A treatise, touching Antichrist VVherein, the place, the time, the forme, the workmen, the vpholders, the proceeding, and lastly, the ruine and ouerthrow of the kingdome of Antichrist, is plainly laid open out of the word of God: where also manie darke, and hard places both of Daniell and the Reuelation are made manifest. By Lambert Danæus.

Frauncis Petrarche, the very Prince of Italian Poets, (who liued about 260. yeares agoe) hath left in written Verses, what opinion men had in those dayes of the Church of Rome.

FOntana di dolore, albergo d'ira, Schnola derrorie Tempio d' Heresia Gia Roma, hor Babylonia falsa eria Per cui tanto si piagne, & si sospira Offucina d'inganni, ô pregion d'ira Oue' I ben muore, Imal si nutre e cria: Di viui inferno: vn gran miracula fia, Si Christo teco al fine non s' adira.

Fondata in casta & humil povertate Contra tui fundatori alzi le corna Putta sfaciata: dou' hai posto spene? Ne gli adulteri tuoi: ne le mal nate Richezze tante: hor Constantin non torna Ma talga l'mondo tristo, chel s'estiene.

The same in English.

O Sowrce of sorrow, and cottage of care, A schoole of errours, a temple of haeresies, Sometimes Rome, but now false and wicked Babylon, For whose cause so many sobs and sighes are spent, A shop of treacherie, a prison of wrath.

Where good decayeth, and euill is bread and cherished, A hell and torture of the liuing: it will be wonderfull, If at last Christ be not incensed against thee. Thou whose beginnings were chaste, poore, and humble, Doest aduance thine hornes against thy founders. An impudent harlot: and where-in doest thou trust? In thine adulteries? in thy so great Ill gotten goodes? now Constantine commes not againe, But let the world enioy that, which it hath sustaynd.

FIamma dal ciel su le tue treccie pioua Maluagia, che dalfiume, & dale ghiande Per l'altrui impouerir se ricca e grande, Poi che di mal oprar tanto ti gioua Nido di tradimenti: in cui si coua Quanto mal per lo mondo hoggi si spande Di vin serua, di letti, è di viuande In cui luxuria fa l'vltima proua Per le camere tue fanciulle, e vecchi Vanno troscando, e Belzebub in Mezo Comantici, colt fuoco, e con gli specchi Gia non fustu nutrita in piume al rezo Ma nuda, al vento, e scalza frali stecchi: Hor viui si, ch'a Dio ne venga il l'ezo.

The same in English.

LEt fire from heauen rayne downe vpon thine heyres Thou wicked wretch: (who from water and akornes By impouerishing others, art become ritch and mightie.) Seeing thou hast such pleasure to do euill, Thou neast of treasons where-in are hatcht All the euils which at this day ouer-spread the world: Thou bond-slaue to wine, to leacherie, and banquetings, Where-in riot perfourmeth his vtmost indeauours Through thy chambers: wenches and old fooles

Goe skipping, and the Diuell in the midst With bellowes, fire, and looking-glasses. Thou wast not at first brought vp with plumes for shadow, But naked to the winde, vnshod among thornes, Now liue, but so, as God may conceiue a loathing of thee.

L'auara Babylonia ha colmo 'l sacco D'ira di Dio, e di vitij empi e rei, Tanto, che scoppia, & ha fatti suoi Dei Non Gioue, a palla, ma venere, e Baccho Aspettando ragion mi struggo, e fiacco Ma pur nouo Saldon veggio per lei Lo qual fara, non gia quand'io vorrei Sol vna sede; e quella fia in Baldacco, Gl'idoli suoi saranno in terra sparsi E le torri superbe al ciel nemiche E suoi torrier di for, come dentr' arsi Anime belle, e di virtute amiche Terrano 'l mondo e poi vedrem lui farsi Aureo tutto, e pien de l'opre antiche.

The same in English.

COuetous Babylon hath her sacke so full Of the wrath of God, and of vices impious and wicked, That with it she bursteth, and hath made her Gods Not Iupiter and Pallas, but Venus and Bacchus. Searching out the reason, I consume and wearie my selfe, But at length I see a new Sowldan for her, Which shall make (though not so soone as I would) Only one seate, the which let it be in Baldacco: Her Idols shall be scattered on the earth, And her loftie towers enemies to the heauens, And her turrets shall be burnt as well without as within, But sweete soules and louers of vertue, Shall possesse the earth, and after we shall see it be made All golde, and full of her auncient works.

Notes

• The place where the Suldan keepeth.