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.

hThis sommer was exceeding much burning and drie, in which many riuers were dried vp.i And fierie hostes were seene throughout Italie to fight in the aire. (Howbeit, these signes wrought no repentance.)a For the French king, vpon reconciliation betweene the Pope and him, receiued a Iubi∣le to be published through France. Yea the Pope abused too licentiously the authoritie of the Apostolicke sea, to draw mo∣ney from men. For he dispersed throughout the world, with∣out distinction of places or times, most ample indulgences with power to deliuer soules out of purgatorie. Which mo∣ney was so impudently demanded, that the Commissioners perswaded the people, that whosoeuer would giue ten shil∣lings, should deliuer the soule for which he gaue it out of purgatorie. (Hereby blaspheming God, who teacheth vs, to know that we are not redeemed with corruptible things, as siluer & gold.) But if it were lesse than ten shillings, it would profit nothing. Yet were many of the Popes Ministers detected, selling for a small price, or set vpon a game at tables in a tauerne, the power to redeeme mens soules out of purga∣torie. The moneyb (though the shadow were to make warre vpon the Turke) was notoriously knowne not to be paid to the Pope, or the Apostolike chamber; but was transferred indirectly to satisfie the infinite couetousnes of Magdalen

the Popes sister, a fraile woman. This gaine displeased the holy sonnes of the Church. And vnder this occasion, Luther, (that followed the word of God) began to preach against in∣dulgences, and to reprehend the authoritie of the Pope. (And thus is fulfilled the scripture,c She is fallen, she is fallen, for the Marchants of the earth were made rich, &c.)d For hence began that great alteration of religion, which follo∣wed, wihich many amongst the Papists did foresee, whereof one Hilteniu•• is reported to haue assigned the yeere: So did Danie. But especially Iohn hus, and Ierom of Prage.e Elias Leuita, a Iew, publisheth his Hebrue Grāmar, to the great be∣nefit of Christians.

Lutherf writeth to the Pope of indulgences, complain∣ing that the pardon-preachers, to the scandall, and mockerie of the Ecclesiasticall power, (and blasphemie of God) did write and preach with insatiable couetousnesse, the like whereof was neuer heard of before, requiring the confessors by oth to enioyne them that confesse to them, to buy their pardons; terrifying all men with the name of the Pope; threatning fire and the reproch of heresie to them that re∣fused to buie their pardons. He shewed that with his sche∣dule of articles which he had set vp, he onely purposed to prouoke the learned to disputations. That it seemed mira∣culous to him, that his propositions were so soone gone a∣broade, (as vpon a white horse posted) in all the earth. That against his will he made himself so publike; & that he could not recall his propositions.a Hee also answered a dialogue of Siluester Pierius, teaching thatb All things are to be tryed;c an Angell must teach no other doctrine. Fathers may erro; and concludeth thus, Let opinions remaine opinions, and no burthens to the Church. Opinions may not be equall to scripture. Let the diuines be ashamed of these, and such like speeches, which they bolt out: Thus would I speak in schooles, but yet, (doe not tel any bodie) it cānot be prooued by scripture, &c. Luther, be∣fore

the Legate, a Cardinalld iustifieth his doctrine. Where∣fore the Pope citeth Luther to Rome, and commandeth the Princes, to deliuer him prisoner to the Legate; excommuni∣cating, and accursing all Princes, and interdicting their landes, which would not bee assistant; excepting none but the Emperour; and giuing plenarie indulgences to them that obeyede Luther appealeth from the Pope not well in∣formed, to the Pope to be better informed; and after that, to a general Councell.f Cortesius discouereth to the south. Byg Luthers bookes, and sermons, when godly men in mo∣nasteries did heare, that idols were to be fled from, they (ac∣cording to the commaundement,h Come out of her my people, and be not partakers of her sinnes) &c, began to depart from that wicked seruitude; and so were the monasteries left emptie.i There was a disputation of the Popes authoritie &c, at Lipsia. Luther auoucheth his articles which were condemned by the Popes bull;k and wrote against the three fortifications of poperie; which are, 1. The ciuill Magistrate hath no power ouer the spirituall, but the spirituall Magistrate hath power ouer the ciuill. 2. If they be vrged with scripture, they say, None can expound the scripture but the Pope. &c. 3. If they be vrged with a Councell, they faigne, that none can call a Councell but the Pope &c. Erasmus writeth to the Arch∣bishop of Mogunce, of Luthers cause, saying, that the Monkes and Diuines doe condemne the things in Lu∣thers bookes for heresie, which in the bookes of Ber∣nard and Augustine, are read as true and godly &c. They were heretofore heretikes, that dissented from the Euan∣gelists, and from the Articles of faith, &c. Now if any dissent from Thomas, hee is an heretike. Whatsoeuer plea∣seth them not, what they vnderstand not, is heresie; to vnderstand Greeke, to speake good Latine is heresie with them. The diuines of Louane and Colen, doe adiudge ma∣ny of Luthers bookes to the fire, to be burned, which the

same yeere, by the commaundement of the Pope, and Charles the Emperor, was done in Germany.a Luther, at Wittenberge, openly burneth the Popes lawes, the decretals and decrees, with the Popes bull; saying,b I haue done to them as they haue done to me (rewarding her, as she hath rewar∣ded me).c Luther, among other bookes which hee publish∣ed, wrote an exhortation to the nobilitie of Germany, of the reformation of the Christian affaires. Luther answereth be∣fore the Emperour at Wormes, where the Emperour proscri∣bed him.d This yeere began that long and bloudie warre, betweene Charles the Emperour, and Francis the French King (both Papists) and this lasted 38. yeres (Thoue Lord hast giuen them blood to drinke, because they killed thy Saints.)f Ignatius Layolo, a Spaniarde, began the order af the fellow∣ship of Iesus; and Luthers bookes are burned at Antwerpe, and Gant; Pope Leo died, as it was thought by poison. And now is powred forth the fifth Phiall.

Notes

• h

  Orig. praefat. Ephem.
• i

  Mass. 20. p. 274.
• a

  Mass. 20. p. 273. cum Guiec. 13. p. 772.
• 1. Pet. 1.18.
• b

  Mass. ibid. 8. Geneb.
• c

  cap. 18.2.3.
• d

  Buchol. ex Suri••.
• e

  Geneb. p. 1109
• f

  Par. Vrsp. p. 447.
• Ann. 1518.
• a

  Par. Vrsp. p. 448.
• b

  1. Thess. 5.
• c

  Galat. 1.
• d

  Par. Vrs. p. 449.
• e

  Mass. 20. p. 273.
• f

  Nou. Orb.
• g

  Peuc. 5. f. 266. b.
• h

  cap. 18.4.
• i

  Par. Vrs. 250. &c. Anno 1520.
• k

  454. 455.
• Buchol. Ann. 1520. Geneb. 1106.
• a

  Mass. 20. p. 273.
• b

  cap. 18.6.
• c

  Buchol. &c. 1521.
• d

  Geneb. 1110.
• e

  cap. 16.5.6. Geneb. p. 11 10.
• f

  Par. Vrs p. 457.