tenth booke. Multa victoriae debet Aeternitas vestra, & adhuc plura de∣bebit. In the second Apologie of Athana∣sius, there is an Epistle of Colluthas, where∣in he saith, that the Godhead of Augustus had taken order for a Church to bee built in the village of Secontaururus with all speed possible, and commands them to fall about it as soone as ever they should receaue the Di∣vine letters patent. Ausonius speakes thus to the Emperour Theodosius in the begin∣ning of his Poems.

Nil dubites authore bono, mortalia quaerunt Consilium, certus iussa capesse Dei.

and a little after. Non tutum renuisse Deo. According to this manner of speaking did the Emperours vse to call their Instituti∣ons, Divine Institutions, and their Edicts, the Edicts of God. In the 1. booke of Iusti∣tinians Code, and 2. title, the Constituti∣ons

of the Emperours are called heavenly Oracles, and divine Sanctions; that is to say the word of God.

The second part of this Prophecy.

2 ANd the beast which I saw was like a Leopard, and his feet like a beares; & his mouth as the mouth of a Lyon; and the Dragon gaue him his power, and his throne, & great authoritie.

The Explication.

2 AND this Empire looked like a Leo∣pard, by reason of the speedy atchieue∣ments of its Conquests. And held fast the substance of the people as a Bear, which keeps that which he hath gotten vnder his pawes, and devoured the nations as a Lyon devou∣reth his pray. And the divell (which is the * 1.7 Prince of this world) and which * 1.8 takes vp∣on him to dispose of kingdomes at his plea∣sure, gaue him his power, and rule, and great 〈◊〉〈◊〉.

The proofe of this Exposition.

THis interpretation needeth not much proofe; euery man knowes the speedy atchieuements of the Romans conquests, especially after the 2 Punick war. Then (as Florus saith) the conquest of Macedon fol∣lowed that of Africke, then, that of Greece, & of Syria, & of all the rest in a huddle, car∣ried away by the vnresistable tide, & rushing torrent of Fortune. It is said of Pompey that he ouerran the world by his conquests in lesse time, then one could haue run it ouer a foot. And Caesar in the war against Phar∣naces doth boast, that hee no sooner came and saw him, but he ouer came him. Who∣soeuer shall but consider the exploits of this Empire, will thinke that more then twice the time was imployed about the performance of them.

As for the shedding of bloud, Plutarch in the life of Caesar reporteth, ••hat in the conquest but of the Gauls only which was 10 years a working, there were a milliō of men slaine. And Iosephus telleth vs that in the siege of Ierusalem vndertaken by Titus and Vespasian there died 11000000 men:

and yet neuerthelesse these Princes haue beene noted for examples of clemency. What might Marius and Sylla those blou∣dy minded men doe? and how much blood may we thinke, was shed in all the rest of Europe, Asia, and Africa? The Amphithea∣ter where the people were entertained to passe away the time, where murder was a common sport, where men went to see Li∣ons and Tigers teare men asunder, so to solace themselues, what else was this but a discipline of crueltie, and a means to ac∣custome the people to murder, & to drink in bloud at their eies by way of recrea∣tion?

As for the wealth of this Empire, it is an incredible thing: the riches of our Kings are but pouertie being compared to these. Some of the citizens that were enfran∣chised by the Emperors, haue not yeelded to kings in this respect, a great many ex∣amples whereof are found noted by Lipsi∣us in his last chap. and 2. booke of the greatnesse of the Roman Empire. Lucullus and Apicius did spend more at one supper, then a Prince does in a month. Caligula in one yeare did consume all that which the couetousnesse of Tiberius had scraped to∣gether,

which did amount to six hundreth and fiftie millions, and 4 hundreth fiftie foure thousand crownes, as it is summed vp by Hadrianus Iunius.

These great riches came vpon them by the robbing and pilling of the Provinces of the Empire, whereby they did sucke a∣way all their substance from the Provinci∣als, and spoiled thē of their goods as much in time of peace, as of warre.

—Referebant navibus altis Occulta spolia, & plures ex pace triumphos.

Read, to be informed in this, the life of An¦tonie in Plutarch. He levied two hundreth thousand talents out of Asia yearely, eve∣ry talent being worth 6 hundreth crowns. But this being not enough to content his greedy mind, he doubled the sum. Where∣vpon the people seeing themselues not a∣ble to hold out, sent Deputies vnto him, one amongst which told him. If thou wilt raise a double yearely Tax vpon vs, giue vs also double harvests, two summers & two au∣tumes in one yeare. Hence arose the great hatred against Publicans, which is often mentioned in the scripture, and witnessed by Cicero in the first Epistle to his brother Quintus.

Now albeit some of the Romans did excell in morall vertues, and that we take many examples of iustice, continency, cle∣mency, and sobrietie from them, especial∣ly before the time that Attalus bequea∣thed his mooueables and treasures to the people of Rome, yet so it is that all these did nothing but assist iniustice, and their vpright dealing was like that of theeues, which when they haue robbed a man will goe aad divide the pray equally. For what were the Romans, but common robbers, and forragers of all habitable countries? If they did sometimes mannage that with or∣der, or were liberall of that which they did take from others wrongfully, or if out of a theeuish mercy, they did suffer them to liue whom they might haue killed, I say that these vertues are no vertues; since they serue to vphold vices, and are imploi∣ed either to color iniustice, or to establish tyranny.

Finally, no man may thinke it strange that the holy Ghost saith, that the Diuell gaue this power to the Roman Empire. For howsoeuer Monarchies be of God, & the Roman Empire was established by his providence, for secret reasons reserued to

himselfe, yet it was not he that did vrge on the Roman to invade others countries, but Satan, to whome also they haue attributed all the glory of their victories, as Symma∣chus saith in his 54. Epist. where he brings in the citie of Rome speaking after this manner in favour of the heathenish super∣stition. This religious service hath brought the world vnder my lawes: these sacrifices haue driven Hannibal from my walles, and forced the Gaules to remoue their siege from the Capitoll. Whensoeuer a Captaine had slaine another Captaine of the aduerse ar∣mie with his owne hands, hee hung vp his armor to Iupiter Feretius. Because the army of the Romans as they were flying away did take courage againe & turne back vp∣on their enimies, therefore did Romulus e∣rect a temple to Iupiter Stator.* 1.9 Cicero re∣porteth that the Captaines of an hoast af∣ter a conquest obtained did vse to goe to Pessinunte, there to performe their vowes to the mother of the Gods. And we neuer read that they vndertooke any businesse of moment without consulting their Augurs and Soothsayers, and without obseruing the flying, the eating, the singing, the go∣ing of birds. To conclude, Plutarch in a

set tract of his brings in the Fortune of the Romans contesting with their vertue, wherein they dispute whether of the two did conferre more to the founding of this Empire, so that on whether of thē it light, God shall bee sure to goe without his ho∣nour.

The third part of this prophecie.

3 And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death, but his deadly wound was healed, & all the world wondered and follow∣ed the beast.

The Explication.

3 And it came to passe that one of these governments, to wit, the sixth, which is that of the Emperours, was overthrowne, then, whē the Lombards having chased the Lieue∣tenants of the Empire out of Italie, Rome did cease to be vnder subiectiō to the Emperours. Wherefore (to say truth) the Empire did evē at that time leaue to be the Romane Empire: But not long after that mortal blow by which the Empire of Rome was laid on the grounde, this Monarchie began to grow vp a fresh, &

to reviue againe by the Romane Hierarchie, which did reerect a new monarchie at Rome, and raise vp the Empire that was fallen, and all the people submitted themselues vnder the government of this Romish Church.

The Proofe.

THere is nothing more agreeable to the event then this interpretation. In the year 752. Aistulphus king of the Lombards destroyed the Exarchat of Ravenna, and put downe the Exarchs, which 200. whole yeares after Narses had beene the Empe∣rours Lieutenants in Italie. This is the deadly wound which the beasts did re∣ceaue. Now because Rome was a part of the Exarchat, Aistulphus did pretend that being Lord of the Exarchat, he was also to be Lord over Rome, and began to wast the territories of the Duchy of Rome. Ste∣phen the second was then Pope, who in this extremitie sought to his soveraigne Lord the Emperour for succour, to wit, to the Roman Emperour, but being not able to get any aide from him, because he was weake, and elsewhere occupied, the fore∣saide Pope had recourse to Pepin king of

Fraunce, which not long before had got to bee king by deposing Childericke his Master and lawfull Soveraihne. At his re∣quest Pepin came downe into Italie in the yeare of our Lord .754. And having com∣pelled Aistulphus to receiue conditions of peace, returned into Fraunce. But in the yeare following Aistulphus broke the a∣greement, & did forrage the Roman ter∣ritory againe: This drew Pepin the second time into Italie, where having overcome Aistulphus he took the Exarchat frō him, and bestowed it on the bishop of Rome, & made him Lord over Rome, and a great part of Italie, 666. yeares after the time that the Apocalyps was revealed to Saint Iohn. So the Popes became Princes by the inconsiderat liberality of our kings, & be∣gan even then, to shew their good wils to cut of Monarchs, to imitate their actions, and to encroach vpon the rightes of the Roman Empire. Hereby the Church of Rome became to bee Queene over other Churches, and in her Prelats and Hierar∣chicall orders did reerect the Empire that was fallen: tyrannising over the goods & consciences of men, vsing her temporall riches as a meanes to augment her spiri∣tuall

power, and to establish a Monarchie at Rome over the Church, bearing rule o∣ver the Temporaltie, and Spiritualty in Christian kingdomes; For how be it the successours of Charlemaine were and are as yet stiled the kings of the Romans, and that the Othons had a Regent at Rome, & handled the Popes as their subiectes, yet this did not last long: and the Pope foūd a meanes so to free himselfe from beeing vnder their dominion, that at length hee made them to be his vassals & bondmen, and to receiue their crown by his benefit, & vnder his permissiō, till it should please his Holynesse to take it from them, & be∣stow it on whom hee thought good: to to kisse his feet, to lay downe great sums of gold at his feete for tribute; and even then when the German Emperours did curbe the Popes, yet they did stil acknow¦ledge themselues subiect to the Church of Rome. This once obtained it is no mar∣vell if hee name himselfe a King and Mo∣narch, and call his Bishoprick an Empire, and so haue reestablished the Roman Em∣pire in its former seate, as Austin Steuchus the Popes library keeper saith,* 1.10 in his first booke of Constantines donation, in such

tearmes as may seeme to be made of pur∣pose for the vnfolding of this prophecy. After the destruction of the Roman Empire (saith hee) caused by the lewd liues of the Emperours, if God had not raised vp the Pa∣pacy, in which the Roman maiestie did re∣viue, it would haue hapned, that Rome be∣ing succoured by no man, had beene inhabi∣table, or made astinking oxe-stall or pigstie. But in the Pope there arose, if not the great∣nes of the Ancient Empire, at least a forme not much vnlike vnto that, whereby all na∣tions did heretofore obay the Emperours. And this is that which S. Iohn addeth, that all the earth went after the beast wondring. A little after the same Steu∣chus calleth the Papacie an Empire, and maiesticall Royalty: And so doth Lipsius speake of it, and others for∣merly cited, all which doe acknowledge, that the Popes are the true possessours of the Empire, and doe hold the place of the ancient Roman Emperours, that is to say, that they are Caesars successours more thē the Apostles. Now by these words of S. Iohn, to wit, that all the earth wondring at the healing of this wound went after the beast, it appears that the woūd which

the Empire did receaue by the Herules, Gothes, Vandals, was not the wound here spoken of: For the healing of this wound by Belisarius and Marses, drewe no peo∣ple or nations to the obedience of the Empire, no countrie moved with admi∣ration, did for this submit it selfe volun∣tarily. The fruit of this conquest over the Gothes was the establishment only of the Exarchat in a part of Italie. But the resto∣ring of the Roman Empire by the Roman Hierarchie drew infinit sorts of people to the obedience of this Empire; And wee may say that all the earth moued with ad∣miration, out of a voluntarie respect ran after the beast, which shall bee proved more fully yet by the 12. and 14. verse.

The 4. part of this Prophecie.

4 And they worshipped the dragon which gaue power vnto the beast, and they worshipped the beast, saying, who is like vn∣to the beast? who is able to warre with him?

The Explication.

4 And did serue Idols; which, who so

serue, doe serue the divell, the Author and advancer of this Papall Hierarchie; and did attribute that that vnto this Hierar∣chie which did appertaine vnto God, saying who is there that is like vnto this Empire, and who is able to resist it?

The proofe of this exposition.

This is a rare prediction, and such as giues light to this whole prophecie. For here the holy Ghost makes idolatrie to bee borne iust at the same time that the Roman Hierarchie did begin to possesse an earthly Empire, and to imitate the Ro∣man Empire that was decayed. Which was manifestly verified in this, that when the Roman Empire went to ruine in Italie then was the question about the worship of images most hot. To which worship the people of the East did not yeeld then, when the Popes first of all became Mo∣narches at Rome, but they were woon vn∣to it by little and little, after the imitatiō, and by the authority of the Church of Rome. The other kind of Idolatrie, to wit, the worshipping the bread of the Eucha∣rist, grounded vpon transubstantion, be∣gan

also to grow vp in the Church iust at the same time that the Pope grew to be a Prince and earthly Monarch; for we may see some small seeds of this in Damascene which liued in the 750 yeare of our Lord, and as this errour did increase by little & little, Bertram a Priest that liued in France vnder Charles the bald in the yeare 870. writ an excellent booke in confutation thereof, which is to bee seene at this day. And at the same time Iohn Erigen surna∣med the Scot a Monke of S. Benedicts or∣der wrot another booke against the selfe same errour. But the Bishops of Rome which had erected the service of images, did also establish the worship of bread: & condemned the writings of the said Scot, especially Leo the 9. in the yeare 1055 ha∣ving assembled a Councell at Rome, and another at Verseil in Piemont for the confirmation of this Idolatry, a∣gainst which many of the faithfull did oppose themselues, and amongst o∣thers Berenger Archdeacon of Angers, a man of great knowledge and holy con∣versation. At last truth was overborne by falsehoode, our kings lending a helping hand to the Pope. And that this prophecy

might be fulfilled in all points, looke how Idolatry did encrease, so did the greatnes of the Roman Hierarchie encrease; in so much that all did dread the power therof, thinking that none was able to resist it. As for the peoples worshipping of this Hierarchie, & giving it that which did ap¦pertaine vnto God, we will speake of this in the verse following.

The fift part of this Prophecie.

5 And there was given vnto him a mouth that spake great things, and blasphe∣mies; and power was given vnto him to doe 42 moneths.

6 And he opened his mouth vnto blas∣phemie against God to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven,

And it was given vnto him to make war with the Saints, & to overcome them, and power was given him over every kinred, & tongue, and nation.

8 Therefore all that dwell vpon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the booke of life of that Lambe which was slaine from the beginning of the

9 If any man haue an eare let him heare.

If any lead into captivitie he shall goe in∣to captivitie, if any man kill with a sword he must be killed by a sword: here is the pati∣ence and the faith of the Saints.

The Explication.

5 And God hath suffered this Hierar∣chie, and Roman Church, to assume prowde, and blasphemous titles, and it must endure 1260 yeares.

6 And this Papal Hierarchy doth set it selfe to belch forth horrible blasphemies against God, and to wrong his name, and his Church and his Saints.

7 Yea God hath suffered it to persecute the faithfull, and to overcome them, and po∣wer was given vnto it over infinit people, & tongues, and nations.

8 In so much that all mē shall fall down to worship it, whose names are not found in the booke of life of Iesus Christ that dyed for vs, which book was written before the foun∣dations of the world were laid.

9 If any man haue an vnderstāding to conceiue this let him conceiue it.

10 For they which persecute, shall bee dealt with after the same māner; whosoever leadeth the faithfull into captivity shall him selfe at length be made a captiue; whosoever slaieth shall be slaine: herein appeareth the faith and patience of the Saints.

The proofe.

The proofe of this exposition doth cō∣sist in 5. points.

1 To shew what blasphemous titles the Roman Hierarchie doth assume, and how she doth attribute that vnto her selfe which doth of right appertain vnto God.

2 How shee doth blaspheme against the Saints & against the Church of God.

3 To shew how she hath persecuted them and overcome them.

4 To speak of the time that she must last.

5 And of the obedience that the peo∣ple yeeld vnto her.

The first point is easie to prooue, whe∣ther you respect the heade of this Hierar∣chie, or else consider the whole body. The head is called God, the Divine Maiestie, the vniversall Bishop, the head & Spowse of the Church, the corner stone, the Lion of Iuda, and Saviour of Sion, the most ho∣ly

Father, and his Holynesse, and doth ar∣rogate many more such like prowd titles, as we haue formerly shewed by a great nū¦ber of examples. The body of this Hierar∣chie vnder the name of the Church doeth vsurp that which appertaines to God, say∣ing that the Church cannot erre, and that it is the supreame iudge in matters of re∣ligion: And that it is this church which giveth authority to the scripture, & is the only infallible Iudge of the interpretatiō thereof. They cal this Church the Romā-Catholick church, not in that sense as the Ancient did take Catholicke for Ortho∣dox, but by Catholicke they vnderstande vniuersall, exclusiuely to all other chur∣ches, as if there were no other church but the Roman. * 1.11 They say that this Church hath authority to make newe articles of faith, and to adde to the Creede: That she is the mother and mistresse of all other Christian Churches: So the French and Spanish Church are become the hande∣maides of the Roman, and if any one bee∣ing asked of what church he were, should answere, I am of the French church, hee would bee thought ridiculous, or scarce well in his wits, because the Frēch church

is now reckoned for nothing, or for some smal dependance of the Roman. Al which positions, are as so many blasphemies. 1. For, to take vpon ones selfe not to be able to erre, and to be supreame iudge in mat∣ters of religion, is to intrude into Gods place, and to take away this dignitie of being highest Iudge from Gods word. 2. To boast that they giue authority to the holy Scripture which is the word of God, this is to exalt themselus aboue the word of God: For hee which giueth authoritie is more great then he which receiveth it. For if we consider well of the matter, wee shal finde that it is not the characters, nor the booke, which are vnderstood by the name of the holy Scripture, but God spea¦king in his worde: the church of Rome therfore in this doth exalt her selfe aboue God. 3. Likewise the Church of Rome doth make her selfe equall with God, whē shee doeth challenge the authority of gi∣ving an infallible interpretation of the scripture, and which shall be of equall au∣thority with the scripture it selfe, for none cā giue interpretation of a law, which shal be of equal authority with the law, but on¦ly he which made the law: the church of Rome therefore is God, and doth vsurpe

Gods seat, since she giveth interpretatiōs to Gods law, which are of equal authority with the law. Nay, which is more, I say that to interpret the law after this manner, is a great deale more thē to make it, since that the people are not bounde to followe the letter of the law and of Gods word, but the interpretation which the Church of Rome shall giue of it. 4. The Church of Rome also doeth make her selfe as God, when in steed of instructing the people to beleeue in the word of God, she teacheth them to beleeue in the Church. For if you aske the simple people why they beleeue this or that, they will answer you because the church beleeues it, and by the Church they vnderstand the Roman Church, as if to beleeue in the Roman Church, and to beleeue in God were all one. Now it is to be noted, that in all these errours by the word Church, the people art not meant, for they are no iudges, they giue no au∣thority to the scripture: but by the church the Hierarchie is vnderstood, and the bo∣dy of Prelats which being dispersed tho∣rough diverse nations doth depend vpon Rome, that is to say on the Romane consi∣storie, and the Popes chaire. It was neuer heard of, before the Pope came to rule,

that for to be saved, a man must needes be a Roman, and that the words, Vniversall and Roman were coincident; whereas the Apostle wrote to the Church of the Ro∣manes after the same manner as he did to the Church of the Corinthians, or Ephe∣sians, & gaue her not any title of superio∣rity: without doubt he should haue spake thus vnto them. Although your Church be the Mistresse of all other Churches, and my admonitions may seeme needlesse for you, because ye cānot possibly erre in the faith, and because S. Peter your bishop is the head of the Church, to whō I my selfe also am subiect, yet notwithstanding I thought good to write vnto you for these and these reasons. Not a word of all this, but in the 11. chap. he threatens thē with being cut off, if they grow to be high min¦ded, or disesteeme the grace of God.

The holy Ghost addeth that this Hie∣rarchie doeth blaspheme against the church of God,* 1.12 and against those which dwell in heaven: If by heaven hee vnder∣stand the Church, as in the 9. chapt. and 1. verse, and in the 12. chapt. and 4. verse, or if the falling away of those which went out of the visible church bee represented

by the starres which fell from heaven, it is easie to prooue how the Church of Rome doth diffame those which did, and stil do, serue God in puritie, fastning odious names vpon them, and calling them He∣retickes, Schismaticks, Infidels, Vaudians, Albigeans, Huguenots, Calvinists: perswa¦ding the simpler sort, that wee hold good workes to bee vnprofitable: that wee ap∣proue all kinde of dissolutenesse, that wee are enimies of the Virgin Marie and the Saints; that we make God the author of sinne: and such like things as we detest, & which are cleane contrary to our beliefe.

But if by those which are in heaven the Saints in Paradice bee vnderstoode, the Church of Rome doeth wrong these no lesse; For is it not an iniurie to the Saints to change them into Idols? and to make thē the instruments of dishonouring God worshipping and adoring them with a re∣ligious kinde of worship that is due onlie to God? who cā doubt but that the Saints do hate such as honor them thus? To omit how the Romish church doth ty the S^ts to a block, imploying thē about base offices, cōmending the keeping of their hogs to one, of their horses to another, the curing

of the scurfe to a thirde; and that the Le∣gends of the Saints do disgrace them, in so much that they make the Virgin Mary to converse with Queanes, and to favour them in their vncleanenesse as wee haue shewed aboue.

* 1.13As for the persecutions which this Hi∣rarchie hath raised against the faithfull, & the victories which it hath had over the Church; It is never found that the Ortho∣dox Church did make any massacres of the ancient hereticks. Crueltie is most su∣table with falshood. To burne a Christi∣an because he would not obey the Pope, is a thing which had never beene seene: but began after the Pope grewe to bee an earthly Monarch. It is well neere 400. yeares since Innocent the 3. within the space of a few monthes, made more then 200000 of the faithfull to bee slaine, whō they called Albigeans, after the same ma∣ner as they doe vs Hugenots now adaies. It is not aboue a hundred years since, that all Europe did streame with blood, & that the Pope and his adherents thought by slaughter and torments to haue rooted vs out vtterly. In S. Bartholomewes massacre, in the yeare 1572, more then 80000 men

were slaine in cold blood. At Lyons 150. persons put into prison were drawne out all one after another, and stabbed at the gate of the prison. At Orleans 400 persons shut vp in a house (which was called the house with 4 corners) were burnt al toge∣ther. The Duke of Alua plaied the but∣cher at Flaunders, and vnder the shadow of a Catholike zeale slew millions of mē. In recompence whereof the Pope sent him an holy sword, & consecrated gloues. The punishments of the Inquisition sur∣passe all crueltie. The bull of Phalaris is nothing in respect of this. A man is carri∣ed to prison not knowing wherefore: af∣ter he hath beene cubd vp in solitarinesse, and never seene one glympse of light for a whole yeare together, at last there coms one vnto him, and questions with him a∣bout certaine interrogatories; if hee say that he is a good Catholike, and doe re∣nounce his former heresie, hee shall haue this favour to die a more gentle death. For recant never so much, the very once being accused of heresie is thought e∣nough to condemne a man. If hee perse∣vere in defence of the truth, and triumph in martyrdome, after a thousond tormēts

endured in private, he is brought forth in publike, wrapt about the head with an ougly coife which they call S. Bennet, ha∣ving a vizard on his face with a yawning mouth, and a long taile made fast behind at his backe, as they vse to paint the divel; and so burnt by little and little, being put in and taken from the fire I know not how often, to the end he might not die as some doe without feeling that they dy. Tyran∣nie, which the Turkes and Mahometans (though the sworne enimies of Christs name) doe detest: for they never practi∣sed any thing vpon Christians, that came neere to this crueltie.

We are also to speake of the continu∣ance of time that this Hierarchicall Em∣pire shall endure.* 1.14 The holy Ghost saith that it shall last 1260. daies, where wee must take each day for a yeare: For this Prophecie doth every where almost bor∣row the tearmes of Daniel, and vse his fa∣shion of speech, who by a weeke vnder∣stands 7. yeares, and who foretelleth that from the permission of returning, & buil∣ding vp Hierusalem againe, (granted by Darius, Nothus) vntill the finall destruc∣tion thereof, there should be 70 weekes,

that is to say 70 times 7 yeares, to take a day for a yeare, which make 490 yeares which afterward came to passe; and this wonderfull prophecie was fulfilled at the time appointed. So likewise in Ezechiel in the 4. chap. and 6. verse. Thou shalt beare the iniquitie of the house of Iudah 40 daies: I haue appointed thee a day for a yeare. And in the 14 chap. of Numbers .34. verse. Af∣ter the number of the daies in which ye sear∣ched out the land, even 40. daies every day for a yeare, &c. It is no new thing there∣fore in Scripture to take a day for a yeare; but it is the stile of the prophecies. Now here is a mystery, and an admirable cor∣respondency: for herein the Iewish-chri∣stian Church which lay hid 1260 daies, flying the persecution of the heathenish Roman Empire, was a figure of the flight and persecution of the Christian Church vnder the Papall Roman Empire, which persecution must last 1260 mistical daies, which amount to so many yeares.

Since it is so that the holy Ghost throughout this whole chap. speakes of the succession and establishment of this Roman Hierarchie, insteed of the Roman Empire, and that we haue shewed that the

Pope began to lay the foundations of this temporal Empire in the yeare of our Lord 755. if therevnto yee ad these 1260 yeares of the continuance of this Hierarchicall Empire, it must needes last to the 2015. yeare of our Lord: according to which reckoning it hath 404. yeares yet to con∣tinue. Wherevnto if yee ioine the predic∣tion of the Apostle, who hath told vs that Christ shall abolish this sonne of perdition by the brightnesse of his com∣ming, yee may well neere guesse the time of the cōming of the Lord. Here∣vnto adde that amongst the Iewes this was an vsuall prophecie, that as the world was made in 6. daies, and after came the day of rest, so the world must endure sixe thousand yeares, & afterwards there shall be an everlasting time of rest: That is to say, that there must be so many thousande yeares in the worldes duration, as there were daies in the creation. For as the Apo∣stle S.* 1.15 Peter saith: One day with the Lord is as a thousand yeares, & a thousand yeares as one day. According to this calculation, this present yeare of our Lord, 1611. be∣ing the 5560 year of the world. If the pa∣pall Empire must yet continue 404 years,

its end must bee in the 5964. yeare of the world, which is nor farre of from 6000 yeares. Astrologie also doth lend vs some light in this matter: for in the yeare of the world 3665. Ptolomie Philadelph raigne∣ing in Egypt, some 469 yeares after the building of Rome, there lived one Hip∣parchus a famous Astrologer, who reports that in his time the star commonly called, stella polaris, which is in the taile of the lesser beare, was 12 degrees & two fifths distant frō the poles of the Equator. This starre from age to age hath insensibly still crept neerer to the Pole, whēce it appea∣reth that the poles of the Equator are moueable; it is not now past 3 degrees di∣stant from the poles of the Equator: when this starre therefore shall come to touch the Pole there being no farther space left for it to go forward (which may well e∣nough come to passe within fiue or sixe hundreth yeares) it seemes that thē there shall be a great change of things, and that this time is the period which God hath pre∣fixed to nature. All these observations put together make vs presume that the Romā Hierarchicall Empire must endure till the 2015 yeare of our Lorde. And that this

Empire being abolisht, the Pope yet shall remaine still, but without power & autho∣ritie, til that Iesus Christ shal destroy him by his last comming, which (as it should seeme by the evidēces formerly cited) shal be some one, or two and twentie ages, af∣ter our Saviours incarnation, who is God over all, blessed for ever. Yet I would not haue any think that I speak this as though I went about to prie into such secrets as God himselfe would haue to be hid, or as though I meant to define any thing abso∣lutely concerning the last day, but onlie that I might not seeme to neglect the Re∣velations which the holy Ghost hath laid open vnto vs in this prophecy: seeing that here he telleth vs how long the Papal Em¦pire shall last, and that S. Paule and * 1.16 Da∣niell in his 7. chap. doe stretch the tearme of time, wherein the son of Perditiō shall last, to the day of iudgement.

Our adversaries goe more boldly to worke. For taking these 1260 daies sim∣ply for 3 yeares and a halfe, they say that Antichrist must not raigne aboue 3 years and a halfe, and that 45. daies after the last Iudgement shall be. If this be true, thē the faithfull that shall liue vnder the domini∣on

of Antichrist, shall knowe the day of iudgement exactly, and Christs speech shall not be verified of them, wherein hee saith, Of that day and howre knoweth no mā no not the Angels in heaven, as the king of great Brittaine hath learnedly obserued: who notes also that our Lord Iesus hath foretold that at this time men shall bee ea∣ting and drinking, & making merry; which sheweth evidently that this shal be a time of rest, and not of troubles and persecuti∣ons, and that the comming of Iesus Christ shall not be lookt for. Besides, that such an Empire, which (as they say) shall subdue all the world, should in 3. yeares & a halfe rise, increase, and fall, is a thing altogether impossible: a man cannot in that time ride over a quarter of the countries in post, how much more time had he need aske to conquer them? Or who can imagin that the mystery of iniquitie should in Saint Paules time begin to prepare the way for the sonne of perdition to enter, and that now, that is to say, some 1550. yeares af∣ter, there should bee no preparation at all.* 1.17

It remaines that we speake of the obe∣dience and religious service which the people shall giue to this Roman Hierar∣chie:

The holy Ghost saith that all mē that inhabit the earth shall adore it: Hee saith, All men, although there bee many coun∣tries which never did acknowledge it: for the Scripture lightly speakes after this manner of great Empires, which hold a great number of people and many realms vnder their dominion: especially the Pro∣phet Daniel (to whose stile the holy ghost doth conform himselfe in the Apocalyps) in the 2. chap. 37. and 38 verses, speaking to Nabuchadnezar. O King thou art a king of kings, and in all places where the children of men dwell hee hath given them into thine hand, and hath made thee ruler over them all; although hee had nothing at all in Eu∣rope, and but little in Affricke. There is the like forme of speech in the 7. chapter, verse 23. So in speaking of the Pope wee vse to say that all the word is vnder him, although the Turke and Mores disclaime him: but by so saying wee meane that hee hath a large dominion. And our adversa∣ries themselues doe not deny this, since they are of opinion that the heathenish Romā Empire is meant in this prophecie, which yet notwithstanding, was never absolute cōmander over one fourth part

of the world: And I cannot imagin that there shall or can be such a Monarchie to which all the world (without excepting any place) shall be subiect. It is not three yeares and an halfe, no nor 3 ages that wil be sufficient for the obtaining of such a conquest. And there is not the man to bee found with a braine strong enough, to governe an Empire of this nature. The most politicke head in the world would in the governement of such a state be di∣stracted with the multiplicitie of businesse and fall into shivers.

The dutiful respect therefore and obe∣dience, which the people must yeeld to this Roman Hierarchie, is called Adorati∣on: Not only because the head of this Em∣pire shall cause himselfe to be adored, and make men kisse his feet, but also because of the strange kinde of soveraigntie that the body of this Hierarchie hath attained vnto. The Cardinals in all their mee∣tings, and solemne feastes, goe, and fit before kings, as we haue already * 1.18 she∣wed. In Spaine a man may offend the king with lesse daunger then the least of the Inquisition. Frō Gregory the 7. sur∣named Hildebrād, which was made Pope,

in the yeare of our Lord 1073, to Leo the 10. who died in the yeare 1521. there are 448. yeares, during which time wee may say that the Papacie was at the height of her power and glory. Then Moncks were highly honoured, and the Popes Legates tooke their places before kings: then the Pope could command all the nobles, and all the men of armes, to come out of Frāce or England, or any other quarter of Eu∣rope, and make thē trot from far through I knowe not howe many places to ioine their forces against the Sarrasins, and fil∣led all Fraunce with widdowes and Or∣phanes: to him that chaunced to die in this warre, the Pope gaue a degree of glo∣ry in Paradice aboue the common sort of Saints. Then he which wore the badge of the crosse did cease to bee the kings sub∣iect, and no Magistrate might touch him what offence soever hee had committed, because hee was the Popes souldier. At that time he made kings to be ierkt, and stroke of the Emperours crowne with his foot, and trod vpon his necke. His power now a daies is much diminished over that it was, and yet even at this time, he makes men come from farre and neere to seek at

Rome for the remission of their sins. And an offence committed against his owne person is a reserved case, whence none in Fraunce may absolue a man, but the least Priest that is, hath authority to pardon a sin cōmitted against the Maiestie of God. Nay which is more, they take vpon them to make God, and to create their creator with the repeating of certaine words; No mervaile therefore if they be so much ho∣noured and respected. So we haue seene this prophecie fulfilled on everie side: whence also wee may assure our selues of the accomplishment of the other part of this prophecie. That they which kill shall be killed, and that they which persecute vs shall bee dealt withall accordingly. Which yet we do not desire, having learn•• of our Savior to blesse those that curse vs, and to pray for their amendment.

The 6. part of this prophecie.

11 And I beheld an other beast com∣ming vp out of the earth, which had two hornes like the lambe, but hee spake like the Dragon.

12 And hee did all that the first beast

could do before him, & he caused the earth, and thē that dwell therin to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed.

The Explication.

11 I saw also a Monarch to rise vp frō a low estate, being of another name and na∣ture then the former Roman Emperours, to wit, the Pope, which wore a miter with tvvo hornes vpon his head, and which seemed in outwarde shew to professe Christ, but whose doctrine was diabolicall.

12 And he tooke all the power of the Roman Empire vpō him, at Rome, being the seate of the Empire, and exhorted al the peo∣ple to submit themselues to this Roman Em∣pire, which being destroyed by the Lombards in Italie, was brought to life againe, and re∣established by the Papacie.

The proofe.

S. Iohn doth here speake of two beasts, the former of which is the Roman Empire as all confesse, and the prophecy is cleere. This Empire being excluded out of Rome & Italie by the Lombards, was recovered

by little and little, and restored againe by the Roman Hierarchie, which is helde by S. Iohn for the same beast with the Roman Empire, because it is stil one Empire raig∣ning at Rome, though vnder an other ti∣tle. The second beast is a liuely represen∣tation of the bishop of Rome.

1 For Saint Iohn saith that this beast came vp out of the earth, that is to say, rose from a small beginning, and meane estate, according as the Latins cal such as get vp from a little, Terrae filios, as mushromes, or toadstooles that growe vp out of the earth in a night: a fashion of speech vsual in Scripture, as in the 2. chapt. of the 1. of Samuell. He raiseth vp the poore out of the dust, that is to say, out of a base condition of life. Now who is there but knows how meane and poore the state of the bishops of Rome was before they came to be earth¦ly Monarchs? Then when they had not one foot of ground, and that the Empe∣rours made them be whipt, emprisoned, & banished them? Then when the * 1.19 Empe∣rour Constantius having exiled Liberius bishop of Rome, gaue him 500 crownes for pitty sake ro relieue him. As the grain of mustard seed, which our Savior speaks

of Luke the 13. ve. 19. which is but little, brought forth a tree, within which the birds of the aire built their nests, so out of this smalnesse of bishops, did the great∣nesse of the Pope arise, within the which infinite companies of beneficed men doe nestle themselues, which liue vnder his shaddow.

2 S. Iohn also saith that he shall haue hornes like the Lambe, but shall speake like the dragon, as if he should haue said, ye wil say when yee see him that hee resembleth Christ Iesus, which is the Lambe of God; and looks like a Christian, but his doctrin is Diabolicall. This also agreeth to the Pope which cals himselfe the Vicar of Ie∣sus Christ, but whose doctrine is contrary to Iesus Christ; for proofe whereof reade my second booke, in that place, where I defend his Maiesties of Englands confes∣sion of the faith, It may bee that the two hornes of his ordinary miter, do serue also for the accomplishment of this prophecy.

3 In the third place S. Iohn saith that hee shall exercise the authority of the first beast, which is the Roman Empire, for as much as he shal counterfait the actions, & vsurp the rights of the Roman Empire:

That this also agreeth to the Pope wee may proue by infinite examples. 1. Hee hath taken a crowne hauing cast away his Bishops crosier staffe. 2. He hath taken the Emperours * 1.20 habit which was of skarlet, together with shooes of skarlet, which were proper to the Emperours. 3. The Em¦perours had a Senat clad in skarlet, & hee hath a Senate of Cardinals clad in cloath of the same colour. 4. In the Senate there were Apotheoses, or Canonizations of Gods practised, as there are Canonizations of Saints in the Popes consistorie. 5. The Emperours caused themselues to be ado∣red, and were * 1.21 called Gods. So the Popes call themselues God, and take vpon them to be adored. 6. The Emperours brought vp the right of fiefs and other duties to be paid to the Lord Paramont in case that the tenants were changed. In imitation whereof the Pope hath established his An¦nates, by which all Church livings are made fiefs to the Papall See, and pay the first yeares revenewes in case of a new e∣lection. 7. The Emperours did receaue the submissions and acknowledgements of subie∣ction, from forraine Princes by their Em∣bassadours: so the Pope doth receaue the

submissions of kings, and their oathes of fe∣altie, which are all bound as soone as ever there is a new Pope chosen to send their Embassadours to kisse his feet, and to ten∣der him an oath of allegeance. 8. The Em∣perours had their Imposts, and Tributes; & the Pope hath his S. Peter pence, levied in many Countries vpon the head of every particular man: as also petty cōtributions, and a thousand diverse commodities that arise out of dispensations, absolutions, provisions, advouzons, indulgences, erec∣tions, derogations, exchange of vowes, matrimoniall causes, &c. which are the tri∣buts, and imposts of this Roman Empire. 9. The Emperours had their civill law, and he hath his Canon law. 10. The Emperours had their Indictions of 15. yeares, and hee hath his Roman Indictions of the like time. 11. The Emperours had their Publicans, & tole-gatherers, which did farme the re∣venewes of the Empire. So the Pope hath his Dataries and Bullists which rent the commodities of this spirituall merchan∣dise. 12. The Emperours had their Trape∣zites, or exchangers at Rome: & the Pope hath his Banckers in Lions, and diverse o∣ther places of Europe, which will procure

dispensations and absolutions from Rome at a certaine price, and help you to obtain the remission of your sinnes by letters of exchange. 13. The Roman Emperours ha∣ving conquered a countrie, laboured to plant the Latin tongue in it: in imitation of which policie, the Pope hath so prevai∣led, that he hath brought all the countries which are vnder him to pray to God,* 1.22 and say their service in the Latin tongue, and it is not long since that in France the law acts, and publike instruments were made in Latin; in doing this, hee hath stamped the print of his governement vpon vs, and made vs weare the badges of his Empire. 14. The Roman Emperours took an year∣ly rent to suffer the Stewes; The Pope which did succeed in this Empire, hath al∣so succeeded in the honestie of this acti∣on.

4 For to make the matter more cleer, S. Iohn hauing said that this second beast doth resemble the first beast, and exercise his power, addes that it is in the presence of the first beast, & in the very place where the seat of the Roman Empire is, that is to say, at Rome it selfe: or at leastwise in the presence of this Hierarchicall Roman Em∣pire.

Let the reader therfore put al this toge¦ther, to wit, that we are foretold of a man 1. which shall rise vp from a meane estate. 2. Which shall be a Christian by professi∣on, but yet shall teach wicked doctrine. 3. Which shall vsurpe the rights, and imi∣tate the actions of the Roman Empire. 4. which shall haue his seate in the same place, where the seate of the Empire was. And after that hee hath runne overall hi∣stories, and drawed his braines drie with long seeking after another besides the Pope, to whome all these things may a∣gree: yet shall he never be able to shew vs such another: The verses following will tell vs of other markes no lesse cleere, and evident.

Neverthelesse (since it appeareth by the 12. verse, that the second beast which wee proue to be the Pope, shall make vse of this healing and reestablishment of the Roman Empire, for the authorising of this Empire reestablished by the Papacie) it is manifest that this wound here spoken of cannot be the death of Iulius Caesar, nor of Domitius Nero, nor yet the stroake re∣ceaued by the Herules, and Gothes, be∣cause the healing of these wounds did no

way encrease the dignity of the Pope, nor did he gaine any thing by them. Who can imagine that the people were moued to yeeld themselues subiect to the Papacie, by wondring at the Empire which being fallen was set vp againe by Augustus Cae∣sar, or by Vespasian, or by Narses? But wel may it be that the wound receaved by the Lumbards being healed by the advance∣ment of the Roman Hierarchie, the Pope did hereby come to bee an earthly Mo∣narch, and by this meanes advance his spi∣rituall power. So did hee make the people to submit themselues to the Roman Em∣pire that was healed of the deadly wound in as much as the state of the Roman Mo∣narch, which he tooke vpon him after the destruction of the Roman Empire by the Lombards, made him to be highly respec∣ted of the people, and did infinitely exalt his authoritie.

The 6. part of this prophecie.

13 And he did great wonders, so that he made fire to come downe from heaven on the earth in the sight of men.

14 And deceived them that dwell on

the earth by the signes which were permitted him to do in the sight of the beast, saying to thē that dwell on the earth, that they shoulde make the image of the beast which had the wound of a sword, and did liue.

15 And it was permitted to him to giue a spirit vnto the image of the beast; so that the image of the beast shoulde speake, and should cause that as many as would not wor∣ship the image of the beast should be killed.

The Explication.

13 And this Pope wrought miracles, in so much that he sent forth the lightnings, and thunderbolts of his excommunications against Kings, and their people: and caused S. Anthonies fire to come downe from heavē and made it thunder and lighten by a mira∣cle.

14 And the people vvere seduced be∣cause of the miracles which God did suffer him to doe, for the authorizing of this Ro∣mane Papal Empire, commanding the people to make vp the image of the ancient Roman Empire again, that is to say, to serue the Ro∣man Papall Empire with the same manner of obedience as they did the ancient Romane

Empire, which being demolished was built vp againe by the Roman Hierarchie.

15 And God did suffer him to giue force and strength to this Papall Empire, or Hie∣rarchie, made after the image of the ancient Empire, for the spirituall power that it did vsurpe gaue soule and life to its temporall power. Which Papall Empire being nothing else but an imaginarie Empire, and which consisteth only in the opinion of such as yeelde obedience vnto it, neverthelesse speakes prowde things, and makes all such to be massacred and burnt, that shall refuse to subiect themselues to this imaginarie Em∣pire, made according to the image of the an∣cient Roman Empire.

The Proofe of the exposition.

The Holy Ghost giu•••• one more marke yet to know the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 by, to wit, that he shall worke great sig••••s, and mi∣racles. As for the miracles of paperie wee haue spoken sufficiently of them alreadie. Amongst other signes, S. Iohn saith that

he shall make fire fall downe from heavē. Whether it be that we are to vnderstande this of S. * 1.23 Anthonies fire which the beg∣ging friars in times past made to fall vpon such as offended them; or whether it be to vnderstood of the divers shrines, and po∣pish reliques, which when a man pul•• down, the heaven straight waies is on fire, and there is nothing but raine, and light∣ning; or whether it be that S. Iohn speakes this of spirituall thunderbolts such as are the Popes excōmunications, vnder which Christian realmes some 600 or 700. years since did tremble.

These things are done (saith S. Iohn) by the seconde beast in the presence of the first, that is to say by the Pope in the pre∣sēce of the Romā Hierarchical Empire, in the same place where the seate of the Em∣pire is, & for the authorising therof. Which Hierarchical Empire▪ the holy Ghost by an admirable kinde of speech, and full of waight, cals the image of the first beast: because that although the Roman Hierar∣chie, be a continuation, and succession of the ancient Roman Monarchie, and is 〈◊〉〈◊〉 in this book by the same beast. Ne∣verthelesse, if we consider the point some∣what

better, and looke a little neerer into the matter, wee shall finde that it is rather an image and imitation of the ancient Ro∣man Empire, and a kinde of part that is a∣cted vpon the seat of the ancient Empire. So the Roman Hierarchie is called the i∣mage of the beast, both because it is built in imitation of the Roman Empire, as wee haue shewed aboue by 14 examples, as al∣so because it is an imaginarie Empire, which doth consist only in the opinion of the subiects. Since the power therof hurts none but such as feare it. Its dispensations are worth as much, as we esteeme them to be worth; set light by the Popes thunder∣bolts, and you shall sleepe the better. The price of his holy Graines, Agnus Dei, Beads, holy roses, and consecrated man∣tles, cōsists only in the opiniō of the buy∣ers. And his trading of late begins not to be so good as it was. Should a Prince or. cōmon wealth but a hundreth years since haue done but a quarter of that which the Venetians haue within these few years, he (being bound hand and foot) had beene cast downe into hell and given to the Di∣vell without all remission. The Croysade had beene preached against him in al pla∣ces,

by vertue of which millions of men would haue assembled themselues toge∣ther from all parts of Europe. to fall vpon the heretickes, that so they might gaine Paradice. But the King of great Brittaine, which hath stript the whore, and laid opē her mysteries, doth even to this day stand still vnexcommunicated. The gunpowder threatnings, are more dangerous then the Popes excommunications.

Now albeit this Hierarchie be an image of the ancient Empire, yet Saint Iohn saith that this image doth liue and speake, and that this second beast which is the Pope, giues life vnto it, & makes it speak; words wonderfully expresse, and significant. For the temporall power of the Popes Hierar∣chicall Empire would be nothing else but a dead image of the ancient Roman Em∣pire, were it not that the spirituall power, did quicken the temporall, and giue strength vnto it. For it is his spirituall power, that accumulates such great store of goods, and riches vpon the temporall; which opens the peoples purses vnto him which forceth kings necks to bow, which makes his thunderbolts so dreadfull, which compels men to repaire from all

quarters to Rome, for to share of the spi∣rituall liberalities of his Holinesse. Yet he is ever a gainer hereby, and his spirituall power, serues for nothing but to vphold his temporal, as Guicciardine formerly al∣leaged, affirmeth. It is the same spirituall power, that makes this image of the beast to speake, that is to say, which causeth that this Papall Empire (formed accor∣ding to the pourtraiture of the Roman Empire) should speake so big, giue lawes, pronounce decrees, decide questions of faith with a finall resolution, & command all such to bee put to death as shall refuse to obey him: sounding the trumpet from an high place, thereby to incourage kings and people to exercise crueltie.

This notwithstanding wee are to note one generall doctrine, that as they are not the carvers, nor founders, that make Idols but they which serue them, so also in this place, that the Pope which is the founder of this image, and principall promoter of this Hierarchie resembling the Romā Em∣pire, is not he for all that which hath made it to be an image, but the opinion of the people. Wherefore S. Iohn saith that this second beast, which is the Pope cau∣sed

the inhabitants of the earth to make an image of the first beast, and to erect an Empire like to the Roman Empire that was decayed▪ For it is not the subtiltie of the Popes that hath made this Papall Em∣pire, but the stupiditie of the people.

The 7. part of this Prophecie.

16 And hee made all, both small and great rich and poore••, free and bond, to re∣ceaue a marke in their right hand or in their foreheads.

17 And that no man might buy or sel saue he that had the marke, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.

The Explication.

16 And hee made all both small and great, rich and poore, bond and free, to giue him their hāds, & to take an oath to be faith¦full vnto him, and to be markt by their acti∣ons. And their foreheads were markt with the marke of confirmation; & they made pro∣fession of his religion, which profession of re∣ligion is often in holy Scripture, called by the name of a marke in the forehead.

17 And hee tooke order that no man might trafficke, nor sell, nor buy, nor ex∣change benefices, nor be suffered to purchase an Archbishops pall, nor haue a license, nor any part in the Church goods, no nor yet buy an estate, if he had not the name and professi∣on of a Romanist.

The Proofe.

By the right hande is meant the out∣ward actions. This is a fashion of speech vsuall with the holy Ghost. As in the 144. Psalme, ver. 8. Whose right hand is a right hand of falshood, that is to say, that they are disloyall in their actions. And there is no∣thing more common in scripture, then by the cleanenesse, or vncleannesse of the hands, to vnderstand the iustice or iniu∣stice of the actions, as Psal. 18. ver. 25. & Psal. 24. ver. 4. By the right hand wee may likewise vnderstand the promise of fideli∣tie, as S. Paul in the second to the Galath. v. 9. saith that Iames, Peter, and Iohn, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, gaue him and Barnabas their right hands. So in the last chap. of the 1. book of Chronicles, all the sonnes of king David, gaue their hands to bee vnder king Salo∣mon.

That is to say, tooke an oath of allea∣giance to be true subiects vnto him.

As for the marke in the forehead, the Apocalyps it selfe shews vs, what the mea∣ning of this is. For in the 9. chap. & 4. ver. the Locusts are commanded, not to hurt the grasse of the earth, neither any greene thing, neither any tree, but only those men which haue not the seale of God in their fore¦heads. And in the 7. cha. God doth marke his faithful servants in their foreheads. As therefore the truely faithfull are not mar∣ked in the forehead with any visible mark but this marke in the foreheade is the vn∣feigned profession of a true Christian, so likewise the marke of a beast in the fore∣head of a man, is the profession of beeing faithfull vnto the beast, as Thomas also doth expound it in the 3. P. of his summes 63. quest. and 3. Art. * 1.24 By the Character of the beast we may vnderstand either an obsti∣nate malice, by reason of which some are ad∣iudged to everlasting punishment, or the pro¦fession of an vnlawfull religion. This marke therefore is the profession of Popery. But if any one be desirous rather to know of a marke really imprinted in the forehead, there is the marke of confirmation may

satisfie him, with which the Bishop doeth marke children in the forehead, without which marke the * 1.25 decrees of the Church of Rome pronoūce that a man is but halfe a Christian.

Without this marke, and profession of Poperie S. Iohn saith that no man is admit¦ted to sell or buy, for all the goods of this Papall Empire are bought and sold. It is nothing else but a bare traffique. Benefi∣ces are exchanged vpon certaine conside∣rations; He that hath but a leane bishop∣ricke layes about him howe hee might scorce it for a fatter. As soone as ever an Abbotship or benefice is vacant, manie may sue, but he shall be sure to carry it a∣way that can bribe best, & giue the grea∣test presents. There are Abbotships con∣ferred vpon Captaines, and illiterat men, Bishopricks, and Cardinalships bestowed on little children; and sometimes in waie of recompense for vnhonest services. To be briefe it is a most shamefull merchan∣dize. And how should not these things be sold, since that God himselfe is sold, and that we haue heard aboue how Pope Pius the 2. complaineth that the holy Ghost is sold at Rome, and the forgiuenesse of sins?

Nowe I am of opinion that it is easier for them to sell him, then to deliuer him after they haue sold him.

No man (according to the rules of the Church of Rome) may haue a share in the emoluments of this merchandize, but on∣ly he which shall professe himselfe to be a Roman, and to be of the church of Rome, & a true subiect to the Pope. The formes of the admission of Bishops, Archbishops Cardinals, Knights of Malta, yea and of kings themselues, haue this article inser∣ted expresly in them, of fidelitie and obe∣dience to the Papall See.

The 8. part of this prophecie.

17 And hee tooke order that no man might buy or sell; saue he that had the marke or the name of the beast or the number of his name.

18 Here is wisdome. Let him that hath wit, count the nūber of the beast: for it is the number of a man, and his number is 666.

The Explication.

17 And hee tooke order that no man

might trafficke, nor sel, nor buy, nor exchāge benefices, nor bee suffered to purchase an Archbishops Pall, nor haue a Licence, nor a∣ny part in the Church goods, no nor yet buy an estate, if he had not the name and profes∣sion of a Romanist: and were not of the num∣ber of those which are marked with the fi∣gures, or numbers of the letters of his name.

18 In which number they which think themselues the wisest may finde some thing worth their search. Whosoever hath under∣standing let him diligently calculate the summe, to which these Greeke Cyphars or numbers of the Pope of Rome doe amount; for it is an vsuall number amongest men, and therefore easie to be vnderstood. And this number to which the Greeke letters of his name doe amount, is 666. For this word, Latin, which is the ordinary name by which the Greeke church doth call those of the Ro∣man Church, and their head) being written in Greeke, and after calculated makes vp iust 666. Which number also by an admira∣ble occurrence, doth admonish you that 666. yeares after the revealing of this prophecie, this 2 beast, to wit the Pope, shall beginne to heale the wound of the ancient Empire, and place the Roman Empire again in its former seat.

The Proofe.

Of the traffick, and the marke, we haue said enough already. But concerning the number of the name of the second beast there is more difficultie: There bee two things that giue vs some light in this mat∣ter, the one is, that S. Iohn saith, that the number is the number of a man, that is to say, a number vsuall amongst men; So hee puts vs out of the labour of seeking after mysticall numbers, as when a day is taken for a yeare. The other is, that since the que¦stion is of numbring or cyphring the Let∣ters of this name, this name must of ne∣cessity be in a tongue, the letters of which are cyphers or Arithmeticall numbers. Now this is proper to the Greeke and Hebrew tongues, to haue no other cy∣phers but the letters of their Alphabet. But being that S. Iohn wrote in Greeke, & that to the Greeke churches too, this name cannot but be Greeke. S. Irenee fol∣lowing these rules, noted (two hundreth yeares after the birth of our Saviour, that the letters of cyphars of this word * 1.26 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, that is to say, Latin, being added to∣gether make vp iust 666. Now to knowe whether this name bee the true name or

no of the Bishop of Rome, we are not to look to the fashion of speech that is in vse with vs now adaies in France or Italy, but to the Greeks manner of speaking, seeing that S. Iohn wrote in Greeke and to the Greekes; and into the nature of the thing.

We are therefore to knowe that after the Empire was translated, the Cittie of Constantinople was called new Rome, and the Countrie about commonly called Thracia was called Romania likewise, and is so called to this day. But as for the chur∣ches of Italie, France, and Spaine, which are reckoned vnder the Roman Patriar∣chat, the Greekes doe commonly call thē the Latin churches. When the Greeks see a french man or German in their country, they aske him, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉? Are you a La∣tin? that is to say, as we vse to speake here with vs, are you of the Romish Church? So at the end of the Councell of Florence, there is a long list of the names and sub∣scriptions of the Greeke Bishops, and in the second place the subscriptions of the Bishops of the Romish Church, amongst which there bee some French men, and Spaniardes, and Flemmings, and yet neverthelesse over the head of all

these subscriptions is written, Subscripti∣ones Latinorum patrum; So Nilus Bishop of Thessalonica wrote two books in greek one against Purgatory, the other against the Primacie of the Bishop of Rome, where he speakes (I know not how often) of the Latins, and of the Latin Church, without ever calling it the Romā church. Let this therefore bee taken for certaine, that then when the Bishop of Rome be∣came a Monarch, and erected an earthly Empire at Rome (for this is the time of which S. Iohn doth prophecie) the Roman Church was commonly called the Latin Church, and by a consequent, the head thereof was called Latin.

As for the nature of the thing, there is no name that is more agreeing vn∣to it; seeing that the Latin tongue only is received in Popish churches; all their service is said in Latin, the people are taught to pray in Latin; the Buls, and Indulgences, and letters of absoluti∣on are all made in Latin, the holy scrip∣ture is not allowed of but in Latin, and the Latin translation is preferred before the originall. And it is not long since that in the court of Parliament, and seates of

Iustice, al the decrees, and sentences, acts, and publike instrumentes were set downe in Latin. To conclude, all that is there is Latin. I am verily perswaded that Irenae∣us speaking this had no reference to the bishop of Rome, for although he take vp Victor bishop of Rome somewhat short, for his sharpnesse & violence, yet the bi∣shops of Rome in his time were so poore and feeble, that no man could possibly i∣magin that they shoulde ever haue come to this heigth. And indeed Irenaeus was rather led away by the coniecture of o∣ther names, where the selfe same number is foūd. But the experience of succeeding ages hath refuted his other coniectures, & ratified this, by which he hath opened a way vnto vs to know the truth, which he could not liue to know by experience, as we haue.

But if besides this we shew that not on¦ly the number of 666. is found within this word Latin: but also that this very num∣ber doth point out the time vnto vs exact¦ly in which the Pope became to be a Mo∣narch, & began to lift vp the Roman Em∣pire into its former seat, then I hope that they which are most set against this do∣ctrine,

will wonder at this interpretation, and by an amazed silence giue the glorie to God.

We must vnderstand therfore, that the first persecution of Christians (raised vp by Nero in the last yeare of his raigne) fell out in the year of our Lord, 69. Fourteene yeares after, that is, in the yeare 83. Domi∣tian began an other persecution, in which S. Iohn was cited to Rome, and thence ba∣nished into the Isle of Pathmos, as S. Hie∣rome witnesseth in his * 1.27 Catalogue. This persecution was more gentle then the o∣thers, and the Emperour went not so farre as bloud, as he did afterwardes towardes the ende of his raigne. In this Isle, did this Revelation appeare to S. Iohn, Apoc. 1. ver. 9. which afterward he committed to writing, towards the end of Domitians raigne as Irenaeus witnesseth in his fifth booke. For he remained in this Island vn∣till the time that Nerva came to rule, which began his raigne in the yeare 97. Seeing therfore that the Pope began to be a commander & temporal Prince in Rome & Italie in the yeare of our Lord, 755. by the indiscreete liberality of Pepin king of Fraunce: if ye go 666. yeares higher, yee

shal light vpon the yeare of our Lord, 89. In which yeare S. Iohn was yet in the Isle of Pathmos, where he cōtinued some few years after, at what time he had leasure to commit that to writing, which he had re∣ceived from God by Revelation. It is true that Pepin, and Charles the Great his son, & Lewis the Debonnayre his grand-child which gaue this donation, did yet reserue the right of soveraignty vnto themselues. But for all this the Pope did not spare to labour the best he could to make himselfe a monarch, and did even at that time lay his proiects for the compassing of a Mo∣narchie, taking vpon him to bestow the dignitie of a Patrician vpon Pepin, which none but the Emperours could conferre, & presuming to set the Imperiall Crowne vpon the head of Charles the Great, and that by a sleight, the said Charles the great not marking so much, and after being an∣gry with him for so doing, and saying as he went out, that if hee had thought the Pope would haue vsed him so, he woulde not haue come into the Church, as Egi∣nard witnesseth in his history. So the Pope encreasing dayly more and more, did in fine driue the successours of Pepin, and

Charles the great his benefactours out of all Italie: and hath brought them to kisse his feet, and to hold their crownes at his mercie and discretion, calling himselfe Lord commander over the Empire, and bragging that he hath receiued the domi∣nion of heaven and earth from God.

Now here I cannot but wonder at the rashnesse of some which dare accuse Ire∣nee for writing this word, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, falslie with an 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, as if a Graecian, and one of the learnedst amongst them, knew not howe to write true orthography in his owne tongue. For although this word bee also written without an Iota, yet they which haue any skil in the tongue, do know that the Graecians did vse to write an 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 where the Latins wrote an I. So Nilus, and Epi∣rus, and Mithras, are written in Greeke 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. Ioseph Scaliger in his notes vpon Eusebius Chronicle, page 106. markes how the Graecians doe often turne the I, of the Latins into 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 when it is long, & that an N comes after, as in these words, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. Not that they did write it so still, for this was left indifferent. Nor will any man wonder here at, which knowes that the Latins did

pronoūce their I long like 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, whence that inscription Capteiuei of a Comedie in Plautus comes, and the verse of Lucilius cited by Quintilian in the first book of his oratoricall instructions, Iam pueret vene∣re, è postremum facito at{que} I, for hee helde that it should be written puerei, mendacei, furei. The importunity of our adversaries haue forced me to play the schoole boy, and to rub vp my old Grammar learning, in steed of admiring the secrets of the wis¦dome of God, who vnder the transparent vaile of this prophecie, hath made vs to see, and feele his truth.

But here I am to admonish the reader that when I lay the accomplishment of of these 666. yeares vpon the 755 year of our Lord, I do not thereby vnderstande that Antichrist did but then begin to be made manifest. He was made knowne be∣fore by many effectes, neverthelesse no∣thing like so manifestly as after when hee came to be an earthly Monarch: For hee had before this time taken the title of Head of the Church vpon him, vnder a shew that in the contention between him and the bishop of Constantinople, the Par∣ricide Phocas had adiudged the Primacie

to the bishop of Rome, iust 666. yeares af∣ter that Pompey had taken Ierusalem, and subdued the nation of the Iewes which as then was the only church of God. For Pompey wrought this exploite 61 yeares after the birth of our Saviour in the con∣sulship of Cicero and Antonie, and Pho∣cas gaue the Primacie to Boniface the 3. in the yeare of our Lord, 606. so that to count from this exploite of Pompey there are 666. yeares: By this meanes betweene the subduing of the church of the old Te∣stament by the Roman Empire, and be∣tweene the bondage of the church of the newe Testament by the bishop of Rome there are 666. yeares, which is an excellēt observation, and which his Maiestie of Englād hath faithfully noted. But this 13. chap. speaks not of the time in which An∣tichrist began to appeare, but of the time in which he began to establish a worldlie Empire, and encroach vpon the rights, & imitate the actions of the Roman Empe∣rour. Which he began 666. yeares after this Revelation.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Ioh. 16.11.
• * 1.2

  Luk. 4.6.
• * 1.3

  1. Cor. 10.••••
• * 1.4

  Varro lib. 5 Dies Septi∣mentium no∣••inatu•• ab ••is 7. moati∣•••••• in queis ••rbs sita est
• * 1.5

  Varro lib. 5 Dies Septi∣mentium no∣••inatu•• ab ••is 7. moati∣•••••• in queis ••rbs sita est
• * 1.6

  Virg. Ecl. 1. O Meli∣bae•• Deus. & paulò pòst, Bissenos cui nostra dies altaria fu∣mant. Marti∣al. Epig. 8. l. 5 Edictum domini dei{que} nostri. Horat. Epist. 1. l. 2. Praesenti tibi maturos lar∣gimur hono∣res, Iuran∣das{que} tuum per nomen ponimus aras Codicis lib. 1. tit. 2. de sa∣crosanctia Ecclesiis, Ca∣pitationis modum be∣neficio nostri nominis sub∣levandum▪
• * 1.7

  Ioh 16.11.
• * 1.8

  Luk. 4.6.
• * 1.9

  In orat. de aruspice resp.
• * 1.10

  Pag. 3.
• * 1.11

  Leo x in the Bull ex∣urge, which is at the end of the last Lateran coū¦cell, doth cō∣demne Lu∣ther for say∣ing that the Church or the Pope could not make new ar¦ticles of faith and the pow∣er of adding to the Creed is given to the Pope in the last sessi∣on of the Councell of Florence.
• * 1.12

  2. Point how the Romish Church doth revise the Saints.
• * 1.13

  3. point. that the Church of Rome doth persecute the faithfull.
• * 1.14

  The 4. point of the conti∣nuance of the Empire.
• * 1.15

  2. Pet. 3.8.
• * 1.16

  Of this place of Daniel see th•• 9. Chapt.
• * 1.17

  5. Point of the religious service done to the Popes seat.
• * 1.18

  1. Lib. 3. cap.
• * 1.19

  Theod. hist. Eccl. l. 2. c. 16 Impera¦tor impera∣vit Liberium relegari Be∣roeam quae est in Thra∣cia: Liberi•• abeunti misit imperator s••∣lid••s 500. in s••mptus.
• * 1.20

  Eutrop. l. 9 Carausius purpuram sumpsit & paulo post Galerius pur puratus tra∣ditur ad ve∣hiculum de∣currisse. S. Ambrosius Theodosio dixit purpu∣ra imperato∣rem non sa∣cerdotem fa∣cit.
• * 1.21

  Aurel. vict in Diocletia∣no▪ Passus adorari se appellari{que} deum Lam∣prid. idem ait de Helio∣gabalo in vi∣ta Alexandri Severi.
• * 1.22

  Sucton. Cali∣gula ex cap∣turis prosti∣bul••um ve∣ctigal institu∣it, quantum quae{que} vno concubitis mereret. Lamprid. i•• Alexandr••▪ Severo. Le∣nonum vec∣ctigal & m••∣retricum, & exoletorum in sacrum oe∣rarium ve∣tuit inferri & ad ins••••∣rationem theatri, am∣phitheatri, & Circi de∣putavit.
• * 1.23

  You haue an example of this engra¦ued over the Portall of S. Anthonies Abby were Paris. read also the Le∣gend of S. An¦thonie.
• * 1.24

  Character bestiae intelli∣gi potest vel ••bstinata malicia quâ aliqui depu∣tātur ad poe∣nam aeternā vel professio illiciti cul∣t••••.
• * 1.25

  Can. vt. Ie∣iune Dist. 5. de consecrat.
• * 1.26

  • ••—30
  • ••—1
  • ••—300
  • ••—5
  • ••—10
  • ••—50
  • ••—70
  • ••— 200
  • 666.
• * 1.27

  Quartode 〈◊〉〈◊〉 anno secundam post Neronē persecutionē movente Do¦mitiano in Patmon in∣sulā relega∣tus scripsit Apocalypsin.