and there, when God said, Ho. But God knoweth there is no such thing meant nor mentioned in that place: For there is only fore-shewed the deposing and deprivation of King Nebuchadnezzar, who exalting himself in pride (as it were above the Starrs) esteemed his glory to surmount all others, as far as Lucifer the bright morning Star shineth more gloriously than the other common Stars, and was punished by exile, until such time as he had humbled himself; and there∣fore metaphorically was called Lucifer.
But forsooth, because these great Clerks would be thought methodical, and to have crept out at Wisdoms bosome, who rather crawled out of Follies breeches; they take upon them to shew us, first, whereof these Angels that fell from Heaven were created; to wit, of the left side of that massie mold; where∣of the World was compounded, the which (say they) was Putredo terrae; that is, the rottenness of the earth. Cabalists with whom Avicen seemeth to agree, say, That one of these begat another; others say, They were made all at once: The Greeks do write, That Angels were created before the World: The Latinists say, They were made the fourth day, when the Stars were made: Laurence Ananias saith, They were made the first day, and could not be made the fourth day, bacause it is written; Quando facta sunt sidera, laudaverunt me angeli: When the Stars were made, the Angels praised me; so as (saith he) they were made under the names of the Heavens.
There is also a great question among the Schoolmen, whether more An∣gels fell down with Lucifer; or remainnd in Heaven with Michael. Many ha∣ving a bad opinion of the Angels honesties, affirm, that the greater part fell with Lucifer; but the better opinion is (saith Laurentius Ananias) that the most part remained. And of them that think so, some say, the tenth part were cast down, some, the ninth; and some gather upon S. John, that the third part were only damned; because it is written, That the Dragon with his tail plucked down with him the third part of the Stars.