Pisgah euangelica. By the method of the Reuelation, presenting to publike view those Cananites ouer whom our Lord Iesus Christ and his holie Church shall triumph after seuerall battailes. That which is past is shewed in a briefe ecclesiasticall historie, containing most of the mutations which haue befallen the Church, from the yeere of our Lord 97, vnto the yeere 1603. as they haue been shewed vnto S. Iohn in Patmos, and recorded by such historiographers as are of least suspected faith. Gathered by William Symonds, sometimes fellow of Magdalen Colledge in Oxford.

The complement.

Ind the last yeare of Calistus, when foure mightie princes were dead, vz. Wenceslaus, Sigismundus, Albertus, & Ladisla∣us, who with the assistance of all the Popes in their times, had attempted with all their mights, to extinguish the religion planted by Hus in Boemia; the Lord by the constancie of the Hussites continued the religion. For when Ladislaus the great enemie of the Gospel was dead, as he was prouiding for his marriage, and for a strong confederacie and assistance against the H••ssites,e Georgius Podiebrachius succeeded him in the kingdome; who did openly fauour the cause, and pub∣likely professed the religion of Hus; and so the kingdomes are Christs, &c.

Pius the second,f his ambition defiled all his vertues.g He sent vnto Germanie to extort the Annates, or first fruits, con∣demned in the Councel at Basil. Him Diatharius the Arch∣bishop of Mogunce withstood, for the exactions which hee robbed the countrie by, vnder pretext of warre against the Turkes. Wherefore the thundring Pope depriued him. The causes of his depriuation were these. 1. He would not con∣sent to the exaction of a tenth, twentith, thirtith. 2. He would not be sworne to the Pope, not to conuent the Princes Ele∣ctors,

for the affaires of the empire, without the Popes leaue. 3. He suffered not the Popes Legates at their pleasure to conuent the Clergie. The Pope excommunicated him, who writeth to the Princes of Germanie against the Pope, to dis∣charge Germanie of these exactions, & to appeale to a Coun∣cel. Some of the Princes ioyne with him, and write sharpely to the Pope; requiring the release of these exactions, (for shee is fallen, because her marchants were rich) and complaining of the grieuance offered to the Archbishop, (shee is fallen for making all nations drinke of the wine of the wrath of her fornica∣tion.) The Pope persecuteth the Archbishop also, for aduan∣cing the Empire, and depressing the Papacie; and because to speake truth against the Pope, is contrarie to the oath of Bi∣shops,a required by Alexander the third. Hereuponb arise warres (or earthquakes.) But the Princes despised the ratles of the Popes excommunications, and preuaile in the warre. The Pope excommunicateth and accurseth the Archbi∣shop and his complices, forbidding any to bring them victuals, or armes. Againe the Archbishop and his friends forbidde the Papists letters and processes, vnder paine of their heades. Revvarde as shee hath rewarded you.c Iohannes de Wessalia lifteth vp his voice, preacheth against the ciuill authoritie of the Prelates, and teacheth the scrip∣ture (which hath a name that none doth know but it selfe.) must be interpreted by scripture. Hee was also against indulgen∣ces, the glosse, &c.d The Pope also excommunicated Grego∣rius Heimberge doctor of the lawes. Against whom, this Gre∣gorius did oppose a vehement writing; in which he equalleth the rest of the Apostles to Peter; and prooueth the Pope to be subiect to the Councels, &c.c He also excommunicated Georgius Podiebrachius, and all Boem (but in vaine.)f Frideri∣cus the third Emperour was besieged, but releeued by Po∣diebrachius. This Pope held many things, which he left in writing; as marriage was to be restored to Priests with more

reason than it was taken away. He said the striuers were birdes, the Court the fielde, the Iudges were nets, the Pro∣ctors be fowlers, &c.g At this time was a great reformation of Monasteries. And note, that often such reformations are read of, but none continued; for in time they returned to their old corruptions.h Cusanus a learned Cardinal, a thing as rare as a blacke Swan, liued in this time; but held horrible blasphemies of the scriptures: vz. that the sense of them is changeable, as please the times, &c. For the beast and his hoste maketh warre against the word of God, that sit on the horse.

Paulus the second,i something like Licinius the tyrant, nei∣ther learned, nor well conditioned. Hee helda it learning e∣nough to write and read; and affirmed that himselfe had all lawes in the cabinet of his own breast; and that at his plea∣sure he might approoue and abolish the actes of others. Inb his time all offices and Ecclesiasticall preferments were sold to them that would giue most; and all things were di∣sposed to them that would make money of them: he deuised many of the Cardinals ornaments, and by namec their scar∣let robes: (for this beast is scarlet coloured.)d He opened a gap to all vice, as The mother of whoredomes, and abhominations of the earth. Fore he was most notoriously infamous, and exe∣ble for most filthie (sodomie) of male stewes, and diuellish artes (or sorcerie) whom afterwards the diuell killed in the arte of sodomie, wringing his necke behind him.f He per∣mitted the Cardinals to haue harlots.g Of this time Platina (speaking of the lawe which Ludouicus the Emperour made to restraine the pride of the Clergie) crieth out, I would O Ludouicus, thou didst liue in our daies. For now the Church doth stand in neede of thy most holy censures. The Ecclesi∣asticall order is giuen ouer to riot and luxurie (like a harlot) that thou mightest behold, not onely men, but horses and beasts, in their scarlet and princely robes (with which the harlot is arraied.) When they goe, there waite before them great

troupes of young men, and of the Clergie. Not on asses, as Christ the author of our religion did ride, who was the one∣ly example of well liuing in the world: but on great horses, in their caparisons, as if they triumphed ouer some enemies lately ouercome, &c.h He further of this time faith, that this pestilent custome was then, that Priests desired the papacie, &c. not for religion, but to fill the greedines of their sonnes, nephewes, and familiars, &c.i Pardons also in this time were very rife.k This Pope opened his mouth to blasphemie, and condemned Georgius Podiebrachius king of Boemia for an hereticke; andl (as if power were giuen him ouer euery nati∣on) gaue his kingdome to Mathias king of Hungarie.m But Mathias in seauen yeares warres could not put him out, (for his feete were as pillars of fire.)n The Turkes destroyed two Empires, tooke from the Christians twelue kingdomes, and 200. cities (for fornication, sorcerie, &c.) of the remnant.o The order of the souldiers called the Minimes Iesus Ma∣ria began.

Sixtus the fourth,p a man rather borne for the warres than for religion.q For he stirred vp many warres, and when he heard that the Princes made peace, he died for sorrow. He (as the common baude or mother of fornications, &c) ere∣cted stewes in Rome, of double abhomination, both males and females, and kept multitudes of harlots for his friends, and followers.a And (as Caligula laid a tribute vpon har∣lots) the common harlots paid to him in the yeare, about 40,000 ducates.b This cōmunity of women did the Church of Rome learne either of Plato the heathen Philosopher, or else of the Scythians and Gothes, where Plato had his exam∣ple. Hec reduced the yeare of Iubile to 25. yeares, andd or∣dained the feast of the conception of the virgin Marie, gi∣uing large indulgences to all those which should be deuout∣ly present at the solemnitie; and yete the Doctors agree not among themselues, whether the virgin Mary were

conceiued without sinne, vpon which ground the feast was instituted by the Pope.f He brought the vse of beades into prayer.g In his time the Spanish King expelleth the M••••es and Iewes out of Spaine; and instituteth the Spanish inquisiti∣on, whereunto he also subiecteth himselfe. Of the cruell pro∣ceedings of the inquisition against the godly, seeh Fox and other bookes of the Spanish inquisition, &c. For by this kinde of crueltie, the woman is drunken with the bloud of the Saints.

Innocentius the eighti of a slow wit, and farre from lear∣ning (as Licinius the tyrant.) He first of any Pope, brought in a new example of making ostentation of his bastards; and violating all antient discipline, he heaped riches vpon them. He fawned on all, but was friendly to none; and pas∣sed his inbred couetousnes with iests and scoffes. He (ask a louer of pleasure more then of God)l adorned the papacy with a pallace; and strongly beautified the house of Solace called Bell-vedere. Hem annexed the Knights of the order of Saint Sepulchre, to the Knights of Saint Iohn; with a red, and double crosse.n The Turkes abolished the gouern∣ment of the Paleologi, and Venetians, in Pelop••nesus, Lesbos, Eubu••, and Lemnos. The Spaniards finde the land of Guinnea, and many other Iles.o Iohannes Langlois, at Paris strooke the host and wine out of the Priests hand, and stamped on them; denying any reall presence to be in the Sacrament, for which he was burned. The diuels possessed the Mona∣stery of the Nunnes Quersetensium, in a most strange man∣ner.a Very many Martyres suffer. About this time died Laurentius Medicis Duke of Florence;b who in Italy much holpe to restore tongues and arts; from whence they spread into Germany. By this instauration of learning, the whole world in a manner began to be renewed (as with a first re∣surrection) and to be encreased, and enriched with (this kinde of) wealth. The Boemian Hussites in token that their

glassie sea was mingled with fire, doe rise and endanger Mathias the King, their enemie and persecutor; enfor∣cing him to flie; they kill the Senate, and pull downe Mo∣nasteries.

Thus Kings begin to receiue the Gospell, by whomd the kingdomes of this world are the Lords, and his Christs. And thus the temple, the profession of the Gospell against Anti∣christ, is open in heauen, the Church: notwithstanding the Gen∣tiles, the Papists be angrie.

Notes

• d

  Fox Mart. p. 695. 696. 697.
• e

  Bucholcerus.
• f

  Volat. 22.
• Ann. 1418.
• g

  Par. Vrsp. p. 416. 417. 418. &c.
• Par. Vrs. p. 418
• a

  Supra 3. Thunder. Crantz Met. 7.
• b

  Pencer. 5. f. 225. &c.
• c

  Par. Vrsp. p. 419. &c.
• d

  Buchol. anno 1460. Par. Vrsp. 407. &c.
• c

  Chro. Chro.
• f

  Par. Vrs. p. 411. 412. &c.
• g

  Fasc. Temp. f. 89. b.
• h

  Hunnius la∣bor. Illiric. cla∣ui Scriptura.
• i

  Volat. 22.
• Anno 1468.
• a

  Platina.
• b

  Geneb. Caranza.
• c

  Polyd. inuent. 4. 6.
• d

  Volat. 22.
• e

  Peuc. 5. p. 227. b.
• f

  Moris. papat.
• g

  Platina in Greg. 4.
• h

  In Ioan. 16.
• i

  Poly. 8.1.
• k

  Geneb.
• l

  cap. 13.7.
• m

  Lanquet. Fox.
• n

  Geneb. p. 1080
• o

  Volat. 21.
• Anno 1471.
• p

  Volat. 22.
• q

  Fox Mart. p. 701.
• a

  Moris. Pap.
• b

  Strab. lib. 7. Geog.
• c

  Ext. com. de poeni. & remis. c. 4.
• d

  ibid. cap. 1.
• e

  N.D. Warn∣word.
• f

  Fox.
• g

  Geneb. pag. 1084. 1088.
• h

  Fox. p. 9••••.
• i

  Volat 22. f. 160. b.
• Anno 1484.
• k

  2. Tim. 3.4.
• l

  Crantz. Met. 12. 1. p. 814.
• m

  Volat. 21. f 244.
• n

  Geneb. pag. 1089. 1087.
• o

  Mass. 20.268.
• a

  See Fox M••r.
• b

  Eucholcerus. Anno 1492.
• d

  cap. 11.15.28.19. & 15.8.