Actes and monuments of matters most speciall and memorable, happenyng in the Church. [vol. 1] with an vniuersall history of the same, wherein is set forth at large the whole race and course of the Church, from the primitiue age to these latter tymes of ours, with the bloudy times, horrible troubles, and great persecutions agaynst the true martyrs of Christ, sought and wrought as well by heathen emperours, as nowe lately practised by Romish prelates, especially in this realme of England and Scotland. Newly reuised and recognised, partly also augmented, and now the fourth time agayne published and recommended to the studious reader, by the author (through the helpe of Christ our Lord) Iohn Foxe, which desireth thee good reader to helpe him with thy prayer.

Interpretation.

TO these prophesies & testimonies of Methodius, what credite it is to be geuen, I leaue it to the Reader. But if the meaning of his Prophesies goe by such order of times, as is set & disposed in his booke: he semeth to describe vnto vs 4. principall states and alterations of times to come.

The first state and alteration is by Mahumete and the Saracens, which be the ofsprings and sonnes of Ismael comming out of Arabie in the time of Heraclius Empe∣rour of Constantinople. An. 630. which rebelling against Heraclius, increased & preuailed still more & more against the Christians, both in Asia, and Africa, and also in many places in Europe, especially in Spayne, and Italy.

The seconde state & alteration he Prophesieth to come by the Turke, which first comming out of the farre partes of Seythia, y^e is, out of the North, first ouercame the Sa∣racenes, subdued the Persians, and afterward ioyning to∣gether w^e the Saracens, conquered the kingdome of Hie∣rusalem about the yeare of our Lorde 1187: then subdued Syria and moste part of Asia. &c. And these be they, whych Methodius seemeth to meane of, speaking of the vile and miserable people closed vp of y^e Lord God, at the interces∣sion of Alexander the great captaine in the North, betwene 2. mountaines the deep••••nosse of 12. cubites, wast that filthy corrupt nation shuld pollute the early with their wicked∣nes. Wherby are ment those Turkes, which comming out frō the vttermost partes of the North, that is, out of Scy∣thia and the mountaines of Caucasus or els Ismaels, were withholden & kept backe of Almighty God, for Christes cause, that they myght not harme his Church alongspace, during the time of xii. C. yeares: yea, and then, the sinnes of the Christians so deseruing, they were permitted of al∣mighty God to breake out, and to inuade the church: who nowe ioyning together w^t the Saracens, haue wrought, and daily do woorke, all these greuances against our Chri∣stian brethren: as we se this day is come to passe, and more is like to folow, except the hād of the Lord, which let them out, do plucke them in againe.

Moreouer, in y^e meane space, betwene the reigne of the Saracens and the Turks, where Methodius speaketh of the R. of Romaines, which should restore quietnes to the church, & should raigne in Hierusalem, a sabbate of tunes and halfe a sabbate: thereby seemeth to be vnderstand the viage of Christian Princes out of the west partes of Eu∣rope, vnder Gotfridus Duke of Lotharing & his 2. bre∣thren and many other christen Princes, with 300. M. foot∣men, and 100. M. horsemen: who fighting against the Sa∣racens, recouered againe from them, the Citie of Hierusa∣lem, in the yeare of our Lorde. 1099. Which citie before had bene in their possession, y^e terme of 490. yeres. After which victory got, first Gotfridus, then Baldwinus his brother, and other after them, to the number of 9. Christen kings, reigned in Hierusalem the space of 88. yeres: and after that through the discord of the Christians not agreeing amōgst themselues, both Hierusalem and Syria, with other parts of Asia besides, were subdued and wonne of the Turkes, whych to this day they keepe yet still. And this was in the yeare of our Lord. 1187.

About which yeare and time (as foloweth in Metho∣dius) when the Citie of Hierusalem shall be wonne of the Turkes, then shall Antichrist begin to be borne of the tribe of Dan, of whom came Iudas Iscarioth, and shalbe borne in Chorosaim and bredde in Bethsaida, and reigne in Ca∣pernaum: Meaning that this Antichrist or sonne of perdi∣tion, shalbe full of Gods malediction, noted by Iudas Is∣cariothe, and these 3. Cities, against whome were spoken thrise Vae of the Lord.

And heere is moreouer to be noted, that Methodius sayth, not that Antichrist shall be borne among the Sara∣cens or Turkes, but among the people of God, and of the tribe of Israel. Whereby is to be collected, that Antichriste shal not come of the Saracēs, nor Turks, but shall spring vs among the Christians, and (sayeth Methodius) shall seeme to come out of the Temple, to deceiue many. &c. where∣by the Pope may seeme rather then the Saracene or the Turk, to be described, for so much as the Pope, being elec∣ted norished, and raigning in the middest of Gods people, at Rome, sitteth in the temple, and very place of Christ: and (no doubt) deceiueth many. &c.

And nowe to come to the time assigned of Methodius, here is to be added also, that which we read in Antoninus, Par. 3. that about this said present time, a certaine Bishop of Florence preached that Antichriste was then comming. But the pope commanded him to keepe silence & to speake no more therof. Now why the pope so did, & why he could not abide the preaching of Antichriste, I referre it to them which list to muse more vpon the matter. This is certain, that about this time, heere assigned by Methodius, came Petrus Lombardus Gratianus, and Pope Innocent y^e thirde, the first authors & patrons of trāsubstantiation. At which time also began the first persecution by y^e church of Rome, againste y^e Albingenses or waldenses, about Tolous, Bi∣tures, and Auinion. Of whome 17. M. the same time were slaine, by the Popes crossed souldiors. Among whom fri∣er Dominicke was then the chiefest doer. About whyche time also was Frier Frances, of which two came the two orders of begging Friers: al which began much about one time together. An. 1215. which were nere, within 20. yeres. after the kingdome of the Christians was taken of the Turkes, according to the Prophesie aboue sayd.

It followeth moreouer in Methodius, That in hys time al Lordship & domination shal cease and geue ouer. &c. The ve∣rity whereof we see no••e accomplished in the Pope. For where the Pope with his double sword, and triple crown doeth come, there all seculare power must geue place, both Emperors, Kings, and Princes must stoupe.

So king Iohn yeelded vp his crowne to Pandulsus the popes Legate, and was in his hand 5. daies. An. 12••7.

Childerike the French K. had hys crowne taken from him, and geuen to Pipine. An. 747.

Henricus 4. Emperor was forced to submit hymselfe and his scepter to Pope Hildebrand. An. 1077.

Fridoricus Barbarossa Emperour, in Saint Markes Church in Uenice, was faine to lay downe hys necke vn∣der the Pope Alexanders feete. Anno 1277. Which Fride∣ricke also before, was faine to holde the stirroppe to Pope Adrian, &c.

What should I speake of the Ambassadour of Uenice, named Franciscus Dandulus? who being sent to Pope

Clement the 5. was made to lie vnder the Popes cable like a dog, & gather vp the croms, mēcioned in Sabel. Enn. 9. li. 7.

Henry the 3. being Emperor, had hys diademe first set on with the feete of the Pope, and afterwarde strocken off from his head with the Popes foote againe.

And what shall I speake more hereof? when as Caro∣lus Magnus submitted himselfe so lowe to kisse the feete of Pope Leo. An. 800.

It foloweth then in the prophesie of Methodius: That in the tribulation of those dayes, shall be sent from God two spe∣ciall Prophettes, Enoch and Hely, to reprooue and disclose the fraudulent falsehode of Antichrist, and that many seeing his de∣lusion, shall forsake him and followe them: Wherat Antichrist be∣ing greeued shall kill them. &c.

We neuer read yet in any story, of any suche two Pro∣phets to be sent either to the Saracens, or to the Turkes: Wheras against the Pope, we read Iohn Husse and Hie∣rome of Prage, two learned Martyrs & Prophets of God to haue bene sent, & to haue reproued and described the A∣natomie of Antichrist, and at last to haue bene burned for their labor. And what Prophet can speake more plainely, either Enoch or Hely, then did Hierom of Prage, prophe∣sying of the comming of Martin Luther, an C. yeres after him? when the Pope and his fellowes should answere to God and to him. The time we see came iust. Nowe let the Pope see with his fellowes, what answer they can make.

[illustration]

The true plate of Hus and Hierome, among the Bohemians.

It followeth further in Methodius concludyng hys prophecie. And then (sayth he) shall appeare the comming of the sonne of man in the clouds of heauen, with celestial glory. &c.

Wherefore after the burning of these two notable Pro∣phets, with many other thousands burned also since their time, by the B. of Rome it is to be thought, that the com∣ming of Christes iudgement in the clouds, is not farre of. Veni cito Domine. Amen.

And thus muche touching Methodius, of whose pro∣phecies how much or how little is to be estemed, I leaue it indifferent vnto the reader. For me it shal suffice simply to haue recited his wordes, as I finde them in his booke con∣tained: noting this by y^t way, that of this booke of Metho∣dius, De nouissimis temporibus, neither Hierome in his Ca∣taloge, nor Suidas, nor yet Auentinus in the place where hee entreateth purposely of such prophecies, maketh any men∣tion. As touching Hildegardus & Brigit, & other whome the French cal Bardi for their songs & prophetical verses, sufficient hath ben alleaged before out of Anentinus: who in his 3. booke of Chronicles wryting of the testimonies of Hildegard, Brigit and Bardi, seemeth to grounde vppon them, that the Turkes, whether we wil or not, shal haue their Im∣periall seate at Colen: And I pray God, that it come not to passe, that the Turke do geue some attempt against Eng∣land by the seas, before that he come to Colen by land. &c.

Greuity causeth me to cut of many testimonies and re∣uelations of these abouesaide, or els I could here rehearse the propheticall wordes of Brigit, lib. 4. cap. 57. concerning the City and Church of Rome, which as she sayth, must be purged and scoured with 3. things: to wit, with sharpe sword, with fire, and with the plough, and that God wil doe with that Citie, as one that remoueth plants out of one place vnto an other: and fi∣nally, that the Citie of Rome shall susteine the sentence, as if a Iudge should commaund the skin to be flaine off, the bloude to be drawne from the flesh, and the flesh to be cut in small peces, & the bones therof to be broken, so that all the mary may be quised out from the same &c. But for breuitie I let Brigit passe, & some¦thing wil declare out of Erythrea Sybilla, in her booke of prophecies found in S. Georges church in Uenice: where she prophesying many things of the birth of Christ vnder Augustus, and of the birth of Iohn Baptist, & of baptisme, of the Apostles, of the conuersion of the Gentiles, and of Constantinus, &c. hath these words: After that the peaceable Bull shall conclude all the climes of the world vnder tribute, in those daies a heauenly lambe shal come: and the dayes shal come, whē the power of the flowing streame shalbe magnified in water, & the Lyon the Monarche shalbe conuerted to the Lambe, which shall shine to all men, and subuert kingdomes.

Moreouer sayeth Sybilla, In the latter age God shall bee hūbled, and the diuine ofspring shalbe abased, & Deitie shalbe ioy¦ned with humanity, the Lambe shal lie in hay, and God & mā shall be bred vp vnder a maidens attendance, signes and wōdershal go before amōgest the circumcised. &c. Also, an aged womā shal cō∣ceiue a childe hauing knowledge of things to come. The Worlde shall maruell at Bowtes (the starre) which shall be a leader to his birth. He hauing 32. feete and 6. thumbes shal chuse to himself out of ••••sners and abiectes, the number of 12. and one deuill, not wyth ••••orde nor with battel. &c. And afterwarde thus followeth moreouer, in Sybilia, saying: The health of the lambe lying shalbe clothed with a fewe spoiles of the Lyon. Blacke shalbe tur∣ned into red. He shall subdue the citie of Aeneas, and kings, but in the booke of the fisher, In deiectiō and pouertie he shall cōquere riches, and shall treade downe pride with his owne death, In the night he shall rise vp, and be changed, he shall liue and raigne, and all these things shall be consummated, and regeneration (or newe things) be made: at last hee shall iudge both good and euill. &c. And thus much briefly collected out of Sybilia Erythrea concerning Christ our Lord.

Furthermore, touching the state and course of the Church and of Antichrist. it foloweth in the sayde Sybille, saying: Then shall 4 Winged beastes rise vp in testimonie, they shal soūd out with trumpets the name of the lambe, sowing righ∣teousnes, & the law irreprehensible. Against which law, the beast shal gainstand, & the abhomination & froth of the dragon. But a maruelous star shal rise, hauing the image of the 4. beasts, & shalbe in a maruelous multitude, he shal bring light to the Greekes, and shal illustrate the world. The lake of the fisher shall bring the name of the lambe with power, into the Citie of Eneas, vnto the end of the worlde, (or time). Then in the city of Eneas, the starre ioyned, shall loose such as were bound of the deuill, and thereof hee shall reioyce and glory, and glorious shalbe his end &c.

After this, Sybilia wryting (as it semeth) of Antichrist, importeth these words. And it shall come to passe, that an hor∣rible beast shal come out of the East, whose roaring shall be heard to Aphrike, to the people of Carthage, Which hath 7. heades and scepters innumerable, feete 663. He shall gainstande the lambe, to blaspheme his Testamēt, encreasing the waters of the dragon. The kings & princes of the world he shall burne in intolerable sweat, & they shal not diminish his feete. And then two starres like to the first starre, shall rise against the beast, and shal not preuaile, till the abhomination shall be come, and the wil of the Lord shall be con∣summate. And again, speaking of the same matter, he infer∣reth these words of the foresaid 2. starres aboue mētioned. And toward the latter dayes, two bright starres shall arise, raising vp men lying dead in their sinnes, being like to the first starre, ha∣uing the face of the 4. beasts which shall resist the beast, & the wa∣ters of the dragon, testifying (or preaching) the name and lawe of the lambe, the destruction of abhomination and iudgement, and shal diminish his waters, but they shalbe weakened in the bread of affliction, and they shall rise againe in stronger force. &c.

And it foloweth moreouer. After the abhomination, then shal truth be reuealed, & the lambe shalbe known, to whom regi∣ons and countreis shal submit their necks, & all earthly men shal agree together in one, to come into one fold, and to be ruled vn∣der one discipline, and after this shalbe but a small time. &c.

And shortly after, the saide Sybilia speaking of the lat∣ter iudgement to come, declareth how all the abhominati∣ons of sinnes shall come before the lambe: and that terri∣ble fire shall fall frō heauen, which shall consume al carth∣ly things created vnto the top of heauen. &c.

And thus muche out of Sybilla, touching her prophe∣sies of Christ & Antichrist, according a•• I founde them al∣leaged of a certaine catholike Romish wryter, in his booke entituled Onus ecclesiae, excerped, as he sayeth, out of the li∣brary of S. George in the citie of Uenice.

Philip Melancthon in his preface vpon Bartholomaeus Georgienitz Peregrinus, wryting of the Origene and man∣ners of the Turks, alledgeth a certaine prophesy of Hike∣nus, mentioned hereafter, which foresaid that the Turkes should beare rule in Italy and in Germany. An. 1600.

Now it remaineth in conclusion of these prophesies of the Turks, something to say of the Turks owne prophe∣sies, concerning the enduring & ending of their own king∣dom, whose propheticall prognostication, being taken out of their owne language, and their own bookes, I thought here to insert, as I finde it alleaged in the booke of the for∣sayd Bartholomaeus Georgienitz, as followeth.

A Turkish prophecie in the Persian toung of the raigne and ruine of the Turkes.

PAtissahomoz ghelu, Ciaferum memleketi alur, keuzul almai alur, Kapzeiler, iedi y ladegh Gyaur keleci csikmasse, on ikiy∣ladegh onlaron beghlig eder: eusi iapar, baghi diker bahesai bagh∣lar, oglikezi olur, onichi yldensora Hristianon Keleci csichar, ol Turchi gerestine tus chure.

The Latine of the same.

IMperator noster veniet, ethnici Principis regnum capiet, rubrū quoque pomum capiet, in suam potestatem rediget: quod si sep∣timum vsque annum Christianorum gladius non insurrexit, vsque ad duodecimum annum els dominabitur. Domos ae dificabit, vine∣as plantabit, hortos sepibus muniet, liberos procreabit, & post duodecimum annum, apparebit Christianorum gladius, qui Tur∣cam quaqua versum in fugam aget.

The same in English.

OUr Emperour shal come: he shal get the kingdome of the Gentiles prince: also he shal take the red apple and shall bring it vnder his subiection: and if the sworde of the Christians shall not rise vnto the vij. yeare, hee shall haue dominion ouer them vnto the xii. yere. He shal build hou∣ses, plant vineyardes, shal hedge about his orchards, shall procreate children: and after the xij. yeare shal appeare the sworde of the Christians, whych shall putte the Turke to flight euery where.

They whych make declaration of thys Turkishe pro∣phesie do expound this xij. yeare to signify the xij. yeare af∣ter the winning of Constantinople: which Constantino∣ple, they say, is ment by the redde apple: And after that xij. yeare, say they, shall rise the sworde of the Christians. &c. and this prophesie being wrytten and translated out of the Persian tounge, with this exposition vpon the same, is to be found in the boke of Bartholomeus Georgienitz. Albe∣it, concerning the exposition therof, it semeth not to be true which is there spoken of the xij. yeare, after the wynning of Constantinople, being nowe 100. yeares since the wyn∣ning thereof.

Wherefore it may rather seme probable that by the vij. yeare and xii. yeare of the Turkes, this to be the meaning, that if the vij. of the Ottaman Turks do scape the sworde of the Christians, they shall continue, builde and plant. &c. vntill the xij. Turke, which is thys Solymannus, & then after that shall rise the Christians sworde, whych shall put them to flight, and vanquish them in al quarters. And this exposition may seeme to accord with the place of Genesis, wherin is wrytten of Ismael, that he had xij. sonnes, & no mo: So that this Solymannus being the xij. Turke after Ottomannus, may (by the grace of Christ) be the last, whō we heard credibly to be reported at the printing heereof, to be dead. But howsoeuer this prophecy is to be takē, it ap∣peareth by their owne Oracles, that at length they shalbe ouercome by the Christians.

A Table describing the times and yeares of the Saracens, Turkes, and Tartarlans, for the better explaining of the storie aboue prefixed.

AN. 632. Began the kingdom of the Sa∣racens or Arabians, after the death of mahumet the fi••ft ringleader of y^e mischief which Savacens reigning in Babylon o∣uer Persia and Asia, continued about

198. yeres

An 667. Ierusale was taken of the Sa∣racens. These Saracēs after they had sub∣dued Ormisda K. of Persia, set vp to them selues a new kingdom, calling their chiefe prince Calipha, which signifieth a general Lord: and vnder him Seriphes, that is, an vnder prince: And againe vnder him their Soldan: whych is a ruler or captaine vn∣der the which Soldanes, all the prouinces were deuided. And thus ruled obey y^e space abouesayd of

198. yeres

An. 703. The Egyptians being weary of their subiection vnder the Romaines, called for helpe of the Saracene Calipha: and so casting of the Romains, submitted themselues to the law of the Saraces, and had also their Calipha and theyr Babylon called Cairus, where their Calipha conti∣nued vnto Saraco or Syracinus.

447. yeres

An. 810. Mauginetus or Muchumetus y^e chiefe Sultan of Persia, being at variance with Imbrael y^e Sultan of ••abi••on, feut for the aid of the turkes, out of S••ychia: •••• whō, when he had got the victorye against the Babilonians, the sayd Turkes shortly after, conquered the Persians, and subdued their countrey within the space of.

20••. yeres

An. 830. The Saracēs being •••• pussed •••• of Asia by the turkes, wandered aboue A∣frike, Spayne, and Italy, and were 〈◊〉〈◊〉 uers places dispersed, and 〈◊〉〈◊〉

An. 830. The Turke after they had ex∣pulsed the Sara••••••our of Asia, began to reigne in Asia, in Persia, & in Arabia, and there reigned without interruption, til the comming of the Tartarians, the space of

192. yeres

An. 1009. The Turkes wanne the city of Herusalem frō the Sara••ens: which citie the Sultan of Egipt want againe 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the Turkes shortly after, & possessed the same till the comming of Gotfeldus.

An. 1051. Began the first king of y^e turkes called ••aduke, to raign in Asia, and ioyned league with Calipha of Egypt, and there raigned till the conquest of Gotfridus and the Christians, the space of

46. yeres

An. 1078. Solymānus nephue to Aspasa∣lem y^e turkish king in Asia, otherwise cal∣led Turquinia, subdued Capadocia, which hath continued now since, the space of

500. yeres

An. 1099. Gotfridus Bulion duke of Lo∣tharing a christē prince, taking his voiage into Asia, with 700000. Christen soldiours first got the city of Nicea against the Sul∣tane of the Turkes: then Lycaonia, Cili∣cia, Syria, afterwarde Mesopotamia, and Comagena, then Autiochia. An. 1098. and the next yere recouered Hierusalem, being then in the hands of the Saracens, whych they a little before had wonne from the Turkes, as is aforesayde. After this Gor∣fridus succeded viij. christian kings, which kept the kingdome of Hierusalem and A∣sia, both from the Turkes and Saracens, the space of

88. yeres

An. 1100. The Georgians, which be a peo∣ple of Armenia the greatye, vāquishe•••• the Turks out of the kingdom of Persia, af•••••• they had cutte their king in pieces. wher∣by the Turks flying to Cappadoria, there remained vnder Solynian & ioyned them selues to the Solban of Egypt and waxed the strong in Asia minor, couted now Tur∣quinia.

An. 1170. When Americus the vii. king of Hierusalem after Goufridus, had ouer∣come the Calipha or Sultan of Egypt, the Sultan being ouercome, called for the help of Saracon the Sultane of Syria. Thys Saracon after he had expulsed y^e christians out of Egypt, ••••oned his power against y^e Sultane of Egypt, and vanquishing him, tooke to him selfe the kingdome of Egypt: Which kingdom he with his posteritie did holde till the comming of the Tartarians and the Mamaluches about the space of

88. yeres

An. 1187. Saladinus the nephew of Sa∣racon the Sultane of Egypt, perceauing the dissention among the Christian states of Palestina, got Antioche, where he slewe Raymundus the Prince with hys owne hands: Then got Tiberias: From thence went to Accō, where he tooke Guido king

of Hierusalem and Master of the Templa∣res, prisonners: for whose raunsome, the Turke had Ascalon yelded vp to him of the Christians. That done, he subdued Hieru∣salem. whych had bene in the handes of the Christians before, the space of.

An. 1189. Friderike Emp. Philip French king, Rich, king of Englande made their viage into Asia, where Friderike washing in a riuer at Lilicia, died. In this voiage at the siege of Accon, Saladinus wanne the fielde of our men, of whome 2000. were slaine in the chase. Accon at length was got of the Christians. King Richarde got Cy∣prus. The two kings tell at strife. Phillip retired home without any good doing, king Richarde laide siege to Hierusalem, but in vaine, and so returning homewarde, was taken neare to Uienna in Austria, after hee had taken truce before wyth the Soldane, vppon such condition as pleased hym. And thys good speede had the Popes, sending out against the Turkes.

An. 1215. There was an other Councell holden at Rome by pope Innocēt 3. where was enacted a newe article of our faith for transubstantiation of bread and wine, to be turned into the body and bloud of our saui∣our. In this Councell also great excitation was made by the Pope, & great preparati∣on was through al Christendom, to set for∣ward for recouery of the holy lād. A migh∣ty army was collected of Dukes, Lordes, knights, bishops & Prelates, that if Gods blessing had gone wyth them, they myght haue gone throughout all Asia and India.

Anno 1219. The Christians after 18. mo∣nethes siege, gotte a certaine towne in E∣gypte, called Damiata or Elipolis, wyth much a do, but not much to y^e purpose. For afterward as the christian army of y^e popes sending, went aboute to besiege the Citie Cairus or Babylon, the Sultane throughe his subtile traine so intrapped and inclosed them wythin the daunger of Nylus, that they were constrained to render agayne the Citie Damiata, with their prysonners, and all the furniture thereof as they found it, into the Souldanes hande, and glad so wyth their liues to passe forwarde to Ty∣rus, An. 1221.

In the meane time the Egyptian Turke caused the Citie of Hierusalem to be rased, that it should serue to no vse to the Christi∣ans. What great thing els was done in that viage, it doth not greatly appere in stories. All be it Fridericus the 2. Emperour was not vnfrutefully there occupied, and muche more myght haue done, had it not bene for the violence and persecution of the Bishop of Rome against him: whereby he was en∣forced to take truce wyth the Sultan for 10. yeres, and so returned. After which things done, not many yeares after, at lengthe the last citie of all belonging to the Christians, which was Ptolomais or A••••••s, was al∣so taken from them by the Sultane, so that now the christians had not one foote left in all Asia.

An. 1203. Thus the Christians being dri∣uen out of Asia by the Sultans & Turkes, yet the sayd Turkes and Sultanes did not long enioy their victorie: For estsoones the Lord stirred vp against them the Tartari∣ans, who breaking into Asia by the portes of Caspius subdued diuers partes of Asia, namely, about Comana, Colchis, Iberia, Albania. &c. These Tartarians as they had got many captiues in their warres: so for gaine vsed to shippe them ouer customably to Alexandria in Egypt to be solde: whych seruantes and captiues Melechsala the great Sultane was gladde to buy, to serue him in his warres. Which captiues & ser∣uaunts after they had continued a certaine space in Egypte, and through their valiant seruice grew in fauour and estimation with the sayd Melechsala, and began more to in∣crease in number and strength: at lengthe they slue him, and tooke to themselues the name and kingdome of the Sultane. And thus ceased the stocke of Saracon & Sala∣dinus afore mentioned, which continued in Egypt, about the space as is sayd of

100 yeres

An. 1240. After the death of Melechsala, the army of these foresaide rascals and cap∣tiues, set vp to themselues a king of theyr owne cōpany, whome they called Turque∣menius. Who to fill vp the nomber of theyr company that it should not diminish, deui∣sed this order, to get or to buy christē mens children, taken yong frō their parents, and y^e mothers lap: whom they vsed so to bryng vp to make them to denye Christ, and to be circumcised, and instructed in Mahumetes law, & afterward to be trained in the feates of warre, and these were called Malalu∣chi. Among whome this was their order, that none might be aduaunced to be king, but out of their own number, or els chosen by them: neither that any shoulde be made knights or horsemen, but only the children of christians which should deny Christ be∣fore, called Mamaluchi. Also it was among them prouided, that to thys dignity neither Saracens nor Iewes, should be admitted. Item, that the succession therof shoulde not descend to the children and offpring of these Mamaluchi. Also, that the succession of the crowne should not descend to the childrē of the foresayd Sultanes, but shoulde goe by voyce and election. The Tartarians wyth Turquemenius their king, aboute thys time obtained Turquia, that is, Asia mi∣nor, from the Turkes, and wythin 2. yeres after, preuailing againste the Turkes, ex∣pelled them from theyr, kingdome, and so continued these Mamaluchi reigning ouer Egypt, & a great part of Asia, till the time of Tomumbeius theyr last Kyng, whych was destroyed and hanged at the gates of Memphis, by Zelymus the Turke, father to this Solymannus, as in hys historye is declared, Those Mamaluchi con∣tinued the space of

An. 1245. These Tartarians rāging tho∣rough the countreis of the Georgians, and all Armenia, came as far as Iconiū, which was then the imperiall city of the Turkes.

An. 1289. The Soldane of Egypt & Ba∣bilon got from the christiās Tripolis, Ty∣rus, Sydon, and Gerithus in Syria.

An. 1291. Lastly, Ptolo••••ais, which also is called Akers, was surprised by y^e sayd Sol∣dan, rased and cast downe to the ground, & all the Christians therein (whych were not many left) were slaine. And this was the last citye which the Christians had in Asia. So that nowe the Christians haue not one foot (as is sayd before) left in al Asia. Thus the Egyptian Soldanes, and the Tartari∣ans reigned and ranged ouer the most part of Asia aboue the Turkes, till the raigne of Ottomannus the great Turke, aboute the space of

80 yeres

¶ And thus haue ye the whole discourse of the Turkish story, with theyr names, countryes, townes, dominions al¦so with theyr times, continuance, interruptions and alte∣rations, in order described and in yeares distincted: which otherwise in most authors and writers be so confused, that it is heard to know distinctly, what difference is betwene the Saracens, Turkes, Tartarians, y^e Sultans or Sol∣dans, Mamuluches, or Ianizarites: What is theyr Cali∣pha,

their Seriphes, their Sultan, or Bassa, in what times they began, and how long, and in what order of yeres they reigned. Al which in thys present table manifestly to thine eye may appeare.

¶ Wherein this thou hast moreouer (gentle Reader) to cōsider, which is worthy the noting, how the B. of Rome all this season, frō the first beginning of the Turks reigne, hath not ceased from time to time continually, calling vp∣on Christen princes and subiectes, to take the crosse and to warre against the Turkes: wherupon so many great via∣ges haue bene made to the holy lande, & so many battailes sought against the Turke and Soldan for winning y^e holy crosse: and yet no luckie successe hath followed thereof he∣therto, nor euer came it prosperously forward, whatsoeuer through the exciting of that Bishop, hath beene attempted against that great enemy of the Lorde: In somuch that the Christians haue lost not onely all that they had in Asia, but also vnneth are able to defende that little they haue in Eu∣rope, against his violence. What the cause is of thys harde lucke of the Byshops doings, it is hard for man to define. Let men muse as their minde leadeth, and as the Gospell sayth, he that hath eyes to see let him see. This is certaine, that as there hath lacked no care nor diligence in the B. of Rome, to stirre men vp to that business: so on the Princes behalfe there hath lacked no courage nor strength of men, no contribution of expenses, no supportation of charges, no furniture or abilement of warre: onely the blessyng of God semeth to haue lacked. The reason and cause whereof I would were to easy to be reformed, as it may be quickly construed. For what man beholding the life of vs Christi∣ans, wil greatly maruell, why y^e Lord goeth not with our army to fight against the Turks? And if my verdit might here haue place, for me to adde my censure, there appeareth to me an other cause in this matter, yet greater then thys aforesaid: which to make plaine and cuidet in ful discourse of wordes, laisure no we doth not permit. Briefly to touch what I conceiue, my opiniō is thys: that if the sincere doc∣trine of Christen faith deliuered & left vnto vs in the word of God, had not hen so corrupted in the church of Rome, or if the B. of Rome would yet reclame his impure idolatry, and prophanations, and admit Christe the Lambe of God to stande alone, without our unpure additions, to be our onely Iustification, according to the free promise of Gods grace: I nothing doubt but the power of this faith groun∣ding onely vpon Christ the sonne of God, had both framed our liues into a better disposition: and also soone would, or yet wil bring downe the pride of that proude Dolofernes. But otherwise, if the Bish. of Rome will not gently geue place to the milde voyce of Gods word, I thinke not con∣trary, but he shalbe compelled at last to giue place & roume to the Turke, whether he will or not. And yet notwyth∣standing, when both the Turk & the Pope shal do against it what they can, the trueth and grace of Gods Testament shall fructify & increase, by such meanes as the Lorde shall worke, which beginneth already (praise to the Lord) to come graciously and luckely forward in most places.

Notes

• The destruc¦tion of An∣tichrist.
• The inter∣pretation.
• The com∣ming of the Saracens.
• The coming of the turks.
• Seythia iux ta C••ueassi.
• Victory of the Christians gotte against the Sa∣racens. Ex Paulo Ionio The citie of Hie¦rusalē recouered by the Christias frō the Saracens Hierusalem pos∣sessed of the christians 88. yeares. Hierusalē wōne frō the Christiās by the turkes, an 1187.
• The cōming & markes of Anti∣christ described.
• The time of An∣tichrist. Petrus Lombar¦dus. Gratianus. Innocentius. 3.
• Trāsubstātiatiō, The first perse∣cution by the church of Rome Dominicke. Frier Fraunces, Ex antonino part. 3. tit. 19. c 1. The orders of Fryers beganne.
• The pope exal∣ting himselfe aboue kings and Emperours.
• Notes of Anti∣christ.
• Enoch & Hely.
• Iohn Hus & Hierome of Prage. Vid. in pri∣mo Tom. operū Iohā. Hus. De A∣natomia.
• Hierome of Prage a pro¦phet and Martir.
• The nearnes of the Lordes iudgement.
• The prophesy of Hildegardis and Brigiete, of the Turkes.
• Ex Auentino lib. 3. Annalium. A caneat to England.
• Ex Brigitta. lib. 4. cap. 57.
• Prophesies of Brigitte, against Rome.
• The Prophesies of Erithrea Sy∣billa named Eri∣phila.
• Ex Erithrea Sy∣billa in suo Na∣zilographo. i. im¦periali scripto.
• Prophesies of Sybilla of christ.
• By his feete is supposed to be ment the yeares of his age.
• The lambe lying, &c. that is, the Church without tra¦uell shall be mainteyned with some liuing or possessions of chiefe ru∣lers.
• By these foure beasts is ment the 4. Monar∣chies of the worlde, that is the mul∣titude of all the kingdōs of the Gen∣tiles, as is in the Apocal. By the citye of Aeneas is ment Rome The prophe¦sies of Sybil¦la, of Anti∣christ. The 663. feet do meane the yeares of his reigne.
• These two starres seme to meane Iohn Hus, & Hierome, who being put to death by the pope their doc∣trine rose a∣gayne more strongly then before.
• Ex libro cui titulus, onne Ecclesiae.
• By the prince of the Gentiles the turkes do here meane the king∣domes and dominions of the Chris∣tians, whom they call Gentiles, becuse they are not cir∣cumcised after their maner.
• The exposition of the turkes prophesie.
• Ex Barthol Georgienitz.
• An other ••••••••∣sition.
• Gen. 25.
• The Saracēs beginne their reigne.
• The Egipti∣an Saracens or Sultans.
• The Saracēs kingdome ceaseth.
• The turkes kingdome beginneth.
• Transubstantia∣tion.
• Vide supra pag. 312.
• Tartarians.

  Portae Caspiae.

  Saladinus stocke in Aegipt cea∣seth.
• Mamaluchi in Aegipt.

  Vide supra pag. 747.
• Why the pope cannot preuaile a∣gainst the Turkes.
• God offended with Idolatrie and wrong faith of the Christi∣ans.